From Childhood Passion to Classic Resurrection
Like many young boys, his fascination started with anything that had wheels — and the bigger it was, the better. That childhood curiosity quickly turned into a lifelong love for cars.
As a teenager, he began learning the ropes by helping his father with small automotive repairs. That hands-on experience laid the foundation for everything that followed. His first real taste of restoration came with a Beetle Baja, which he repainted himself. From there, several restorations followed — but nothing would compare to the challenge and scale of the 1954 Dodge Royal.
A Car That Almost Became Scrap
The Dodge Royal’s story is one of near tragedy.
Originally owned by an 83-year-old gentleman who had kept it for most of his life, the car was eventually parked due to parts availability and age. A scrap dealer saw opportunity in its weight — nearly three tons of steel — and purchased it with demolition in mind.
Fortunately, before it could be crushed, a lady spotted the car at the scrapyard and rescued it. Years later, it appeared on a local buy-and-sell website — where it immediately caught its future restorer’s eye.
Armed with a battery and petrol in a jerry can, he managed to start the car and even reverse it out of the property. Despite needing serious TLC, it was remarkably complete — missing only one stainless steel beading. That was all the convincing he needed.
The Dodge was going home.
Stripping It Down to the Bones
The restoration began as a true family project. Together with his two sons and his father, the Dodge was dismantled — and that’s when the real extent of the rust damage revealed itself.
The body was lifted off the chassis and taken apart panel by panel. Rusted sections were cut out and replaced with new steel. In total, 12 kilograms of CO₂ welding wire were used to rebuild the body. Fortunately, his sons had welding training — and as they say, practice makes perfect.
After extensive metalwork, the body was sent for sandblasting and treated with rust protection.
Subtle Custom Touches
While the Dodge largely retained its original form, a few clever modifications were made.
To accommodate wider wheels, Jaguar XJ6 front wheel arches were fitted to the rear of the Dodge. This allowed the fitment of custom chrome 15-inch wheels originally built for a Cobra kit car.
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Front: 15x8J with 235 R15 tyres
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Rear: 15x10J with 245 R15 Hercules tyres
The rear fuel cap was also removed to create a smoother, cleaner back-end appearance.
The result? A classic silhouette with a slightly more muscular stance — subtle, but powerful.
Rebuilding the Foundation
The chassis was stripped, cleaned, and repainted.
All brake lines and fuel pipes were replaced. The drivetrain was overhauled with new bands and bearings, while the gearbox and differential were kept standard. There are plans to convert the drum brakes to discs in the future — because when you’re driving something affectionately referred to as “The Tank,” stopping power matters.
The Heart: 241CI Red Ram Hemi V8
At the core of this Dodge Royal sits its original 241 cubic inch Red Ram Hemi V8.
The engine was opened and overhauled, requiring only minor internal work. However, sourcing parts proved challenging. Gaskets and the timing chain had to be imported from the United States at considerable cost. The delays even meant missing a planned Route 62 road trip to Oudtshoorn.
But it was worth it.
Keeping the original Hemi motor intact was a priority. Once it fired up and that unmistakable Hemi sound filled the workshop, there were no regrets.
Modern Reliability Meets Vintage Soul
The entire car received new wiring, complete with added fuses for protection. The instruments were upgraded with new gauges to monitor engine vitals.
A custom stainless steel steering wheel, wrapped in oak wood, was crafted for a refined finishing touch.
Most of the work was done in-house by the family, except for engine machining and the reupholstering of the seats and door panels.
A Family-Built Legacy
This was never just a restoration.
It was a multi-generational project — a father, his sons, and his own dad working side by side in the garage. Long nights. Burnt fingers. Countless hours of welding, sanding, fitting, and refining.
There are still plans for the future: special lighting, a sound system, electric windows, and more. But even as it stands now, the Dodge Royal is a rolling testament to perseverance, craftsmanship, and family support.
Special thanks go to the friends who lent a hand — and especially to his wife, whose support made the entire journey possible.
Not Just Restored — Rescued
The 1954 Dodge Royal could have ended its life as scrap metal.
Instead, it lives again — powered by its original Red Ram Hemi, sitting wide and proud on custom wheels, carrying not just steel and chrome, but memories forged in a family workshop.
Some cars are restored.
Some are modified.
And then there are those that are saved — and given a second life better than the first.
This Dodge is one of them.
