Introduced as a full-size car in 1949, it was the division's highest trim line and moved to the lowest level starting in 1955 through 1959.

A limited production model was a four-door, eight-passenger limousine, an extended version of the stock Dodge Coronet which was related to the DeSoto Suburban.

[6] One of the most notable features of the first-generation Coronet was Chrysler's four forward-speed, a fluid-driven semi-automatic transmission that Dodge Division called Gyromatic.

After using the clutch and gear shift to select the high range, upshifts and downshifts were operated by the accelerator pedal on the floor.

[7][8] All Dodge vehicles received a facelift for 1950 but like the 1949 models were still divided into Wayfarer, Meadowbrook, and Coronet lines.

The Coronet Diplomat was Dodge's first hardtop coupe, featuring a pillarless steel roof styled after the contemporary Chrysler Newport.

[3] It gained an optional 241 cu in (3.9 L) "Red Ram"[10] Hemi Engine and set over 100 land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Bodies were restyled with help from newly hired Virgil Exner to be lower, wider, and longer than the lumpy prewar style, which in turn generated a healthy boost in sales over 1954.

Driven almost out of business in 1953 and 1954, the Chrysler Corporation was revived with a $250 million loan from Prudential and new models designed by Virgil Exner.

The only external clues were small crossed checkered flags and "500" lettering on its hood and lower rear deck.

With a compression ratio of 9.25:1, four-barrel Carter WCFB carburetor, and dual-point distribution, peak horsepower was 260 bhp (190 kW) while torque was a solid 330 lb⋅ft (450 N⋅m).

A pair of Carter four-barrel carburetors fed the 10.0:1 compression ratio to produce 340 bhp (250 kW), shared with the DeSoto Adventurer and the Chrysler 300C.

It came with many extra features at no cost, such as wall-to-wall deep pile carpeting, premium white wall tires and wheel covers, luxury fabrics and upgraded interior and electric windshield wipers.

To publicize Dodge's 'total contact' front dual-leading shoe drum brakes a JATO unit was fitted to a 1958 Coronet and driven at speed across the El Mirage dry lake.

These included premium white wall tires, full wheel covers, electric windshield wipers, as well as an upgraded interior with silver metallic vinyl and black "Manchu" fabric upholstery, dual arm rests and sun visors, as well as deep pile wall-to-wall carpeting.

[24][25] The Coronet reappeared for the 1965 model year as the intermediate-sized B-body using a 117-inch wheelbase, continuing what had been the Dodge Polara, which was once again full-size.

For 1965 only, Dodge also sold 101 units of a modified wheelbase version of the base Coronet two-door sedans and 440 hardtops specifically for NHRA drag racing.

The car A990 was stripped of all features and included lightweight base bucket seats from Dodge's A100 truck/van line of vehicles.

These altered wheelbase vehicles eventually became popularly known as "funny cars" due to their unique wheel spacing.

Slightly over 33,300 units were sold in 1965 and included as standard, a V8 engine (273 cubic inches), exterior trim and badging, bucket seats, padded dash, and chrome floor console.

Sales brochures list the 413 (its last year offered) as available, but no records exist of this engine, commonly used in Imperials, being installed in Coronets for 1965.

[30] Beginning in 1967, Chrysler decided that the Hemi should be available only in their badged muscle cars: the Dodge Charger, Coronet R/T, and the Plymouth Belvedere GTX.

The Coronet and similar Plymouth Belvedere received complete redesigns in 1968, as did the Dodge Charger, which shared the B-body platform.

In keeping with Dodge's position as a step above Plymouth, the Super Bee shared the Charger's Rallye instrument cluster and the Coronet 440's rear finish panel.

Chrysler displayed a convertible with Super Bee stripes at car shows in 1968, but never offered it as a production model.

The name "Super Bee" was derived from the "B" Body designation given Chrysler's mid-size cars which included the Coronet.

It was offered as a sedan and wagon, the related and also restyled Dodge Charger covering the coupe market.

Sales of the Coronet were low from this point onwards, with around 80–90,000 produced each year through 1973 (compared with 196,242 as recently as 1968), due both to the fuel crisis and to a proliferation of Dodge and Plymouth models, and the growing effect of overlap with the other Chrysler Corporation brands.

The sedan body style would be the basis of the later Coronets (and its twin, the Plymouth Fury) until the 1978 model year.

For 1975 the Coronet received a refreshed squarer-appearing body as well as a new front fascia with two round dual-beam headlights shared with its Plymouth Fury stablemate.