Too much doom and gloom to go around, so I thought I would share my new baby with y'all! My new 1955 Dodge Coronet 500 factory sleeper! picked this up at auction, wasn't really looking for any one thing, but I saw this from across the lot and practically screamed "Take my Money" and started bidding! There were a couple of folks bidding and it stalled pretty quick and I got it for what I believe to be a smokin deal! It dosnt run currently, but it's got good bones and,.,............... It's got a Hemi!!! It's kinda rare, a factory basic car, no options, save for the big dog 325 inch Hemi engine and 4 barrel! She shows signs of flood damage but it's so minor I can work with it easy enough, it smells like an old car, not rancid or rotting, so I doubt the damage is that bad! Should clean up purty and run once I figure out what it needs and give it some luvin! Will let ya know how it turns out! Course l, it's got a Hemi, so it's gotta get an earth shaking duel exhaust, loud and proud like, though not too loud! Maybe a set of old school glass packs and big mouth exhaust tips! The body is damn near flawless, along with all the shiney bits, so that really made the deal all the sweater!
Nice, keep us posted on the restoration! I'm currently trying to get started on resurrecting my father-in-laws 96 F150. Nothing fancy with it, just some memories for my wife and I, and the fact that my son want's it to be his truck when he starts driving.
Was finally able to wade through all the factory records and get the exact specs of this car. Wasn't sure if someone had done some swapage or was trying to pass it off as something it ain't, turns out it's legit, but with a few unique twists! Firstly, all Coronets we're available with any engine, just had to tick the right box, ether the dealer did it or the buyer ordered it that way. This was special ordered with the Super Red Ram Hemi engine option, which was the very top of the range, it has the 4 barrel carb and factory Ramchargers intake manifold, it originally had a duel quad setup, but somewhere along the way, it got swapped to the almost equally rare alloy single quad. It also had the factory duel exhaust, heavy duty cooling, and upgraded brakes and suspension. Not bad for a "business couple" which is fancy speak for base model. The body trim is the catch, if it had been a factory spec car, the trim would have been different and the paint would have been a three tone, the side trim was only available as an option, but not on the base model, so it was ether ordered this way, or some one that knew what they were doing ordered it like this! It also has some option pieces in boxes in the trunk, including Lancer and Royal trim pieces and two sets of hubcaps, including the Royal Lancer 500 editions, which by themselves are worth a mint! I'm not keeping any of it except the headlight bezels, those will make it look a little more agressive and cool! Need to dig out my Mopar Cop wheels I had for my Challenger and see if they fit the Coronet if they do, that would be awesome as heck, strip them down and re paint them to match this car and find some nice trim rings and use the base model hub caps for a subtle trick look!
Still digging into the engine specs for this option, it was a one year only deal, and there are several sources that quote different specs, depending on the car and if it was a factory or dealer upgrade! So far, it all seems to point to a factory optioned rig, so that means a 300 HP 325 inch Super Red Ram Hemi with Ramchargers highrise Dual Quad factory intake ( which was available both factory or dealer option) duel exhaust, duel points distributor, and heavy cooling. It also has the heavy rear axle and springs, but odd ball tall highway gears! It could have been a factory drag car, but the gears are all wrong, and it should have had a manual trans, not an automatic.
Sa-weet ,,,,,, that's a good looking solid real metal car there . What's the factory weight on her ???
That's sweet, probably about as heavy as a tank. LOL. As much as I'd like to buy a 50's era vehicle, I just don't have the space or time to take on another project. I have plenty of vehicles already in the driveway. Congratulations on the RIDE!
Well, good news, she runs! Took a bit of work, but that's to be expected of something this old, fired right up once I got fuel to the carb and a fresh battery installed, had a few 'letric gremlins to figure out, but she runs and sounds really strong! Carb needs cleaned out and adjusted, but other then that, I'm happy! Shifted into gear and she lurched forward, same with reverse, so we know the trans is likely good! No brakes yet, that's a biggy! Taking a trip to see my most favorite old car parts guy at his closed by appointment only yard! Called him up to see what he has sitting around and he just said bring a wheelbarrow full of cash and a couple of pickup trucks, which I take to him saying he has a bunch of cool stuff I can't live with out, though I need to watch him like a hawk, the last visit saw a 46 Powereagon follow me home! Lol Need to convert the electrical system over to 12 volts, negative ground, these old positive ground 6 volt systems can be finicky, and it will be a good thing to get the generator converted over to a high output alternator running the right direction. BTW, the power steering works, Yeah!!!
Ya aught to see what my bro just scored here! A beautiful 1956 DeSoto Fire Flyte coupe! It's complete and runs, and has all the parts, though the interior is all out of it, it's all there! He needed a project since he sold his Mustang, and with the kiddos old enough to help and excited enough, he made the deal!
Boy am I in trouble! LOL Managed to score all the parts I was wanting/looking for, did some horse trading with the boxes of parts I don't need, and were loading everything up now, Plus, the above score for my brother and kids! If I had known about the Desoto I might have bought it for my self, but NAW, I'm super stoked with this Dodge. Managed to score an original Ramchargers Alloy Duel quad manifold WITH the correct Carter AFB carbs, linkage and air cleaners, Also scored a set of 57 Imperial air cleaners ( Which I think will look better on my engine) a rare Moon brand engine valley cover plate with oil fill tube and cap, and a really rare set of ACLO cast aluminum valve covers with the factory script and logos with the spark plug wire covers. Picked up a Royal Lancer Steering wheel with horn ring, both are mint and perfect, a few interior trim pieces and a super clean alloy dash insert ( Mines a stock steel/painted one) and a few odds and ends I wanted to replace or add. Scored a 56 Imperial windshield mirror with arm and mount, the duel radio antennas for the rear fenders, and a new stainless cowl vent insert! Finally, scored a vintage set of "Flame Thrower" fog lights with bumper mount, all are in exceptional shape, so i'm not even going to bitch at how much I just spent, he wasn't kidding when he said to bring a wheelbarrow of cash! I think between my Brother and I, we just covered his costs for the year! I cant believe the score my Brother made on that Desoto, you just don't see them around at all, not even at the car shows, I don't remember ever seeing one, especially a 2 door coupe, and in really great shape, should clean up really nice! Yea, it's also got a Hemi, a 331 bruiser!
I just talked my self into going back to that old wreck Imperial and buying the bucket seats and center console out of it! Redone to match the Dodge, should be really slick and comfortable! We're still going nuts digging through all the hidden treasures, and "Special Stashes" and finding more and more cool stuff we didn't know we needed! Wife is sitting on the porch sipping iced tea with the owners wife no telling what sort of plot they are hatching against me for later! Lol
yea, that should work! My Wife would kill me if I tried to pull something like that! This might require diamonds!
Yea ,, I tried that one year for valentine's day . I had to jump on the bike and get out of there . I spent the rest of the night at the bar ,, She had mentioned wanting another vacuum cleaner earlier. I thought we were at that point in the relationship. I was wrong ,,, looking back now ,,, that may have been the beginning of the end . Which actually worked out for the better.
While read this thread , I was thinking in the back of the mind , are these two guys hiding all this stuff or have they already bought the their girls treats ?? But you posted it on #17 Sloth
I learned to keep the treat bank balance in the black, that way I can get away with more then I probably should! Lol Flowers don't cut it, depending on how big I go, it could cost me big, last I one cost me a fur coat, and we're not taking Coyote!
