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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Well I never thought I'd be one of the lucky ones to find and buy a completley rust free all original unrestored 1958 plymouth sport suburban. This car has the original paint from 1958, which from a test I did will buff right out. The above pictures are as I found her sittin in this dry California garage since 1970. Has original black plates with tags from 1970 The underside of the car was unbeliveble no rust anywhere. I was able to come across this car thanks to Diesel45 and Perry who put me in touch with the owner, out of respect for the familys loss (original owner of the 58) I will keep their names confidential. I bought the car from the original owners daughter. Shes a very nice lady and had alot of memories with this car. I was happy to share my plans and passions for these cars with her, she was pleased. The story goes that at around 1970 the car was parked and had not moved since then. Essentially this is like Tulsa Time capsle only this time its a 38 years old since parked. The car has a 1962 Coca Cola bottle inside alog with an NFL newspaper headline about a chargers game dated 1969. I also found some sixties 9v batterys in the glove box that look still new along with the cars original owners manuel and a pack of matches from 1959. I could not have asked for a better car to company my 58 plymmie 2dr hardtop. This car is in great shape, the mileage on the Odometer reads 13,271 could it be actual miles? either way this car cleaned up pretty good. below are some pics as I found her in her 38 year old tomb and the last few pics show what some good car wash soap and some scrubby scrub can do. I will update more pics soon of the interior, motor, and buffed out pics of the paint soon.
stay tuned
Bad58mike
(tomb.JPG)
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Attachments ---------------- tomb.JPG (75KB - 270 downloads) tomb2.JPG (65KB - 225 downloads) tomb3.JPG (75KB - 220 downloads) tomb4.JPG (80KB - 217 downloads) tomb5.JPG (86KB - 216 downloads) cleanedup.JPG (83KB - 238 downloads) clean3.JPG (67KB - 211 downloads) clean2.JPG (67KB - 236 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | sorry for the typos above I typed it fast due to the excitment of it all. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | can't wait till there both in the same garage
(mycars1.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- mycars1.jpg (52KB - 228 downloads)
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 5139
Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA | hmmmmm--thats odd---just last week as i was reading obout Big M's wagon, i wondered if you could put the sport tside trim on a wagon---This sure answers that question!!Congrats on the treasure find Mike ................MO |
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Expert
Posts: 2011
Location: Ballwin, Missouri | OOOOOOHHH, WOOOOW !!!!!!!!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: Skaneateles,NY(summer)/Port St.Lucie,FL(winter) | I am almost as happy when someone else finds something like this, as I would be if I did. Absolutely gorgeous!!! My DeSoto was a find like this...stored, black plate, CA car. BEAUTIFUL wagon, with a beautiful color combination!!!... |
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Expert
Posts: 3577
Location: Blythewood, SC | That's incredible! She looks great just like she is too.
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Expert
Posts: 2244
Location: Yorba Linda, Ca | hmmmm, a wagon, are ya planning "A BIG FL Family", Mike? LOL be sure to buy a house that has at least a 3 car garage and 5 bedrooms
Gorgeous car, has the Dodge sold, and if so, where did she "Wind up"?
Gary |
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Expert
Posts: 1508
Location: new york | Congrats ! Great find! Very cool color ! That is COPPER DUST correct? Good Luck and HAPPY MOTORING Victor. |
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 13059
Location: Southern Sweden - Sturkö island | What a find! The car is really beautiful in that Copper tone. I'm happy for your find, hope that you will be able to use it soon. More pictures would be nice. |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
| Really nice.....so what's the story on the 65 SS parked next to it...:) |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7810
Location: Williams California | Great find, Mike!
It's become a rare occurrance these days to find a well preserved car, especially a station wagon, and to top that, a deluxe model!!! ---John |
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Expert
Posts: 2824
Location: Snohomish, WA. | Mike,
I'm curious why it was parked? Does it have a mechanical issue or was it just left till the battery died?
Mike |
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 6203
Location: Big pimpin' | SCORE!! Mike, nice find!! Rust free wagon...Don't get no better than that!!
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Expert
Posts: 1539
Location: Farnborough. Hampshire. England. | Hey Mike, congratulations on securing that beautiful wagon... Perry told me that the bonnet was badly creased due to the family forcing it open, because of frozen hinges, but I can't see any damage in your pics, was I misinformed?....... So, you finally got the wagon, it was worth the phone call eh ?
Don't know if you're aware, but Perry bought the Caprice for himself... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Thanks for all the comments guys, shes a real beauty and I'm very happy. I just want you all to know that since she has been well preserved I plan to keep her original and keep her original paint, I will have it buffed out to a shiny finish. There was a crease on ther hood but its amazing how metal has memory I took a rubber mallet to it and smacked it and she popped right back into place, problem solved ;). As far as the other car is concerned it was a 1965 chebbie caprice and was sold to Perry. I think what happened to the plymouth in 1970 as evidence from under the hood it as to why she was parked was a mess of oil every where especially under the hood. I think that what happened was that around 1970 Americ switched its cars from lead to unleaded gas and this car had the soft seats for lead. then when the owner started putting unleaded the seats weren't upgraded and the oil began to leak and the fan sprayed it under the hood to the fire wall etc.. Correct me if I'm wrong but thats what I think from the evidence. Gary no family anytime soon but she will come in handy As far as the dodge is concerned shes up on ebay at the moment and is up to $1700. Theres still 2 days and 20 some hours till the auction ends if anyone is interested. No reserve! Here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Coronet-CORONET-RARE-1958-DODG... |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Unleaded gas won't make an engine leak, but a 12yr old gasket will!
Sounds like an intake / valve cover / timing cover gasket or oil filter seal blew and started spraying. It was likely blown all around the engine compartment by the fan.
Fortuitous for you AND us. What a beauty! Mike I'd be interested if you ever decide to sell, I do love these wagons and that is a gorgeous example. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 781
Location: Montreal, Canada | Mike,
Congratulation. What a find I am nearly as excited as you are and fully understand your feeling toward this car. I remember how I felt when I first saw my '59 Dodge wagon. Since the car appears to be original, I hope you will document as much as possible how everything is on the car. I am sure we will all appreciate (Neil?)
I sure would like to see as many pictures as possible about the car. Why not make an album about her? Hope you can take photo of the engine bay, interior, dash etc. Being a station wagon guy all I can say is BRAVO, BRAVO and BRAVO!!!!!
Please keep us posted.
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Expert
Posts: 2490
Location: Kansas City, KS | Don't want to rain on anyone's parade but I have had several cars that blew oil everywhere like you described. Usually it is something like a busted piston or really burned up valves that cause the crankcase to pressurize and push out the oil. Hopefully it will be something easy like a bad main seal or an improperly seated oil filter. If the engine turns freely, you may want to prime it with oil and run a quick compression test. It should help narrow down if your trouble is internal or just a seal issue.
Congratulations on your find, sharp car!
Don |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | ok, that makes more sense, thats probably what happened. She'll be running soon, I'l be pulling her guts out and having them rebuilt |
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Expert
Posts: 3575
Location: Netherlands | Congrats Mike, very cool find!
I like the 'old and polished' finish on the wagon. Beautiful! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | So, these 58s didn't came all red&white from factory ? Seriously : I'm speachless that situations like this can still happen and build up the myth of finding classic American iron untouched. |
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Expert
Posts: 3951
Location: Bama | That is cool about finding that 'burban Mike. Good luck with the sale of the Dodge too |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 781
Location: Montreal, Canada | Mike, are the wheels silver? |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Just getting back, after a Holiday, from this insane asylum.
NICE car/find, Mike!
What a time capsule, it is.
You haven't even BEGUN to research it, yet!
Have you checked up/behind the glove box, for the Broadcast Sheet? Was the car built in L.A. ?
There may well be other B. Sheets, lying under the OEM carpeting, too.
Please post a pic of its Paint/Trim plate; if it was built in L.A., there will be a big-'ol masking-tape impression lying right across the middle of that P/T plate.
Check the brake pedal; a 13K mileage car should show almost no wear, on the inboard edges of the brake pedal.
GOD, there should be a 'plethora' ( a LOT) of factory grease pencil markings on and under the hood----maybe even a "Paint OK" stamping.
What a find......
Edited by d500neil 2008-07-07 8:03 PM
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | You got new tires on it, already; I thought I saw clear plastic seat covers on the front seat,
but 'no', huh?
After I got this car as clean and polished, as possible, I don't think that I'd go out
and buy all-new chrome trim for it, as all of it IS original to the car.
Edited by d500neil 2008-07-07 8:09 PM
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Location: Parts Unknown | This car appears to have a painted sweep and no Sportone inserts. Am I seeing this right ? I thought the Sportone inserts were standard fare on Sport Suburbans. Am I all washed up again ?
What a great find. Not too different than how we found the 56 Sierra just a couple years ago .... just quietly resting in the dark recesses of a garage. I had driven by that place hundreds, if not thousands of times - it is only 20 blocks from my place - and never once did I see the garage door open until that one day.
What does the interior look like ? If it only has 13K, those seats should look very fresh.
Maybe you can have it made into a Christine clone ? I hear it is a very popular thing to do these days. Making a 2 door hardtop out of it might be challenging, but there is a thread going now on some "competition" on who does these best ...
Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2008-07-07 8:16 PM
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | NO, NO, No NO, DOC: it should be a Christine WAGON. Now, them IS rare. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 781
Location: Montreal, Canada | You guys don't get it.
Mike should Kustomize that one, paint it flat black, lower her and turn it to a psychobilly devil's machine |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | hey Neil,
I will post pics of the build sheets and grease pencil markings next weekend when I see her again. The inside is in good shape and all original as well, the only thing that needs reapolstured is the front bench seat. The rest are ok. That original stuff looks cool. Well as I said before she will remain original and polished up to original condition. The sportone is painted white on the body except for the front fenders. On the front fenders their is inserts on a sheet of aluminum but painted white with no texture does this sound right? She was built in Los Angeles Ca (LP2L)and is the 10,428th car off the assembly line out of 12,385 sport burbans that year. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | bad58mike - 2008-07-08 9:06 PM
The sportone is painted white on the body except for the front fenders. On the front fenders their is inserts on a sheet of aluminum but painted white with no texture does this sound right?
********************************
Those inserts are steel on DeSotos. I guess this was some beancounter's way of keeping fenders from making two passes through the paint shop. I do not recall ever having a Plymouth with painted insert to have seen this on one of them. Hmmm ... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | Didn't knew about the inserts being painted additional steel on a car, no matter the brand. So, with enough skills for taking on and off the clips, you could have had 2 cars in 1, slide the inserts in for Sunday, slide them off for Monday Or you could make a 3rd generation of LaFemme with palette of individually purchased inserts color keyed to owner's dress |
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Expert
Posts: 1918
Location: Hell's Outhouse - a.k.a. Buckeye, Arizona | I've seen '58 Plymouths with and without the painted inserts - more without, though.
Jeebus, Mike - can't shake that find with a stick. That's one of the most untouched originals I've ever seen - and a top line (Bevy) 9 passenger grocery getter to boot. Can't wait to hear what kind of mysteries it holds. How's it fixed for options?
So, in true '50's fashion, you gonna make this one Christine's hubby? You know - the one who brings home the bacon?
(Grocery getter? Bacon? Get it? Well.....) |
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Expert
Posts: 1316
Location: Belgium, 40 miles south of Brussels | bad58mike - 2008-07-08 6:06 AM
On the front fenders their is inserts on a sheet of aluminum but painted white with no texture does this sound right?
She was built in Los Angeles Ca (LP2L)and is the 10,428th car off the assembly line out of 12,385 sport burbans that year. :cool:
Hi Mike,
Those steel/aluminum inserts are allright, my car does have them also, and she was built at the Los Angeles plant too.
Mine is LP2L 14089 built on December 6th, 1957.
BTW, extraordinary find you've got there, Mike, I'm green with envy ... And very happy for you.
Vincent
Edited by Chrome58 2008-07-08 2:19 PM
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | There might even-still be grease pencil markings on stuff like the rear axle housing, and paint dabs (probably white)
on the torsion bars, and on the differential carrier housing (to denote the gear-ratio).
Those fender-insert panels will be major points of interest/discussion.
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Expert
Posts: 3155
Location: NY & VT | WHAT A FIND!! It's like a rush from the past - my neighbors across the street back then had that EXACT same car, same color, same model...identical !!! I always liked the color, and I saw that car every day from '58 until they traded it on a new '65 Fury III hardtop in almost the same color combo... glad you plan to keep it that way!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Thanks Firedome,
Its in really nice shape I can't wait to get started on gettin her runnin again. |
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Member
Posts: 42
| Nice car Mike.......................congrats. I bet there are plenty of finds like this your way.
She's a beaut
What did you tell U Haul when they asked what you were putting on the trailer???
Edited by Tail feathers 2008-07-10 8:10 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | thanks, I told them I was putting a 58 plymouth wagon |
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Expert
Posts: 1444
Location: Oconomowoc Wi | No doubt that wagons are cool. Great find. now all you need is a vintage teardrop camper to pull. Did FL wagons ever come with luggage racks on the roof?
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Regular
Posts: 74
Location: Falicon 06 France | That is a nice found, any pics now with the paint buffed ? Is the engine running ? |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Mike, I think that I like your neighborhood better than the one where you got your car, and who was camara-shy
in that one early pic?
Was the car garaged very close to the ocean? Ir sure has extensive corosion on its pot metal & chrome surfaces.
Was its neighboring Chubbie also surface corroded?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Neil,
I agree on the neighborhood, mine is better The person I censored out in the early pic was the lady who sold me the car, I did not get her permission to post a picture of her. The car was enclosed in a San Diego Garage in CA. There is some pits on the chrome but most of it srubbed off with some dish soap and a sponge. I'm working on gettin her buffed out and runnin by summer 2009, with the wedding coming and saving for a house shes on the back burner for awhile but rest assure, shes safe in my garage and will be runnin next summer. The most important thing was picking her up and bringing her home step one. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Bart_59_Dodge - 2008-07-12 8:28 AM
No doubt that wagons are cool. Great find. Did FL wagons ever come with luggage racks on the roof?
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Yes, luggage racks were always an option. I am quite eager to find one for our Dodge.
(wagon 7-7-07 r side.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- wagon 7-7-07 r side.jpg (222KB - 193 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 4065
Location: Connecticut | Chrome58 - 2008-07-08 2:17 PM Mike, I'm green with envy ... And very happy for you. I'm Copper Glow with envy ! Although I can't be sure, I think the white-painted insert is an LA-only build feature. I know they did this on 55 Desotos. I'm also interested in what options the car has. Power windows maybe ? Since this car is LA built, it may have a data plate under the hood. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | ronbo97 - 2008-07-14 5:53 PM
Chrome58 - 2008-07-08 2:17 PM Mike, I'm green with envy ... And very happy for you. I'm Copper Glow with envy ! Although I can't be sure, I think the white-painted insert is an LA-only build feature. I know they did this on 55 Desotos. I'm also interested in what options the car has. Power windows maybe ? Since this car is LA built, it may have a data plate under the hood.
******************************
That bronze-copper color is breathtaking. Especially with black or charcoal.
Those fender color inserts were used on DeSotos at least through 1958, and were done at Detroit. I am unsure about L.A. production |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
Posts: 19146
Location: bishop, ca | Mike, congratulations on getting married.
Although it is impossible to understand women (remember that funny-pic comparing the control-knobs on a device, for women (a
multitude of types and styles) and for men (about 2-3 knobs) the best advice I've seen is the simple statement: Women marry
men, thinking/assuming that they WILL (be able to) change a man, and his behavior; ; a man thinks/assumes that the woman he
marries WILL NOT change (emotionally, or physically).
And, of course, they're BOTH wrong.
The trick is being able to maintain common shared interests, as you both continue to evolve throughout your lives.
So, does she like, or tolerate, your olde cars?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 395
Location: upstate new york | nice find....i'm jealous,,,can't find anything like that in new york..... |
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Expert
Posts: 1590
Location: Scottsdale, AZ | Great find Mike, and a well prreserved one at that! I love these FL wagons and hope to get one someday. |
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Veteran
Posts: 295
Location: Tallapoosa, GA | Hey Mike! CONGRATS on such a cool find!!! Wow, that's an unbelieveably clean car! Guess it just goes to show us all that there
are STILL some great finds out there yet. LOVE that Christine Car too!!! It's seeing this kinda stuff that really motivates me to
get mine done!! Major Kudos!
Cheers! |
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Veteran
Posts: 273
Location: Los Angeles, Ca | This is the kind of story that folk lore is made from. I hope you took a lot of pics as you removed this car from its long dormant resting place. Good luck with your wedding and this car, too. will it be "her" wedding present? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Thanks, we will definetly have some fun with the wagon and family someday, in the meantime I'll work on gettin her runnin. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 990
| Yes, follow Neil's advice.
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Veteran
Posts: 139
Location: Central Kentucky | The kind of find we all wish we could make. Can't be too many more like that out there any more.
Excellent!!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 195
Location: New Philadelphia, Ohio | Man! What I'd do to find a car like that stored away somewhere! Great find! That's AWESOME!!!!!Good luck, and have fun with it!
Ripper |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 449
Location: jersey | This is the car i just purchased a few months ago. Great to see these pics! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 726
Location: Some Island called Prince Edward | Can you post some pics of how it looks now? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Hi Eric, I was wondering what happened to this car. I sold it to a guy in New York, when I recently talk to him he said he had sold it. Glad to see you are her new owner. I'd love to see how she looks now if you dont mind. Its fun to find cars you've had turn up from time to time. Congrats on your purchase, I did not want to sell her but had to at the time to buy my first house. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 449
Location: jersey | It looks exactly the same right now. The guy i got it from had the engine/trans rebuilt, and thats about it. They were never installed. The car will sit for awhile, as i have a '58 chevy wagon i'm working on. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1150
Location: Southern California | Hi Eric I think you have your priorities confused, Mopar before Chevys |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 449
Location: jersey | Ha. I got the chevy in oct '08 and am already to far into the project to stop.
Plans for the plymouth will be a mild 383 dress out like a golden commando. Due to a new kit on the market i will be able to use a later model t-flite and keep the pushbuttons. |
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Regular
Posts: 96
Location: Glen Rock PA | Very nice, thanks for sharing
Regards, |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 449
Location: jersey | What the Mike Heredia, Joe Caldwell wagon looks like now.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 424
Location: Harrison, NY | Hi there Eric and Mike. I really looked foward to finishing that "Burban" as it was a real rust free 58. I had the Motor and Trans rebuilt soup to nut's. I then bought NOS complete front end, rebuilt power steering box and was moving along. I really got caught up in building my "Christine" as well as my 68 Charger "Bullitt" so money need to be spead between these 2 car's therefore I gave Eric the really great deal on the Wagon. I saw the car in Carlilse and I was amazed on the job Jim Rawa "Furyjim" did for Eric. I looks great. The only thing is the 413cu in I would have put the orig 318 I had rebuilt along with a Dual Quad set up! LOL. Best of Luck Eric, Joe C NY |
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