59 Custom Royal help needed.
imopar380
Posted 2008-12-20 12:39 AM (#156170)
Subject: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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Neil, or anyone else who can help, I got this email thru WPC.  I wrote an article for the Dec issue on the Canadian FL cars,   and this is the first reponse I have had on the article.    I am sure the car is a Canadian build because of the engine # having " MC1" stamped on it.  My former 1960 Polara had  "PC1"  stamped on the block.     

 

Hi Ian,
 
   Just received the December 2008 WPC News magazine with your neat article included. 


   I have a 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer, 2-door hardtop which is totally restored.  I had been puzzled regarding the engine having a 2-barrel carb because all USA Custom Royal Lancers came standard 361 cu. in. with a 4-barrel carb.   A few years ago I sent for a Build sheet from the Chrysler Historical Society.  They called stating, the serial number had been miscopied.  Since I didnt think so, they requested I send a photo of the serial number.  To make a long story short, they called again saying they thought my Dodge was assembled at the Windsor plant in Canada, that it definitely wasnt US made. Until reading your article, had given up hope of ever getting any further information regarding my vehicle.
   Could you possibly get me in touch with an entity for more information, specifically a Build sheet?  My car has the following numbers:
                                                       Model MD3 H23
                                                       Body 90
                                                       Ser.# M359100397
                                                       Engine# MC1V-5411C
   Thanks so much for your article and any help you can give.
 
           
                                                   Sincerely,  Robert Singley  WPC# 10122
                                                   Singley2004@yahoo.com

 

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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-20 5:39 AM (#156174 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: RE: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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imopar380 - 2008-12-19 9:39 PM

Neil, or anyone else who can help, I got this email thru WPC.  I wrote an article for the Dec issue on the Canadian FL cars,   and this is the first reponse I have had on the article.    I am sure the car is a Canadian build because of the engine # having " MC1" stamped on it.  My former 1960 Polara had  "PC1"  stamped on the block.     

 

Hi Ian,
 
   Just received the December 2008 WPC News magazine with your neat article included. 


   I have a 1959 Dodge Custom Royal Lancer, 2-door hardtop which is totally restored.  I had been puzzled regarding the engine having a 2-barrel carb because all USA Custom Royal Lancers came standard 361 cu. in. with a 4-barrel carb.   A few years ago I sent for a Build sheet from the Chrysler Historical Society.  They called stating, the serial number had been miscopied.  Since I didnt think so, they requested I send a photo of the serial number.  To make a long story short, they called again saying they thought my Dodge was assembled at the Windsor plant in Canada, that it definitely wasnt US made. Until reading your article, had given up hope of ever getting any further information regarding my vehicle.
   Could you possibly get me in touch with an entity for more information, specifically a Build sheet?  My car has the following numbers:
                                                       Model MD3 H23
                                                       Body 90
                                                       Ser.# M359100397
                                                       Engine# MC1V-5411C
   Thanks so much for your article and any help you can give.
 
           
                                                   Sincerely,  Robert Singley  WPC# 10122
                                                   Singley2004@yahoo.com

 



Wow - a very early production Canadian-built 1959 Custom Royal.

Model MD3 H23
Body 90
Ser.# M359100397
Engine# MC1V-5411C

Ser.# M359100397
M - 1959 model year
3 - Dodge
5 - Custom Royal
9 - Windsor, ON assembly plant
100397 - 397th 1959 Dodge Custom Royal built at Windsor. (All hardtops and sedans)

Model MD3 H23
M - 1959
D - Dodge
3 - 361-cid V8 standard engine
H - Custom Royal
2 - 2-door
3 - hardtop

Body 90
90th 1959 Dodge Custom Royal 2-door hardtop built at Windsor, ON


Engine# MC1V-5411C
M - 1959
C - Chrysler
1 - Windsor
V - V8 engine
5411 - 4,411 V8 engine built
(361 and 383 engines were numbered sequentially as a group)
C - Built in Canada

Needless to say, the engine is not original. The original engine would have started with "MD3". And the sequential number would have been closer to 2000 than 5000.

As for build records, they were destroyed over 40 years ago. Unlike Chrysler in Detroit, Chrysler of Canada had no one around who had an interest in history and saved old records from destruction.

Too bad he did not include the colour codes. He might be a bit surprised at the colours the car had when it rolled off the factory assembly line.
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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-20 10:21 AM (#156183 - in reply to #156174)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


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I disagree with you Bill, about this car's engine. It's one hell of a coincedence that the car in question happens to have the MC1 engine, and so does my Canadian built '59 CR. On top of that, like Ian said, his '60 had a PC1 engine stamping. I believe these cars came this way from the factory. They are an engine "borrowed" from the Windsor, anyway, right? Just as the case was for the '58 Canadian CR, with it's Saratoga 354. This is my CR's codes:
serial # M359103062
MODEL # M-D-3-H-41
BODY # 1665
PAINT CODE ZXX
TRIM CODE MLC
My '58 CR engine code does line up with the US cars, it's LD3...but maybe something changed in '59. If it's one thing I've learned about Chrysler codes, they don't always have any obvious rhyme or reason to them.
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imopar380
Posted 2008-12-20 12:16 PM (#156196 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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Bill, I would also disagree about the engine replacement, as Jeff said above, his 59 CR has a Chrysler engine # stamp as does my former 1960 Polara, which has the original engine, stamped PC1-9193C.  Bill I am also confused about the statement the car was the 397th built in Windsor for 1959, from the VIN# and then later the statment that it was  (Body 90)  - 90th 1959 Dodge Custom Royal 2-door hardtop built at Windsor, ON <br />

Edited by imopar380 2008-12-20 12:22 PM
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FinFan
Posted 2008-12-20 1:27 PM (#156197 - in reply to #156196)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


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imopar380 - 2008-12-20 6:16 PM
Bill I am also confused about the statement the car was the 397th built in Windsor for 1959, from the VIN# and then later the statment that it was  (Body 90)  - 90th 1959 Dodge Custom Royal 2-door hardtop built at Windsor, ON


For me it goes like that : they built 397 cars so far in 1959, but it's total number of mixed body types (and models ? ). Only 90 from that 397 were Custom ROyal 2 dr hdtps so far, so this one is the 90th one
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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-20 1:48 PM (#156198 - in reply to #156196)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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imopar380 - 2008-12-20 9:16 AM

Bill, I would also disagree about the engine replacement, as Jeff said above, his 59 CR has a Chrysler engine # stamp as does my former 1960 Polara, which has the original engine, stamped PC1-9193C.  Bill I am also confused about the statement the car was the 397th built in Windsor for 1959, from the VIN# and then later the statment that it was  (Body 90)  - 90th 1959 Dodge Custom Royal 2-door hardtop built at Windsor, ON


The Windsor plant built Custom 2-door hardtops, 4-door hardtops, and 4-door sedans. Of the 397 built, 90 were 2-door hardtops. The rest were 4-door hardtops and sedans.

As to the engine number, that would make sense. I know after 1960 there were no Dodge Polaras or DeSotos so all big engines were RC, SC, TC and VC as only the Chrysler used the 361, 383, and (from 1963) 413 engines as standard equipment.

The 1959 Plymouths and small Dodges did not use MP or MD, just M for the six and MV for the V8. So it would make sense the bigger cars would all use MCV - they all were in the same sequence anyway.

I stand corrected.

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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-20 2:04 PM (#156199 - in reply to #156183)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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58dodgeregent - 2008-12-20 7:21 AM

I disagree with you Bill, about this car's engine. It's one hell of a coincedence that the car in question happens to have the MC1 engine, and so does my Canadian built '59 CR. On top of that, like Ian said, his '60 had a PC1 engine stamping. I believe these cars came this way from the factory. They are an engine "borrowed" from the Windsor, anyway, right? Just as the case was for the '58 Canadian CR, with it's Saratoga 354. This is my CR's codes:
serial # M359103062
MODEL # M-D-3-H-41
BODY # 1665
PAINT CODE ZXX
TRIM CODE MLC
My '58 CR engine code does line up with the US cars, it's LD3...but maybe something changed in '59. If it's one thing I've learned about Chrysler codes, they don't always have any obvious rhyme or reason to them.


I do know the 1958 engine codes were LD3 (Custom Royal), LS2 (Firedome) and LC2 (Windsor). The 1958 parts book specifically lists engine numbers with those prefixes and I have seen engines and sales invoices with them as well.

The 1959 parts book is not as clear as the 1958 book which specifically list the above codes as the engine number prefixes. The 1959 book lists the codes, but does not directly attach it to the engine number. If you were searching the 1958 book and then looked at the 1959 book you might get the idea it did. But as I stated in my reply to Ian, it appears things changed for the D, S, and C car lines for 1959.

By the way, your car shows how strong 4-door sedan sales were in Canada (and how cheap Canadians were?). Your car was the 3,062nd 1959 Custom Royal built in Canada and the 1,665th 4-door sedan.

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imopar380
Posted 2008-12-20 2:59 PM (#156200 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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Bill, as always thanks for the help on this stuff. I Have asked the owner of the car to take a look at this thread and possibly join in, and also asked him to email me some photos if possible. He is a WPC member.
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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-21 12:02 PM (#156312 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


100010010025
This is interesting stuff! Yes thanks to Bill and Ian for the input. I'd sure like to see pics of this car. We need more Canadians on here! Especially since the Canadian cars have so much mystery about them, and if the records were destroyed the only 'proof' we have left is the few cars that are left.
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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-21 12:05 PM (#156313 - in reply to #156199)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


100010010025
Chrycoman - 2008-12-21 12:04 PM

58dodgeregent - 2008-12-20 7:21 AM

I disagree with you Bill, about this car's engine. It's one hell of a coincedence that the car in question happens to have the MC1 engine, and so does my Canadian built '59 CR. On top of that, like Ian said, his '60 had a PC1 engine stamping. I believe these cars came this way from the factory. They are an engine "borrowed" from the Windsor, anyway, right? Just as the case was for the '58 Canadian CR, with it's Saratoga 354. This is my CR's codes:
serial # M359103062
MODEL # M-D-3-H-41
BODY # 1665
PAINT CODE ZXX
TRIM CODE MLC
My '58 CR engine code does line up with the US cars, it's LD3...but maybe something changed in '59. If it's one thing I've learned about Chrysler codes, they don't always have any obvious rhyme or reason to them.


I do know the 1958 engine codes were LD3 (Custom Royal), LS2 (Firedome) and LC2 (Windsor). The 1958 parts book specifically lists engine numbers with those prefixes and I have seen engines and sales invoices with them as well.

The 1959 parts book is not as clear as the 1958 book which specifically list the above codes as the engine number prefixes. The 1959 book lists the codes, but does not directly attach it to the engine number. If you were searching the 1958 book and then looked at the 1959 book you might get the idea it did. But as I stated in my reply to Ian, it appears things changed for the D, S, and C car lines for 1959.

By the way, your car shows how strong 4-door sedan sales were in Canada (and how cheap Canadians were?). Your car was the 3,062nd 1959 Custom Royal built in Canada and the 1,665th 4-door sedan.



Bill, that is a fascinating observation, I assume you mean that 4 door sedans were cheaper to buy than hardtops? That does make sense, for sure. The original owner must have been really cheap, he didn't even want power steering or brakes on a big Custom Royal.
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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-21 12:08 PM (#156315 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


100010010025
The other thing I realized is my 57-9 Canadian shop manual set lists the 59 CR engine code as MD3...If my memory serves, I have to double check that...but maybe they are an early printing, or Chrysler just didn't bother correcting it.
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59 Togamaster
Posted 2008-12-21 10:19 PM (#156367 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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Ian a wonderfully writen article. You should be very proud of your hard work!!
Well done!!
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imopar380
Posted 2008-12-21 10:57 PM (#156370 - in reply to #156367)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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59 Togamaster - 2008-12-21 7:19 PM Ian a wonderfully writen article. You should be very proud of your hard work!! Well done!!

Thanks,  I've been thinking about doing it for several years,  and finally this fall I took a week of evenings and put it together.   As the disclaimer says, there are probably lots of mistakes.    For those of you who have no idea what we're talking about,  I wrote an article for the WPC News on Canadian FL cars from 1957-1961 which is in the December WPC News.  I haven't even received my copy yet.    



Edited by imopar380 2008-12-21 10:58 PM
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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-22 7:29 AM (#156397 - in reply to #156313)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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58dodgeregent - 2008-12-21 9:05 AM

Bill, that is a fascinating observation, I assume you mean that 4 door sedans were cheaper to buy than hardtops? That does make sense, for sure. The original owner must have been really cheap, he didn't even want power steering or brakes on a big Custom Royal.


Yes, 4 door sedans were the cheapest model for the Custom Royal, DeSoto and Chrysler models.

My father purchase his first new car in 1965 - a Dodge 330 sedan with a slant six engine. The only options on it were Torqueflite and a block heater. Heater, outside driver's mirror and seat belts were standard. He had the dealer install backup lights after a neighbour purchased a new 1965 Dodge Polara 880 4 door hardtop. The Canadian 1965 Dodge 330 was basically a Polara with Savoy (Fury I in the U.S.) interior.

His next new car was a 1970 Polara, which he ordered from the dealer, again with slant six engine. This time his options were Torqueflite, block heater, side protective vinyl mouldings and body-coloured wheels.

No radio, no power steering, no power brakes and no wheel covers on either car.

Bill
Vancouver, BC
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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-22 10:21 AM (#156401 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


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Bill, I'll have to check your article out, good for you. You know, I've noticed a lot of history books are incorrect too...look at the Standard catalouge of '50s Chrysler, for example...he's dead wrong on some of that, and all he would have had to do is consult this forum. What's worse is I have GM truck history books that are wrong, on fairly obvious things...like calling a truck in a picture a short box when it's a long box...that's REALLY bad considering how common they are!!

So Chrysler cars go way back for you, that's neat. I have a 59 Regent that I believe has only one option, a passenger side visor, if that is even optional? As for the side trim, not sure about that either if any cars left the factory without any trim?
It doesn't even have a cigarette lighter!

Edited by 58dodgeregent 2008-12-22 10:28 AM




(59 ven 001.jpg)



(59 ven 002.jpg)



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Attachments 59 ven 001.jpg (138KB - 334 downloads)
Attachments 59 ven 002.jpg (119KB - 249 downloads)
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wbower3
Posted 2008-12-22 1:22 PM (#156414 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


Walter passed away on Jul 29, 2014. We will miss you, Walt!

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Ian, I went to my family's Christmas Gathering last night at my brother's home. While all the neices and nephews, children and grandchildren were playng "Dirty Santa", I read and re-read parts of your article. Kudos on a well done job, Even and old man like me could understand what you wrote. Well done. Walt
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imopar380
Posted 2008-12-22 2:52 PM (#156425 - in reply to #156414)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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wbower3 - 2008-12-22 10:22 AM Ian, I went to my family's Christmas Gathering last night at my brother's home. While all the neices and nephews, children and grandchildren were playng "Dirty Santa", I read and re-read parts of your article. Kudos on a well done job, Even and old man like me could understand what you wrote. Well done. Walt

Thanks Walt.  BTW,  did your package of locks  get there yet ?

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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-23 1:24 AM (#156470 - in reply to #156401)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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58dodgeregent - 2008-12-22 7:21 AM

So Chrysler cars go way back for you, that's neat. I have a 59 Regent that I believe has only one option, a passenger side visor, if that is even optional? As for the side trim, not sure about that either if any cars left the factory without any trim?
It doesn't even have a cigarette lighter!



The right sun visor was standard, but the heater was optional, believe it or not. That side trim was the standard issue on the 1959 Regent. I guess they got too many complaints about the barren sides of the 1957-58 models. The same complaint was raised about the trimless sides of the 1963 Plymouth Savoy and Dodge 220. So Chrysler of Canada came up with a simple trim package based on the Belvedere/330 side trim.

Other options for the 1959 Regent that were standard on the other series -
rear arm rests
rear ashtray (back of front seat)
cigar lighter
drip rail moulding
Sportone moulding (short, butterknife shaped trim below the main trim from the front fender to almost the rear edge of the rear door on the 4 door models.)

Glove box lock, back up lights, rear quarter stone shield, and wheel covers were optional on the Regent and Mayfair, standard on Viscount and Custom Royal.

And to fill out the list, power brakes, power steering, radio, shaded Solex windshield, whitewall tires, nylon tubeless tires, inside prismatic rear view mirror, exterior rear view mirrors, clock, variable speed winshield wipers, windshield washer, engine block heater, hand brake warning light, glove box light, under hood light, trunk light, seat belts, fender skirts, H-D suspension, H-D battery, H-D generator or alternator, deluxe steering wheel, and taxicab package on sedans. Electric windows were available only on Custom Royal and Viscount, and the Viscount could be had with the `Sport Deck` trunk. Most were factory installed and others dealer installed only.

The original base price, F.O.B. Windsor, for the 251-cid 6-cylinder 2-door sedan was $2,795 (3,395 lbs.) and the 2-bbl 313-cid V8 was $2,866 (3,515 lbs.). The only power option on the Regent, Mayfair and Viscount was the Power Pak on the V8 - a 4-bbl carb along with dual exhaust. Transmission options were overdrive (6 & V8), Powerflite (6 & V8), and Torqueflite (V8 only). The Custom Royal models came with Torqueflite as standard equipment.

1959 was a pivotal year, being the last year of body and frame construction (except Imperial), last year of the flathead six in cars, first year for non-make specific engine numbers and the year the Chrysler-Plymouth-Fargo and Dodge-DeSoto Divisions were laid to rest.

Chrysler of Canada was not doing well as far as sales went after 1956 (105,567 for 1956, 77,708 - 1957, 42,555 -1958 and 44,286 - 1959) and by 1959 I suspect they were in the red. Thus the two sales divisions were eliminated and one sales group set up. The division names, though, would appear in print for 1960 one last time. I wonder if the decision to kill the DeSoto and big Dodge in Canada and replace those lines with the Chrysler at Dodge dealers was made during 1959. It goes with the adoption of MC1 and MC2 for the engine number prefixes.

My father had a few Chryco products before 1965, but they were all bought used - 1940 Plymouth Custom (1950), 1950 Dodge Special DeLuxe (1954) and 1955 Dodge Regent (1958) with Powerflite. After the 1955 Dodge came a 1960 Chevrolet BelAir (1962) as he did not like the fins on the 1960 Dodges, while his first car was a 1931 Graham Special Six (1940) and his second a 1936 Graham Supercharger (1941). All were 4-door sedans. After 1970 came a 1974 Dodge Coronet Custom, 1979 Chrysler LeBaron and 1989 Chrysler Dynasty. He stopped driving about 5 years ago at the age of 86.

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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-27 10:17 AM (#156917 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


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Thanks Bill! You are a wealth of information. So even though technically a heater was an option, I'm guessing there was never a car sold in Alberta at least that didn't have it! I think 1959 was also significant in that it was the last year of the Regent, Custom Royal names, and really the last of the Plodges, exterior sheetmetal-wise anyway.
Here's a question for you, what was the first year of the Crusader? Allpar is incorrect in whatever year they say was the first year, as I own a 1949 Crusader. That model seems to be all but forgotten in history. I've seen one other one, a '58 I think, at a junkyard.
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sparky7
Posted 2008-12-27 6:31 PM (#156967 - in reply to #156401)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


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Looks like the Canadian version of the Silver Challenger.

Sparky
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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-28 3:40 AM (#157015 - in reply to #156917)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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58dodgeregent - 2008-12-27 7:17 AM

Thanks Bill! You are a wealth of information. So even though technically a heater was an option, I'm guessing there was never a car sold in Alberta at least that didn't have it! I think 1959 was also significant in that it was the last year of the Regent, Custom Royal names, and really the last of the Plodges, exterior sheetmetal-wise anyway.
Here's a question for you, what was the first year of the Crusader? Allpar is incorrect in whatever year they say was the first year, as I own a 1949 Crusader. That model seems to be all but forgotten in history. I've seen one other one, a '58 I think, at a junkyard.


Even though cars before WW II were sold without heaters, back when aftermarket heaters were common, I cannot imagine anyone in Canada ordering a car without one! The purpose of having the heater optional was to lower the advertised base price of the vehicle. Just as in the 1930's the right taillight, sun visor and windshield wiper were optional on many cars and prior to 1937 some makes listed such things as bumpers and spare tires as "mandatory options", all to make the car as low priced as possible.

As to the Crusader name, it first appeared on a Dodge in 1951, the same year the Regent and Mayfair appeared and Dodge brought back the Kingsway name, first used in Canada for 1940-41. The 1951 series lineup was -

D39 : Kingsway (111" wb) - business coupe, 2-door fastback sedan, Suburban wagon and Savoy wagon
D40-1 : Crusader (118.5" wb) - club coupe, 4-door sedan
D40-2 : Regent (118.5" wb) - club coupe, 4-door sedan, 2-door Mayfair hardtop
D42 : Coronet (123.5 wb) - club coupe, 4-door sedan; (137.5" wb) - 8-pass. LWB sedan

The Savoy wagon had the trim and interior of the Regent while the other Kingsway models were similar to the Crusader. The Canadian Dodge names were the equivalent of the Plymouth's Concord, Cambridge, Cranbrook and Belvedere.

The 1949 Dodge line-up in Canada was -

D31 : DeLuxe (111" wb) - business coupe, 2-door fastback sedan, Suburban wagon
D32-1 : DeLuxe (118.5" wb) - club coupe, 4-door sedan
D32-2 : Special DeLuxe (118.5" wb) - club coupe, 4-door sedan
D30 : Custom (123.5 wb) - club coupe, 4-door sedan; (137.5" wb) - 8-pass. LWB sedan

For 1950 the model numbers were D35, D36-1, D36-2, and D34.

The 1951 Dodge Coronet also offered the imported convertible and Diplomat hardtop. The first Plymouth-based Dodge convertible in Canada since 1934 appeared for 1954 in the Mayfair series - imported from Detroit.

For 1953 the Kingsway was dropped and the line-up was Crusader and Regent, with the Mayfair hardtop in the Regent series. In April, 1953, the Mayfair became a full series (D43-3) with a 4-door sedan and 2-door (nameless) hardtop. The Regent-based hardtop was dropped. Plymouth did the same with the Belvedere. The engine size was increased from 218.1 to 228.0 and Hy-Drive was introduced as an option. The 1953 Coronet in Canada was built only as a 4-door sedan and came only with the hemi V8.

The last Crusader was built for 1958 with the last Regent and Mayfair models built in 1959. The Viscount was available only in 1959. For 1960-61, the Dart line-up was Seneca, Pioneer and Phoenix, the equivalent of 1959's Regent, Mayfair and Viscount.

As for your 1949 Crusader, what is the model number? It will be stamped on the body plate under the hood which will also have the body number, body colour and interior trim code.

If it is a 1949 model and has a "Crusader" nameplate on it, the nameplate is not original.

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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-29 11:19 AM (#157107 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


100010010025
Here's the numbers on my car: D40 - 1 4 DR
1993
4203
DAB
This car shows no evidence of any body part swapping, and definitely is a Plymouth body with a Dodge hood, grille, etc. The original colour under the emblems is shiny and new-looking, and both emblems were there.



(crusader and valensuala 002.jpg)



(crusader 001.jpg)



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Attachments crusader and valensuala 002.jpg (129KB - 440 downloads)
Attachments crusader 001.jpg (173KB - 363 downloads)
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Chrycoman
Posted 2008-12-30 4:10 AM (#157204 - in reply to #157107)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



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58dodgeregent - 2008-12-29 8:19 AM

Here's the numbers on my car: D40 - 1 4 DR
1993
4203
DAB
This car shows no evidence of any body part swapping, and definitely is a Plymouth body with a Dodge hood, grille, etc. The original colour under the emblems is shiny and new-looking, and both emblems were there.


I believe you when you say there is no evidence of part swapping, even if the car does look like the Jolly Green Giant sat down to take a rest while the crops were being harvested. However, it is not a 1949 model but a 1951, as you shall see by the following -

D40-1 4 DR : MODEL NUMBER : 1951 or 1952 Dodge Crusader 4-door sedan

1993 : BODY NUMBER : 1,993 1951-52 Dodge D40-1 Crusader 4-door sedan built

4203 : PAINT CODE : Air Cruiser Maroon enamel (C.I.L. : 2333-2022; DuPont Canada : DU-3H)

DAB : TRIM CODE : Grey broadcloth

Without photos, the serial number is the only way to tell a 1951 from a 1952. However, the 1950 and 1951 models used the same trunk lid with nameplate and trunk handle. Yours is a 1951 with the Dodge nameplate above the trunk handle. The 1952 models used the same taillights, but the Dodge nameplate was down with the trunk handle.

Also, the series names on the sides of the front fenders were done in block letters in 1951 and script in 1952.

The 1949-50 models had an instrument cluster with three round gauges instead of the rectangular set up used on the 1951-52 models. Also, all 1949 Plymouths, Dodges, DeSotos and Chryslers, with the exception of the Crown Imperial, used taillights that looked like small fins mounted on top of the rear fenders. The 1949 Plymouth and small Dodge taillamps were very similar to the taillights used on the 1941 Dodge Luxuryliner. (The 1949 Canadian Dodge brochure shows tailights similar to the Coronet/Custom, but that was an error by the artist.)

The frames on the vent windows front and rear were black enamel on the Kingsway and Crusader and chrome on the Regent and Savoy wagon. The rear window on the 1951-52 models is bigger than on the 1950 models, with the latter having a second strip of trim above the belt trim covering the base of the rear window glass. The 1949 rear window was even smaller with the bottom of the glass a couple of inches above the belt trim.

The grille of the 1949 was taller with horizontal and vertical bars. On the smaller Canadian/export Dodges, the grille was the same for 1951 and 1952 models.

Serial numbers were -
1951 D40-1 Dodge Crusader - 97508001 to 97511963 (3,963 built)
1952 D40-1 Dodge Crusader - 97512001 to 97515944 (3,944 built)

By the way, being a Canadian-built Dodge, the side windows are tempered glass.

Any idea what happened to the car?
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Resurrector
Posted 2008-12-30 10:30 AM (#157240 - in reply to #156170)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.


100010010025
Thanks Bill, I started to wonder why I was sure it was a '49 model, I think only because according to my car spotter's book, it appeared to have a '49 grille. But I was wrong! That clears that up, sorry about that. I have know idea what happened to this car but I suspect it was rolled, hard. I found it in my bush laying on it's roof, probably so someone could get at the trans or rear end or something, for parts. That's why the trunk is rotted out, it was laying in the ground. I guess the previous owner liked to do that, I have a '69 300 2 dr hardtop that was on it's roof too unfortunately. And there's a '47 Fargo that had it's front end literally ripped off by a tractor to access it's engine. Yeah, this guy was wacko.

Edited by 58dodgeregent 2008-12-30 10:33 AM
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moparranch
Posted 2010-06-22 4:10 AM (#229035 - in reply to #156200)
Subject: Re: 59 Custom Royal help needed.



Veteran

Posts: 143
10025
Location: Lidköping,Sweden
Here is one in Sweden.



(dochca.jpg)



(dochcabil.jpg)



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