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| I wanted to create this thread for the ever so rare 1959 Dodge Silver-Challenger. This is probably my favorite FL of all time, I really don't know why but I like it a lot. A quick search provides few results of any survivors (one restored and one a barn find). Anybody else know anything about this very rare package?
From what I know the 1959 Dodge Silver-Challenger was a mid year package for the Coronet.
You could only get the option in a 2dr sedan, with silver paint.
Came with normally optional features with no extra cost, such as premium whitewall tires, etc.
Could get a V8 or a 6, even though most customers ordered the 6.
Is there any difference between VIN's with the Coronets and the SC option?
Any and all help is appreciated. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 692
Location: Los Angeles, California | So I guess it was like the '58 Plymouth Plaza Silver Special and the '55 Desoto Coronado. Did Desoto or Chrysler produced any unique packages like this as well? (I've never heard of this option on Dodges before now) |
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Location: Parts Unknown | No, it was nothing like the Coronado. That was a top-shelf luxury edition Fireflite.
The Silver Challenger was a bottom-of-the-barrel stripper like the 58 Plymouth
Silver Special. You got a couple nominal options and a low base price as a promotional
campaign. What made these two unusual, was that they were referred to as special
models. I know the Plymouth got different trim and badging. Not sure about the Dodge.
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Location: The Mile High City | Does anyone have pictures? |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I have oodles of pictures. Got a particular topic you'd like to see ?
How about this one ?
(happy hands.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- happy hands.jpg (63KB - 99 downloads)
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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 | Read all about it.
Had the 1959 Silver Challenger Press kit, but sold it years ago to a guy who, now, periodically
contributes, substantively, to these here threads.
The Kit contains a newspaper offset printing die, with an illustration of its image.
Kool stuff.
Any further questions about its introduction, on 5/1/59?
Edited by d500neil 2013-07-26 4:34 PM
(PICT2148.JPG)
(PICT2149.JPG)
(PICT2150.JPG)
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Attachments ---------------- PICT2148.JPG (53KB - 103 downloads) PICT2149.JPG (50KB - 96 downloads) PICT2150.JPG (47KB - 99 downloads) PICT2151.JPG (43KB - 92 downloads) PICT2152.JPG (102KB - 101 downloads) PICT2153.JPG (105KB - 101 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1172
Location: Georgia | Here is a photo of a Silver Challenger that Marc had posted some time ago.
Pete
(1959_Dodge_Silver_Challenger.jpg)
Attachments ---------------- 1959_Dodge_Silver_Challenger.jpg (95KB - 101 downloads)
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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 | With no outside mirrors or radio, I'll bet that this ride carries a '6' in it.
"Challenger" was a strange choice of name, for the car.
"Charger" might have seemed a lot more appropriate, given Dodge's use of Heraldry
in its marques' naming.
Edited by d500neil 2013-07-26 4:54 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1493
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA | Silver Challenger. Another weird name. It sounds like it's going to get second place for being hard to drive. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 726
Location: Some Island called Prince Edward | I love how the press kit states you wouldn't have to wax it for three years. Where I am, you'd be putting rear 1/4's and fenders on it in three years! |
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Location: Parts Unknown | How about the wonton abuse of the term "luxury model" .... WTF ? This was about as
basic of a car as a person could buy ! Where is the luxury ? And if this is luxury, what
was an Imperial or Lincoln ???? This was a POS bare bones stripper with white walls and
full face wheel covers at a $2530 price. EVERYTHING else cost extra !
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| Thanks for all the info guys, this really helps. I'll try to organize it and put it in the main post so anybody interested can get all the information they need without all the hassle. Any estimated production numbers? Wish someone here had a SC, so we could compare the VIN# to a normal 1959 Dodge Coronet. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Patience, Grasshopper ! You've only had this thread up less than 24 hours. SC's are out
there and we have discussed them before. Someone out in FL-land has one to contribute
data on. Just wait.
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Location: Parts Unknown | JT Vincent - 2013-07-27 1:44 PM
Silver Challenger. Another weird name. It sounds like it's going to get second place for being hard to drive.
========================================================
OK, I'll bite. What gets first place ????
My el strippo looking Plaza makes a Silver Special look fancy with all that added trim and
color, but equipped new with V-8, TF, PS, PB, and A/C, it will drive like a well-optioned New
Yorker !
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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 | Dalton, what I'll do for you is start a dedicated thread over on the Member's Rides message board, with a site-reference
to this thread.
This way, just like for the "Dartline Chryslers", all of the Silver Challengers can be posted and discussed over on that
other message board, where the discussion really needs to appear.
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| Thank you Neil, that would be a BIG help. |
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| Link to new thread: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=48070&... |
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Location: Parts Unknown | If we are going to abandon this thread for a new one over in Member's Rides, we really
ought to transfer/repost the above posts, or it will be lost.
Not sure how to do that. Anyone know a quick and easy way ?
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Expert
Posts: 2312
Location: Arizona | I noticed it said the V-8 was 326 ci. I thought they were 325 ci. |
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| Not sure either, may have to get an admin/mod in here for that. Seems useless with two threads, we should collapse it down to just one. |
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Expert
Posts: 2524
Location: Houston | I'm sure someone in the Marketing department got a big bonus for coming up with the 'Get-Away 6'. Kinda like the 'Black Plague 8'.
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Board Moderator & Exner Expert 10K+
Location: .Norfolk..Mafia.. ,England UK | jimntempe - 2013-07-27 6:40 AM
I noticed it said the V-8 was 326 ci. I thought they were 325 ci.
The 1959 Dodge small block V8 was indeed a One Year Only 326ci.. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The 315-325 Dodge engine of the 56-57 years ended it's run as the base engine 325 poly
in 1958, with the 350-361 being the new up-market engines. In 59 the base engine was a
318 derivative punched out to 326, with the 361 and 383 B-blocks as the up-market engines.
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Expert
Posts: 1493
Location: Jamaica Plain, MA | Doc, the GOLD Challenger would be in first place. |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Touche !
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