56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist
56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-17 4:52 PM (#586142)
Subject: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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I found this listing yesterday while looking for someone else. I've seen photos of this car before as a local car but I never saw it in person. I thought for sure that it had gone to the US (or Sweden ). Turns out that it is owned by the owner of a large Chrysler dealership and he is down-sizing his collection.

When I saw the Craiglist photos, there were a couple of things that intrigued me. The first was the "Dodge" badge on the side where the "Coronet" should have been. I had only ever seen that on 56 Dodge taxis (via the Taxi brochure) and photos of a California Highway Patrol D500 and the adverts for the 230 hp 315 4 bbl poly "Pursuit" Coronets.

These:







The second was the paint. I had previously posted a photo of the car and guesstimated that the paint was Misty Orchid and Regal Orchid:

56D500boy - 2017-12-18 8:14 PM

Here is an example of the Misty Orchid and Regal Orchid combo under a Sapphire roof on a 56 Coronet D500 (this car was local to me at one point but I never saw it ):



Based on the "Dodge" on the side and the paint, I wondered whether the car was really an ex-CHP D500 that had been repainted. So I had to see it.

I went out this AM and saw the car in person.

It's nice enough (but not as nice as mine, except its paint is better than mine ). It is a pretty much bare-bones Coronet. No radio, no clock, no PS, no PB, no carpet (factory rubber mat glued to the floor), etc. It does have the D500 engine (D500-7501) but not the six-leaf rear springs (and probably not the shorter/stiffer front springs). I didn't/couldn't check the brake drums to see if they were the 12 x 2.5 Windsor brakes like mine.

There are a few things that could be improved starting with an engine repaint back to silver (not "hemi" orange) and moving the horns back to the hood latch support. I'm not sure whether there are any wheel discs or dog dishes in the trunk (it was locked).

After seeing the car and checking the body plate/build tag, I don't think that it was a CHP car. A CHP car would probably have the "01" = all black paint code. The paint code for this car is "99" which usually means "Special Order". Seeing the car in person, I think that the colour combo is sapphire white roof, garnet saddle and Chinese Rose lower.

Based on official Dodge info, that colour combo was not one that was listed so that might explain the "99" special order. The closest combo was 268 : "268 Sapphire White Iridescent Charcoal Chinese Rose". Another close one is "369 Jewel Black Garnet Metallic Chinese Rose". On the basis that 3 tone paint jobs with a sapphire white roof started with "2", I think that the paint code for this one should be 269. Not sure why they would use 99 when 269 was available.



The Body code "812" is correct for a Coronet 2dr with a V8. The trim code "528" is also correct for a 2 dr 56 Coronet (based on other examples that I have "seen"). That said, something funky has gone on on the front seat: those patches of plain black are not correct (and they weren't there the last time I "saw" images of the car).

The current Craigslist listing is below. The car is at the Chrysler dealership but it is not part of the dealership's sales inventory. I spoke with a dealership sales person and he talked to the owner about price and called me back. He (the owner) is asking CDN$30K. The claim is that it was purchased for CDN$28 and the owner wants to make something, i.e. CDN$29K would probably be accepted. I like the numbers because it makes me think that mine is worth in the same ball park (or more) (In my dreams at least).

UPDATE: While looking for another related photo, I found an old digital file folder that I made for this car from Oct. 11, 2016 (about a month *after* I bought my car) labelled "Langley2DrCoronetD500_21K". No sure if that was US21K or CDN21K. Bottomline, I don't know if I would believe the "28K" story.

The car is a Detroit built (35nnnnn VIN) car built in early(ish) July 1956 with a later built D500 (D500-7501) which likely means that the engine came with car (would need to be confirmed with FCA Historical). The mileage is probably pretty close to being real at around 60K miles based on the overall shape of the car and the condition of things like what appears to be the original windlass around the door opening. Hard to say if the engine was rebuilt at some point or just repainted in that inappropriate (for this car) hemi orange.

Link: https://abbotsford.craigslist.org/ctd/d/langley-1956-dodge-coronet/6...

Here are the photos I took today:



Edited by 56D500boy 2019-08-18 2:30 AM




(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_FrontView.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RightSideViewWithDodgeBadge.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RightSideViewWithDodgeBadge_CloseUp.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RearView.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_VIN.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_BodyDataPlate.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Interior_FrontSeatAndDash.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Odometer.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Interior_RearSeat.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Interior_RearSeatAndBackOfFrontSeat.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_RightSide.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_LeftSide.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_EngineNumber_1.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_EngineNumber_2.jpg)



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Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RightSideViewWithDodgeBadge_CloseUp.jpg (130KB - 93 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RearView.jpg (156KB - 89 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_VIN.jpg (77KB - 109 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_BodyDataPlate.jpg (151KB - 101 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Interior_FrontSeatAndDash.jpg (151KB - 95 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Odometer.jpg (129KB - 96 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Interior_RearSeat.jpg (184KB - 97 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_Interior_RearSeatAndBackOfFrontSeat.jpg (156KB - 110 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_RightSide.jpg (170KB - 98 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_LeftSide.jpg (181KB - 116 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_EngineNumber_1.jpg (154KB - 101 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_EngineBay_EngineNumber_2.jpg (155KB - 98 downloads)
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-18 9:55 AM (#586176 - in reply to #586142)
Subject: RE: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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56D500boy - 2019-08-17 1:52 PM
Based on official Dodge info, that colour combo was not one that was listed so that might explain the "99" special order. The closest combo was 268 : "268 Sapphire White Iridescent Charcoal Chinese Rose". Another close one is "369 Jewel Black Garnet Metallic Chinese Rose". On the basis that 3 tone paint jobs with a sapphire white roof started with "2", I think that the paint code for this one should be 269. Not sure why they would use 99 when 269 was available.


Found this in the 56 Lancer brochure this AM. What appears to be a 369 paint code car (under a 273 car (273 Sapphire White, Jewel Black, Garnet Metallic)). There was no 269 listed but you would think that more than one car got the combo and they would have figured out that it could be used instead of "99".



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mikes2nd
Posted 2019-08-18 11:56 AM (#586184 - in reply to #586142)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist


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good looking car, they dont know its a D500? just listed it as a plain Coronet?
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57burb
Posted 2019-08-18 5:13 PM (#586200 - in reply to #586184)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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The car is definitely special. I've never seen that 'Dodge' emblem in place of the model name before. Coronet was always the base car from what I've seen. You've shown that taxis and police cars could be ordered as "sub-Coronet" plain Dodges, but who could (or would) order a super-stripped down, cheap and light Dodge 2dr sedan with the D500 engine? I could see a police department maybe ordering a pursuit car, but the colors make no sense. Maybe a drag racer, or stock car?

Whoever it was, they wanted their super-stripped down, cheap and light Dodge to have a flashy and very specific 3-color combination. It would have been easy to just order any standard combination of colors, but they wanted it just like that. Weird! Did you see any evidence that it had been different colors before? I'm inclined to think the restoration went back to the original colors and scheme, as those are stock Dodge colors, just in a non-standard pattern - perfectly explained by PNT 99. From what I have seen, Chrysler Historical is unable to document how any of the PNT 99 cars were actually painted when they left the factory.

I would really like to know the story of this very odd car. It's probably lost to history at this point, but you might contact the owner to see if he has anything to share.



Edited by 57burb 2019-08-18 5:16 PM
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ABloch
Posted 2019-08-19 11:56 AM (#586238 - in reply to #586142)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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A couple of things that caught my eye... The engine color suggests to me that the motor has been out of the car. Shorter oil filler neck? And the addition of a spin on oil filter.

Front seats were "repaired" rather than redone. Poorly done quick fix IMO.

Personally I love the base steering wheel and sans radio. Cop car? Fleet order?
IF it was a cop car there will definitely be evidence of a spotlight. Have you ever seen a cop car without a pillar mount spotlight?

I'm thinking along the lines of Danny as well. That 99 code could have been anything. Further investigation would be warranted after purchase.
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-19 1:22 PM (#586241 - in reply to #586238)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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Andrew: I agree with almost everything that you are saying about the car. However....

I'm pretty sure that it was never a cop car because

1. I don't see any signs of a spot light ever being installed by the left A-pillar post
2. If it was a cop car the paint code would have been 01 = All Jewell black not "99"
3. I see signs just above the body data plate edge that the underlying firewall colour was garnet (not the current flat(ish) black (like a primer) - cop car would have been gloss black.
4. The rear spring is the "normal" 5 leaf set up, not the heavy duty 6 leaf that the early D500s and likely the cop cars got.





(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_LeftCornerOfWindshield.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_BodyDataPlate_CloseUp.jpg)



(LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RearSpringShowingOnly5leafs.jpg)



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Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_LeftCornerOfWindshield.jpg (133KB - 84 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_BodyDataPlate_CloseUp.jpg (198KB - 90 downloads)
Attachments LangleyBC56DodgeD500Coronet_RearSpringShowingOnly5leafs.jpg (136KB - 99 downloads)
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57burb
Posted 2019-08-19 1:39 PM (#586242 - in reply to #586241)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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"On March 9, 1956 there was an announcement that boded ill for the D-500: the D-500 Special using standard Dodge suspension springs and 11-inch brakes. That was part of a letter that was released on March 9, 1956, reading, “We recently extended the availability of this equipment to include all V8 models and body types.” It confused the identity of the freshly minted D-500."


https://www.allpar.com/model/d500.html

I take ALL information concerning Forward Look Dodges with a grain of salt, especially from allpar.com.

That said, because of the March 9 memo above and this car's July '56 build date, wouldn't it be expected to have been built with the standard suspension? (unless upgraded separately)

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56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-19 2:17 PM (#586243 - in reply to #586242)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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57burb - 2019-08-19 10:39 AM
That said, because of the March 9 memo above and this car's July '56 build date, wouldn't it be expected to have been built with the standard suspension? (unless upgraded separately)


For almost three years now I have been trying to establish that after March 9, 1956, the upgraded brakes (12" Center Plane) and suspension (6 leaf rears, shorter front coils and thicker front anti-sway bar) were independent options available once you ticked the D500 engine box on the order form. So far no luck with that.

My particular D500 Custom Royal sedan has the engine and big brakes but perhaps sadly, the five leaf rear springs and I presume the normal front springs and anti-sway bar. I can't tell this from the data plate or FCA Historical's letter.



Edited by 56D500boy 2019-08-19 2:23 PM




(DaveForgiesCustomRoyalD500CowlTagFCALetterAndIBMCard_small.jpg)



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Attachments DaveForgiesCustomRoyalD500CowlTagFCALetterAndIBMCard_small.jpg (213KB - 117 downloads)
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57burb
Posted 2019-08-19 3:31 PM (#586245 - in reply to #586243)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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That's what makes it all so confusing!

Have you read this? http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=33272&...

There is a '1956 Dodge Bulletins.pdf' file uploaded to that thread that I think you will find interesting.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2019-08-20 1:02 AM (#586261 - in reply to #586245)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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Not sure why a muni-bought fleet car would get a D500 engine, but police departments
also had cars supplied for non-patrol uses, in non-B&W colors, and without spotlights and
other typical patrol equipment. These usually wore the fleet "anti-badging" of the simple
"Plymouth" or "Dodge". I owned a 1966 Coronet fleet car. Bought new by the Libby, MT.
police dept. It was used in an admin capacity and was thusly equipped with a 273 V-8 and
a 904 Torqueflite. It was basic, basic, basic ! ... and had ZERO trim.

Checking 1966 sales lit, Coronets could be purchased as a Coronet DeLuxe, Coronet 440,
and the Coronet 500. There is no plain "Coronet", and even a base model Coronet DeLuxe
came with side trim and a few bits of glitter. The plain Coronet was what Dodge sold as a
fleet car and was not available to the general public like the rest.

I thin that is what you have going on with that "Dodge" badge on the fin of the 56 here.
How that worked out with the tri-tone paint and other details, I am just not that hip on 56
Dodges to know, but that badge seems to follow the pattern of my fleet Coronet.
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-20 1:45 AM (#586262 - in reply to #586245)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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57burb - 2019-08-19 12:31 PM

Have you read this? http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=33272&...
There is a '1956 Dodge Bulletins.pdf' file uploaded to that thread that I think you will find interesting.


Thanks for that.

I read through that thread and downloaded the pdfs that were posted in the thread. Lots to "unpack" there (and it will take me a while to go through it all).

In the very short term, I learned that 1675 690 was the "normal" P29 Fury and D63-D500 rear spring (which supposedly was de-arched (1.5" lower, no mention of the number of leafs). Furthermore, the 1635 594 rear springs for the D500-1 (2 x 4bbl) (and probably the Imperial 5 x 5.5 wheels and drums, etc) were deemed to the "Heavy Duty" and normally on "All Taxi" and no Suburbans (wagons). To clarify something that Doc Desoto and I discussed a while back (i.e. whether the D500 wagons had different rear springs), the 56 Dodge wagons in general used 1635 602 rear springs.

Doc: I am not discounting your fleet idea for the side "Dodge" badges but I doubt that we will ever know the truth now.

When I graduated from Engineering in 1972, I sold my highschool/university 55 Dodge and I bought a plain Jane 1968 Plymouth Fury I with no PS, no PB, nothing (okay radio) 318 LA 2 bbl Torqueflite but lap belts. It felt like driving an undercover cop "ghost" car. That 2dr Coronet D500 would probably feel about the same.





Edited by 56D500boy 2019-08-20 1:50 AM
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ABloch
Posted 2019-08-20 2:19 AM (#586268 - in reply to #586142)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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Did you show up at the dealership in your Dodge and take it for a test drive Dave? Was the owner around to give you any of the back story?
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-20 12:29 PM (#586286 - in reply to #586268)
Subject: Re: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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ABloch - 2019-08-19 11:19 PM
Did you show up at the dealership in your Dodge and take it for a test drive Dave? Was the owner around to give you any of the back story?


No. I didn't want to play the "I'm interested in this car" game. I saw the car without the "benefit" of a salesperson and was happy to snoop around without interference.

I phoned later when I got back home to get the asking price.

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57burb
Posted 2019-08-20 1:44 PM (#586290 - in reply to #586142)
Subject: RE: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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You should buy it.
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56D500boy
Posted 2019-08-21 6:58 PM (#586356 - in reply to #586290)
Subject: RE: 56 Dodge 2dr Coronet D500 on Vancouver BC craiglist



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57burb - 2019-08-20 10:44 AM
You should buy it.


Sorry. Can't afford the resulting divorce.




I've had a couple of questions about the wheel and the lack of covers.

1. Do Dog Dishes need the clips?

2. Are there any Dog Dishes or Wheel covers?

Well, there are a couple of different kinds of Dog Dishes. The ones that I have (and I use one on my spare) do need clips, see below. These are like the ones on the Oregon D500 black "cop car".

This car does NOT have clips.

As for wheel covers, when the car was advertised in 2016 (I missed it), it had wheel covers see below. They might be in the trunk (it was locked when I was there)



Edited by 56D500boy 2019-08-21 7:03 PM




(56DodgeSpareTireAndWheel_HubCapClips.jpg)



(56DodgeSpareTireAndWheel_HubCapClips_Upclose.jpg)



(56DodgeSpareTireAndWheel_HubCapClips_DogDishON.jpg)



(WillbrookD500WheelNoClips.jpg)



(2DrLangleyD500_1.jpg)



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Attachments 56DodgeSpareTireAndWheel_HubCapClips_DogDishON.jpg (116KB - 96 downloads)
Attachments WillbrookD500WheelNoClips.jpg (100KB - 104 downloads)
Attachments 2DrLangleyD500_1.jpg (69KB - 79 downloads)
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