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Location: Minneapolis | Just received my Sep-Oct 2008 Plymouth Bulletin. Yeah, they are always a little behind, but I dont care; it is THE best car magazine of ANY auto club and they have the awards to prove it.
Anyway, this is an article written by our very own Jim Benjaminson who is a regular contributor, longtime member and membership secretary and treasurer of the Plymouth Owner's Club. It is about a '58 Belvie ragtop that is down under and, while it is not factory, there is a lot of mystery surrounding this vehicle. This is very interesting and has nice color photos accompanying the two-page article. An amazing and great-looking Belvedere!
Naturally, you TRUE Plymouth guys will see this article as you are already members of the POC! Please dont ask to have any of it reproduced unless you want to get permission from the club or Jim beforehand.
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Location: Skaneateles,NY(summer)/Port St.Lucie,FL(winter) | Check out the 55 DeSoto 4 dr convertible...
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Location: Minneapolis | Very cool, thanks for posting Tony. |
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Location: Australia | hmmmm.... what colour is it? and what state is it in? adriana |
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Location: Minneapolis | Down under, Australia. It is the classic Fury colors, cream with gold sport tone inserts. |
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Location: Australia | yes i got that you meant australia when you said 'down under' but did it mention which state it resides in???? adriana |
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Location: Minneapolis | HA! Sorry, I am so used to provinces and I forgot youre from there! The article didnt say.
Edited by forwardlookparts 2008-12-04 1:09 AM
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | Is this the vehicle in question. This particular car was a pearl pink/white few years back. It lives here in Melbourne, Australia.
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Location: Australia | Hey anth! man that is a beauty |
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Location: Minneapolis | Yes, thats it! Whatta beaut! Have you personally seen it? |
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Location: Australia | looks like anths car next to it |
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Location: Hell's Outhouse - a.k.a. Buckeye, Arizona | Now, is the top now a bolt-on job, or has it a real ragtop?
Also, anyone else notice the RHD?
Edited by 1955Coronado 2008-12-04 1:40 AM
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Location: Australia | id say it was an australian release with the dodge dash |
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | Yes, this was an Aussie delivered 4 dr hardtop. Dont know much about who and when it was converted but I first saw this car in the early 90's when it was up for sale and was a ragtop then. The current owner has only had it for a few years and is wanting to sell. But yes, its a neat cruiser and definatly turns heads. The owner approached me at a local Chrysler display day and mentioned he had a 58 convertible but soon to realise which car it actually was. I always wondered what happened to this car and has now re-surfaced in good and running condition which is good to see.
Edited by anth61 2008-12-04 4:00 AM
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Location: Australia | Whats he want for it anth? |
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | not sure but can find out if you like....Anth |
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | Jeez I remember this car, my father and I took it for a spin in the late eighties after seeing it on the side of the road with a for sale board on it, dad knew the then owner, as he was in the Chrysler Club that my Dad was a member of, The car was painted in a pearl pink, but had fadded very badly due to being left out in the aussie sunshine! I have some great pics of this unit back in the day at a number of shows/ cruises, I believe it had its roof taken of in the early eighties, I would dearly love to get hold of this ol' girl along with a hardtop parts car and get a roof back on her!
Edited by fury61 2008-12-04 7:42 AM
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Location: Minneapolis | The car has a DeSoto dash. The framework for the top looks to be top-notch from the pics I have seen, extremely well done. My thought is that if it was done right, why not leave it? I wouldnt have done that originally, but I do like it. The only thing I would do is lose the extra set of tail lamps. |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!
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Location: bishop, ca | Doug, that's a Dodge-dash, huh? |
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Location: Minneapolis | Oops, sorry Neil, right. I was going by what they said in the article (DeS) and not really paying attention. The lower B-pillars are reinforced.
If any of you folks down there know this car or the owner, please email or pm Jim Benjaminson. His user name here is "Benji", he would like to get more info on this car.
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Location: Australia | it looks to have the same dash as dad's Aussie delivered '58 Desoto Firesweep does... |
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Location: Minneapolis | That would explain it: The export DeSotos and Plymouths used Dodge dash clusters? |
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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 | ...can you BLAME them....lolol ? |
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Location: Melbourne, Australia | suburban61 - 2008-12-04 5:56 PM
it looks to have the same dash as dad's Aussie delivered '58 Desoto Firesweep does...
All the the aussie delivered/assembled 58s inc dodge, desoto, and plymouth used the dodge dash in a rhd configuration.
The roof on the subject car was basically cut through the rear pillars and then sliced through the roof, then fitted with a press stud canvas roof that needed to be manualy fitted, I do remember this particular veihicle being extra rattley in the body due to the conversion as this created extra flex in the pillarless body! A very cool car non the less.
During the seventies and eighties here in Australia it was a common occurance that many an old American fordor car would have its roof cut of to simulate a real US convertible what were people thinking! as alot of these so called convertibles very quickly ended up in wrecking yards due to their 'hacksaw' conversions a real shame! |
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Location: new york | I remember reading that chrysler wanted to make a 57 Plymouth 4 door convertible with a retractible hardtop, I will look for the prototype photos! HAPPY MOTORING! Victor. |
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Location: Minneapolis | Look on page 311 of Consumer Guide's "Cars of the Fabulous Fifties". |
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'58 FOUR door Belvie RAGTOP?
