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Expert
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Location: DFW, TX | Thought you guys might get a kick out of this one. This car was ordered special by Tennessee Ernie Ford! I don't know a whole lot about it, but I'll let you eagle-eyes pick it apart.  It is still mostly original (paint and drivetrain are untouched) but is going to be restored. Does anyone see a strange option for a loaded D500 convertible??
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Expert 5K+
Posts: 7206
Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Strange option - or lack thereof, is the fact that it's a three speed manual column shift. |
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Expert
Posts: 1918
Location: Hell's Outhouse - a.k.a. Buckeye, Arizona | Especially strange that the D-500 option didn't turn up in prodiction until 1956, yet here's a '55 wearing at least one D-500 badge. |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Well that was quick. And twice! 
Here are a couple of other cars at the shop. The Ghia was Evel Knievel's car! 
Edited by 57burb 2009-09-29 4:17 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 | Danny, if this car is at your dad's shop, can you please post up some good shots of the carburetor, with the air cleaner removed?
Also, its undercarriage, showing its dual tail pipes' appearance, and their tail pipe hangers?
The D500 option began with the 1956 Dodges.
The 1955 Custom Royals had, standard-OEM, the single 2-barrel carbed " Super Red Ram" Hemi engine (270 c.i./183 HP/7.6:1 c.r.).
However, if a person checked-off option code #363, he bought the "Power Package" option, which included the 4-bbl Carter carb
and dual exhausts, which increased the HP rating to 193.
This option was available across the model lines, but the Coros & Roy's got a MAJOR-bang-for-their bux, as they
got to replace their OEM Poly-head engines with the 4-bbl dual exhaust Hemi, whereas the CR's 'just'
got the upgrade to the 4-bbl/dual exhausts.
All Super Red Ram Power Pack cars have the same engine/driveline in them (similar to that of the later D500 models).
Without delving too far into my 55 Dodge archives, there were 3302 custom Royal convertibles built.
There appear to have been no more than 5%, overall, of the 4-bbl Power Package engines having been put into the Coros,
the Royals, and/or the CR's.
Allowing for the full-monty 5% being put into the big-dog CRL convies produces a figure of about 150-ish Power-Packed
CRL verts produced.
Now, what exactly do 'you' have there?
You appear to have a REAL Power Packed Custom Royal convertible, there, but, I'm gonna throw some (part-) numbers @cha,
to check out.
First, and most-obviously, to me, is the air cleaner which has the TWO thin concentric rings on its lid. That feature only
appeared on the Power Pack equipped cars (and its P/N should be : 1615830).
I can't really see the carb's appearance, but its brass tag should confirm 2181-S.
The cast iron intake manifold should be 1537723.
The engine number (which will only confirm the OEM Hemi-block) has the prefix :"D553-1xxx".
The Embossed valve covers DISAPPEARED between 1/31/55- 3/29/55; this car has un-embossed valve covers on it,
so, it was built at least sometime after 1/31/55.
The Paint/Trim data plates first APPEARED between 5/16/55 -6/13/55, so, if this car was Special-Ordered(???) by T.E.F.
I would think that it probably would not have a P/T plate on it; if it does NOT have a P/T plate (which would confirm
its Scheduled Build date , but little else), its build date would probably lie somewhere between 1/31/55-6/13/55, which
does NOT narrow-down the build date very much----I wish that it had the embossed valve covers on it, which would 'make' it be an early production model, for sure.
I'm probably forgetting some neat stuff, like its distributor (IAZ-4003 D/F), but, you've got a pretty good Homework
assignment, right now!
Oh, and BTW, and similar to their late 50's "Super D500" counterparts, the vast majority of 55 Dodges which, today,
appear to be ('real') Power-Packers, are not!
55 Power Packed Hemis are hard to re-create, authentically, which is a good thing, as those cars which DO have a
P/T plate on them (built around-after 6/55) do not have their P/T plates be able to confirm their Power Packed
provenance; only the Broadcast Sheets and/or IBM card copies can do that.
And, finally(??); those "crossed flags" are cute, but BOGUS aftermarket ornamentation.
Oh, Shi--vver; just noticed that manual trannie---that's EITHER the standard 3-speed unit (#331), with a 3.70
axle ratio, or the Overdrive bad-boy (#332) with electric kick down switch, and the mighty 4.10 axle ratio.
The manual trannie also got a different 4-bbl carb (tag: 2253-S).
This is one RARE (surviving) car.
Altho the interior is 'modern' (shall we say), if it were mine, I'd want to keep the car in as much of its SURVIVING-Survivor OEM-condition, as is possible.
But, hey, it's not my car.
Edited by d500neil 2009-09-29 7:15 PM
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Expert
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Location: DFW, TX | Well the crossed-flag "500" emblems did look a little cheezy. Didn't put it together in my head that '56 was the first year for the D-500 option.
I'll try to get back up there Neil, may be a little while though. Yes that's at the restoration shop my dad is at, they are moving locations and he wanted to show me a few of the cars. The black '56 Imperial is also a mostly-original car with a repaint. |
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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 | The IMP he can re-paint; that 55 Doggie should be PRESERVED......and defended. |
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Location: Under the X in Texas | I see another strange option on the '55 Dodge: Chrysler DeSoto short spoke wire wheels instead of the Dodge Plymouth long spoke or rim-laced wires. |
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Expert 5K+
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Location: Victoria, BC, on Vancouver Island, Canada | Anyone else ever notice that the Dodge hemis were called Red Rams, the DeSoto Hemis were called Firedome V-8, the Chrysler Hemi was called Fire Power V-8, and the Imperial ??? Imperial was sold as a separate make by this time, yet the engine was not separated from Chrysler.... Fire Power ...... You might have thought they would have at least made different Rocker covers saying " Imperial Fire Power" or ? |
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Location: new york | AND WHY ARE THEY RESTORING THESE CARS?!?!????? They look good to me! Happy Motoring! Victor.... |
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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 | ..."Restoration Money" (used to, anyway!) talk, at auctions, and Survivors (used to, anyway..) walk, away...
Now, at auctions, we're regularly seeing mega-resto-money not being covered by the high bid amount.
S.O.T., it looks like this car has had vintage(?) Motor Wheel wire-wheels having been installed on it, at some time.
For comparison, that Dual Ghia has the long-wire spokes, that S.O.T. references, above.
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Oakley, Ill | To be restored? Heck, if any of my cars looked this good AFTER I restored them, I'd be happy. |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | The '55 CRL convert looks much better in pictures. It does need a once-over.
I noticed the same thing about the wire wheels StillOutThere. I assume they are an old set of wheels since the spokes are rusty.
The '57 Imperial and Dual Ghia are already restored. |
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Location: Under the X in Texas | For 1958 only the Imperial valve covers were uniquely stamped " I M P E R I A L ". |
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Magra, Sweden | The Custom medallion on the front fenders indicate it's a late 55. It wasn't present on the early ones. The chequered flags look similar to the ones on a 1954 Royal Indy Pace Car but a closer look show they doesn't have the 500 sign below the flags.
Anyone knows what the crome bezel where the PowerFlite lever on the dash was located is only a dummy or had any use on a stick shift? Iv'e seen a stick shift 56 Coronet with a dummy bezel on the dash and the same headlight contact as a 55 while the 1956 push button cars had the head light switch on the dash to right of the column. |
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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 | Thord, it's not a very clear image, but I had thought that the dash-mounted auto-transmission bezel WAS a 'dummy'/block-
off plate.
Maybe Danny can provide a good view of it, too.
I haven't enlarged the image(s) showing the 'flags' emblems, but, in addition to the 56 Dodge crossed-flags/500 emblem, there
was a very similar Fart emblem, and, there were generic aftermarket emblems available.
I don't know anything about where the crossed flags emblem came from, but, I think that there is a "500" appearing right below
the crossed 'poles'.
Regarding the initial installation of the fender mounted "Custom/V" emblem, it is believed (by Mike Petersen) that they first appeared between 4/22-27/55, which is a relatively TIGHT range of dates.
Those dates, as they pertain to 'this' car, adjusts its production date into the mid-year-at-earliest range.
If 'this' car does not have a P/T plate on it, then we are 'down' to an about 2-month range, for its having been built (of course, the IBM card copy would confirm its precise 'birthday').
Edited by d500neil 2009-09-30 4:54 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 | Danny: what does that yellow sticker 'say', on the trunk??? |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | d500neil - 2009-09-30 3:57 PM
Danny: what does that yellow sticker 'say', on the trunk???
It's a dealer tag of some sort.  I took the originals and zoomed in on them. Sorry for the lousy camera.
 (500flag1.jpg)
 (500flag2.jpg)
 (dash.jpg)
 (dash2.jpg)
 (dealertag.jpg)
 (rear.jpg)
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 500flag1.jpg (34KB - 150 downloads)
500flag2.jpg (52KB - 134 downloads)
dash.jpg (43KB - 143 downloads)
dash2.jpg (23KB - 147 downloads)
dealertag.jpg (37KB - 157 downloads)
rear.jpg (26KB - 160 downloads)
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Magra, Sweden | I would love to see more good pics of this wonderful 55 CRL. Surviving convertibles are really rare.
The new pics shows clearly the 500 on the crossed flags and what I can see they looks the same as the ones on a 56 D-500.
Unfortunately the pics doesn't verify if the dash-mounted auto-transmission bezel is a 'dummy'/block-off plate.
I think the P/T plate should be available on such late production car, at right upper corner of firewall or at least the presence of mounting holes. I found my P/T plate in the glove box.
 (56_D500_flags.jpg)
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56_D500_flags.jpg (33KB - 142 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 | Just sent Thord a couple photos, to post here...
The gold-car (that you will see) has the correct 1956 D500 emblem.
The red car has an aftermarket version of it.
Notice the squared-off shape of the "500" on the real emblem, and the aftermarket's having a chromed border around the flags.
This black 55 CRL does appear to have the 1956 D500 emblems on it, which is only to be readily accepted, as those 56-guys
were probably attached to this car, sometime IN 1956 !
AND, if that ol' "Pea-Picker" (as he called himself) T.E.F. owned this car, in 1956, I would leave those
emblems on the car, as he probably 'put' them on, himself, back then, as a minor custom-touch onto
the car.
Of course, I wouldn't repaint the car's exterior, either......
Edited by d500neil 2009-10-01 6:28 PM
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Elite Veteran
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Location: Magra, Sweden | d500neil - 2009-10-02 12:22 AM
Just sent Thord a couple photos, to post here...
The gold-car (that you will see) has the correct 1956 D500 emblem.
The red car has an aftermarket version of it.
Notice the squared-off shape of the "500" on the real emblem, and the aftermarket's having a chromed border around the flags.
This black 55 CRL does appear to have the 1956 D500 emblems on it, which is only to be readily accepted, as those 56-guys
were probably attached to this car, sometime IN 1956 !
AND, if that ol' "Pea-Picker" (as he called himself) T.E.F. owned this car, in 1956, I would leave those
emblems on the car, as he probably 'put' them on, himself, back then, as a minor custom-touch onto
the car.
Of course, I wouldn't repaint the car's exterior, either......
Here are the pics Neil sent me...
 (PICT0005 resize.JPG)
 (PICT0006 resize.JPG)
Attachments
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PICT0005 resize.JPG (87KB - 141 downloads)
PICT0006 resize.JPG (50KB - 148 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 | Thanks, thord!
As you-all can see, the vintage re-pop/fake 56 D500 emblems are sneaky-guys, as they are so close to being
precise copies of the real emblems.
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Veteran
Posts: 272
Location: Missouri | Very interesting read, and such a nice CRL vert! I am sure the "dummy" block-off plate is just that, as it doesn't appear to have the letters RNDL on it but a better up-close pic would help. All 4 of my 55s had the Powerflite and 2 of them (a CRL and this Coronet), had original Super Red Ram hemis with the WCFB carb & dual-point dizzys and dual exhaust. Harold
Edited by 55coronet440 2009-10-11 1:05 AM
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'55 Dodge CRL convertible D500
