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Dream Car
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-07 2:31 AM (#267400)
Subject: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
Been looking for this car now for close to 30 years. Exact year, make, model, and
color. Strangely equipped el Strippo is more than what I wanted. All the extreme
"poverty" looks with some nice driving options. Likely a very interesting story behind
this one. With the help of a few well placed friends, this one is mine and got saved
from those who might part it out or paint it red.

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=35685&...

Keeping things interesting in the PNW region, even from the other side of the planet !
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56royaldodge
Posted 2011-04-07 2:36 PM (#267473 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: RE: Dream Car



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Location: On this barrel
Looks good, I like looking at strippers

I’m wondering if the sound deadening material was cut out of the underside of the trunklid … and repainted? Or maybe it was never installed?

The cool thing is all the paperwork, you should be able to hopefully piece together some history of the car.
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christine-lover
Posted 2011-04-07 7:53 PM (#267502 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: RE: Dream Car



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Location: Sept. 1958
Congrats on your "new" car. Yes, oddly optioned. But finish your Desoto first when you come back, that is the best looking production car ever built.

BTW, that trunk insulation should look like that.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-08 12:42 AM (#267536 - in reply to #267502)
Subject: RE: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
If this Plymouth is as solid as I hope it is, it will be prudent to get an interior in it, get it running,
and paint it as a matter of keeping that girl of mine from thinking all cars that come to me just pile
up as projects. The DeSoto project is deep enough it will require several years of work to finish.
I can pick away at it, but the Plymouth may get the rush if it is not needing too much work.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-08 8:01 AM (#267557 - in reply to #267536)
Subject: RE: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
The seller contacted me last night with all the info needed to send payment, except for
one small detail ... his name ! I sent a reply asking for that, along with some other
questions about vehicle history, missing parts, and a request for more photos.

The DLI told me this AM that the seller contacted her and the financial end is taken care
of. Hopefully I will get some feedback regarding my questions soon.

He informed me that he has a son serving here in AFG as well.
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big m
Posted 2011-04-08 1:48 PM (#267596 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?

Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!

---John
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56royaldodge
Posted 2011-04-08 3:36 PM (#267605 - in reply to #267596)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: On this barrel
big m - 2011-04-08 11:48 AM

Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?

Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!

---John


I'm sure you have found a lot worse in a car ...
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big m
Posted 2011-04-08 5:46 PM (#267619 - in reply to #267605)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



Expert 5K+

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Location: Williams California
56royaldodge - 2011-04-08 12:36 PM

big m - 2011-04-08 11:48 AM

Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?

Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!

---John


I'm sure you have found a lot worse in a car ... :)


Yep! I've definitely found worse surprises, even critters like Texas rattlers in a frame!

---John
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56royaldodge
Posted 2011-04-09 12:41 AM (#267655 - in reply to #267619)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: On this barrel
big m - 2011-04-08 3:46 PM

56royaldodge - 2011-04-08 12:36 PM

big m - 2011-04-08 11:48 AM

Doc,
How's the bidding going on the carton of milk?

Gotta make sure the proper recipient receives it!

---John


I'm sure you have found a lot worse in a car ... :)


Yep! I've definitely found worse surprises, even critters like Texas rattlers in a frame!

---John


I don't think those are legal "pets" in CA in case you decided to keep it!
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-09 12:47 AM (#267657 - in reply to #267655)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
There is no such thing as a non-poisonous snake in AFG. Some 12-16 species, if I
remember right. Little things that are highly venomous and all are night hunters, making
them especially dangerous, climbing into duffle bags, boots, and gear while you sleep, or
just run across them while walking to the latrine in the middle of the night. The most
common is a Saw Scale Viper. Little brown guy with rough scales that will make you dead
before medical attention can be found.

For an eye-opener, Google "camel spider". These make the snakes seem pleasant.


Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-04-09 12:48 AM
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56royaldodge
Posted 2011-04-09 1:14 AM (#267658 - in reply to #267657)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



Account deactivated by owner's request

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Location: On this barrel
Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-08 10:47 PM

There is no such thing as a non-poisonous snake in AFG. Some 12-16 species, if I
remember right. Little things that are highly venomous and all are night hunters, making
them especially dangerous, climbing into duffle bags, boots, and gear while you sleep, or
just run across them while walking to the latrine in the middle of the night. The most
common is a Saw Scale Viper. Little brown guy with rough scales that will make you dead
before medical attention can be found.

For an eye-opener, Google "camel spider". These make the snakes seem pleasant.


I’m not trying to make light of your situation but around these parts we have whats called a “trouser snake”.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-09 2:34 AM (#267665 - in reply to #267658)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Chances are, around your parts, the ratio of trouser snakes to fuzzy-wuzzy lovin' cups is
probably something like 50/50. Around here, the trouser snake dominates at about 99%.

Nothing like a Dudefest.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-12 1:44 PM (#268211 - in reply to #267655)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
Car is officially paid for as of today. Time to get it picked up and moved north !
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57plymouth
Posted 2011-04-12 1:54 PM (#268213 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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I think you should paint it red.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-13 12:30 AM (#268299 - in reply to #268213)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
Before or after I move it ?

I thought they all came from the factory painted red, ... no ?
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-14 11:36 PM (#268555 - in reply to #268299)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
After 3 emails to the seller went unanswered, I got ahold of the DLI, who called the seller.
Seems he keeps non-working email addresses in his header. That's a new one on me !

Anyway, ... got what is supposed to be a working email address to arrange pickup with.

Gotta love these long distance deals ....
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floyd066
Posted 2011-04-16 3:28 PM (#268765 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



Extreme Veteran

Posts: 347
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Location: Ocean Park, Washington
You've probably been asked this before, but, when are you heading back to the Northwest, Doc?

Edited by floyd066 2011-04-16 3:29 PM
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-17 12:28 AM (#268819 - in reply to #268765)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
7 months down, 29 more to go.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-20 10:31 AM (#269239 - in reply to #268819)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



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Location: Parts Unknown
I had a dickens of a time communicating with the seller. 4-5 emails sent, no replies.
If it weren't for the DLI picking up the phone and calling them, there would have been
no contact.
Again, a big thanks to John Fowlie and my Dear One for handling all the details to make
this happen. While all that was being problematic, I got redeployed even deeper into
theatre to a TINY combat outpost in Helmand Province with even less internet access.

So, John arranged pick up and shipment to his place, and surprisingly, this got done
really fast and the car now sits at John's. He will clean it up for storage - Arizona dust
in doors and quarters turns to mud and rust when the rains come - and will go over it
for parts needs and general assessment.

He sent me the following photos this AM:




(Doc's Plymouth 001.jpg)



(Doc's Plymouth 002.jpg)



(Doc's Plymouth 003.jpg)



(Doc's Plymouth 004.jpg)



(Doc's Plymouth 005.jpg)



(Doc's Plymouth 006.jpg)



Attachments
----------------
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 001.jpg (56KB - 736 downloads)
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 002.jpg (66KB - 743 downloads)
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 003.jpg (58KB - 736 downloads)
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 004.jpg (63KB - 731 downloads)
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 005.jpg (39KB - 740 downloads)
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 006.jpg (49KB - 751 downloads)
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-20 10:38 AM (#269241 - in reply to #269239)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Cut and pasted from the General Discussion board:

Johnny's Auto Wrecking used to sit along the old Woodinville-Duvall road. Over the hill behind
the shop a road ran east and west with three roads then branching north up the hill toward the
back of the yard. On the most easterly road, up near the crest of the hill sat two finned Plymouths.
I knew little about old cars back then, even less about Plymouths, but these two cars caught my
attention and many times I leaned up against a car across the aisle and studied the details of each.
I would later learn one was a 57 Plaza 4s, the other a 58 Belvedere 2HT, but back then all I saw was
one had quad headlights and a matching grille above and below the bumper, the other looked kinda
goofy to me, ... like someone had put a home made grille in the lower part and added a strange parking
light where the inside headlight was supposed to be. I find this memory funny, because it shows how
little I knew about these cars back then. I had just got my driver's license and my "new" 60 Buick had
me on the fast track to learning all about them.

That 60 Buick led me to all sorts of backwater wrecking yards that kept the oldies around. The next big
find was Ray's Auto Wrecking out near Silver Lake, south of Everett. Unlike Johnny, Ray stacked his cars,
in some places 5-6 high. Massive columns of cars, all tottered against each other, one could climb into the
pile and snake through the air space between the cars for hours. I don't think I was sure I had seen them
all even after years of climbing through them.
Up toward the front of the high pile, in the center of the yard sat a 60 Invicta that I took a flawless interior
out of. It sat near another one of those cool little Plymouths, this one a 58 Plaza 4s in a pretty light green.
As time went by, so did the interest in Buicks and soon it was all about Mopars. The little Plaza at Ray's
proved to be an interesting car, as it was a real stripper that no one had touched because it had none of
the desirable parts or options on it. It also was a scary car to mess with, as it sat under 3-4 cars, on the
bottom of the pile. But for whatever reason, Ray had left a small open space near that column and one
could actually step back and look at this car from the driver's side. I took a real shine to this car, even
though it was hopelessly buried under a mountain of cars. Back then, no one wanted a sedan. Certainly
not a seafoam green one, but there was something very charming about this car.

Back then my big chase was for the 58 DeSoto ragtop I have had for years now, but that little Plymouth
always stayed in the back of my head, thinking if I ever came across a Plaza like that, I'd buy it. I even
began to think about it seriously enough that I returned to Ray's to retrieve the body tags off that Plymouth
and build one from scratch, only to find a housing development where Ray's had been. I was bummed. I fell
victim to the bad attitude that sedans weren't worthy of making any special effort for, and that little car and
all those unique parts found on an el Strippo were gone forever.

Fast forward 30 years from when I first noticed that car and BINGO!

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=35685&...

My interest in el Strippo cars has grown even more over the years, and something like a dumpy black-
walled four door sedan in puke green with dog dish hubcaps has sounded better and better with every
passing year. It pays to make your interests known, and I want to thank all my friends here on the forum
for a lot of laughs, pleasurable hours wasted, and in this case, a big thanks to David for posting the above
eBay listing, as I came out on top with the help of my dear wife on the bid key, and this toady little green
Plymouth will be coming home to my house and saved from becoming a parts car or painted red and white.
It will be preserved as a nice example of those cars so shunned and overlooked by the car hobby that favors
flash and glitter.

Big M has offered help in staging the car until I can get home from Afghanistan. Thanks John.

The timing could not have been worse. How to buy a car from a dusty outpost in the Afghan desert with only
occasional chopper traffic ? I guess this will all be part of a great history to go with the car.

Again, thanks all.

Doctor DeSoto / (Professor Plymouth?)


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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-20 10:56 AM (#269243 - in reply to #269241)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Another copy from the General Discussion thread:


Back when they were new, of all the finned cars, my most prominent memory of any of
them is of the 58 Plymouth tail lights. As a little kid, they looked just like upturned lollipops
to me !

Another car that contributed to my interest in this car was a 1960 Dart el cheapo ... can't
remember if that was the Seneca or the Pioneer ??? Which one was the bottom of the line ?

Anyway, my friend John and I used to take several day road trips, hitting every backwater
wrecking yard and looking for cars wherever we might find them. Parked out front of Belfair
Auto Wrecking was this el Cheapo Dart 4s in that same soft light green, ... body color wheels,
dog dishies, slant 6 with 3-onda-tree, a spotless grey interior, ... just the cutest little Grandma
grocery gitter you ever saw. It was a real low miles original that had just come in - Grandma
prolly croaked and the kids had that old, ugly car hauled off - but the yard had not decided what
they were gonna do with it, if I remember correctly. I got busy and never followed up on it.
Hope it got saved, but given the anti-sedan attitude back then, I'll bet it got parted or crushed.

I like 60 Dodge, but consider the 58 Plymouth to be one of the top FL cars ever built and THE
BEST looking Plymouth ever built. This one may not be the super slippery 2HT, but I can live
with that. It is one of those cases of "It's so ugly, it's cute!" kinda things. That is one reason
I have held out for one in this color.
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B/G 61
Posted 2011-04-20 12:11 PM (#269260 - in reply to #269243)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



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Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-20 10:56 AM

That is one reason I have held out for one in this color.


So you're gonna paint a '58 DeSoto convert purple, but you wanted a 4dr sedan in original colors ?





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BigBlockMopar
Posted 2011-04-20 3:45 PM (#269293 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: RE: Dream Car



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Hey! what's wrong with purple?!
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-20 11:12 PM (#269372 - in reply to #269260)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



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Location: Parts Unknown
I am going to paint the DeSoto an OEM Spring Special original color ... that lilac metallic with
original OEM charcoal sweep color. I am not dreaming up some hot rod candy purple for the car !

In 35 years of chasing finned cars and almost as long chasing finned Mopars, I have only seen
a number I could count on one hand painted in this striking color. The original blue color is fine,
but I want something with more period "pizzazz". Something unique to the fin era.


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55 Savoy
Posted 2011-04-21 4:53 PM (#269469 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: RE: Dream Car



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Hey Doc, the car looks even better in Johns pictures! Looks like a really solid car without the ususal rust. I have to congratulate one more time..

I'm a sucker for low down models myself and the green with bodycolor/dogdish wheels will be awesome. My goal with these old cars is like you described in another thread, to go for a ride down the postcard thread. A basic sedan has a tendency to look more "real" and taken from one of them postcards than a fancy ht or convertible.
I actually just bought a light blue '65 Valiant Wagon myself that will have bodycolor wheels and dogdishes. Not as striking as a '58, but definately also a "postcard car"

I see you are going for blackwall bias tires. Couldn't agree more. The fact that the correct Goodyears are not available without whitewalls shouldn't be a problem. They come with the (correct for these cars) 2 1/4"WW and with the narrow 1"WW. I'd go for the narrow one, color the white stripe with something black that doesn't hurt rubber and mount it inwards. It will never be visible looking at the car.
You mentioned that you considered 15" wheels. Not sure if I'd do that.. Upgrading to 15" is a very smart move when using radials on these cars to keep the original circumeference with the lower profile tires. But when using correct looking bias tires on a 15" wheel they will be awfully high for a '58 Plymouth. Rims may also be a problem as the older cars that used 15" originally had pretty narrow rims with a different offset. No problem if going for newer wheels but you want the 10" dogdishes to fit..
I'd go for keeping the car as factory correct as possible, using the original wheels and 7.50-14 Goodyears, but that's just my 2c.
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B/G 61
Posted 2011-04-21 5:19 PM (#269477 - in reply to #269372)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



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Location: Parts Unknown
Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-20 11:12 PM

I am going to paint the DeSoto an OEM Spring Special original color ... that lilac metallic with
original OEM charcoal sweep color. I am not dreaming up some hot rod candy purple for the car !

In 35 years of chasing finned cars and almost as long chasing finned Mopars, I have only seen
a number I could count on one hand painted in this striking color. The original blue color is fine,
but I want something with more period "pizzazz". Something unique to the fin era.




Its all good doc, If you did want to paint the DeSoto candy purple or even spread chia seeds on it, who cares,
I just find it amusing you will change the as delivered color on a '58 convert, but hold out for a green sedan
so it will be original . . .


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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-22 1:18 AM (#269532 - in reply to #269477)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
I've been over this before, but .... The DeSoto, for me, is the ultimate post-war car ever built.
Had the 57 been a wedge engine car and had the 58 bumpers, I would have preferred a 1957 ....
LOVE the 57 side sweep pattern, but years and years and years of searching and work scrounged
up this old rust bucket I found, and when beggars can't be choosers, I got stuck with a blue car
with a grey interior. Not that I mind the blue, .... but like I say about red Plymouths, it just is not
a very unique color ..... you could buy a blue or red car in 1934 or 1978, you know ? I do not like
the grey interior option, and want/ed colors unique to the 50's ... turquoise, charcoal, salmon,
pastel yellow, or green, or after seeing a 58 Spring Special Firesweep sedan in that lilac metallic,
that stunning color with the matching white and lilac interior ! Go with a charcoal sweep and black
top instead of the all-too-predictable white .... that is going to be one striking 58 Fireflite ragtop !
OEM correct, .... just not original to THAT car.

Had I picked a car more easily "shopped around for", I might have held out for a stock color car
more to my liking. But 58 DeSoto convertibles are not that car, let alone a Fireflite. The green
Plymouth Plaza was hard enough to locate, .... and they made 54,000 58 Plaza 4 door sedans !

So, on to the update .... I asked the seller four times to tell me what the dealership tag on the back
panel read. Never got a response. John tells me it says: Converse / Albuquerque

A little keyboarding on the world wide web thing and I came up with this:

Converse Motor Company
423 4th Street NW
Dial 7-1586

Anyone on this list from ABQ or know anything about Converse Motors ?

John reports that the car was last tagged for 1965. The seller claimed the last driver passed away in 1964.

The engine turns freely, and the motor oil looks like "maple syrup".

Moving right along .....
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-22 8:12 AM (#269574 - in reply to #269532)
Subject: Re: Dream Car Update



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Hmmmm ...... Obit from the last week of 2010

CONVERSE -- Jane Boyd Converse, 82, died of pneumonia in the hospital in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico on Saturday the 26th of December. Jane had lived in San Miguel, a picturesque haven for artists and expatriates in the hills of central Mexico for the last 30 years following the death of her husband, George Knox Converse in 1978. Jane and Knox Converse were prominent members of Albuquerque society in the 1950's until the demise of Converse Motor Company, the town's Chrysler dealership in 1960, when the Converses, Jane, Knox, and sons, Tres, Timothy, and Michael moved to Southern California eventually settling in Newport Beach. Sadly, Jane's oldest sons, Tres and Timothy preceded her in death. She is survived by her youngest son, Michael Converse, a current resident of La Verne, California; and five grandchildren, Alyson, Melissa, Steven, Andrew, and Hillary. A scattering of Jane's ashes in the Pacific, as was done for Knox, Tres, and Timothy, is planned in the coming weeks.
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big m
Posted 2011-04-22 1:26 PM (#269607 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Great bit of history, Doc! Interesting that the dealership closed several years after the debut of the Forward Look campaign.

---John
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56royaldodge
Posted 2011-04-22 1:41 PM (#269609 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



Account deactivated by owner's request

1000500100100100100
Location: On this barrel
I'm still waiting for the milk carton to show up on ebay!
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-23 12:41 AM (#269667 - in reply to #269609)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
The milk carton will be saved.

I did a little research and there are TWO Michael Converses listed in La Verne, California.

One is listed as being 112 years old. Given that "Mom" died last December at the age of
82, I suspect that this is NOT our guy.

Michael Converse No.2 is listed as being 57 years old. I got an address and a phone
number, but seein's as how we only have radio and inet on this outpost, I asked the DLI
to call the number and some female answered and said that the number given is NOT for
Michael Converse.

So, ... a little more digging is in order there.

The ABQ Museum is affiliated with the ABC library system and they have a photoarchivist
with whom I was put in contact with in hopes of finding a good photograph of the dealership.
Still waiting on feedback there.

It sure would be nice to find an heir who could tell me the story of the dealership and perhaps
have family photos relating to it !



Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-04-23 7:28 AM
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-23 7:31 AM (#269687 - in reply to #269667)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Looks like Knox Converse dabbled in car racing from this race result sheet for the
Carrera Panamericana 1953:

*********************************************************
Pos. No. Drivers Car Entrant Laps Time Km/h Pos. Gr.
1st 36 Fangio / Bronzoni Lancia D24 Pinin Farina Scuderia Lancia 8 18:11:00.000 169.221 1st S+1.6
2nd 22 Taruffi / Maggio Lancia D24 Pinin Farina Scuderia Lancia 8 18:18:51.000 168.010 2nd S+1.6
3rd 38 Castellotti / Luoni Lancia D23 Pinin Farina Scuderia Lancia 8 18:24:52.000 167.009 3rd S+1.6
4th 26 Mancini / Serena di Lapigio Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta Scuderia Guastalla 8 19:40:29.000 4th S+1.6
5th 6 Louis Rosier Talbot Lago T26GS Club Francia Amigos de la Panamericana 8 20:11:22.000 5th S+1.6
6th 23 Ricci / Maglioli / Salviati Ferrari 375 MM Pinin Farina Berlinetta Scuderia Guastalla 8 20:16:28.000 6th S+1.6
7th 52 Stevenson / Smith Lincoln Capri Bob Estes 8 20:31:32.000 149.911 1st T
8th 53 Faulkner / Daigh Lincoln Capri Bob Estes 8 20:32:55.000 2nd T
9th 95 McGrath / Ayulo Lincoln Capri Ronald Ferguson 8 20:33:07.000 3rd T
10th 51 Mantz / Stroppe Lincoln Capri Bob Estes 8 20:33:30.000 4th T
11th 5 Ruiz Echeverría / Villegas Becerril Ferrari 250 MM Pinin Farina Efrain Ruiz-Echeverria 8 20:48:29.000 7th S+1.6
12th 66 Drisdale / Gomez Chrysler New Yorker A. B. Poe 8 21:21:19.000 5th T
13th 67 Russell / Ashley Chrysler New Yorker Knox Converse 8 21:34:26.000 6th T

*******************************************************

There were 300 cars registered for this race, including 2 New Yorkers fielded by some guy named E. Carl Kiekhaefer.


Edited by Doctor DeSoto 2011-04-23 7:55 AM
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-23 8:50 AM (#269694 - in reply to #269687)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



5000500050005000200050025
Location: Parts Unknown
Had a weird "small world" thing happen while researching this. Looking for "Knox Converse"
and came up with "Knox Converse Stadium". Wow! .... maybe this guy was a bigger name than
I thought? Closer inspection showed it is a stadium at a school called Knox in the Dandenongs
.... a place in Australia I was just a few weeks ago !
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57plybel
Posted 2011-04-23 10:39 PM (#269759 - in reply to #269694)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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'Bout 10 miles from my house!

 

Colin

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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-24 12:43 AM (#269777 - in reply to #269759)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
Colin,

How did Knox Converse Stadium come to have that name ? If the school is called "Knox",
what is the relevance of "Converse" in relation ?
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57plybel
Posted 2011-04-24 1:49 AM (#269787 - in reply to #269777)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Brent,

Knox is a shire/district/ municipality/ suburb.   It at one recent point in history boasted the largest shopping centre in the Southern hemisphere.   So there is a Knox school, Knox sports ground, Knox shopping centre etc etc.   Don't know the relevance of the "converse" tag....

 

Colin

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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-24 2:31 AM (#269790 - in reply to #269787)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
The chance combination of Knox Converse is quite the coincidence. Care to put on your
detective hat and see what you can come up with ???
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57plybel
Posted 2011-04-24 9:04 AM (#269802 - in reply to #269790)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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I'll try during the week!

 

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ttotired
Posted 2011-04-24 7:41 PM (#269846 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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This might be a long shot on the Knox Converse stadium thing, but perhaps they got some sort of sponsorship from Nike.

If I remember correctly there is a model of Nike's sport shoes called Converse.

The City of Knox has been around for a long time.

I remembered that there was a politician from Victoria (crap that sticks in your head from school) that was around in the early 1900s
so I looked up Knox as a pollie and found this on Wickipedia

William Knox (25 April 1850 – 25 August 1913) was an Australian businessman and politician.

Knox was born in Melbourne and his family later moved to Horsham and Ballarat He was educated at Scotch College, Melbourne and joined the Bank of Victoria in 1866 and worked in various country branches. In January 1884 he married Catherine Mary McMurtrie. In 1885, he became secretary of the recently formed Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd and in 1888, his yearly salary was increased from £75 to £1500. He effectively ran the complex organisation of a company that became Australia's biggest company and the world's biggest silver miner. He resigned as secretary in 1893 to become managing director of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, but was immediately appointed to BHP's board, a position he retained until 1910.

Knox was a councillor on Malvern Shire from 1892 to 1910 and its president from 1892 to 1895. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Council to represent South-Eastern Province in 1898. He supported the federation of Australia and was elected as the first member for Kooyong at the inaugural 1901 election, initially as a member of the Free Trade Party, although he later supported some of the Protectionist policies of the Protectionist Party. Knox was responsible for moving a motion to begin each sitting day with prayers. He resigned from parliament in 1910 after suffering a stroke.[1]

The Knoxs had five sons and two daughters and he and his wife and their youngest children travelled to England, but he died at Folkestone, Kent. He had declined a knighthood. His sons included:

George Hodges (1885–1960), appointed CMG in 1917, speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (1942–1947)
Robert Wilson (1890 - 1973), businessman, knighted 1934
William Johnstone, awarded the Military Cross and died of wounds in 1917
MacGregor, awarded the Military Cross and permanently incapacitated


I hope this helps one way or another in your history search

Mick
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-25 2:38 AM (#269879 - in reply to #269846)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
Hehehehe ! I think that pretty rules out any link there !

OK, .... more info to research:

A bank stub with the name Barbara L. Parrish, 1507(?) Alpha Ln. Anaheim, Ca.

An envelope addressed to: Joe Backus c/o Paradise Harbor, Rt. 1 Riverside Dr., Parker, Arizona
This one has no return address at all, but is postmarked Parker, Az.

An envelope addressed to: B.H. McLaughlin, Room #21
This has a printed return address letterhead from the El Rancho Parker Motel and a PO there in Parker, Az.

Some preliminary digging shows this motel is still in business, and has some WILDLY differing customer
reviews that are worthy of a laugh. I came up with a Barbara L. Parrish linked to Anaheim, but without
paying to join some social network I could not go any further.

Joe Backus and B.H. McLaughlin were both deadends.

Not sure who these people are or if they had anything to do with the car. We'll see ....

The good news is that I know a few genuine detectives back home, so I'll forward this info and see what
they can come up with.



(Doc's Plymouth 009.JPG)



(Doc's Plymouth 010.JPG)



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Attachments Doc's Plymouth 010.JPG (154KB - 713 downloads)
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-25 2:52 AM (#269880 - in reply to #269879)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
And for those who were so interested in the milk carton ....

.... it seems this tub was a rolling smorgasbord of gastrointestinal delights !




(Doc's Plymouth 005.JPG)



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Attachments Doc's Plymouth 006.JPG (159KB - 728 downloads)
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56royaldodge
Posted 2011-04-25 12:18 PM (#269919 - in reply to #269880)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



Account deactivated by owner's request

1000500100100100100
Location: On this barrel
Doctor DeSoto - 2011-04-25 12:52 AM

And for those who were so interested in the milk carton ....

.... it seems this tub was a rolling smorgasbord of gastrointestinal delights !


Very Cool! Definitely adds character!!
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-26 4:07 AM (#270033 - in reply to #269919)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
John sent some more photos and writes:

************************************************

Here are photos of the car, I have begun to sort through it, and clean it out.

The trunk was loaded with old trash, I took photos of the contents, and set aside anything that was somewhat intact. Inside the car, I found two letters beneath the rear seat cushion, one appears to still be sealed! Also, beneath the mound of seat stuffing, there was the body of an old acoustic guitar. What looks like a rock that I have pictured, is actually a hunk of lead, probably the device that caused the windshield breakage. All rubber mats disintegrated into small bits they were so brittle, but this may have helped, as so far, I have found no rust holes in the trunk or other floors. The spare tire in the trunk was last driven on the rim for many miles, and has ruined the wheel. I should have a chance to do some more cleaning later today. The last photo is of items found in the glovebox. All items I have found will be saved for you to go through later.

---John

*************************************************

Thanks John.



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Attachments Doc's Plymouth 008.JPG (154KB - 719 downloads)
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-26 4:17 AM (#270034 - in reply to #270033)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
More photos of the dumpster clean out and contents.



(Doc's Plymouth 011.JPG)



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Attachments Doc's Plymouth 014.JPG (161KB - 705 downloads)
Attachments Doc's Plymouth 015.JPG (159KB - 732 downloads)
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big m
Posted 2011-04-26 3:18 PM (#270087 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Brent,

I found an old registration showing Barbara Parrish to be the registered owner. This is good news, as it shows the same license plate number as well. This will allow you to keep the black plates on the car when you go to register it.

---John
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FIN_NV
Posted 2011-04-26 4:03 PM (#270088 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Doc,
That quite a nice find. And all that history in the trunk. We all love a good mystery.
I noticed you mentioned a yard on Woodenville Road. You wouldn't happen to know a Forward Looker Named Larry Zappone from Woodenville?
Best Regards,
Steve
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Dave L.
Posted 2011-04-26 8:29 PM (#270117 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Fun stuff.
If it's 1504 E. Alpha Ln. Anaheim, then this is it:
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%221507+alpha+lane%22,+%2...

Looks like Built 1960.
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1507-E-Alpha-Ln-Anaheim-CA-92805/...
http://www.homes.com/property/20982317/1507_E_Alpha_Ln-Anaheim-CA-9...


Edited by Dave L. 2011-04-26 8:34 PM
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2011-04-26 11:42 PM (#270133 - in reply to #270088)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Location: Parts Unknown
Outstanding news, John ! I am pleased with that development.

Sure, I know Larry Zappone. Hard not to if you live in the Seattle area. John Fay and I
invented the PNW Chapter of the NDC back around 1990. I gave up leadership when I
moved to Spokanistan. I believe Larry is the current head of that organization. He keeps
a pair of dumpy old 56's in his garage ... the kind that nobody likes.
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big m
Posted 2011-05-06 5:01 PM (#271352 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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Now that I had the treasure hunt and trash removal behind me, it was time to clean the dirt and accumulated dust from the inside, and underbody. The engine bay was the first part. I just wanted to remove the corrosion causing alkali dust and dirt from the desert environment, the oil deposits can be cleaned later. Here is a photo of the engine after cleaning it off. Next, using a forklift to pick the car up by the frame, I picked the car up on an angle so when spraying the dirt out, it would run towards the rear. There was probably two pounds of dirt packed in the headlight brows, this is why these cars often rust there first. Oftentimes, you will find asphalt chunks from people driving over freshly paved roads, but not in this case.

In the interior floors of all '57-'59 Mopars, except for Imperial, you will find a plastic plug behind the seat track, , and one just a bit behind that one on each side of the car. I popped these out to allow water and dirt to flow out of the car. Next, everything was sprayed from front to back, with the car raised in the front, it makes the job much easier to accomplish.

---John



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Attachments Doc's '58 009.JPG (160KB - 690 downloads)
Attachments Doc's '58 010.JPG (156KB - 711 downloads)
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big m
Posted 2011-05-06 5:18 PM (#271356 - in reply to #267400)
Subject: Re: Dream Car



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The front driver's floor suffered the worst rust, it is hard to see in the photo as the light was poor. There is heavy pitting, and a small hole visible at the edge of the inspection cover. The door panels also had water damaged boards, and the bottoms were loose on the doors. This made it easy to flush the dirt from inside, the left rear door had a large nest from mice built inside, and it caused the door to rust from the inside. The rust stain visible on the outside of the door is probably due to weak metal, although I did not test it. In the rear wheelhouse on each side, there is a small metal plug that will gain you access to the inside of the rocker panel, and with the car tilted, it's easy to clean the dust out. Just behind the rear wheel opening on the inside panel, there are also plugs to aid in cleaning the rear quarter panels out.

After hosing the trunk and drop areas out, I raised the car high, and proceeded to clean the underside of the car and the frame out. Surprisingly, there was little dirt in the frame channels, meaning the car was not driven on dirt roads much. With all four tires flat, the dust blowing beneath the car was kept minimal too. All this cleaning takes two to three hours to do properly, by the time I had finished, it was getting dark.

---John

Next will be to drain the fuel tank, crankcase, and transmission.



(Doc's '58 007.JPG)



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Attachments Doc's '58 007.JPG (150KB - 712 downloads)
Attachments Doc's '58 011.JPG (145KB - 682 downloads)
Attachments Doc's '58 012.JPG (157KB - 728 downloads)
Attachments Doc's '58 013.JPG (160KB - 687 downloads)
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