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Veteran
Posts: 114
Location: California | I recently acquired two solid California estate sale convertibles. They were owned by a well-known Mopar collector for many years. The 57 was originally Poppy and White with the poly engine. The 58 was and is Mint Green and I now have it running. I will restore them after I get two current projects done. Which one would you do first? Which one do you think is most popular? Would you change the colors?
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
 
Location: CA | Both beautiful cars and a terrific score! I don't think you could lost doing either first. |
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Expert
Posts: 2556
Location: Perth Australia | Haveing 2 is greedy 
Best send 1 my way, either one will do, your choice lol
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 15114
Location: bishop, ca | The 58 is considerably rarer than the 57.
Which one is the heavier optioned?
Which one is the easier to restore?
If you want to maximize the car's value, put the OEM colors on it.
Any car, with fresh paint will look good.
Two-tone brown, with neither color being offered OEM (thank Exner)....I wonder what the owner was thinking?
You'll pretty much have to strip that guy down to bare metal.
You could pretty much finance one car's restoration by selling the other one.
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Expert
Posts: 1837
Location: Upplands Väsby, Sweden | Fantastikt to have two such fine 57-58 dodgar the driveway to the garage.
About 1958 Dodge license plate frame (chrome) is original? looks good. Do you have any more pictures of convertebels
Edited by Windsor59 2012-05-05 12:58 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1958
| Nice score, would you post more pics. |
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 15114
Location: bishop, ca | Joakim, that 1958 "license plate escutcheon" was available as a part of the Spring Special group of parts,
which were either installed at the factory (as part of the Spring Special trim-models) or were available for
individual purchase at the dealerships.
That trunk may well be a 1957 trunk, as it appears to have the individual DODGE-letters mounting holes, above the
license plate area.
In 1958, the factory saved a lot of money by merely having a single-script "Dodge" nameplate be installed over on
the lower-passenger's side of the trunk (where the "V" molding is seen, on the 1957 trunk).
So, the 1958 vert's trunk (and, by extrapolation: the rest of the car) is a bit of a mystery.
Also, that rear antenna is not correct, and does not appear to be MoPar, either(?).
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Veteran
Posts: 114
Location: California | More of thr rear.
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 15114
Location: bishop, ca | That 58 "Dodge" nameplate might be slightly mis-located, on the deck lid, but I'd have to check, with other cars having
that wide escutcheon on them.
But, I have no idea what those four mounting holes represent, above the license plate.
So, that does look like a 58 deck lid, after all.
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Location: The Mile High City - Denver CO | The '58 has '57 fin caps, '57 pot metal fin moldings, and Dodge script from either a Royal or a Coronet - not a Custom Royal. The side trim should be interesting on this car. I think with those '57 fin moldings, it could only have the Coronet stainless piece under the fin - but who knows? The stainless trim under the trunk opening and above the bumper is indicative of a Custom Royal though. It also has the stainless license plate insert. All in all, it is a bit of a mystery. Considering all of the other '57 stuff, that trunk may well be from a '57. It appears to be a 1EEE paint code, which would be really unusual for a '58 Custom Royal.
Both cars are a major score! They look beautiful to me. Although you are teasing us with these rear end photos! We need more!!!! 
Edited by Lancer Mike 2012-05-05 10:38 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 114
Location: California | I am enjoying the comments and what has been picked up so far as to what was done incorrectly with the restoration by the previous owner some twenty years ago. The data tag is showing 1EEE for paint. The power antenna is likely Mopar, but probably not offered in 1958 on Dodge. I will send off to Chrysler Historical for build sheet after title is back in my name. It has the 59 swivel seat but with correct fabric, likely done with that restoration. The trunk lid had Custom Royal script above the license surround that I removed and you can see the holes now. I will be putting it through a frame off restoration eventually and will make corrections. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 822
Location: Fleetwood, Pa | If these cars were restored 20 years ago, they must have been parked out back under the trees for 20 years. I restored one of my cars back in 1987 and it's still show-worthy. In fact, in 2004 I decided to join the AACA and have it judged. So far, I have my "senior" award and I'm looking forward to competing for a "grand national" award, once it returns to the northeast. Where have these cars been the last 20 years? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have either one, but they sure must have led a terrible life after their respective restorations.... |
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Location: The Mile High City - Denver CO | Aha! Thanks Paul! - the Custom Royal script makes sense of that hole pattern. For Custom Royals, it seems that all eggshell white cars and all black cars are more common that other single colors, but that is just speculation.
That power antenna bezel is interesting because it seems to fit the fin so well. Someone must have done a lot of work to get that to fit!
Edited by Lancer Mike 2012-05-06 11:02 AM
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Location: The Mile High City - Denver CO | Here is the junior model twin under restoration, Paul: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=40731&posts=34&start=1 |
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Member
Posts: 18
| If interested in selling a car pm me please. Thanks |
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Exner Expert 10K+
Posts: 15114
Location: bishop, ca | Mike, I've seen many 58 CRL's with either chromed pot metal, or anodized aluminum "Dodge" nameplates!
There seems to be no direct correlation as to which CRL got which nameplate.
Not the same as in 57, where only the CRL's got the gold DODGE letters.
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Expert
Posts: 2861
Location: Lemoore CA | Geez, I would have to go with the 58 for 2 reasons, it is green, and it is a 58. Neat cars. |
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Expert
Posts: 2490
Location: DFW, TX | The '57 is a factory red/white convertible Hemi car. Let that start a bidding war amongst the BJ crowd!
Restore it to sell, restore the '58 to keep. SWEET RIDES!! Congratulations on an excellent find. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 628
Location: CA | Wouldn't it have the badge if it were a hemi car then? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 470
Location: Lagrange, Georgia | I have never seen to in the same place! |
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Veteran
Posts: 260
Location: Fairfield County, CT | Paul,
Sent you a PM.
Regards, |
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Dodge Custom Royal convertibles 1957 and 1958
