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Location: Boise, Idaho | Howdy all. I recently purchased a 1957 Dodge station wagon D500 that does not have an engine or tranny. It does have the D500 emblem on the tailgate. It also has "D" emblems on the rear fenders and a "D" type of emblem in the front grill, and finally a "D" emblem on the steering wheel. Do the fender, grill, and steering wheel indicate a D500?
The cowl body tag shows option codes of 293 395 421 481 502 513 585 ... do any of these codes indicate which motor was installed? Actually I have not been able to find any breakdown of the codes at all ... still looking. The serial number is 38001114 which I believe is an early model of this car.
This car is a serious restoration project and I am still debating on whether I should pursue it, or part it out.
Any and all comments are most welcome.
Larry Chase, Boise Idaho
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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 | Welcome aboard, Larry!
Your option codes, above, do not confirm the D500 option, but, can you post a pic of your car's Paint/Trim data
plate?
I'm curious about your code "293".
Your wagon will have a lot of very desirable HD options on it, like: 6-leaf springs, HD Torsion bars, 12x2 1/2"
brakes (right?); the transmission might be a HD unit, too.
Ideally, its headliner panels will be intact and clean, as the hardboard panel sections aew very rare finds, nowadays.
Its body panel alignments look to be very good, too; that's important, for an easy/good restoration.
The car is a good candidate for either restoration (if you have the time/money/interest; the 2-door wagon
is a 'special' model) or, its got a lot of restoration parts-potential (but, it should be sold, intact, rather than multi-year parted out).
Once restored, the car will be a knock-out in colors and appearance.
Let's see its Paint/Trim data plate, to confirm its D500 status!
Edited by d500neil 2015-02-21 3:09 AM
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Location: Boise, Idaho | D500Neil, thank you for your response. Sorry about taking so long to respond ... weekend activities got in the way :).
I posted the data plate picture in the Gallery as I did not figure out how to add multiple pictures to this thread.
Not sure about your reference to the 2-door wagon ... this one is a four door.
And I am not sure if this is really a D500, even though it has the D500 emblem on the tailgate. The emblems on the rear fenders, the front grille, and the steering wheel horn ring all have a "D" in them. The front brake shoes measure 2.5" wide. It has no brake drums so I am not sure about the diameter ... though the backing plates appear to be 12". The torsion bars are a shade over 1". There are six leaves in the rear springs. No motor or transmission.
It only has one panel in the headliner, the front one plus the two visors. It does have all of the cross straps in the headliner.
The body is good, appears to never have been wrecked. It has lots of surface rust and only one rust through on the rear lower quarter panel. The floors are rusted out ... I wonder if there are patch panels available?
I have the time/money/interest to do the restoration. But it has to wait till I finish the 1960 Dodge Town Wagon and the 1959 Dodge Sweptside pickup (both are in process right now).
I have a 354 hemi that I can put in it ... but am looking for the Red Ram motor which I believe is the original motor. I will be attending the Portland Swap Meet in April and hope to find one there.
Now I will try to add the data plate to this reply ... if it does not show up then please check my gallery picture.
Thank you very much for any response, I am eager to learn about this station wagon before I start working on it, Larry Chase in Boise, Idaho
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: McCleary WA | larrychase - 2015-02-24 9:50 AM
I will be attending the Portland Swap Meet in April and hope to find one there.
Do you need the headlight doors/bezels or any other trim parts? I have a lot of spares, and will also be at Portland. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Darryl, yes I need the headlight bezel and parking lights (both sides). I especially need the front brakes, bearings, drums, wheels, etc ... from the backing plate to the wheels (both sides). Also interested in wheels. Will you have a selection at the Portland swap meet? I will be in stall # 4587 (inside). Should I make a list of needs? Thank you, Larry Chase in Boise idaho 208/322-5333. |
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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 | Yes, it is a 4-door, 6-passenger Sierra station wagon model, painted in the Deluxe-style with Velvet Blue Poly
(metallic) and Glacier White, with the blue interior....a blue 6-passenger Sierra wagon is a RARE find, nowadays!
AND, it is a D500 model, too...
Probably 1-of-2/3 such-surviving cars (colors/style/D500) in the world.
It is also heavily optioned, having every available 1957 option group installed in/on it.
It's got OEM Undercoating and full Solex tinted/shaded glass and a really unusual Delivery Route to the selling dealership...
never seen that code, before, but it probably involves a 'boat' (ship-) in the procedure.
There, certainly, are a lot of other neat OEM options in/on your car, but, you will need to buy a copy of your car's IBM Build Card
in order to verify all of the options/trim that were built into your ride.
IBM card ordering instructions are shown in/on the two 'Sticky' messages, found at the top
of this message board's postings.
BTW, your car was built in Detroit o.o.a. 12/6/56, so, it is of fairly early build.
NICE (and rare, as-built!) car...
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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 | Larry, the IBM card will confirm your engine's stamping number...which is a GOOD thing, for restoration
purposes.
It will also confirm whether your car had single, or dual (unlikely, but possible) carbs....which would make the car
a Super D500 model.
Your car, as being a wagon, will have a lot of heavy-duty equipment in/on it, including the 12 x 2 1/2"
brakes (hopefully) .
If not, you can retrofit those brakes, along with Firm Feel's Carbon-Metallic brake linings.
BTW, the options numbers-codings on the Paint/Trim data plate do not correlate to the actual\factory options
codings; that's why I was confused about your mentioning "293", above, because 293
is not the official code for the Torqueflite transmission, even tho that code is stamped onto the
Paint/Trim data plate (confusing, huh?)
Edited by d500neil 2015-02-24 9:17 PM
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Neil, thank you for this info ... it makes this car more interesting to me! I originally bought it (2 months ago) as a "derelict" to pull one of my RedFish boats ... I was just going to make it run, update the interior, and call that good. Now you have introduced me to the idea of a "full" restoration (more money!). I am still trying to get a title to the car (it has gone through two prior owners with no title). After I get a legal title then I will be willing to spend money on it. Hope your medical situation works out for you ... I believe you one of the primary "guru's" for these type of cars so your input is valuable. Thanks again, Larry in Boise, Idaho |
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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 | Well, Job-1 is always to secure clear title to a car.
Good luck; that IS one RARE surviving car model.....and, its being a 6-passenger model will make it
somewhat less expensive to restore (thru no fault of your own) than would the 9-passenger wagon.
...Just noticed another anomaly with your ride....
Going back to the top photo, the nameplate says :"Suburban".
All/only the Suburban models were 2-door station wagons; the higher-trim Sierra and the top-dog
Custom Sierra wagons were all/only 4-door models.
So..why is your car carrying "Suburban" nameplate(s) on it????
Its Paint/Trim coding IS for a Sierra (4-door) D500 6-passenger station wagon.
Do both fenders have "Suburban" on them???
Edited by d500neil 2015-02-25 6:31 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 427
Location: McCleary WA | larrychase - 2015-02-24 11:02 AM
Darryl, yes I need the headlight bezel and parking lights (both sides). I especially need the front brakes, bearings, drums, wheels, etc ... from the backing plate to the wheels (both sides). Also interested in wheels. Will you have a selection at the Portland swap meet? I will be in stall # 4587 (inside). Should I make a list of needs? Thank you, Larry Chase in Boise idaho 208/322-5333.
I won't have a booth there but will look you up on Friday. I will be picking up my tires so will at some point be in the "pick up" area. Give me a list of what you need and I'll see what I have - mostly trim type stuff, no brakes. That went with the parts car I sold to "uncltank" who is on this site also and might part with some stuff. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Neil, both front fenders have the "suburban" emblem. Maybe this was the cheaper car, loaded with all the options. I was told that a Nevada farmer ordered this car and used it to pull a farm (horse?) trailer ... though I do not see any sign of a trailer hitch. I was told that later he pulled the hemi to put in a high speed boat. This resulted in the car sitting outside for many decades (and it shows it). Maybe the car is an oddball because of the early production date. I am still trying to figure out who was the farmer ... the Nevada title system is a little strange to me. Later, Larry |
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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 | Larry; just looking back in my records and your car is clearly identified as being a Sierra 4-door d500
wagon; how it got its "Suburban" nameplates on it is a mystery.
At some later date, you could check the front body clip area to confirm whether the front sheetmetal may have
been replaced at some time (paint oversprays/masking-off/color changes)...altho your pic certainly indicates that the front clip
has been installed there for a long time.
Are the brake shoes 2" or 2 1/2" wide?
The "Suburban" models were (only, supposedly) the entry-level/workhorse 2-door station wagons.
Your car has the (correct-) "Sierra" emblems installed at the end of its rear fins.
Right now, it would appear that somebody replaced the Sierra model front body clip with a Suburban front clip.....unless somebody
"connected" at the factory level arranged to pull some strings, with its nameplates....but,
that would appear to be unlikely, on an entry-level car....
EXCEPT that: your car is 'loaded', and it is a D500 model.
Now, I'm wondering if your car might not have been built as a dual-carb Super D500 model, too?
You can check up/behind (carefully...) the glovebox to see if a copy of your car's IBM Build Card might not, still,
be masking-taped there...
Edited by d500neil 2015-02-28 12:49 AM
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Neil, your continuing interest makes me want to restore this car even more! Thank you for all the questions and insight! I checked the front clip some more ... I do believe it is original to the car and the car does not show any "wreck" damage anywhere. Maybe the Suburban emblem was on there because the car is an early build? The brake drums are 12" x 2 1/2" . Was the dual carb Super D500 released later in the year (mid-year) and if so would it have been the 354 hemi instead of the Red Ram hemi? I have a 354 hemi that I can use in it. The car only shows 68,700 miles on it and I believe that is accurate. I have not been able to get into the glove box area yet, the interior seats have been taken out and then stored in the car ... I have not dealt with that yet. I am still trying to get a title ... which may take a month or two. So now the car is going into storage for a while. I will let you know the status as I get the title resolved. Larry in Idaho
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Extreme Veteran
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Location: Kennewick Wa | Hi Larry, I have a fair amount of spare wagon parts that I have collected for my '57 Sierra that is waiting to be finished. I may have some things you will need. Also have parted a couple of 4drs. Let me know. Dallas |
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Expert
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Location: Seville, OH | It would not have had a Chrysler 354 Hemi. Given the uniqueness of this vehicle, it should be restored with a correct 325 Dodge Hemi. Great find! |
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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(?) to re-pops...D500 emblems are not rare finds, any more.
That said, YOUR emblem is in remarkable condition!
Its chromed areas do not need to be re-plated which ( otherwise/necessarily) would destroy its fine details in that process.
Greg Leggatt makes/sells complete wiring looms for our cars...and that's a GREAT service to us.
Again, your car's IBM Build card will confirm the production-history and details on your car...thanks to the
existence of its VIN plate.
Your car was built with the 325 Hemi engine in it; question(s) is: did it have the two carbs (Super D500) or not?
Your car would have the HD 6-leaf springs, torsion bars, brakes(!) which will give it great road-and-cargo handling
capabilities..and..it's painted in blue and white!
You should start, now, in trying to score a roof rack (bitchin!) and the hardboard headliner panels.
In the past, Desert Valley and Hidden Valley wrecking yards, in Phoenix area, have had cars in it with serviceable
headliner panels and pieces.
And, you might score a wagon, somewhere, that is being parted out.
The D500 models were early-introduced in 1957, as they were carry over models, from 1956.
ONLY the Custom Sierra wagons had the "grille teeth" on their bumpers, so, your car's "plain" front bumpers
are consistent with both the "Suburban" (2-door wagon) and with the "Sierra" wagon.
The Broadcast Sheet might have been masking taped up-behind the glove box area, under the dashboard.
Also, they have been found, folded into 'thirds', lying UNDER the car's carpeting, against the front areas, where they had been
discarded by some line worker.
A remnant of it might still be found, there.
Edited by d500neil 2015-03-05 12:57 AM
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Dallas, thank you for the offer of additional parts. I am still taking inventory on this car, so do not know yet what I will be needing ... but I will keep your offer in mind when I get to that point (at the rate I am going it will be several months down the line). Thanks again, Larry in Boise |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Neil, I like the idea of a roof rack! Next week (when the weather is warmer) I am going to our local vintage wrecking yard (Jims Vintage in Mt.Home, Idaho) to check on getting the front brakes/wheels. He has about a dozen Forward Look Mopar parts cars. I will include a look for the roof rack. I have found a "parts car" in Seattle but do not know the true conditon of it. Is there anyone from this forum who lives in Seattle that could take a look for me? The seller has not responded to my written questions yet. The car is on the Seattle Craigslist site. 1957 Dodge. Hopefully I will be getting the title to my car next week. Then I will be able to find out more about how it was built. Later, Larry |
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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 | Roof racks are not easy, common finds, and they need re-chroming and careful fitment to the car.
But, they add a lot of class to the finished product and are worth the effort to get one installed!
Larry, you are 'in' for a bit of luck (assuming that you can get clear title to the car).
57 D500 engines are not, yet, very difficult to find.
You would be on the lookout for (pretty much) a 'bare' engine block, because that would allow you
NOT to over-spend on the overhaul costs of the engine.
When the time (hopefully) comes, we can help you score a proper camshaft/grind and provide specs on
dialing-in the distributor, for maximum MPG and performance.
You might, even, elect to install 3-deuces to dress up the engine compartment; lots of future options.
The transmission can also be smiled-upon, for higher (and harder) upshifts .
And the brakes can get Firm Feel's Carbon-Metallic linings be installed.
Again, you are in some luck, because you wouldn't have to re-do someone else's "restoration" work,
but only spend new-money in order to dial-in the car's mechanical performance!
Edited by d500neil 2015-03-06 4:50 AM
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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 354 engine that you reference, above, can fit into the Dodge, but, given the rarity of your ride, you might want to
do a deal/trade with someone, to obtain a Dodge Red Ram-type engine (block)....especially if the 354 would need an overhaul.
You know those hot-rodders and their willingness to pay big bux for a 354/392 Chrysler engine.
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1957 Dodge D500 Station Wagon codes?
