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Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion | Message format |
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | Has anyone ever seen one of these things? Where were these things even made? Any info at all? The was the only picture I could find, and I seriously have got to have one of these:
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Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | I do not remember the exact story on the truck in that photo, but Dodge trucks were badged up as Fargos and DeSotos and perhaps other names for sales outside the U.S. I have never seen this build with ANY name on it. Perhaps a mock up ? .... or maybe it was built in Turkey or South Afrika ??? Knowing how crudely the "normal" Sweptside beds were built, it would probably not be that hard for a dedicated body fabricator to whip one of these up from a donor 56 Plymouth and an appropriate Dodge truck. The "De Soto" stamped tail gate might prove the biggest challenge. I always thought it a shame that Mopar did not dedicate the design energy they did into their trucks and wagons that they did into the other cars. | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | that's custom built. Looks like a 50-56 dodge cab, and Chrysler just used station wagon quarter panels (which don't fit) and this one has full straight quarters that actually fit correctly. | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3153 Location: NY & VT | Mopar sold trucks under the DeSoto name in some markets overseas as Doc says, and it may have been a prototype or show truck for those areas, or even an upscale model equivalent to our Sweptside for the Austrailian or other market... any of our Oz members know? | ||
roadkillontheweb |
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Expert Posts: 1357 Location: Iowa USA | Produced in the states in the same plant that made the Dodge and Fargo Swept side trucks for export outside the states.Could have gone to a number of locations and if you see the palm trees in the background it could be Cuba or even Hawaii since both were export markets back then. I have worked with Chrysler historical and Brandt Rosenbush to try and get more details but many of the truck records were destroyed in the 80s. Not an Australian manufactured vehicle like my Desoto UTE. That is also the only photo I have found in 15+ years of looking (60desoto1.jpg) (62desoto.jpg) (47truck.jpg) (Fargo 2_zpsff87aaaa.jpg) (507824363_2797876b8e.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 60desoto1.jpg (25KB - 244 downloads) 62desoto.jpg (20KB - 196 downloads) 47truck.jpg (68KB - 216 downloads) Fargo 2_zpsff87aaaa.jpg (62KB - 180 downloads) 507824363_2797876b8e.jpg (119KB - 235 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Note the front fender over-sweep of color of the original posting truck. It would be really interesting to get some other angled shots of this dude to see how they put that together. With the possible exception of the 57 "eyebrowed" truck, Dodge had a long history of building really utilitarian looking trucks. I would use the 55-57 GM trucks as an example of a design more angled for smooth lines and "sexy" aesthetics than rough use, get-r-dun, don't give a darn what it looks like design. Dodge tended to stay closer to the latter camp. As a result, it was kind of tough for the factory folks to cater a vehicle such as a Sweptside to the demands of the sales force that could come anywhere close to a Chevy Cameo. I have occasionally mused over the idea of what Exner might have dreamed up if tasked to build an el Camino equivilent for 1957. I can see a 59 el Camino proportioned car with the styling of a 300c. | ||
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | Doctor DeSoto - 2015-08-29 10:16 AM I have occasionally mused over the idea of what Exner might have dreamed up if tasked to build an el Camino equivilent for 1957. I can see a 59 el Camino proportioned car with the styling of a 300c. This is close I suppose: | ||
mstrug |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 6487 Location: Newark, Texas (Fort Worth) | Plymouth pickup: (1958plymouthpickupcutandpastredbadbelaiepalimino1.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 1958plymouthpickupcutandpastredbadbelaiepalimino1.jpg (81KB - 268 downloads) | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | stop that! | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The as-issued wagon fins are a no-go. Must use standard car quarters ! | ||
roadkillontheweb |
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Expert Posts: 1357 Location: Iowa USA | Nice (chrysler011.jpg) (uteb.jpg) (chrysler000.JPG) Attachments ---------------- chrysler011.jpg (59KB - 257 downloads) uteb.jpg (70KB - 288 downloads) chrysler000.JPG (49KB - 272 downloads) | ||
ruchaven |
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Expert Posts: 1231 Location: York County, PA | Roadkill, I think those would have sold. I would have bought one. Catch ya later. Thank a vet. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | The short (front-to-back) proportions of a single seat cab present a real problem in keeping a strong "dart" look. I always thought GM got it best with the 59-60 el Camino, but this Aussie Wayfarer is really good too. The 56 Plymouth fins are real good, as they keep that long, straight climb to a backward-leaning fin tip. The 57-58 Chrysler/DeSoto quarters would work well too. Give it that Wayfarer roof, a 57-58 Chrysler/DeSoto nose. Man, that would be one slippery looking UTE ! | ||
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | Are those Aussie utes built using the same platform as the full-sized cars? They look smaller, but I could be wrong. | ||
roadkillontheweb |
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Expert Posts: 1357 Location: Iowa USA | Droser88 In 1955 Australia received the sedan stamping dies and equipment from the 1954 Plymouth/Dodge passenger car production line in Canada. This allowed them to produce their own bodies rather than import them however this also meant they continued to use the same cabin with different front fenders and rear quarters for there locally produced cars through the early 60s. Some cars were still imported but many were made locally. A very few Sedan deliveries and ambulances were also made. In 1954 The car sold in Australia were imported. In 1955 they continued producing the same product that we consider the 54 American production. They offered Plymouth Dodge and Desoto variations all on the same platform with just different trim. In 1956 they still had the same sedans but the Utility coupe or UTE body was added to the offerings. The UTE being an Elcamino/Rachero style body that had been available in Australia since the 30s At some point in 1957 they production shifted from Plymouth, Dodge and Desoto and they started producing the Chrysler Royal AP1 series. that used the 53/54 Plymouth/Dodge cabin with 1956 Plymouth rear quarters and a modified front clip. Next came the AP2 series with 57 Dodge style upper fin placed on top of the 56 Plymouth rear quarter and quad headlights added up front. And then the AP3 series that had the 1959 Desoto style rear quarters. Since model years were not used, I don not know for sure if my UTE is a 1956 or it could be a 1957? I am tying to find records but it is not an easy task. (royal assembly line.jpg) (ozmopar.jpg) (e6_12_sb.jpg) (utec.jpg) (149548997_o.jpg) (149548781_o.jpg) (10603800_963837353645752_9038261008850402982_n.jpg) Attachments ---------------- royal assembly line.jpg (28KB - 306 downloads) ozmopar.jpg (48KB - 188 downloads) e6_12_sb.jpg (50KB - 180 downloads) utec.jpg (74KB - 196 downloads) 149548997_o.jpg (209KB - 183 downloads) 149548781_o.jpg (158KB - 198 downloads) 10603800_963837353645752_9038261008850402982_n.jpg (215KB - 323 downloads) | ||
Chrycoman |
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Expert Posts: 1819 Location: Vancouver, BC | Chrysler of Australia built its own bodies after Chrysler took over T J Richards. The 1949-1952 body used a slightly higher windshield while the rear trunk appeared to be a little lower. The quarter window in the rear door was also different from North America. Chrysler Australia kept the 1959-50 windshield for 1951-52 and its wider A pillar The rear window of the Aussie 1951-52 models was narrower than North America although it did have that slight curve into the C pillar. Only the four door sedan was built, and due to the late start of the 1949 model year in North America, arrivals of the new 1949 chassis units were delayed. Thus Australia had some first series 1949 model Plymouth Special DeLuxe (P15-C), Dodge Kingsway Special DeLuxe (D25-C), and DeSoto Diplomat Special DeLuxe (SP15-C) - basically leftover 1948 models. Should point that Australia had high import duties on imported car parts. Chassis, engines and transmissions were expensive items to produce, especially for the small Australian market, and thus had a lower duties. But bodies were thus built in Australia, again with larger panels such as floor and firewall, usually imported.Chassis with engines, transmissions, suspension, etc. were imported from Windsor, Ontario. For the 1953 model year Chrysler of Australia did tool the 1953 Plymouth sedan with interior trim supplied by local firms. Models sold were were Plymouth Custom (P24-2), Dodge Kingsway Custom (D43-2), and DeSoto Diplomat Custom (SP24-2). A higher priced series was added for 1954 (-3) - Plymouth Savoy, Dodge Kingsway Crusader, and DeSoto Diplomat Regent. All 1954 models had updated grilles and taillights. Production of chassis units in Windsor for 1954 was quite a bit higher than in 1953, and the extra production was used for Australian 1955 models. As well, chassis units were imported from Detroit with engines from Chrysler in the U.K. The extra chassis units were undoubtedly ordered as Chrysler Australia had to cover the costs of the 1953 body, and two years was too short a period. Thus Chrysler Australia continued to use the 1953 bodies in 1955 and 1956 due to the high cost of tooling new bodies, or even major revisions, and the low production rates in Australia. Late in 1955 Chrysler Australia appears to have run out of imported chassis. I have a copy of a book that lists the models imported into Australia from 1928 through to 1962, along with engine numbers. The 1954 and 1955 models have chassis with US or Canadian numbers while the 1956 models have a different serial number. However, the 1956 numbers do not start at 1 or 101. Also, the model numbers of the 1955 and 1956 models are the same as used in 1954, as was the styling. The new Chrysler Royal, model AP1, appeared in February, 1957, and the 1953 bodies were updated with a rear window that wrapped around in to the C-pillar, 1956 Plymouth finned rear quarter panels, and 1955-56 Plymouth front fenders. The grille has a very strong 1957 Plymouth appearance, as can be seen in the photo of the Royal production line Only the 4 door sedan was available with American-built 230 cid flathead six on the 3-speed manual transmission or British-built 251 flathead six on the Powerflite automatic. Overdrive was available on the manual transmission. Wheelbase was the same 114" as on the 1953-1956 models. The Plainsman station wagon was added early in 1958. Shortly after that, the Canadian-built 313 V8 was added as an option. In October, 1958, the new AP2 model Royal was introduced. The rear fins gained a fin added to the top of the 1956 fin, a la 1958 Studebaker, and the new grille had a strong 1957 DeSoto appearance. Also added was the new ute, the Wayfarer. The Wayfarer, though, did not have the fin on a fin treatment. The Plainsman wagon was dropped in December, 1959, after a grand total of 141 units had been built. The final iteration of the Royal, the AP3, appeared in May, 1960. The grille was redone with stacked quad headlamps. The rear dropped the added fin and had a revised rear quarter panel with a smooth side surface. The rear taillights looked like the 1959 DeSoto. As did the side trim. The roof was lowered in the centre giving the cars a slightly lower look. Inside was new instrument panel looking like a small version of the one on the 1960 Plymouth. Production of the AP1 came to 4,748 over the 20 months of production - an average of 237.4 cars a month. The AP2 came to 4,404 for its 19 months - averaging 231.9 cars a month. The last AP3 was built in 1963, with a total of 4,444 units. | ||
Viper Guy |
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Expert Posts: 2002 Location: Branson, MO | There is one for sale on BAT (Bring A Trailer) now. It is a white one with the '56 Plymouth rear fins and right hand drive. "It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto" | ||
drosera88 |
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Expert Posts: 1267 Location: San Antonio TX | Viper Guy - 2015-09-01 1:27 PM There is one for sale on BAT (Bring A Trailer) now. It is a white one with the '56 Plymouth rear fins and right hand drive. "It's delightful, it's delovely, it's DeSoto" http://bringatrailer.com/2015/08/31/one-of-28-1958-chrysler-wayfarer-ute-v8/ If you got $22.5k to spare. | ||
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