Re: [FWDLK] 56 Dodge Torqueflite ?

If Chrysler was planning it for earlier in the year a small amount of the parts may have been produced. I can't verify Jack's story but I know my all original '73 Road Runner that was ordered in April, built July 30th of '73 which I have every piece of paperwork for from the dealer write up to the dealer invoices is an odd piece. Many of the options ordered (and which are clearly stated on every piece of paperwork before 7/30) are either not on the car or other options were substituted, the most notable being it has a Torqueflite and was ordered with a 4 speed. Compared to other '73s there is also some minor differences, my friend from high school had a '73 Satellite which his father had bought new questioned me asking if I was sure it wasn't a '74. End of the year and early in the year cars seem to have bits and pieces from the prior or next year, and if at the end of the model year they are short on specific parts they seem to use what they have. I wouldn't be surprised that there were a few Torqueflite '56s out there other than Imperials and 300s, Chrysler built all of the parts to build how many Fuel Injected cars for '58 not knowing if it even worked which we all know now that it didn't.

In a message dated 1/27/2011 8:11:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, ronbo97@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Hmmm. Wouldn't that mean that Mopar vendors would have to produce special 1 & 2 buttons, bezels, rear ends, etc., just for a short run of remaining '56 Dodges ? Doesn't make sense to me from a business standpoint. Can you support this with tech service bulletins, photos or other documentation ?

Ron

----- Original Message -----

From: Jack Bitterman

To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 7:01 PM

Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Barrett Jackson Max Wedge

Let me take this issue farther.

I was 16 in 1956 and an active member of a family owned Dodge Plymouth Dealership in a small town called Robesonia Pa. We sold 600 to 700 new cars a year and at the end of the model year Chrysler would add accessories and change items that we had not ordered. I distinctly remember driving our first 56 C.R. 3 speed too see how much faster it was off the line (being a drag racer) in the last 56 model production we received seven or eight Dodge's with torqueflite but no Plymouths. The five button cluster was in the same housing as the four, but the 1 and 2 were across the bottom where the low button was. I can positively say that they were factory produced near the end of the model run! In about three weeks we were receiving our 57 models and 95% were TF so they were now common place.

Jack Bitterman

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