|
2007 - Almost There
The year 2007 was a year of installations, refinements and
corrections.
Body panel alignment was the first order of business, followed by residual
moulding attachment and alignment.
Later in the year, after a lot of planning and preparation, the windshield and
rear glass went in without a hitch. Read about the glass installation
here.
Problems, such as the quarter windows binding against the roof rail
weatherstrip were solved when original style 'flocked' weatherstrip was
installed. A persistent carburetor problem was remedied with a rebuild. The
door panels arrived in August, but have not been installed yet. Read
about some of the above here.
|
My 1958 Plymouth Belvedere photographed in Fall 1988, about six months after I
purchased the car and had it shipped from Northern California to my home in
Connecticut.
By the end of the year, all trim and mouldings
were back on the car. Once the bumpers are installed, the car will be
registered and road tested. Coming up for the new year are plans to
install the door panels, have the package shelf fabricated and fix any
remaining mechanical problems.
Plymouth Table of Contents
|
|
2006 -
Close to Completion
It now runs and drives ! For the first time in over ten
years, my 1958 Plymouth is able to move under its own power. It was quite a
thrill to press the Drive button and feel the cast iron torqueflite drop into
gear. A little gas and we were on our way. Another celebration !
|
Many of this year's accomplishments were in the car's interior. A new carpet
was ordered and installed in the early summer. Then the very fragile original
cardboard headliner was taken out of storage, repainted and carefully put into
place.
A friend of mine in New Zealand had the original dash pad reproduced to
exacting standards. I decided that I needed one. It's in the car now and looks
stunning. Also, the original radio was reinstalled after I had the diecast
bezel rechromed.
In November, the fenders and hood were bolted into place. Many people think
that it is finally beginning to look like a car.
|
|
2005 -
A Year of Progress
The year 2005 saw major accomp- lishments in the restoration of the Plymouth.
In July, my friends and I got the wide block 318 engine to fire up for the
first time in nine years. It was a day to celebrate !
Other accomplishments included installation of the exhaust system, gas tank,
dash, body side mouldings and side glass. In addition, the lights and
electrical system were tested out and made fully functional. |
One of the last pieces needed to complete the restoration, an original PPG
tinted windshield, was located in Missouri. However, numerous problems with the
brake system set me back about two months and delayed the initial test drive
until at least Spring, 2006. A page describing my brake adventures can be found
here.
|
|
Body Shop Found; Plymouth Painted !
 It
took almost three years, but after interviewing many body shops in the New
England area, the search for a shop willing to take on my 1958 Plymouth project
has ended. Atwood's Auto Appearance of Deep River, CT, agreed to
finish the body restoration and paint for a reasonable price. Where most shops
favor collision work over restoration, Atwood's seemed to have the right
attitude, and even had a few restoration projects in the works on my initial
visit. I was satisfied with what I heard and agreed to drop off the car in
August 2003. |
As usual, I was on the scene to photograph the arrival, body surfacing and
paint, which took place over a four month period. The pictures of the
paint application are especially dramatic, thanks to the large glass windows on
the spray booth. More >>
Engine and Transmission are now back in the Plymouth !
More >>
|
1959 Dodge Restoration on Hold
The anticipated completion of my 59 Dodge Coronet Convertible, after
a six year welding marathon, will begin again after the completion of the
Plymouth (above).
This car was found rusting in a junkyard in New Hampshire in 1989. Initially, I
thought it was too far gone to be restored. A year later, after learning what
can be done with a MIG welder, I bought the car and had it towed to my house in
Connecticut. More >>
|
59 Dodge Seats Assembled
The 1959 Dodge seats covers were completed in
August 1999. The seats have the correct blue snowflake inserts with accents of
light and medium blue vinyl, as original. More
>>
|
Chryslers at Carlisle (All Chrysler
Nationals)
For 2000, Chryslers at Carlisle became the
All-Chrysler Nationals. There was a great representation of Exner-era cars.
Also making an appearance was the PT Cruiser club, with over twenty PT Cruisers
in attendance. In 2001 things got even better, with over fifty Forward Look
Mopars sighted. |
 |
2001 Highlights
|
1955 Chrysler Windsor Conv. with 1956
Plymouth Savoy in background.
|
| 2000 Highlights
|
 |
| |
1955 Desoto Firedome with 1957 Plymouth
Belvedere in background.
|
| 1999 Highlights |
 |
| |
1957 Dodge Custom Royal D500 at 1999
Chryslers at Carlisle.
|
|
WPC Nationals
The Walter P. Chrysler (WPC) Club, with over 5000 members, is the
largest All-Chrysler club in the world...
|
 |
1998 Meet - Portland, OR
The WPC Nationals in Portland, Oregon had some great cars ! Since there is
little rust in the Northwest (except on the coast), late-50s MOPARs were
plentiful, including rare 1956 Desoto convertibles, 2 1960 Imperial
Convertibles and 2 1957 Furys. In all, about 140 cars showed up from as far
away as Texas and Illinois. I arrived, somewhat jetlagged and hungry, at the
hotel in Clackamas, OR. Of course, eating was put on hold as soon as the
first tailfin came into view. At left, a 1959 Plymouth Sport Fury arrives at
the show.
Car Show
|
 |
1999 Meet - Akron, OH
The WPC Nationals in Akron, OH, was my last stop on a two-week road trip that
started at Chryslers at Carlisle in Pennsylvania. From Carlisle, I headed west
to Altoona, PA, for a few days of junkyard cruising. Then it was off to
Pittsburgh for a day before the final journey to Akron. The Nationals was a
great experience, with so many cars to see in such little time. Pictured at
left is a 1957 Chrysler 300C hardtop, a beautiful car.
Cruise Nite Car
Show
|
 |
2001 Meet - Parsippany, NJ
A two-and-a-half hour drive from my house in Connecticut brought me to the 2001
WPC Nationals in Parsippany, NJ, about 40 miles from New York City. This is
also the town I grew up in, and moved away from, a long time ago. I never cease
to be amazed at the cars that show up at these meets. Again, the weather was
great. On the left is the unique 1955 Imperial convertible built especially for
Chrysler Chairman K T Keller. This is the only one of its kind in existence.
Car Show
|
|
|
