This listing caught my attention because of the way it’s worded, “This is a true one-owner car..” I guess the adjective “true” threw me off as I think of words more along the lines of “one actual” owner as opposed to parsing true vs. untrue. Regardless, neither statement is really correct as this Vista, California-based seller is likely now the second owner of this 1959 Plymouth Suburban station wagon. Regardless of the specific ownership details, this is a cool find and one that doesn’t grace our BF web pages very often. T.J. gets the nod for this discovery, and it’s available here on craigslist for $7,950.
Digging around in Plymouth’s 1959 marketing material tells me that this is a Custom Suburban which sat a level below the Sport Suburban and a notch above the DeLuxe Suburban. Available in two or four-door body styles with six or nine-passenger capacity in the case of the four-door model, Plymouth managed to roll about 54K Custom Suburbans out the assembly line door in ’59 – not too shabby.
The body of this winged wagon looks pretty sound, though that paint job reminds me of an Earl Sheib $29.95 special – the color, the lack of depth, and the overspray-covered grille provide the clues. The stainless trim is missing from the passenger side fender, and the spare tire hatch lid has been removed. Though the seller says he has it, everything else seems sound. The bumpers have seen some bangin’, but nothing deleterious beyond that is evident.
If the front seat is representative of the interior, it’s going to need some work. There’s only one image and it’s inconclusive, but that front seat is rough. It would be nice to know how the cargo area has fared all of these years – it might be worth an inquiry. Mopars of this era had expressive dashboards and instrument panels, at least in terms of their various shapes and angles, and this Plymouth wagon is no exception. The push button transmission activation switch mechanism and the dash-mounted rear-view mirror are notable features.
A 230 gross HP, 318 CI V8 engine applies forward motion, but the seller mentions that the brakes don’t work, so driving this blue bomber is not an option at the moment. The odometer has rolled over so the actual mileage is not disclosed. The listing mentions the inclusion of documentation so this car’s actual road experience may be determinable from that.
The seller concludes with, “Cool old finned Mopar Wagon that is ready to take any direction you choose” and that states it best as there are multiple directions one could take. Old station wagons continue to be hot items, and those from ChryCo aren’t the most commonly encountered. Back to next steps, stock, hot rot, restomod, custom, or…?
like I need another project but this car is cool. The license tags are from 1988 so been sitting a while
I think it’s cool, as I’m a wagon lover, but the spare wheel? Distracts from another wish good looking wagon,
So a no from me.
Read the listing, and the post; the cover is included, it’s just removed for photography.
JO
Owner was stated to have said he has the fender cover for the spare tire. I hope so; that would be one scarce item to try to track down!
The Cat came with a fender Skirt, which were popular from the 50s and disappeared in the early 80s. The only European vehicle I have seen with a similar look was the Citroen of the early 70s
I think there was a similar Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth wagon called the “Commuter” that had the same spare tire arrangement. Weird name and weird spare tire setup.
Of course I want one.
This way if you have a flat and your wagon is loaded up you don’t have to unload it. You can just access the spare tire from the outside
‘Commuter’ was `57-`60 Mercury wagon mid-range model. On 9-pass. models when the spare couldn’t be placed under the floor because of the third seat, it was housed off to the side as on this one.
I believe I stand corrected on the name of the Seneca Wagon. It appears the model was called the “Spectator”. Pretty odd name.
The Spectator was the top-of-the-line car, above the “Casual Observer” and the “Disinterested Party”.
Only Plymouth (maybe Dodge ?) had this spare tire arrangement on 9 pass. The DeSoto and Chrysler 9 pass. wagons have no spare tire (so no removable fender tire cover) because there were fitted from factory with “Captive Air” tires.
Vice grips to the rescue ,,again. I think a car like this has an excellent chance of being restored, just because it’s so unusual looking. The down side as with all these, is the slug of a motor. Don’t get me wrong, the 318A was probably the most unappreciated of all Chrysler motors, and ironically, probably the best,,,1957 to 1966, that is. Thing is, it’s horribly out of date and a more economical motor is in order. A Slanty would be better suited for today. I remember these as serious rustlers, and that spare tire panel would often rust away, exposing the spare. Build quality was atrocious then, with doors and tailgates “popping open” on big bumps, and headlights falling out. It’s amazing to see one at all today. Cool find.
the late 50s series MOPARs weren’t Chrysler Corps best work of art or body building. Attractiveness questionable, potential for rust (especially front fenders) significant. Probably won’t make a museum piece if it gets restored.
The front fenders on all mid to late 50s cars are well known to rust, not just Chryslers- the 57-59 Fords and 55-58 GM cars are well known for the same thing ; it was due to no inner fender liners and heavy hooded fenders over the headlights
This era was Chrysler’s best styling, actually. Captured the times perfectly.
Christine’s sister?
EXACTLY! A longroof Christine would work. Why not? You know what they say… If the shoe fits
Yes the goody two shoe sister who baked the cakes and cleaned up after her sister Christine.
Justine?
First… the difference between Christine and this wagon is more than likely huge… Christine is a 58 fury with the D500 package…413 with dual quads made for quite the experience in acceleration and gas guzzling… you could bury the pedal to the floor and watch the fuel gauge drop… the 318 in the wagon got a little better mileage somewhere around 11 if lucky… this car is missing the spare tire cover otherwise you wouldn’t see the spare tire…a true piece of history and a thing of beauty when restored… love it
“Christine” was in reality a `58 Plymouth Belvedere made to LOOK like a Fury. And the motor was the rare AB 350 block with dual quads (one yr only). And Dodge’s “D-500” engine was never the 413. either the 383, or 361 blocks.
Christine was a a black four door sedan. Read the book or ask Stephen King, he wrote the story. Hollywood made the movie.
First thing on my list, get rid of that fugly color. In the 1 interior photo looks like the drivers floor is rusty. I wonder what the underside looks like?
Well stated comment Gary sounds like you know your cars. BTW, when I was growing up in Michigan just outside of Detroit there was a Brackney family that lived down the street from me and they moved when I was a youngster. The son’s name was Brian and we used to be friends before they moved. Any relation? I always wondered where they moved to and how he is doing and seeing your name here is the first time I have seen another Brackney in over 50 years. Just curious.
The spare tire cover was removed for picture, as stated in the article. My next door neighbor had one of these in grey growing up. He could fit half the neighborhood kids in it. Cool car, especially the fins…..
This would make an amazing tow vehicle for my AMX
My best friend of 60 years was a “Nash” fanatic. 72 Gremlin, 74,Hornet, 75 Pacer, 68,70,74AMX. I think you have a great vision….
I have a 71 401 4spd. My 5th one and now under 30 left in the world. Body lines are important and that wagon is perfect.
“Hot rot.”
Your Freudian slip is showing.
Back in the early 80’s I went to look at a 2dr version of this car. Only had 40,000 mi. on it. Story was an old lady moved to NEPA from N.Y. and her registration was one number off from the car, so she couldn’t get a Pa. title. But the owner had an Alabama title. Even at 400 bucks I passed on it, yea hindsight is 20/20. The ’59 Plymouth wagon is unique for the fact that this was the Chryco wagon to get it’s own separate body. Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler and De Soto all used the same s/w body for ’57 and ’58. Plymouth got it’s own s/w body in ’59 with the new for ’59 Plymouth tailfins, the others kept the same corporate body as before. as others have noted these were serious rusters and not many left. This one looks pretty good, so if you want now is the time to get it.
In ’57 the Suburban was the 2-door wagon. Not sure if that carried over to ’59. Just finished my build of one a year ago. Used a modern 5.7 hemi, 5 spd A/T, independent rear end, etc.
Pics?
Can’t here, but link added below.
This car is very cool. It would be fun to get back on the road and a blast to drive. But then you have to figure out where to put it. The spare tire arrangement is great. I hope the buyer has fun getting it back on the road and driving it.
The only Mopar I ever owned was a 58 Plymouth wagon with a 318, automatic. and a “C” clamp holding one of the leaf springs together. It became my parts chaser. I bought it for $20 in 1966. You couldn’t kill it. Every so often, I think about that wagon and think I really didn’t appreciate for all it’s good qualities.
Earl Seibe or not,can’t be many of these left. In the salt treated road states these things melted away in only a few years, that 318 was a very good engine. Good things the spare tire cover is included. Wonder what a cover like that is worth to someone that has one missing! I can hear the torqueflite ticking away while waiting to shift and that geared up started. Where did they go.
I think ol’ Earl painted only one shade of blue back in the day, and it was much closer to the Ford Grabber blue from the late 1960s-1980s. I had two such cars. “Lack of depth” is being kind!
Check out http://forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=71042&start=51&posts=96
Wow that’s awesome
Congrats, she’s a beauty
“Be still my beating heart” Very nice is an understatement. And a Dodge yet too. Much rarer than its Plymouth cousin. 50 years ago I had a VERY rusty ’59 Coronet 2dr sedan, but cars like yours were the ones in my dreams
The world is your canvas with this wacky, finned Plymouth wagon. She’s got custom build written all over her. I never knew about that spare tire feature. Get the 318 running again, rebuild brakes, and blast off that terrible color and make some color choices. For a 1959, a two tone would look nice. Along with some classic Cragers.
White roofs were the popular 2 tone option. My ’59 Sport Suburban was red with a white roof. If you can find a picture of the ’59 wagon brochure it looked just like the one they show.
In 1964 my parents bought a ’59 Sport Suburban, 9 passenger, 361 (Golden Commando 395, 395 FT LBS of Torque at 3000 RPMs), 305 HP, Torqueflite, 3.31 gears, Power Steering, Power Brakes, Power Windows, Power Tailgate window with a switch in the back, inside adjustable rear view mirror, MirrorMatic electronic Day/Night inside rear view mirror, Padded dash, Sport Fury steering wheel, the compressed air rear leveling system AND doggy dish wheel covers. Who spec’d this one?!
In 1968 my parents let a 17 year old out on the public highways with 300 HP! I learned how to drive, I learned how to drive fast, I learned how to drive at 115 without peeing myself and I learned how to street race! Biggest problem was bringing 4000 pounds off the line against the likes of 327 4 speed Impalas. But from a 15 or 20 MPH punch the weight advantage was almost gone.
The old girl is long gone BUT, I still have the 361 bored to 60 over, the Torqueflite, the MirrorMatic, the original tailgate, an NOS tailgate, the original spare cover and an NOS one!
dragon wagon!
First thing I’d do is rebuild this cars drum brakes and do a major tuneup. Then I would start sourcing a front disc conversion kit with a power booster. It’s alright to leave the rear brakes as drums. And find a better Mopar blue color to do with a white top.
that is such an incredibly ugly car. I love it! I always liked the 2 door wagon versions of these. Now those would be super duper rare now.