I’ve always had a sweet spot for the 1957-59 “Forward Look” Plymouths. Especially the ‘58s because they looked better with the quad-headlights. The marketing slogan in those days was “Suddenly, it’s 1960!” because of the futuristic styling that Virgil Exner had cooked up. This 1958 Club Sedan had the lowest production of the full-size Belvedere’s and wears the pillared look well. The seller’s is a “20-foot” car, i.e. it looks great from 20 feet away; any closer than that and the flaws in the body and paint start to come out. But this auto is still a great looking survivor and can be found in Noblesville, Indiana (north of Indy). It’s here on eBay where the bidding is at $11,099.99 but the reserve has not been met.
Of Chrysler’s major brands, Plymouth’s execution of the “Forward Look” probably came off best. The car had a wedge-shaped silhouette, with low front fenders and hood, a gently sloped windshield, a thin flat roof with tapered rear window, and rising tail fins. 1958 was a recession year, yet Plymouth still sold nearly 450,000 of the cars which were essentially a rerun of the prior year. The pecking order in the line-up had the Plaza at the bottom, the Savoy in the middle and the Belvedere (with the Fury coupe) at the top. The Club Coupe had the lowest production of all 327,600 Belvedere’s built in ’58 at just 4,200 units, of which the seller’s car is one. Thanks to AllPar and Forward Look for some of the stats.
The 1958 pictured here had been in the same family for a long time and the owner recently died, so the car is now available for someone new to enjoy. The body and paint look decent until you start peeking closely. While much of the paint may be original, at least the passenger door looks to have had some work done as body filler is starting to crack with age. The seller tells us there is some light rust in the trunk but doesn’t include a photo that would show it. Both front windows are cracked, but still work in their tracks. We’re told the mileage on the car is 100,000, give or take.
While the seller says the interior is in particularly good shape, there is at least one tear in the seats on the driver’s side. And the paint on the steering wheel has worn off. The interior is surprisingly stark for a top-line model; a case in point is that the front bench seat looks to me like one you would find in a school bus. The interior is complete but there is a button missing from the push-button automatic; we don’t know if that prevents the car from going into any gear.
The 318 V-8 is said to start up and run well and the whole car is drivable. But the Edelbrock carburetor is aftermarket and we don’t know if that replaced a Mopar 4-barrel or the basic 2-barrel. The car is said to have been last registered and driven regularly about seven years ago, but the seller has been tooling around in it the past few weeks.
The Belvedere had a long run at Plymouth, from 1954-70. It was often the top series, but sometimes not. In 1958, the nameplate was at the top of its game and today these commonly trade at $20-30,000. But the hardtops and convertibles attract the most attention and sedans the least. Given that this car needs some body work, paint, and a little interior work, this could be a nice catch for someone if the reserve isn’t too high.
Christine’s mother?
Religious church-going sister.
I wondered how far I would get before a Christine comment. Exactly 1.
Most likely the slutty step sister Darlene.
All hail Virgil Exner!
Ditto to Exner’s design prowess! I live in Noblesville and could check it out. I’ve seen alot of neat cars on the road in this area over 25 years but no random sightings of the subject. The photographs have great resolution although some of them have the “feel/look” of a 1/24 model being placed in the foreground.
Yes! I had the same thought – it looks like a model car in some photos. That might have something to do with the background being out of focus (a shallow depth of field).
Its a beautiful car , although the seats have been redone in a awful plain looking vinyl. The obvious crack in the door and the pink chips and lumps in the quarters look to me like there is a lot of Bondo in this classic and would really warrant a close look over before purchasing
BIG back seat!
Fix the rust, paint it red and white, drop a Ford dual quad 428 in it (Christine’s engine noise was from of all things a 1967 Shelby GT500!) It will look and sound like Christine… or just restore it to original, a nice car.
It is about time that Ford gets their engines getused in mopars, chevys and other gm vehicles…
That’s a hard sell with Chrysler already having the better engine choices.
I had to look twice. That long roof-line almost looks like a four door from a distance.
Hope somebody carefully restores this one, its a beauty.
Someone save this car. The design was wondeful, the two door version is rare, and when done you will be the one at any cars and coffee. I would jump on it but I have no room.
I love that era of Plymouths, had a 58 hard top once, but I don’t remember ever seeing a two door post car with the full trim like that. Maybe they were around and I didn’t notice them since it wasn’t a hard top or a convertible. I think it’s going to take a lot of rust repair to make this car nice.
Beautiful car in a beautiful color. I’d buy this in a heartbeat, if only…
Wonder if the trans is a Power Flite, 2 speed?
Would explain the push button.
Leave it blue and white. Too many red ones.
Red Plymouths were not common.
No hemi… Midwest rust belt car… post sedan.. bondo present and over $12k?? Wow..
Plymouth didn’t offer a Hemi to the public until 1966.
Strange, because in the 70s, Dad use to buy abandoned cars at the local police auction.
One day he brought home a 1957 Plymouth with a hemi in it.
Excellent condition, we were surprised to find it had a clutch when it had a automatic transmission.
Maybe it was a Dodge, will that explain the hemi ? But I remember it being a Plymouth.
I had a 59 two door sedan with the flat head six and three on the tree. The car was bulletproof. This would make a great project as long as the hidden rust isn’t too bad.
I remember watching a plane pulling a banner saying, “Suddenly It’s 1960” back in the fall of 1956. I soon found out what it meant watching the commercials on TV.
12,500 & reserve met…
Cost of repairs that much again + ?
Not sure if it is worth it. Maybe but not by me.
I assume the hole in the dash to the left of the steering wheel is where there should be the push buttons for the trans. If so they must be dangling below the dash somewhere.
Sorry it is 12,500 and reserve unmet
kenzo
Our family car was the 59 Desoto 4 door version. Dad converted it to an auto trans with the push buttons. Gold in color and a 318 that was often called on to rescue Dads broken down trucks.
At 4 years old, I was allowed to sit up front and employed in changing the seven single Elvis records.
Note the upgraded power brake booster and dual circuit master cylinder. Not mounted or configured anything like original (not a bad thing). No mention of the brakes in the description. Maybe the previous (now deceased) owner added disc brakes too! The seat upholstery appears to be old generic seat covers; can see the original blue upholstery beneath that ripped seam. 1958 Plymouths are great looking cars…with or without a B-pillar (post).
I really hope this will be bought by someone who appreciates it, what a beauty! Please don’t modify – keep it stock!
I am the purchaser of this car! Drove 7-1/2 hours from Pennsylvania to get her! Dream car of mine and am very excited! The brakes are still drum but the master cylinder and reservoir have been upgraded to dual. Body wise it is very solid and mechanically it runs well! It’s getting a tune up and some service work done as we speak.
Happy Motoring Colt, enjoy the ride!
Have fun Colt! Those fins are the best.