I haven’t seen a car this sparkly in quite a while, maybe since the 1970s when heavy metal flake was a thing. I wouldn’t have expected to see it on a 1950 Dodge Coronet, but I like it! This shiny beacon is listed on eBay with an unmet opening bid of $5,500 which is also the buy it now price. It’s located in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. This thing is flaked out, in a good way.
It almost looks like it was dipped, that heavy metal flake is almost everywhere other than on some chrome bits, the rubber, glass, and fabrics. Yes, it’s even on the interior! I love it, if you’re going to go nuts on a car, a building, a career, whatever – just go for it. Life is too short to hold back, just do it. This car is even has an air-bag suspension, not a cheap or easy thing to install and it carries the custom theme even further. A+ for effort and for the theme on this one.
The roof details are a nice touch, in my opinion. What else would work there? Now that I’ve seen what they have done I can’t think of too much that I would change. It’s dangerous owning a car like though, though. Not dangerous as in other drivers being blinded by the sparkle but that probably happens. What I was thinking of is that any chip or flaking, so to speak, could be a nightmare to touch up. The seller says that the “paint chip is very small on the trunk.” Still, they get an A+ for going for it and for execution and for having an overall theme. We may not all like this car or agree on doing this to a 1950 Dodge Coronet, but as far as carrying things through it’s hard to find fault with it.
I’m not sure if I’m sold on the lavender interior, maybe it’s just some weird lighting. Not that there’s anything wrong with a lavender interior, mind you. And, things sure look great inside, other than some thick paint covering what may have been nice details on the dash. The seats look great in the front and the rear, someone spent a lot of money on that interior. I don’t know if this interior was totally stripped or just taped off when it was painted but it looks like a nice job from the photos. I wonder how long the paint will last on the steering wheel, but even with that, it’s another A+ on the quality and execution of the interior.
I’m bummed to not see any crazy engine colors or any metal flake in here, other than on the underside of the hood. It looks good, and maybe the engine is meant to be the exact opposite of the body and interior, design-wise, like the Yin to the metal flake Yang. Black isn’t what I would have chosen, and is that coiled hose only halfway painted black on purpose? Maybe it’s meant to blend into where the black on the engine is. I’m down to a very generous B- on the engine compartment, a lot more time and effort could have been spent here to give it the same pizzazz that the rest of the car has an abundance of. Given that, the whole project averages out to a solid A, that’s not too bad. The seller says that this is a “250 Flat Head 6” engine, but a flathead 230 cubic-inch inline-six would have been the only engine available and it would have had just over 100 hp. Maybe 250 was a typo? Whatever it is, it “runs great” and it has been rebuilt. This looks like a lot of coolness and quality for five-grand, what do you think? Pretend that you’re a totally neutral professor looking at student projects – how would you grade this one, not taking your own personal taste into account?
Looks like it belonged to LIBERACE
In fact, I had a guy in a flashy car try to pick me up when I was a kid… It was never the hot girls from the 2 Catholic girl schools in the neighborhood.… It was always some middle-aged freak. ( I got hit on a lot).
By guys?, or should I say bi-guys? Good thing you didn’t accept, you might have become a statistic.
Silver and gold is a song title from Neil Young . . .
I was thinking more like Yukon Cornelius with Silver and Gold
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsY2EeUuLj8
…and Burl Ives…
Looking at the oxidation on the steering wheel (look at that wheel spinner!) and dash components I wonder what kind of shape the mechanicals might be in. I wonder if it was made as a demonstration project to show off the builder’s painting and upholstering skills. A unpopular car like this would have been an inexpensive starting point. I think that that black paint on that coiled tubing is just spray can overspray.
No accounting for taste.. wow…
That aside, touching up flake is easy as long as you can match the color. Being silver, that’s an easy fix.
I’m thinking they sniffed the paint fumes before painting the car. Would explain alot.
Looks like a badly built scale model.
I love the steering knob! Nothing says performance and drive-ability like having accessories like this on a car.
We all have a statement to make in life, and this builder made his in a way that nobody can deny.
In 1950 this would have had a 217 cid engine in it. 230’s didn’t come along until 1953. I think this would have looked much better in emerald green metal flake with a silver roof. Same inside green and silver. When it was new it would have been dark and light blue or drank and light green, sea foam green to be exact.
Are you sure about that, Mark?
http://classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=4803&year=1950&model=25598
http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/dodge/full-size_dodge_2gen/full-size_dodge_2gen_coronet_town_sedan/1950.html
From the Mopar bible (Allpar): “The standard, and only, engine was the 230 cid (3.8 liter) six cylinder with 103 hp. The only transmission for 1949 – 1950 was the 3 speed manual with fluid drive, which was semiautomatic in operation.”
From what I’ve been able to find out from all my searching was on the US side of the border there was in 50,51,52 Cornet, cranbrook,Wayfarer for dodge and Belvidere for Plymouths that ran the 217cid engines. And in Canada where some of these dodge models ran a Chrysler Canada 218cid engine. There is also a little know model in that only appeared in Canada call the Mayfair. There is almost no mention of the Mayfair in the 51,52 model years as they are exclusive to Canada and built in Canada. They came with a 218cid engine and were part of the st Regis line up. Like the Belvidere they were hardtops. They were also the only Mayfairs ( 51,52 ) with the removable rear fenders as was the Belvidere. It was My understanding that the 230cid did not come along until 53, at least that is the case up here north of the 49th. It maybe possible that the 230cid came along down in your neck of the woods earlier than 53. As for the 51,52 Mayfair try looking it up you will be hard pressed to find it. I have only seen on line one other car besides mine also up here in Calgary. This model holds a lot of interest for me as I have spent the last 8 years restoring one. Final note Chrysler Canada only made 134600 or so of these and never exported them. Most are long gone due to our winters and road salt. As for allpar I have talked them and have told them that they have very little info on their site about the Mayfair. I have tried to post my car in the past on barnfinds without success. If your interested Scotty I’d be happy it email some pic’s directly let me know and maybe through barn finds you can contact me by my email address.
Look like it should be on a merry-go-round.
Never been a fan of this particular Mopar body style – made for men with hats. Even the radical paint job doesn’t help.
My willingness to repaint a car has rewarded me with a purple TR3 in great condition for a low price because no one in their right minds would be seen driving it. Bet it is the same for this poor thing
I do know the trunk is more than large enough to hold a realy large cow elk with the spare tire atop it.
The fluid drive tranny was kinda neat, 1- 2 in upper, streight down 2-3 , No need to depress clutch at intersections or to stop, sit there in lower 2-3 and just take off.
Miss my old car, nor as fancy, but got me around for 2 years of hi and almost made 2 more at college.
Do my eyes deceive, dual carbs?
Mine had them , shaved head, J C Whitney full race cam (lol) and custom cut and braced split cast iron headers.
Got beat by every Ford or Chevy on road, I always blamed slow shift between gears.
Rode well, even on gravel roads with an elk in trunk.
Reminds me of Dorothy’s sparkling slippers as she followed the yellow brick road.
My Dad bought a new 1952 Dodge Cornet in light blue. He hated that car. It was quite a step down speed and power wise from his Hudson Commodore. It must not have had fluid drive as he had to shift it. We went to our lake house every weekend in summer. The Alaska Road Commission raised the height of the road which meant we had to go past the driveway and back in. Problem was that the Dodge would not go into reverse unless it was completely level and our driveway was on a hill. Dad would roll almost to stop at the top to see if he could get into reverse. He was often successful but often he was not. When successful the slow rolling momentum was enough get us heading down to the driveway with the clutch in and the transmission in reverse. If he was unsuccessful we would have to go about 4 blocks from our driveway where the grade returned to flat and backup the whole distance.We could not just turn around and come back up the road and nose in because in order to bring the driveway up to the level of the road, the road commission graded our driveway so it was no longer level. He would just furious every time he did not find reverse at the top of the hill and would react with language the color of the car, only a bit darker.
Fluid Drive was not the same as the Gyro-matic.
seein 250 I thought “that’s due to the rebuild.” but yeah, that’s a bit much for a reboar/clean up…
It’s eye catching and different, that’s for sure, and really kind of nice. But some should have told the guy who did it that they also made a 2-door model that year.
I dunno…kinda looks like it was flocked.
Ruined the car if ya ask me.?!
Well,that’s odd, 0 bids!, actually, other than the paint, it looks good.