Maybe it’s the two-tone paint, maybe the original-looking interior, maybe it’s those 8 audacious chrome accents on the rear fins. Or maybe it’s the thundering Hemi underhood! There’s something about this vintage Mopar that I really like. It’s currently residing in Reno, Nevada and listed for sale here on eBay with an opening bid of $600! Let’s deal with the negatives first. If you want a pristine show car, this isn’t it. There’s some rust (great pictures of it, by the way) on the rear quarters and along the lower body. The interior shows some wear, although it’s covered with the type of clear vinyl covers your grandmother (or maybe great-grandmother) had on her Sunday go-to-meetings car. But open up that hood and the Chrysler “Fire Power” V8 looks ready to go-go-go!
I especially like the very period dash with the push button transmission controls. The seller states that you could fly in and drive this one home, and they have solved the major issue with the car, a cracked windshield, by obtaining a NOS one and including it in the auction. Anyone up for a cross-country trip in 50’s style?
it is at $3550 and now has a reserve which is not met. in the photo of the motor is that the gas heater on the lower left and on the upper right is that ribbed box the brake booster? interesting car which might make a nice daily driver if rust is not to bad. i wonder why the seller has not fixed the P/S system. nice find.
The upper right is the brake booster. The upper left is the gas heater. The part on the lower left could be part of it. This is a good car for restoration if the price does not go out of sight.
I wonder where this car came from originally. N.J. State Police used these on the N.J. Turnpike in the mid to late fifties, set up just like this one, and the colors are right. This one has the high output generator also.
Those troopers were riding in style and comfort.
Back in the 50s my uncle had the Chrysler/Plymouth dealership in our hometown. He had one very similar to this except that the roof was black. I remember him telling Dad that, out of the cars he drove until ’59 when he let the franchise go, it was the nicest car he ever drove and hated to sell it.
My grandma had the same seat covers on her 69 Coronet 500. Good call
This would be a good driver, fixer up car.
my friend’s father had a ’56 Desoto basically the same car which handled very well for l956, especially compared to the wallowing GM midsize cars of the time, and was FAST, clean this up, put in a double chamber master cylinder, replace the hoses and belts, and drive all day at 80 mph (oh, yes, put on radial tires too and lap and shoulder belts – it is a driver not a museum piece.)
No money right now but i’d seriously want that car.’