The Coronet was a fixture at Dodge throughout the 1950s. After 1959, the name was retired until 1965, when it returned to the mid-size B-body platform. For 1957, Chrysler’s “Forward Look” styling was at the forefront, and 280,500 Dodges wore it, with the Coronet being 57% of sales. This ’57 Coronet 4-door sedan has been in the seller’s uncle’s open-air garage for more than 20 years and has been weathered by Mother Nature. Located in Marianna, Arkansas, this true barn find is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $2,200.
The 1957-59 Dodges weren’t quite as wild-looking as their Plymouth counterparts (IMO). This example seems like a Plain-Jane model with a 230 cubic inch inline-6 (before the Slant-Six that was so popular in the 1960s and 1970s). It has Chrysler’s push-button automatic transmission, and neither is functional after a two-decade-or-more slumber, though it was running when parked. It was the seller’s uncle’s car, and her parents are handling the sale as part of an estate liquidation.
We’re told it may be complete, but the car’s location doesn’t permit photographs that are very specific. While the auto is described as being in “very good condition,” that seems like a bit of a stretch. Corrosion could be a factor, and the interior looks to have been chewed on by other barn dwellers. One of the photos shows a plate where a radio would have been, so that was not an option that was chosen back in the day.
Whatever demand there may be for a 4-door 1957 Coronet with a six-cylinder remains to be seen. Restoring this car will not be a small undertaking, but perhaps there are lots of useful parts to be used as a donor. The seller sounds agreeable to an offer as long as it meets the “estate attorney’s requirements.” Thanks for the dusty tip, “Zappenduster”!
On the dashboard where it says Dodge, if you push on either side it flips around and that is the ashtray. I had a ’59 and it didn’t have the script on it. After about 6 months somebody showed me the ashtray, I thought it was a blank for an option I didn’t have. I was only 12 so I shouldn’t have needed it anyway. Mine was a 2dr with a six and 3-on-the-tree and it was VERY rusty.
Could be another project for Coldwarmotors eh !
Oot of that barn and into their graj!
Mark, if anyone could get it running with existing parts, it’s Scott. Watched his videos for at
least 15 years and enjoyed every
one of them. As for this car, yank
the 230, and swap in either a slant 6, or a later 318 V-8. Or, if you really wanna shake up the troops at your local car show, go
all the way and swap in a 440 big
block and watch the jaws drop!
And to give the exterior some zing, I’d dress it up with a
nice 2 tone paint job. But I see a
dirt floor here so you can almost guarantee the floors are toast along with everything underneath. And if Scott at Coldwarmotors doesn’t want it,
there’s always Derrick Bieri at
Vice grip garage. Used to watch
his TV show and found it to be
most enjoyable.
A true ”Barn Find”.
leave it in the barn. you would be hard pressed to get even 200.00 for somebody. only that happens is the scrap yard. you can bet the floors are gone.
I sure wish all available photos had been shown here. I am not on Facebook, so this is the only way to see this hibernating Dodge.
Very deserving of a restoration, not common today. However this will murder $30k+ for a vehicle worth perhaps $15k? A repower is definitely warranted here!
Nice patina!!
Having grown up in 1957 Plymouths (7 of them), the inside door handles amd lock levers brought back memories. I’m not really into 4 door cars so the condition means nothing to me. Good luck to the sellers, you will need lots of luck unloading this poor old car.
Yep. Still in the barn. I can tell by the pictures.