During the “Forward Look” model years of 1957-59, the Coronet was the entry-level Dodge. If you ordered a Coronet as a 2-door hardtop, they were also designated as Lancers. These automobiles helped influence styling in Detroit for the next several years, sleeker and more futuristic in appearance than before. This ’57 Coronet had been in storage for several decades and was recently resurrected. It could serve as a Cars & Coffee entry as-is, though further work might be needed to expect more. Located in Charlemont, Massachusetts, this Mopar is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $13,999. A nod goes to Barn Finder T.J. for this tip!
Dodge built nearly a quarter-million automobiles in 1957 and nearly two-thirds carried Coronet badging (161,000 units). Whether you bought a Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto, or Chrysler-branded car in the late 1950s, you likely had a vehicle that was more modern in appearance than anything else on the road. And chrome was added without abandon (look at the bumpers alone on the seller’s car!). But quality control was known to suffer with these machines, especially the Dodges which were known to leak water at times. Since the dreaded tin worm was attracted to these Mopars, their survival rate may not compare to that of a Ford or Chevy from the same time.
As the story goes, this Coronet was in storage from 1968 until recently. The body looks solid, perhaps due to the ample amount of undercoating which was previously applied. The burgundy paint looks good (though likely an older redo), but something that resembles a vinyl top now adorns the roof (perhaps it was a two-tone car with black paint up there before). The interior is also okay, though the front seat bottom has been redone in vinyl rather than fabric.
We’re told this car has a big-block V8 engine at 72,000 miles. Could that be a 392 cubic inch motor compared to the 354 which was a step below it? A push-button automatic transmission handles the shifting of gears. The seller provides a video of it exiting a cemetery and it seems to run fine (but is that locale a nod to the car’s past or future?). Thanks to a carburetor rebuild and a cleansing of the fuel system, you should be able to take a cruise in the Dodge this coming weekend.
If the front end looks familiar, It was shared with 57 DeSoto Firesweep, introduced in 57 as a price leader for DeSoto. Front end Dodge, rest of car DeSoto. Unfortunately both DeSoto and Dodge are gone, except for RAM trucks. This looks like a great chance to pick up a piece of history
Dodge is still around, sort of. But I get your point.
Maybe he’s thinking of Plymouth.
Should be 361. Most were 325 poly or hemi. To bad it doesn’t have the hemi,,
Guys, wrong engine. And the paint scheme isn’t right. BUT, if I was looking for one, I’d nab it. Except for the engine, easy fixes. Setting 55 years? Hmmm. That color didn’t come along till 63 or 64. Love seeing it in such good shape.
The Firesweep shared front fenders w/Dodge. Done and Flite had different ones.
the 392 was a Hemi,this does not look like a Hemi.
That motor isn’t the preferred 392 Hemi as the spark plugs are not thru the valve covers so my guess is a poly 318 or maybe a 383 ?
The distributor is at the front of the engine, so it is a big block (not a 318 polyhead). I agree that it could be a 383 or maybe a 361? I don’t know much about the 361 except that its last year was 1966, I have seen them in first year Chargers.
The big block B engine was introduced in `58.
The `57 Dodge had 3 different versions of the 325, two Red Ram V-8s and the D-500 hemi. Also a 231 6 cylinder.
There was a 354 available in trucks.
I suspect someone planted that larger engine in it at some point.
Because a big block was not optional in Dodge in `57 from what I can find.
Agree….the motor isn’t correct for the year being a B/RB engine but that shouldn’t hold anyone back. This is a steal at that price and will be going across the pond as they love the 57-59 Mopars over there !
The Forward Look designs by Virgil Exner were `55-`62, with his `62 Dodge & Plymouth models downsized without his approval.
Chrysler brass acted on a rumor that GM was downsizing, while Exner was out recovering from a heart attack.
`62 Chryslers maintained the `61 front ends, but with their fins removed. Prompting Exner’s famous “plucked chickens” comment.
Coronet was the entry level model for Dodge `55-`59, dropped for `60 and revived `65-`76.
The Lancer name was reused in `61 & `62 on the compact sister car to Valiant. Which was replaced by Dart in `63-`76.
Looks like it’s in very nice shape, and reasonably priced. I hope it finds a good home. I’ve always loved the Forward Looks ever since I saw the movie Christine, although it seems everyone with a 57 or 58 Plymouth, no mattter which model, ever since 1983 almost always paints them red and white.
Dodge still makes Charger various models
Hornet, Durango, Challenger, Van Grand Caravan and Ram trucks for 2024. So I don’t think Dodge is gone.
The Hornet, Durango, and Ram 1500 truck are the only Dodge vehicles left in 2024. The last year for the Charger, and Challenger was 2023. The Grand Caravan, and Journey’s final year was 2020.
I can only go by articles I read, and if it’s on the internet, it must be true, right? (Said sarcastically)
Dodge was suppose to be coming out with an electric Charger. Last I heard it was still a go for 2025, and since they got so much flack from the announcement, they are also keeping the ICE version as well.
Not sure what’s going on with the Challenger.
Plymouth is dead and buried and Chrysler only has one model, the minivan. The 300 is also dead.
Later engine. The B and RB big blocks came out in 1958 as 350 cubic inch. It preceded the 361. The 383 followed as a RB(raised block) and then a B series. 413, 426, 440, and 400s all came as defendants of the 350. Which one does This car have? Check the number pad at the front of the block. This car did not come with this engine.
The engine in this car is not as tall as the original engine. Otherwise, the standard air cleaner pictured here wouldn’t fit in the engine compartment. The 325 block had an air cleaner that hung off to the side to keep a lower profile. The transmission is a two-speed Powerflite, as opposed to a three-speed Torqueflite. The single, “Low,” button on the bottom row of pushbuttons is the giveaway.
Good catch on the air cleaner and Powerflite.
Could be wrong, don’t know mopar engine specifics as well as I should, but just looking at it, that “looks” like a 318. I just have a hunch somebody dropped a 318 in there.
This car looks good and the price is reasonable if there’s not a lot of hidden rust. That engine is not original as big block Mopar’s weren’t around before 1958. I can’t tell by looking at the pics but it could be a 350, 361, or a 383. I also can’t see the push buttons to tell if it’s the two speed or three speed transmission but that wide button on the bottom makes me think it’ a two speed Power-Flyte transmission. I’m guessing that that top on this car was a spray-on imitation vinyl top that was available in the sixties. I had one put on a 53 Plymouth coupe that I restored in 68. They had tape that mimicked the seams in a real vinyl top and if the painter was good you had to look closely to tell it wasn’t real. I was friends with the guys in the body shop at the Chrysler-Plymouth dealer in Atlanta and that’s where I had it done. I love all fifties Mopars so I hope this one goes to someone who will take good care of it.
IDK why anyone would paint on a vinyl roof. That seat is hideous and needs replaced.i also thought that we could get through a post w/mention of the “Christine” garbage but no
I agree with all three of your points. I remember those paint-on vinyl tops, they were an imitation of an imitation. But I have always had very mixed feelings about actual vinyl tops anyway.
One would hope the hideous seat cover was a stopgap to keep the cushion protected until a restoration commenced.
I remember when the ‘Christine’ previews hit the screens, I thought “no thanks, looks pretty silly and not my kind of flick”, though it was popular with everyone I knew. And no it ain’t a “car” movie.
Was this car possibley in an accident?
:ooking at the hood, that looks like a big and uneven gap between the hood and right front fender.
my dad has one of these the motor should be a 325 poly head. this one looks pretty clean for the money my old mans has restored under hood and interior restored with factory fabric,plus he added power disc brakes,he had a recent appraisal for 25k.
they’re very hard to find parts for as nothing is reproduced
TBH I don’t recall ever seeing a monotone ’57 through ’59 Dodge, Plymouth, DeSoto. They were always two tone or three tone. Looks weird, one color.
Yes, I see the black roof, I’m referring to the body.
regardless of all the comments this is a beautiful time piece.
When I was a kid in grade school my Dad bought a used one of these that was a former California Highway Patrol vehicle. Still had the old style spotlights that had been decommisioned but I remember playing with them. Jet black and sometimes my Dad would “punch it” and I’d provide the siren!!
The 325 was the only v8 offered in Dodge automobiles in 1957. (Trucks used the 315 Poly.) 2 Poly head choices, the 2 barrel and the 4 barrel versions and the 4 barrel 325 Hemi. The first B engine, the 350, hit the market in 1958. This is not a Polyhead motor. The valve covers are not scalloped.
I purchased the car new paint job and a lot of work and she is a piece of art