And there's still room above the hat! Damn!!! They'll be no hat wearing in mine when I'm done, hahaha Oldolds, I'm putting air shocks on it because when we go to shows and such, it'll bottom out with all the luggage and other **** we pile in the trunk. I had to do the same on my '53...
Those tall rooflines on Mopars were due to K. T. Keller (Chrysler President '35-50, Chairman of the Board '50-56) who told the stylists that their cars had to have enough headroom so a man could wear a hat without s****ing the roof. Apparently he liked tall hats....
My first car (that I could legally drive) was a 51 more door Plymouth. Heated the front coils, it already had a 55 Dodge 6, put a 2 carb Edmonds intake on it, bought a finned aluminum head from one of the local circle track guys, had the local muffler guru split it 4 and 2, with really short gl***pacs, it sounded almost as good as a split Chevy, redid the interior in blue and white roll and pleats, chrome wheels, put a floor shifter in it that had first gear where reverse would normally be, that allowed me to really get a good first to second shift because the pattern was totally reversed. This was in 1964-65. I could get out of the hole and about halfway thru the quarter (what's an 1/8 mile?) faster than any Chevy 6 I ran thanks to very little tire spin and that reversed pattern shifter. I loved that little car, but I HAD to have a 55 Chevy. I wish I could duplicate that car today, even if it was a more door. Good luck with yours, have fun!!!
Hearing someone talk about their first cars is something that puts a huge smile on my face. The memories... I think we all would love the opportunity to recreate our 1st cars! Then to also have the time and money to get them how we really wanted them, haha.
So I got the Dieterich visor on and set where I like it. I also fit the skirts. Now I'll be taking them off for paint. Visor will be red oxide primer and the skirts will be the blue body color... Before I get more visor hater comments, this is just temporary until the car gets chopped...
Here is a link to that story (if it works) https://www.historicracing.com/driverDetail.cfm?driverID=7562
That's a really nice "other" 3-window you've got there. My older sister had a 48 Dodge 4 door with the fluid drive in high school. Circa 1960-61. I was amazed that she didn't have to use the clutch, but I remember the car being REALLY slow taking off. She treated it like an automatic, always starting off in 3rd gear. And the fluid drive being advertised on the back bumper.
To my eye, chopping these 49-52 Plymouth sedans is not really an enhancement to their looks. Gives them too much body and not enough roof. But that would also depend on how much you plan on chopping the top which I don't think you've mentioned. I just reread your posts and I stand corrected. But I stand by my statement according to your figures. Like I said, that's just to my eye. You've got great bones to start with, so make it your own.
Thanks for the positive comments on my car. It's really a ton of fun. From the second I saw the ad and the picture, my brain had already "customized" it in my head. I knew exactly how I was going to build it to be mine. Here are a few chops I like... I get that there will be people who don't like them chopped this much but to each their own. The last car with the flames is exactly how I want to chop mine. Just lean the B pillar forward...
Woo Hoo! Got a great delivery from Langdons Stovebolt! Lots of goodies in here! Can't wait to get this stuff on... Stay tuned!
Thats a nice car. I would keep it the way it is. I have yet to see one of those Mopars with a chop that convinces me. I don't know what it is but IMHO they look awkward when chopped.
In the 50's where I lived the kids smuggled drugs in MOPARS like this because the cops would never pull them over. Considered "too slow to bother with". HAHAHAHAHAHahahah!!!!!. Bullnose on the hood, shaved trunk, a little lower, finned head, cam, and 2 carbs Whitewalls with full moons and you'll be set.
The Jalopy Journal
