So long, Colonel...I'll take good care of the Chrysler.

what a cool car,hope you dont change it god speed colonel

 

That is awesome. What a great story. A man and his love for his car! Take car of the 'ol girl! Stories like this are rarely heard and are a real inspiration to so many that do hear them. This is epic!

 

It must be something about Chryslers.
My parents bought this one from an Air Force Major when it was less than 5 years old
and kept in in the garage for 25 years.
They took good care of it and only drove it occasionally.
I have had it for 12 years since my parents died.
I rebuilt the engine, trans, brakes, got a new top, new upholstery and carpet.
Its a pleasure to float down the highway in it.

 

Stories don't get any better than that. And neither do 50's cars. That may well be the best 50's car design period.

Don't do anything to it......except:

 

Was it original or had the colonel restored it ?
I have an old friend in the USA who is also a colonel (ret)also who has a large car he bought new. My old mate drives across the USA regularly although he has had Cruise fitted and a backet installed to carry his walker. Helps being ex-personal as you can stay on base when overnighting....
I agree with the old world gentlemanly approach some of these guys have,a real pleasure meeting folks like that isn't it?.

 

The money to buy it was just a cosmetic technicality - this screams Car-ma. It's that old feeling of 'right'. When you can't explain it but it just feels 'right'. Well, you obviously felt 'right' to the Colonel - what a great character! But a word of warning - don't ever mess with the Pink Elephant because you are now as Arnie to Christine...

The '57/58 Chryslers and de Sotos. Americana of the '50s space age at it's finest - excessive fins, huge boats and chrome by the acre - love 'em. The fins on these Mopars are 96" from the B pillar to the tip - that's eight feet or just 2 inches shorter than a whole Smart Car!

 

Beautiful car and it looks like a great gent was her keeper for a long time. As others said before, on this one one ends up more as the caretaker than the owner. Count me as another big fan of the 57/58 Chryslers and Desotos.

 

That car is beautiful. A set of Chrysler wires would look great on it.

 

I could see wires on it but do not drop it! It'll ruin the ride and beat the hell out of the underside. I like dropped cars but this one is tooooo nice.

 

Here ya go - spinner caps not yet fitted in these 'in progress' pix. 15" x 7" front, 15" x 8" rear, 2" lowering blocks and torsion bars cranked six turns - otherwise stock.

 

I want to be first in line to buy it when you get ready to kick the bucket.

 

We should all keep that story in mind for we are only "keepers" of the car and "owners"
for a short time till we come to the end of our road.

 

My plans are to go through the brakes, and possibly replace the wiring harness. The upholstery is really decent, but could use some new carpet. The Hemi runs fine, but I have the urge to at least refurbish the intake/valve covers, mine looks like this:
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but I want it to look like this:
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I have no desire to change any aspect of the car from it's original design. I've already gotten a wealth of information about the Forward Look cars from guys like "Gotgas" here on the HAMB. Thanks for all the kind words about the Colonel, I'm sure he would be honored to have the likes of y'all so interested in his "pink elephant". Oh...the Colonel didn't restore the car, he got it from his father-in-law just the way it is. Check our blog for a more lengthy read on the car at Atomic Radar

Leave a comment on the blog if you get a chance...the wife and I would appreciate it

Adios,

Scott

 

Scott, you my man must live right - no one would leave a car of this calibre to just anybody. Obviously the Colonel was the kinda cat that could see this when he decided to leave the car in your safe keeping.

As a real fan of the Exner MoPars.....that my firnd is a gem. The Forward Look MoPars were the coolest finned rides out of the 50s....and you my firend have a primo example.

Guys like the Colonel are hard to find; he must have been a real character !!

RIP Colonel.

And you take care of that rolling piece of history/art.....ya hear?

Rat

 

Scott the Cat,

Great car! (though I'm a bit partial to '57 Chryslers ... click HERE & HERE )

Great story! (sounds to me like the Colonel picked the perfect caretaker for his "Pink Elephant")

Great thread! (and I really enjoyed reading your "Atomic Radar" Blog)

 

In the early 60s, my cl***mate and best friend got a job as lot boy on the local used car lot in our small Oregon town....there was a white '58 Chrysler 300 D on the lot with it's 392, dual quad engine. The lot's owner would occasionally let us borrow the car on weekend nights to double date with our girlfriends because it just wouldn't sell. Gas was expensive [damn near 25 cents a gallon on a 75 cent an hour wage] or I'd have gone for it.
After sitting on the lot for almost a year, the car was mysteriously stolen one night and torched....good thing the lot's owner had insured it....

 

I bought this '57 4dr HT from the Big Spring auction. Tried to sell it but no one wants a 4dr HT. 392 Hemi are expensive. I could cut it up to repair my other '57-'59 projects but these cars are to come by. That Texas heat cooked the interior but the floor pans are pretty solid. Ferd and Chebby just saw tail lights. lol Congrats on owning such a rare car.