I'm the owner of a 1953 Dodge Coronet convertible. 1953 was Dodge's first year for a hemi, the 241 cu in Red Ram. It also saw the introduction of all new bodies. Mine is the 49th of 4,100 convertibles built. In the year plus that I've owned it, I've found (on internet) or heard about only a half dozen others. The WPC Club, which represents nearly 4,000 members and 10,000 or so Mopar cars, shows no others on its roster. According to its IBM build card obtained from Chrysler Archives, the car was built Oct 1, 1952, three weeks before they were introduced to the public. Given their obviously low survival rate, I'm thinking there's a very good chance this is the oldest Dodge hemi convertible still surviving I know that's an impossible thing to prove, but its still interesting to contemplate. There has to be a first of everything. I'm not concerned whether this would add to the value of the car, but it is a factor in my deciding whether to restore it. Just thought I'd share (will add a photo if I can get it resized below the max allowed). Rich
With the information you have posted if it's not the oldest there can't be but one or two that survived that are older. I'd persue the information until you know for sure. Even if your not selling the car it would be another fact about it that you can include in any conversation. Frank
You'll need to do some research probably on some Mopar forums and such. Also any of the Mopar clubs may be able to help. Google them is about as good as it gets. Good luck.
If this is the oldest ragtop Hemi car ! that would be a true shame to change or hotrod. But its your ride. I say this only as its a foot note car and like the country estate cars theres just not alot left to injoy.
I hope it is. That would be cool to have and if it is I would just brighten it up not do a full resto unless it truly needed it.
Here's a recent photo taken this winter. It cleaned up pretty well after 46 years in storage. Don't worry, I'm not going to rod it. No more than possibly a dual exhaust & 4 bbl carb - things that would have been done in the 50's and can be unbolted. I am debating how far to go in a restoration. The front floorboards are thin in a couple places & it has a small area of body rust over the LR wheelwell. The original paint shined up well, but has a number of chips & scrapes, after all it has 102k miles. Rest assured, if restored it will be well documented.
original paint, 102K... I wouldn't touch it. I have a thing for original, unrestored cars. I say make it safe and drive it.
If it's a true survivor - including no engine rebuilds - I'd leave it alone and take care of it. There's something special about a survivor.
I have a '55 Custom Royal Lancer convertible and if it was half as nice as that one I wouldn't touch it. You won't increase the value by repainting it. A friend of mine locally has a '52 Chevy convertible with original paint, the paint isn't that nice but it's the real deal and I think if it ever came up for sale (doubtful) it'd bring more than the same car repainted. As for it being the earliest, I think that'd be so hard to prove, plus convertibles tend to survive at a higher rate than other models, I kinda doubt it. Doesn't make the car any less cool though.
There really is no sure way to know if it is the oldest surviving hemi convertible....there may be one lurking in an old barn somewhere or even in another country.......but so what!! At the VERY LEAST it is rare car in it's own right and certainly worth preserving. I have '53 Hemi Hardtop, stick O/D and I've seen few other hardtops over the years. The Plymouth versions are more common than the Dodges. In my youth I two '53 Plymouth ragtops, the second of which I installed a '55 Dodge 270 Hemi. That was in '62. Long gone sad to say. In the early 90's I had a '53 Belvedere Hardtop..........it too went down the road. The Dodge I have now I have owned for about 17 years.......guess it's a keeper, though as yet an unfinished restoration. Congrats on having a very fine example of a very rare American car. Ray
Its possibly the oldest surviving hemi convertable and it looks fantastic. And its in original condition. Its only original once. A resto is just that. A resto. Scratches and the odd ding are character and proof its a survivor. Document it and keep it as it is.
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