Meet Elbert

[Reg Evans]

As you may already know I got this 49 Plymouth over the weekend and have discovered some things about the car that are really neat.

Elbert has a 59 Dodge flatty that runs really strong and the man that sold the car to me via eBay handed me the original title to the car as a bonus. I'm jazzed ! Elbert got some new rubber today too.

[Normspeed]

Reg, that car looks to be in really good shape. I never realized the 49 Suburbans had a split rear window. Congrats!

[Plymouthy Adams]

I picked up on the split rear glass and I would think the third light is add on but have to ask anyway..what is the scoop on that item...had one of them rear bezels in my hand at the swap meet..guy asked me if I knew what it fit...as he did not know I sorta let the question roll off by asking about another item..I figure if he don't know then a person in need may get a good deal..who am I to spoil it..got nothing to gain tipping him off..

[steveplym]

Neat car Reg. Bet that was $1,500 well spent in 1949.

What kind of plans do you have for it?

[Reg Evans]

Well, I'm going to go through the brakes and electrical and weld in some new floor boards. Then I'll drive it for a while working on the body and paint. I discovered that the rear end ratio is 3.73 so with the 235/75R 15" radials on the rear this combo ought to enable it to carry me down the road pretty well. I just want Elbert to be a nice looking dependable driver.

Yeah Norm.....I really like the split rear window and I also like the front grill and hood and dash gauges more than my 51's.

Tim, That center light appears to be an after market item. I don't think the po ever ran a wire to it. Still a mystery but I kinda like it.

If ya know of anyone with 49 grill parts for sale please let me know.

Oh...almost forgot....where can I get some tail light lenses for Elbert?????

[Normspeed]

There may have been some glass blue dots on ebay for it not long ago. Not sure on the exact year but in that era. Not on there right now though.

If that tailgate is constructed like the 53, wiring that center tail light would be a challenge. No removeable panels for interior access. I love the simplicity of the tailgate latches on the Suburbans. Nothing fancy, no springs, but they get the job done.

[Plymouthy Adams]

tail light lenses are very rare items even on the bay...I think Neil listed the last pair sold..pricy if I recall correct..these I have never seen at any of the swap meets where the delaers in old lenses set up their goods..

[JerseyHarold]

Reg,

Great looking car!

Have you tried Google or Zabasearch to see if Elbert is still around?

[Reg Evans]

Reg,

Great looking car!

Have you tried Google or Zabasearch to see if Elbert is still around?

The back of the title was signed off by Jackie Fretwell ( power of attorney ) and down below a Dave J Parrie applied for a new title on 4/4/ 92.

It looks like Elbert Meyer has passed but maybe Jackie Fretwell is a relative. I'll try searching for her first.

There are 2 other names there. A bank manager from The Idaho First National Bank in Weiser,Idaho and an auto dealer with his dealer number.

I haven't tried searching yet but this search will be fun and any info I find will stay with the car.

[Reg Evans]

There may have been some glass blue dots on ebay for it not long ago. Not sure on the exact year but in that era. Not on there right now though.

If that tailgate is constructed like the 53, wiring that center tail light would be a challenge. No removable panels for interior access. I love the simplicity of the tailgate latches on the Suburbans. Nothing fancy, no springs, but they get the job done.

Me too Norm. So simple that even the hinges are exterior mounted. Yes....there is no access to the inside of the tailgate so you would have to fish a stiff wire in there to pull a stop light wire through. The upper split window hatch is held open with the same brackets that were used to hold the windshields open on the military power wagons.

[Reg Evans]

tail light lenses are very rare items even on the bay...I think Neil listed the last pair sold..pricy if I recall correct..these I have never seen at any of the swap meets where the delaers in old lenses set up their goods..

Tim, I emailed Neil on Monday but haven't heard back from him yet. He may be on vacation as I don't see any eBay sales for him right now either ( as of last Monday anyway) Do you have a part number for those lenses?

[Plymouthy Adams]

I could get them off my lenses I have at the house..they be molded into the plastic..and yes they are all plastic..never seen a glass lens for these babies...as for the blue dots...the round center red reflector is easily removed and a blue dot inserted..however..you will have to slightly enlarge the hole..this is a problem if you wish to return to stock reflectors later..the removal is also a destruct procedure..but as most of the original reflectors are rather poor shape..going to blue dots if you state laws will allow it is the better choice. though not stock as the stock lens does protrude..you do have the room to go to the parts store or walmart for replacement trailer lenses and cut to fit and install flat...will look great and get you by till you find the animals you want.

also for the record..if you have never had experience with these..the lenses are held into the bezel by folded over metal which at this age will probably break off..no biggy as the bezel is recessed for the lens and the gasket will prevent it from moving when mounted..

[PatS....]

Looks to me like a 46 Chevy lense might fit and it has the "bulge" rather than flat stock. 46's are being reproduced

That Suburban is in great shape, Reg. Any more pics?

[Plymouthy Adams]

these lenses are basically about 1 1/2 inches high, rectangular and rounded at all edges with a slighly higher center section..the lenses are same left or right..bezels are side specific..might I add..most of these lenses, if used and intact are very much faded out..a particular subject I tried to address here long ago..is there a quick and easy way to re-dye these and still stay translucent..

[PatS....]

these lenses are basically about 1 1/2 inches high, rectangular and rounded at all edges with a slighly higher center section..the lenses are same left or right..bezels are side specific..might I add..most of these lenses, if used and intact are very much faded out..a particular subject I tried to address here long ago..is there a quick and easy way to re-dye these and still stay translucent..

Candy Apple Red Testors plastic model spray paint works pretty good.

[Norm's Coupe]

That is a nice wagon. If I had that I would lose all the lights on the rear, then replace them with either flush mount or french them in. Then I would cover all the side windows except the doors with steel and blend it in. Remove all the seats, put modern bucket seats in the front and have no seats in the rear. Almost forgot, would also lose the trailer hitch and bumper guards. When finished it would be a nice sedan delivery.

[Reg Evans]

That is a nice wagon. If I had that I would lose all the lights on the rear' date=' then replace them with either flush mount or french them in. Then I would cover all the side windows except the doors with steel and blend it in. Remove all the seats, put modern bucket seats in the front and have no seats in the rear. Almost forgot, would also lose the trailer hitch and bumper guards. When finished it would be a nice sedan delivery.[/quote']

Blaspheme !

[BobT-47P15]

There was a 1955 Plymouth sedan delivery for sale on ebay a while back. The guy did a super job on it. However, I think I would sooner have just a good ol wagon.

I think there was either one or a pair of 49 wagon tail lenses on the bay in the last couple weeks. But did not pay attention to who had listed the item. Not sure they even got a bid. You might look at each 49 Plym item offered, and send a question to the seller asking if they have a lense. Also check the ebay stores of the larger sellers.

[Reg Evans]

Looks to me like a 46 Chevy lense might fit and it has the "bulge" rather than flat stock. 46's are being reproduced

That Suburban is in great shape, Reg. Any more pics?[/quote]

Here's a couple more photos I took this morning Pat.

The color on the back of the spare tire color appears to be the original body color and the window trim color is a slightly lighter accent color. I'll stick with these colors.

[Norm's Coupe]

Blaspheme !

Reg, maybe so, but you have to admit, it would make a nice sedan delivery.

BobT,

A friend of my younger brother in Louisville has a 55 Plymouth Wagon. He's had it for many years and still hasn't worked on it. It's sitting on blocks now and the body is nice. I'm waiting for him to get tired of looking at it. When that happens and if the price is right, that one may make a trip up here and become a sedan delivery. It was running about 5 years ago until the timing chain broke. Has the V8 in it.

[BobT-47P15]

I would have thought the tailgate hinges would be chrome, not painted.

I presume the round light in center of the gate is the stop light and side

lights are only tail lights, just like most cars of the era.

Where is the spare, under that cover in the cargo area??

[blueskies]

Looks like Elbert is an Idaho Boy! Good friend of mine grew up in Weiser, wonder if he knew the family...

I have a set of NOS '49 bumper bolts, PM me if you have any interest in them...

Pete

[Young Ed]

Pete that 49 looks to be a similar color to your 50.

[blueskies]

The color on the back of the spare tire color appears to be the original body color and the window trim color is a slightly lighter accent color. I'll stick with these colors.

Looks like that could be Malibu Brown, my favorite Plymouth color...

Pete

[Reg Evans]

Reg' date=' maybe so, but you have to admit, it would make a nice sedan delivery.

BobT,

A friend of my younger brother in Louisville has a 55 Plymouth Wagon. He's had it for many years and still hasn't worked on it. It's sitting on blocks now and the body is nice. I'm waiting for him to get tired of looking at it. When that happens and if the price is right, that one may make a trip up here and become a sedan delivery. It was running about 5 years ago until the timing chain broke. Has the V8 in it.[/quote']

Kinda like this? Gees...if I owned something like this I would probably only drive it in and out of my garage a little. OOPS !! The Don made me do it.