BobT-47P15

On Friday (Apr 10) a friend and I and my son in law went to a swap meet sponsored by a Shrine club from Kansas City. It was held in the small town of Lathrop, MO.....a few miles north of Kansas City. The meet has moved three or four times in the past few years.....not sure of the reasons. Of course I was specifically looking for P15 parts. One vendor, who was off shopping and not minding his store, had a gas gauge for sale........which I did not buy since the owner was not around on the first or second visit to his space. Otherwise, my son in law found one vendor who happened to have some assorted P15 items among his other merchandise. So I ended up buying all the pieces he had.....for a fairly reasonable price. Good to have some extras............ What I got..........

Since you have it out of the box, etc..........you might start with Lincoln. Sometimes companies are good to send something missing. Then you won't have to repack it to return to the store. If a negative response from maker, then back to Lowes. Just my thoughts.

The funny thing (or neat thing) is that these air cleaners are pretty efficient........even if kinda messy with the oil. Many people have converted them to use a paper air filter, but that's not really necessary. Unless you want to go to a completely different style filter.

It's pretty amazing what vehicles are still stashed in all sorts of places around the country. How about some of those big old houses with basement garages? And in the back room or warehouse area of some businesses? I know of a 63 split window Corvette covered up in the warehouse area of a business. A low mileage car.

Yeah......... you see what I mean? You guys have already pointed out two fairly obvious items already. Don't recall how good the rocker trim is, but perhaps not too bad. I think the manifolds lying on the rear gravel shield may be good too. The owner of that car has a P15 two seat coupe in his garage.... it runs but needs some work. Don't know if he will need anything off this sedan or not.

Several yards have been crushed out in our general area since the 1970s. At first some of the old Mopars looked terribly picked-over... But the longer I looked at them, and thought about it, the more I saw they had left that could be useful. It would be ideal to buy the complete car, then take it home and work with it. However, many of us do not have trailers nor places to park some parts cars, even if the purchase price were right. This one is over in Kansas.....have gotten a few things from it......and need to look at it some more.

The first P15 convertible I ever met was kind of like the Buick.........it was faded maroon original paint, everything on the car was original back in 1959......except for the Dodge truck Red Ram Hemi (or maybe it was a poly) engine. I didn't know enough about engines back then to tell the difference. But it was "cool"............ So that's why I looked and looked until I found a P15 convert, even though mine still has a six. I just like the looks.

Nice looking car. What is the size of your current tires.........are they radial or bias ply? They look pretty big.

A good looking Plym with some mods..........seems OK to me.

Nice. Now it makes you wonder.......how many other guys have an old car stashed in their hangar?

I realize not everyone's cuppa tea...........but nonetheless fun to watch....with Jay Leno. This Buick is similar to the 53 Chrysler station wagon the same fellow built sometime back. I think Jay still has it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3X8DtxYt8I&feature=youtu.be

I have a State Farm antique/classic policy on the P15. Over the past several years the cost has inched up from around $100 per year tp about $200 a year. They will give you a stated amount of coverage based on either an appraisal by someone considered expert in old cars...,or will often go with a figure in the Antique Auto price guide book. They want your antique to be in good original or restored condition based on inspection and photos by the agent. I have seen fairly nice, but not slick, old daily drivers turned down. Regarding claims---i had a good adjuster following the 2011 tornado who did his best to include everything that needed repair. There is also a provision for a small amount of spare parts ($500 as I recall).....plus no time limit for payment on added or higher-than-estimated costs. I received more on my top bow replacement as well as on the convertible top. The car did not have enough damage to call a "total"......thank goodness.

Another interesting story and place. Long gone now. There was some dealership in New York as I recall that had one or two buildings just stuffed with parts...... the buildings were so old and overloaded, they were starting to fall down. Don't recall any further info now...........they were willing to sell things at the time....several years ago. Does that story sound familiar to anyone?

Here's a copy of an e-mail I received listing several items of automotive trivia. Some of you may have already seen it........just posting here for fun and (presumably correct) information. The Ultimate Car Trivia Test! Q: What was the first official White House car? A: A 1909 White Steamer, ordered by President Taft. Q: Who opened the first drive-in gas station? A: Gulf opened up the first station in Pittsburgh in 1913. Q: What city was the first to use parking meters? A: Oklahoma City , on July 16, 1935. Q: Where was the first drive-in restaurant? A: Royce Hailey's Pig Stand opened in Dallas in 1921. Q: True or False? The 1953 Corvette came in white, red and black. A: False. The 1953 'Vett's were available in one color, Polo White. Q: What was Ford's answer to the Chevy Corvette, and other legal street racers of the 1960's? A: Carroll Shelby's Mustang GT350. Q: What was the first car fitted with an alternator, rather than a direct current dynamo? A: The 1960 Plymouth Valiant Q: What was the first car fitted with a replaceable cartridge oil filter? A: The 1924 Chrysler. Q: What was the first car to be offered with a "perpetual guarantee"? A: The 1904 Acme, from Reading , PA. Perpetuity was disturbing in this case, as Acme closed down in 1911. Q: What American luxury automaker began by making cages for birds and squirrels? A: The George N. Pierce Co. of Buffalo , who made the Pierce Arrow, also made iceboxes. Q: What car first referred to itself as a convertible? A: The 1904 Thomas Flyer, which had a removable hard top. Q: What car was the first to have it's radio antenna embedded in the windshield? A: The 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix. Q: What car used the first successful series-production hydraulic valve lifters? A: The 1930 Cadillac 452, the first production V16 Q: Where was the World's first three-color traffic lights installed? A: Detroit , Michigan in 1919. Two years later they experimented with synchronized lights. Q: What type of car had the distinction of being GM's 100 millionth car built in the U.S. ? A: March 16, 1966 saw an Olds Tornado roll out of Lansing , Michigan with that honor. Q: Where was the first drive-in movie theater opened, and when? A: Camden , NJ in 1933 Q: What autos were the first to use a standardized production key-start system? A: The 1949 Chryslers Q: What did the Olds designation 4-4-2 stand for? A: 4 barrel carburetor, 4 speed transmission, and dual exhaust. Q: What car was the first to place the horn button in the center of the steering wheel? A: The 1915 Scripps-Booth Model C. The car also was the first with electric door latches. Q: What U.S. production car has the quickest 0-60 mph time? A: The 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS 409. Did it in 4.0 seconds. Q: What's the only car to appear simultaneously on the covers of Time and Newsweek? A: The Mustang Q: What was the lowest priced mass produced American car? A: The 1925 Ford Model T Runabout. Cost $260, $5 less than 1924. Q: What is the fastest internal-combustion American production car? A: The 1998 Dodge Viper GETS-R, tested by Motor Trend magazine at 192.6 mph. Q: What automaker's first logo incorporated the Star of David? A: The Dodge Brothers. Q: Who wrote to Henry Ford, "I have drove fords exclusively when I could get away with one It has got every other car skinned, and even if my business hasn't been strictly legal it don't hurt anything to tell you what a fine car you got in the V-8"? A: Clyde Barrow (of Bonnie and Clyde ) in 1934. Q: What car was the first production V12, as well as the first production car with aluminum pistons? A: The 1915 Packard Twin-Six. Used during WWI in Italy , these motors inspired Enzi Ferrari to adopt the V12 himself in 1948. Q: What was the first car to use power operated seats? A: They were first used on the 1947 Packard line. Q: Which of the Chrysler "letter cars" sold the fewest amount? A: Only 400, 1963, 300J's were sold (they skipped" "I" because it looked like a number 1) Q: What car company was originally known as Swallow Sidecars (aka SS)? A: Jaguar, which was an SS model first in 1935, and ultimately the whole company by 1945. Q: What car delivered the first production V12 engine? A: The cylinder wars were kicked off in 1915 after Packard's chief engineer, Col. Jesse Vincent, introduced its Twin-Six. Q: When were seat belts first fitted to a motor vehicle? A: In 1902, in a Baker Electric streamliner racer which crashed at 100 mph. on Staten Island ! Q: In January 1930, Cadillac debuted it's V16 in a car named for a theatrical version of a 1920's film seen by Harley Earl while designing the body, What's that name? A: The "Madam X", a custom coach designed by Earl and built by Fleetwood. The sedan featured a retractable landau top above the rear seat. Q: Which car company started out German, yet became French after WWI? A: Bugati, founded in Molsheim in 1909, became French when Alsace returned to French rule. Q: In what model year did Cadillac introduce the first electric sunroof? A: 1969 Q: What U.S. production car had the largest 4 cylinder engine? A: The 1907 Thomas sported a 571 cu. in. (9.2liter) engine. Q: What car was reportedly designed on the back of a Northwest Airlines airsickness bag and released on April Fool's Day, 1970? A: 1970 Gremlin, (AMC) Q: What is the Spirit of Ecstasy? A: The official name of the mascot of Rolls Royce, she is the lady on top of their radiators. Q: What was the inspiration for MG's famed octagon-shaped badge? A: The shape of founder Cecil Kimber's dining table. MG stands for Morris Garages. Q: In what year did the "double-R" Rolls Royce badge change from red to black? A: 1933 Trivia...Ford, who made the first pick-up trucks, shipped them to dealers in crates that the new owners had to assemble using the crates as the beds of the trucks. The new owners had to go to the dealers to get them, thus they had to "pick-up" the trucks. And now you know the "rest of the story". -- (( * ! * )) O ~ O georgene

Yes. Far as I know........both front and rear fenders will interchange among all the P15s. Trunk lids......not so much. Hoods yes. Most stainless trim, but some pieces are model style specific.

Oh.......re that battery.........you DO know these cars are positive ground don't you??? And, when you get a round tuit...........you might wish to replace those battery cables with some new heavier ones that are at least "single O" gauge........should help with the starting situation.

Looking at the door edges and firewall, it appears this car was maroon (or dark red) when new. Don't know what that color was called. Appears pretty straight..........if so, that's very good. These cars are pretty simple and easy to work on.........eventually you should purchase a Service/Repair manual and a factory parts manual......those go a long way to explaining many things on these vehicles. Many parts and related items for these cars can be found on eBay.......certain things you may want to watch for a while to determine if the price is "reasonable". Some things you just gotta pay.............. Anyway....nice car, keep us posted on your progress and have fun. Bob

Originally they were a shade of silver. Some like more shiny (me included)........some like less shiny. Some have painted their engines red, black, blue, grey................some have been very unique and sharp looking. So........suit yourself. I personally like the Por 15 brand of hi temp aluminum color paint called Por 20.......applied with a one or two inch paint brush. Others like spray cans. You can do the details any way you like....as well.

Yes........as Plymouthy said............you can remove the distributor, but follow his cautions .

Just as an aside -- they made add-on wood kits for other cars like this Chevy.

This second cousin, built by a fellow from Kansas, used a 4 door sedan -- has a V8. He said he discovered the Plymouth has a stronger frame than Fords and Chevys.

Excellent looking car Eric. My family had one that color after the war.......I was told it was the first one sold in our town in '46.

Lots of good stuff on that car John.

What I want is a unit that sits in the seat with a padded arm rest on top......probably one that will open to allow storage inside. Guess I have gotten used to the rests in modern cars and like to lean on something while driving down the road. I like the look and size of this "contractor's console"......it has a drink holder that is kind of out of your way while leaning............this one listed at $47.99 on eBay.

I have a vintage plastic floor hump tray that holds some smaller things. You can find them at flea markets, or sometimes a rummage sale for not much money. I think they still sell something similar in some stores.