StayFrosty Posted June 13, 2011 Report Posted June 13, 2011 I picked up another old Plymouth last Friday--This time it's a '54 Savoy I bought it from an older gentleman in my hometown. He has owned the car since 1983 and mostly drove in in parades and took it to local shows in the summer. It was garage kept when he wasn't driving it and it's in pretty darn good shape for a 57 year old car. The engine runs like it rolled out of the factory yesterday and everything is tight and smooth. All the wiring is in good shape and all the electronics work with the exception of the radio. I spotted a power wire not connected behind the radio so one of these days I'll hook it up and see what catches fire The body is by no means perfect. There are a couple of rust spots visible in the above picture. I also spotted some rust and bondo in and around the rocker panels. For now the plan is to fix that and drive it over the summer while I finish up some other projects. Every time I look at the car I have visions of a nice mild custom with a lace pattern on the top, shaved door handles and frenched headlights among other things. I just can't bring myself to cut the car up (yet.) The WWW tires came with the car and are in fantastic condition. The white walls cleaned up nicely with some SOS pads and a little elbow grease. So far I've been enjoying cruising around int he car and it has attracted all kinds of attention wherever I've gone. There are a few things I need a little advice on though. The seats are original and in great shape. They aren't torn or overly worn and I'd like to keep it that way. What do you use for a seat cover on the split bench seats? I did pick up a few "indan blankets (sic)" when I went through New Mexico back in February and I have been using them but I'd prefer something a little more form fitting--especially with the split front bench. Any suggestions? I'd also like to add an aftermarket tach. The problem I'm having is the shifting linkage runs along the top of the steering column preventing me from mounting a tach there. Any ideas for this? I've considered mounting one off to the side but then the gauge isn't straight. Any help would be appreciated. Quote
John Reddie Posted June 13, 2011 Report Posted June 13, 2011 Hey Frosty, Welcome. This car looks really nice. What type of transmission do you have, straight standard, standard with overdrive, hy-drive or full automatic Powerflite? Nice color scheme too:). John R Quote
Don Coatney Posted June 13, 2011 Report Posted June 13, 2011 Nice find. And your hometown is where?? What transmission is in this car? Quote
StayFrosty Posted June 13, 2011 Author Report Posted June 13, 2011 It's a 3 speed manual...Just the way I like it :-) I'm not sure of the exact color. The bottom has been repainted once so I don't think it quite matches the original color (as seen on the firewall.) EDIT: Don, I'm in Central WI. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 the 54 is a car that will grow on you even more the longer you own one..the headlights in the front were given the extended headlight doors to give the car a bit of a longer apperance overall...you can go back to the 53 model doors that fit flush and lose the chromed doors of the 54 for most are in fair to poor shape after all these years..got the dreaded red X on your pics..no clue what body style you have..some folks like to retro the 54 to the 53 tailights as the 54 was also extended as the headlight doors and is of cast chromed metal whereas the 53 is stainless..the 54 probably had available from the factory the most bling of any of the era.. couple shots of my 54 Savoy..since these photos I have found and installed the optional wire basket hubcaps.. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 "I just can't bring myself to cut the car up (yet.)" Listen to that little voice and don't do it. Quote
RobertKB Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) "I just can't bring myself to cut the car up (yet.)"Listen to that little voice and don't do it. I agree with Joe. That car looks absolutely wonderful. They are only original once and that sounds like a real survivor except for the respray. Great looking car!! I have added pictures of my '53 Plymouth to show what Tim Adams mentioned about the headlight and taillight bezels. The headlight bezels are stainless on mine but the taillight bezel is chrome and most are pitted. Also my car has the optional back up lights in the taillight bezel. Most were a solid red lens. Enjoy driving the car!! Mine is a survivor as well including the paint. Edited June 14, 2011 by RobertKB Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 Robert..last set of 53 tailight bezels I had my hands on were stainless..could the pot metal chromo jobs be a Canadian thing or maybe one trim line verse another? I came a gnats butt of grabbing these just for the heck of it...I got lucky and found a set of blue dots for my 54 plus one for a spare and also lucked upon a decent rear housing for the one that was heavily pitted..as you may notice on mine..some of the 54's had 4 overriders on the rear..the inside ones each have a registration lamp built in..for the record, are your rear fender tips stainless or pot metal..I have only seen stainless but thought I would ask.. Quote
Young Ed Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 as you may notice on mine..some of the 54's had 4 overriders on the rear..the inside ones each have a registration lamp built in..for the record, are your rear fender tips stainless or pot metal..I have only seen stainless but thought I would ask.. Tim Dads 54 savoy does have the 4 bumper guards on the back. Are you talking about the little fins on the top of the quarters? Both the spare set I bought him off ebay and the one on his car are potmetal. Also in your pic I didn't see the little flags that his have. Quote
RobertKB Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 Robert..last set of 53 tailight bezels I had my hands on were stainless..could the pot metal chromo jobs be a Canadian thing or maybe one trim line verse another? I came a gnats butt of grabbing these just for the heck of it...I got lucky and found a set of blue dots for my 54 plus one for a spare and also lucked upon a decent rear housing for the one that was heavily pitted..as you may notice on mine..some of the 54's had 4 overriders on the rear..the inside ones each have a registration lamp built in..for the record, are your rear fender tips stainless or pot metal..I have only seen stainless but thought I would ask.. Tim, I have never seen a stainless taillight bezel but they would be an improvement over the chrome ones as I seldom see a chrome one without pitting. Mine are good as the car has lived indoors for the last 36 years. The fender tips on top of the rear fenders are stainless. Lots of those around and usually in good shape. Love that stainless. Sounds like you got a good deal on the taillights for your car. My brother years ago in the late '60s owned a '53 Plymouth (not my car) and put lots of '54 trim on it like the headlight and taillight bezels, hood ornament, rear fender trim tips, etc. He now says that the car looked better with the '53 trim on it. I like the '54 trim but on '54 cars as there were other trim differences like the grille for one that works better with it. You are right when you say these cars grow on you. They really are sweeties! Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 I second that on the tail light bezels. It was one of the last items I got for my car because I couldn't find any that weren't badly pitted. Even the ones I finally settled on aren't that great but I figured that the better condition they're in, the less work they'll be to rechrome if I ever decide to do that. Quote
StayFrosty Posted June 14, 2011 Author Report Posted June 14, 2011 "I just can't bring myself to cut the car up (yet.)"Listen to that little voice and don't do it. I'm going to have to at some point. Somewhere in this car's past the rockers were "repaired" with bondo. It's starting to show a little on top so at the very least I will have to replace the rotted out parts. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 Yes, that should definitely be done. I had to redo mine. Most of the floors, too. Quote
StayFrosty Posted June 14, 2011 Author Report Posted June 14, 2011 the 54 is a car that will grow on you even more the longer you own one..the headlights in the front were given the extended headlight doors to give the car a bit of a longer apperance overall...you can go back to the 53 model doors that fit flush and lose the chromed doors of the 54 for most are in fair to poor shape after all these years..got the dreaded red X on your pics..no clue what body style you have..some folks like to retro the 54 to the 53 tailights as the 54 was also extended as the headlight doors and is of cast chromed metal whereas the 53 is stainless..the 54 probably had available from the factory the most bling of any of the era..couple shots of my 54 Savoy..since these photos I have found and installed the optional wire basket hubcaps.. Mine is a 2-door as well. The tip about the '53 headlight doors is good to know. Mine are in pretty bad shape. One of them is kind of smashed a bit on the bottom and both are pitted up. I like the looks of the '53s better. I'll have to keep an eye out for a stainless steel set. I also really like your fender tips. Were those factory on the Savoy? I seem to remember seeing them on a 4-door Belvidere that used to be in the area. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 the fender fins are optional for the 54..though I have never seen the underhood shot of your car..what are the odds your car was Pasedena Gray..as was mine originally..my car was painted as yours..one reason I changed it all about..I care not to park next to a car like mine.. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 oh..and by the way..I dumped the dark color for the light on the roof..middle GA..lots of heat...lol Quote
Ken Bartz Posted June 14, 2011 Report Posted June 14, 2011 I would encourage you to join the Plymouth Owners Club and also the Dairyland Region of the POC. Information on the Dairyland Region can be found at http://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=dairylandplymouthclub Exactly where are you located? wheelnut@tds.net Quote
StayFrosty Posted June 15, 2011 Author Report Posted June 15, 2011 I would encourage you to join the Plymouth Owners Club and also the Dairyland Region of the POC. Information on the Dairyland Region can be found athttp://clubs.hemmings.com/frameset.cfm?club=dairylandplymouthclub Exactly where are you located? wheelnut@tds.net I'm out in the sticks in the Hatfield area. Quote
48P15Annie Posted June 15, 2011 Report Posted June 15, 2011 NICE!!! I have a magnet of a yellow '54 Belvedere on my took box Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.