1953 Dodge Coronet Convertible

[BobT-47P15]

In 1954, the Dodge convertible was the Indy 500 pace car.

[thrashingcows]

Wow what a beautiful car you have...and welcome to the board. You truly have a great history with your car, and a vast knowledge of these models...I've really enjoyed reading all your informative posts.

[BobT-47P15]

Would this be a Canadian 54 Dodge?

[CaptainGTX]

Bob T

Those are three of the seven I know still exist. I've talked with or exchanged emails with all three owners.

The black one is owned by a dealer in Seattle; had been asking $45K, but a year ago came down to $40.5K. Still hasn't sold to my knowledge.

The red one sold at a Kruse auction in Scottsdale in 2005 for $42K. At the time they advertised it as the only one in existence. Believe it is now in Las Vegas in a collection and has been for sale for awhile.

Can't find my notes on the blue one right now, but recall it's located somewhere in the SE (Georgia?). Car was owned by the guy's father, and pictures of the car show up in a Dec 1990 Collectible Automobile magazine shoot (with red painted rims, by the way).

I know of another black one and another blue one (the latter located only 30 miles away from me.) Then one dark red one, and that's it. I'm sure there are others lurking out there, but that's all I've found in three years of searching.

Thanks for posting those.

Edited January 17, 2013 by CaptainGTX

[B1B Keven]

I saw a '53 Coronet Convertible Hemi at a Portland (Oregon) 'Cruise in' last year.

I 'think' my wife has a picture of it.

Next time I see it, I'll get some info from the owner.

Bob T

Those are three of the seven I know still exist. I've talked with or exchanged emails with all three owners.

The black one is owned by a dealer in Seattle; had been asking $45K, but a year ago came down to $40.5K. Still hasn't sold to my knowledge.

The red one sold at a Kruse auction in Scottsdale in 2005 for $42K. At the time they advertised it as the only one in existence. Believe it is now in Las Vegas in a collection and has been for sale for awhile.

Can't find my notes on the blue one right now, but recall it's located somewhere in the SE (Georgia?). Car was owned by the guy's father, and pictures of the car show up in a Dec 1990 Collectible Automobile magazine shoot (with red painted rims, by the way).

I know of another black one and another blue one (the latter located only 30 miles away from me.) Then one dark red one, and that's it. I'm sure there are others lurking out there, but that's all I've found in three years of searching.

Thanks for posting those.

[CaptainGTX]

Bob T

I'm no expert on the Canadian cars, but you're correct that this is a 54 Dodge Mayfair. They were basically a Plymouth body with a Dodge front clip. The two cars shared the same bodies, so it wasn't that hard to do. Except for the grille and hood trim which was US 54 Dodge, the remainder appears to be typical US Plymouth trim. This also appears to be the six cylinder model. Don't know whether or not they offered a V8. My understanding is that Dodge had to modify the Plymouth frame and steering in the US to accomodate the hemi.

When I see cars like this it really makes me want to restore mine, but keep resisting.

[CaptainGTX]

Keven

The black Seattle car runs Oregon plates, so that might be the one she saw.

One interesting sidelight about my car, and a reason I'm trying to track down others, is that mine is the oldest Dodge hemi convertible I have yet found. It was built Oct 1, 1952, so was a pre-introduction car. According to the body plate it was the 49th of the 4,100 convertibles built that year. It was also the 778th Dodge of all types off the Detroit assembly line. I'm guessing a survival rate of not much more than one percent for ththis year's convertibles (as I said before it's the only one listed in the WPC registry out of maybe 10,000 cars). Maybe 40 or so still exist??? Anybody else want to speculate?

Rich

Edited January 17, 2013 by CaptainGTX
Added info

[BobT-47P15]

I agree there probably are not very many left on the road nowadays.

I agree that I'd try to keep it an original, survivor type car.

Have you ever seen the production number on the converts?

[B1B Keven]

Keven

The black Seattle car runs Oregon plates, so that might be the one she saw.

I don't remember it being black. I think it's almost the color of your car.

[RobertKB]

Would this be a Canadian 54 Dodge?

Yes, it is a Mayfair which is a Canadian only model and the licence plate is Ontario, the province, not the city in California.

[RobertKB]

CaptainGTX, this video from Jay Leno's Garage really explains why you should keep your car original and not restore it. http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/1918-cadillac-type-57-victoria/1424423/

[B-Watson]

Would this be a Canadian 54 Dodge?

Sold in Canada, but built in the U.S. So it is an American Plymouth with the same front clip as used on the 1954 Coronet/Royal hardtops and convertibles. Apparently 77 were built.

As it was built by Plymouth it has a flathead six - 23" block. Colours were the same as on the U.S. Plymouth.

I have seen two other 1954 Mayfair convertibles, and both had a small plug up front of the "Mayfair" nameplate, undoubtedly due to the fact "Mayfair" is shorter than both "Belvedere" and "Kingsway". Plymouth also built Kingsway Custom convertibles for the export market.

1954 was the first year for a "Plodge" convertible in Canada since 1936. Which is bad news for the seller of a 1953 Dodge Mayfair convertible a few years back. Plymouth built "Plodge" convertible coupes every year from 1935 through 1959 and even 13 4-door convertibles for 1939.

[Guest P15-D24]

If your are interested in helping build out and moderate a '53-'54 section on the new site I can definitely use the help. I don't have any info on those series. Any other owners please feel free to jump in!

[BobT-47P15]

Guess I saw this on the Antique Auto Club website where you had also done some posts about your car........was just

checking with you to see if this person had indeed ever contacted you about the car they apparently want to sell.

 

"Did this person ever contact you - from the Antique Auto Club website??? "My dad has a 53 coronet convertible and is thinking about selling it "  I don't know any more than that.
 

[Shifticus]

Capt. GTX: Beautiful unrestored example, and I commend your efforts in preserving and documenting your rare '54! You're in good company with plenty of other 53/4's on this website, myself included.

 

Robert: Thanks for posting up that Leno video, it's great!

[CaptainGTX]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. Enjoyed the Leno video and seeing everyone's 53/54 cars.

 

Several commented that their cars don't look as good in person as in photos - well, mine too. That's one reason I initially contemplated doing a full restoration. But, fear not. That will probably be left to the next owner, after I'm gone.

 

There are, however, a few repair items I'm probably going to do. I'd be interested if anyone thinks any of the following will affect the survivor status of the car.  In my opinion these are things that the original owner should have done back in the day:

• adjust the front clip & driver's door - car apparently drove over a curb & pushed in the passenger-side front wheel well, opening a gap behind driver's door;
• repair rust LR quarter and front floorboards which are a little thin;
• straighten dented grille & some side trim;
• install seat belts (none ever installed); and
• re-arch RR leaf spring (either sagged or have a broken leaf), anybody have experience or tips removing & reinstalling spring cover?

I also have quite a bit more information about the car and am trying to research further. It was originally owned by a nuclear physicist living in Denver. He put a lot of miles on the car in the early 50's - apparently on the road between Denver and the Nevada/Utah area. And, no, I haven't taken a geiger counter to the car yet - although I probably should.

 

Regarding helping build out or moderate a 53/54 forum, if that's directed to me, I'd certainly consider at least helping. My first car bought in 1964 was a 53 Coronet V8 (not a convert). And now I own a second one, so I must be in a pretty elite group.

[Young Ed]

Things like adjusting the door gap and repairing the rear spring to me would be considered maintenance to me. Fixing rust and floor boards starts to traverse the line. I think the survivor status from one of the big clubs does have a statement about having x% of original paint so you might be ok with a little repair.  

[RobertKB]

I agree with Ed. If you do rust and floor repair you want to do the absolute least you can while still doing a good job. I had rust behind the rear wheels on both sides of my original '53 Plymouth (see picture of the car in earlier post) where there was a support bracket/mud catcher. I replaced the rusted part and only painted below the trim. I also removed some signal lights that had had holes drilled through the body. Same thing. Only repaired and painted the small area affected. I did that because I had found a factory original turn signal for the car. My other Mopars have had or are having major work but the '53 I try to keep as original as possible.

[BobT-47P15]

Does the Antique Auto Club of America have a printed list regarding their HPOF (historic preservation of

features) category??  You might check around to see what it says.  

Their home page:        http://aaca.org/

 

Otherwise some of those things seem like they need to be done as maintenance.

[48Dodger]

Been looking at Convertible Dodges lately......would love to have a Coronet. Really enjoying the thread, if only to get a better look at your car. lol

 

48D 

[CaptainGTX]

Here are a few detail shots I took last summer.  I'll attach a few more after I get them resized.

[pflaming]

Do you have the color codes for the two blues on that dash. That is beautiful dash as is the entire car.

[CaptainGTX]

Actually, the dash is two-toned gray.  I think the photos might have picked up a little reflection from the sky.  I don't have the codes, but the darker shade matches the door top garnish moldings and inside of the trunk & trunk lid.  Believe it was also the same shade that was on the backside of the wheels.

 

The 1964 Colorado inspection sticker in the windshield in that last photo shows mileage (and date) that was just 37 miles less than when I bought the car.  So I know almost exactly when the car was put into storage.  It also had 1964 license plates on it which the owner wanted to keep.

[CaptainGTX]

Thought I'd bring this thread back to the top in hopes someone else might have seen another 53 Coronet convertible in the past year.

This winter I added an electric fuel pump to hopefully cure a tendancy to vapor lock on hot days. Also plan to have a restoration shop evaluate it this spring to adjust the front clip & possibly do a little rust repair. Any paint touchup will be kept to a minimum and cover only the repairs. Also plan to remove a couple unsightly dents from the grille & side trim.

[dodge59]

captain .

here is my 54 dodge royal 500 convertible indy pacecar  I just picked up last fall .. california black plate dodge . the original owner was a owner of a dodge dealership and bought it for himself in 1954.... when he passed away his daughter got it  and it sat for 40 years.. the car is solid as a rock still.  hemi engine has 64K on the clock and purrrs like a kitten as well and the rest of drivetrain . I'm going to do a full resto on it this spring.  can't wait to get started on it.. this winter has been a real bear here in wisconsin.

here are a  few pics!

john

Edited March 9, 2014 by dodge59