frankieflathead Posted January 3, 2013 Report Posted January 3, 2013 How many styling cues from other MoPaR products can you spot on this rare bird? Brownie Points if you can provide make, model and year, too.... Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Posted January 3, 2013 Your halfway there, Greg, but it's not a wagon, K'King. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Posted January 3, 2013 '59 Chrysler wayfarer utility Bingo! We have a winnah! I thought you guys from the Land Down Under would get it in a flash, Daliant. Even so, the site where I found this pic said that this model is quite rare even in your homeland with less than 400 produced. Up here in the U.S., I have been fascinated by the Ozzie Utes of all makes and MoPaRs in particular for many years. They are quite unusual to my eyes, and I'm baffled why they weren't marketed over here in the years before our own home grown Rancheros and El Caminos were built. And thanx, guys, fur playin' along. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Posted January 3, 2013 Probably titled as a 58 in Oz. D'oh! I thought I Photoshopped out all the badges, but I missed that one! Quote
Daliant. Posted January 3, 2013 Report Posted January 3, 2013 The windshield looks like a 53/54 plymouth piece. The head light trim, hood ornament and tail lights look similar to a 56 plymouth. Quote
Daliant. Posted January 3, 2013 Report Posted January 3, 2013 Side trim looks like 57 plymouth. Definitely a hodgepodge of different styling cues from the mid 50's. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 3, 2013 Author Report Posted January 3, 2013 The windshield looks like a 53/54 plymouth piece. The head light trim, hood ornament and tail lights look similar to a 56 plymouth. Yup. Seems like it's slightly smaller than our domestic '54-6 Plymouths, too, but I've never seen one "in the flesh", so I can't be sure. What say you, D? Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted January 3, 2013 Report Posted January 3, 2013 I wonder if that white camper shell type bed cover comes with it originally or was added later. It is interesting that in Oz and some other places, what we know as a 56 Plymouth may be two or three years newer than 56 and have a mixture of other Mopar trim. They are fun to see. You probably know they made DeSoto trucks in some countries. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Posted January 4, 2013 (edited) Yup. I think that's probably an aftermarket cap or "topper" as they're know in some parts of the U.S. And, if I'm not mistaken, one of our members from the land of Oz owns this DeSoto Ute..... Edited January 4, 2013 by frankieflathead Quote
Frank Elder Posted January 4, 2013 Report Posted January 4, 2013 Not with Iowa plates.......that is roadkillontheweb......not sure what his name is on here. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Posted January 4, 2013 Isn't this the same car (the one on the left)? I thought I saw this exact image on another thread on this site (Show Us Your Ride, or something like that) Quote
Desotodav Posted January 4, 2013 Report Posted January 4, 2013 My mate Vic is piecing his similar ute back together at present. Unfortunately, he will be installing mostly Ford running gear in it though. The front is mostly complete as seen in the second photo. I believe that he plans on calling it a Savoy... Desotodav Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Posted January 4, 2013 My mate Vic is piecing his similar ute back together at present. Unfortunately, he will be installing mostly Ford running gear in it though. The front is mostly complete as seen in the second photo. I believe that he plans on calling it a Savoy...Desotodav Looks neat, but I agree about the Ford running gear, LOL! I totally dig Utes, but my knowledge of them is a bit sketchy. I believe they were sold under the Plymouth, Dodge and DeSoto nameplates in this era and your mate's "Savoy" nameplate is a Plymouth model. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 4, 2013 Report Posted January 4, 2013 I tried to convince the Australian government official that I should travel to Australia in support of the EW system or possibily they could deliver of a UTE to Georgia...struck out on both accounts.. Quote
frankieflathead Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Posted January 4, 2013 I tried to convince the Australian government official that I should travel to Australia in support of the EW system or possibily they could deliver of a UTE to Georgia...struck out on both accounts.. HA! Nice try, Tim. It's my understanding that it's not easy to get an older "classic" vehicle out of Australia. Quote
Lee Exline Posted May 27, 2013 Report Posted May 27, 2013 I am way late to find this topic! The car is actually a AP1 series Chrysler Wayfarer UTE with an after market topper. These would have been produced from 1957-1959 and since Australia does not title by year of manufacture it would be hard to tell for sure what year it was made. It still uses the same 1953-54 Plymouth body shell that they would contiune to use through the early 60s in the AP2 and AP3 series. The AP 2 series had rear styling that was similar to a 58 Dodge with a bolt of fin on top of the 1956 Plymouth fin and the AP3 series switched to a 1959 Desoto look with triple taillights and side trim. I imported the two 1956 era UTEs shown above and have since sold the Plymouth but will keep the Desoto. They also made a Dodge badged version but not a Chrysler until 1957 with the AP1. In 1955 when the stamping dies for the 54 Plymouth sedan finished their run they were sent to Australia and continued to be used in part up until 1962-63. Frames and engines were still imported but body stamping was done in OZ. My Desoto is titled as a 56 since they did not produce the UTE body style until 56 but it could also be produced in 57? I have not been able to get any answers on a production date. The brakes are made by Girling and has hydrualic clutch the same as a aston martin. The master cylinder for the brakes is the same as a Landrover series 1. Unlike American Plymouths the pedals are hung not through the floor. Electrical equipment is made by Lucas and is a 12V positive ground system. The engine is a 250 CI flathead and is the 25 inch block even in the Plymouth. In order to get ground clearance the UTEs have 16" wheels with 600 6-ply tyres. They also have a convertible X-frame for offroad rigidity. The body is based off the sedan and if you remove the inner bed side covers you can see the rear door have been welded in and leaded. The rear roof and window are from a P15 sedan and the tailgate and rear quarter uppers are all custom made at the factory. Clutch, brake and gas pedal are in the normal configuration just on the other side of the car and the shifting is done by the left hand. I will be installing turn signals in my Desoto upon restoration as turning the wheel, shifting with the left and tossing hand signals with the right are a challenge. My car has no radio (not many stations in th outback back then) no heater (didn't need it) no turn signals (the kangaroos didn't really heed them anyway) no clock (go to work when it's light, go home when dark) The only thing that would be considered an accessory would be the tinted glass. It has wipers but no windshiled washing system. Quote
pflaming Posted May 27, 2013 Report Posted May 27, 2013 Plymouthy, the Aus govt. probably were afraid you would bring one of your 'dilla' pets along and infest the continent! Quote
Frank L. Hughes Posted May 30, 2013 Report Posted May 30, 2013 (edited) I also have a 59 ap2 that got imported to the U.S. don't know who did it, but I picked it up at auction in Colo. The flathead was replaced with a 265" Hemi 6 with torqueflight. I enjoy it , but it's a driver not a show car. In the future, when I learn to post pics, will do so. They made 347 in 1959 Frank Edited May 30, 2013 by Frank L. Hughes Quote
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