1949 Chrysler Windsor

[Young Ed]

Tim I know where there is a really nice 68 valiant v8 auto factory air 2dr sedan with fresh white paint. Rust free AZ shell.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yeah...1500 miles from me...lol

[GlennCraven]

Well then it will exceed my price range and will be safe. ... That's the only thing I could think of doing with it; dropping in a big engine and making it a street machine or a drag car.

 

The Hagerty Insurance website estimates it's worth under $10K in No. 1 show-winning condition.

 

Edit: The price has already ballooned to $315.

Edited May 30, 2013 by GlennCraven

[GlennCraven]

Speaking of Darts with V8s, here's a '73 for auction that's also in my neck of the woods and started off cheap, but with an unknown reserve.

Edited May 31, 2013 by GlennCraven

[wayfarer]

...and the auction bidding is over $1500 this morning. Almost any early 70's 2-dr will bring a couple of grand even if pretty rough.

[knuckleharley]

As donor cars go, this 1974 Dart Swinger in my area (40 minutes away) looks suitable.

 

First bidder has it at $300 and there's no reserve. Supposedly a good-running 318 and it's an automatic transmission.

 

While I do have respect for all old cars, big and small, pricey and cheap, my conscience would be relatively clear if I took a '74 Swinger out of circulation. Does anyone else here think that would be a shame?

 

 

I do. That's a straight desirable car with air-conditioning that would make somebody a nice daily driver.

 

Not as nice as the same car with the slant 6 in my opinion,but I am a huge slant 6 fan.

[Plymouthy Adams]

/6 is for a person without self restraint...drive one of these puppies with the V8...hard not to punch it now and then..they will surprise you...I have had both...but am really fond of the smooth V8

Edited June 1, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[knuckleharley]

/6 is for a person without self restraint...drive one of these puppies with the V8...hard not to punch it now and then..they will surprise you...I have had both...but am really fond of the smooth V8

I had a 71 340 Duster in 72,and that was a fun car to drive,but pre-smog 340 Dusters are out of my budget range anymore.

[GlennCraven]

...and the auction bidding is over $1500 this morning. Almost any early 70's 2-dr will bring a couple of grand even if pretty rough.

 

The '74 is still at $356, though it could shoot up at the end. ... From not too far from me in Arkansas, a '74 two-door Swinger (albeit slant-six) in better shape than this 318 but missing a couple of stolen engine parts, sold on eBay last night or this morning for $610. I thought it might go up more than that in the closing minutes, too.

 

P.S. My older brother's first car was a 225 slant-six '72 Dodge Demon, dark green metallic in color though I can't seem to recall the factory name for that shade. ... Almost perfect when my dad bought it in 1980, Bill drove that car into the ground within two years. That was a shame.

Edited June 2, 2013 by GlennCraven

[GlennCraven]

Five hours left and the 318 '74 Swinger is at $610. Probably has a few more bids in her, but it will be interesting to see.

 

Meanwhile, from the guy in St. Joe, Mo., who has the repeatedly unsold (advertised as) "great"-running $150 '69 Plymouth 273 comes this: A running 318 out of a 1980 Dodge pickup for $100.

 

Edit: Final price on the '74 Swinger: $820.

Edited June 3, 2013 by GlennCraven

[GlennCraven]

OK ... still pretty zeroed-in on this 1949 Windsor ... but then this seller in Tulsa, who has been stuck sitting on this other car awhile at a seemingly reasonable $1,000, suddenly dropped his price to $500.

 

It's a 1955 DeSoto Firedome sedan. Like the Windsor, it's minus drivetrain. Otherwise mostly complete (one missing trim piece, no headlights, no grille) with, according to the seller, only "small spots" of rust in what the seller describes as otherwise "solid" floors. The one interior picture sort of looks like there might be a big hole in the passenger floorpan, but it also could easily be a towel or something lying on the floor, torn carpet or just how the picture came out.

 

The rest of the sheet metal doesn't look very rusty at all ... from pictures. But it looks a little "rippled" down both sides. Or it could just be the pictures.

 

Dash looks pretty fair, minus pad. The seller had started restoring the dash when he gave up on the project.

 

At one point I think he was planning on putting the drivetrain from a later-model Lincoln wreck in this car, because for awhile they were for sale separately for $1,000 each or as a package for $1,500. The Lincoln is now gone and the DeSoto is down to $500.

 

I've always dug DeSotos. And it's certainly an affordable asking price. But the Windsor has captured my fancy, is a coupe and condition being equal would always be "worth more," I suppose, if a feller were to sell 'er.

 

Not sure I'd be disappointed by either car. Perhaps only by not being able to have both. 

[Young Ed]

I happen to know where this one is sitting. Still has its hemi intact. There was a second one there too with hemi. I don't recall what body style that one was.

 

[Plymouthy Adams]

missing grille for a DeSota will coust as much as the car itself and that is a poor condition in need of plating...nice big rides..but am thinking a preview of available parts may be in order first..

[GlennCraven]

That's probably one of the reasons I do so much looking and am still looking. I usually want to price all the parts it will need, and the labor if I'm likely to need help on some of it, before deciding what it's worth to me. (The $250 Firebird a clear exception that proves the rule I usually live by.)

[wayfarer]

I happen to know where this one is sitting. Still has its hemi intact. There was a second one there too with hemi. I don't recall what body style that one was.

I am constantly amazed at how many good project cars still turn up.

[GlennCraven]

Is this one up with you in Minnesota, I'm guessing? ... Nice that it's a two-door.

 

There's a 331 hemi rebuilder engine with the wrong heads and missing camshaft that went unsold from my general area on eBay recently. They want $375 for it but the bidding stopped around $125.

 

 

I happen to know where this one is sitting. Still has its hemi intact. There was a second one there too with hemi. I don't recall what body style that one was.

Edited June 12, 2013 by GlennCraven

[Young Ed]

Yes both of them are in a closed salvage yard I visited a few weekends ago. I'm sure he would sell them as is or parts of them. I should have known better and gotten a picture of the front but I think the grill was still there..... I have the guys # if you want it send me a PM.

 

Is this one up with you in Minnesota, I'm guessing? ... Nice that it's a two-door.

 

There's a 331 hemi rebuilder engine with the wrong heads and missing camshaft that went unsold from my general area on eBay recently. They want $375 for it but the bidding stopped around $125.

[GlennCraven]

Holy crapoly! Somebody just listed a 1955 DeSoto grille on eBay. ... Starting price is $100. Anybody want to guess on the final price?

[knuckleharley]

It's a 1955 DeSoto Firedome sedan. Like the Windsor, it's minus drivetrain. Otherwise mostly complete (one missing trim piece, no headlights, no grille) with, according to the seller, only "small spots" of rust in what the seller describes as otherwise "solid" floors. The one interior picture sort of looks like there might be a big hole in the passenger floorpan, but it also could easily be a towel or something lying on the floor, torn carpet or just how the picture came out.

 

I've always dug DeSotos. And it's certainly an affordable asking price. But the Windsor has captured my fancy, is a coupe and condition being equal would always be "worth more," I suppose, if a feller were to sell 'er.

 

Not sure I'd be disappointed by either car. Perhaps only by not being able to have both. 

 

I can fix you up with a 56 DeSoto grille in good condition for a reasonable price,and could fix you up with a transmission and driveshaft for a even more reasonable price.  Some time in the I hope near future I can even fix you up with a core 55 291 or a 56 331 hemi engine once I figure out which one I'm keeping.

 

Be aware that everything needed to rebuild a DeSoto hemi is expensive,though.  IMHO,if you are going to restore a 2dr ht or a convertible,the expense is worth it. If your goal is to just get a 4dr driver on the road,I'd go with a 318 or 360 and 904.

 

I could even fix you up with a decent 55 DeSoto grille with nice parking lights,but there is no such thing as a reasonable price on those things.

 

BTW,looks to me like the 56 grille would fit right in place of the 55 and nobody but a DeSoto freak would even notice the difference.

[DonaldSmith]

Aw, but the 55 grille is neater, with all those teeth.

[GlennCraven]

 

I can fix you up with a 56 DeSoto grille in good condition for a reasonable price,and could fix you up with a transmission and driveshaft for a even more reasonable price.  Some time in the I hope near future I can even fix you up with a core 55 291 or a 56 331 hemi engine once I figure out which one I'm keeping.

 

Be aware that everything needed to rebuild a DeSoto hemi is expensive,though.  IMHO,if you are going to restore a 2dr ht or a convertible,the expense is worth it. If your goal is to just get a 4dr driver on the road,I'd go with a 318 or 360 and 904.

 

I could even fix you up with a decent 55 DeSoto grille with nice parking lights,but there is no such thing as a reasonable price on those things.

 

BTW,looks to me like the 56 grille would fit right in place of the 55 and nobody but a DeSoto freak would even notice the difference.

 

Definitely a 1950s Hemi would be cool, but I'm sure you're right about the cost of rebuilding one. On the engine front, the hopped-up 360 and 727 should still be available from the salvage yard owner (who wasn't really TRYING to sell them) and even paying what he wants I could get this DeSoto with 360/727 for $200 less than the price the other guy is still asking for his Windsor without a drivetrain.

 

Is the 727 a harder piece to fit into these old bodies than the 904? I saw in one thread that a 904 would "fit like a glove" in the Windsor.

 

I've also noticed and considered that the 1956 DeSoto grille would probably drop right into the 1955 opening. But as Donald says, the '55 is soooo much sweeter.

 

I agree with your restoration assessments, too. Always more value in the hardtops and convertibles, maybe with an ultra-rare exception or two. Unless a Hemi were readily available and pretty cheap for the DeSoto, an LA small block would be more feasible and reasonable.

 

The '55 DeSoto was still 6-volt, wasn't it? If so, no advantage there vs. a '49 Chrysler. Have to convert either for the V8 update.

 

Feel free to PM me your unreasonable price on the '55 grille. ... Heck, the '56 grille and other possible parts, too. Just for reference. I never need much excuse to visit my friends in the Tar Heel state. 

Edited June 14, 2013 by GlennCraven

[GlennCraven]

I visited the 1955 Firedome in Tulsa Saturday. Here's a link to my pictures on Photobucket.

 

The car is still restorable, though maybe a bit rougher than I had hoped. Also a bit rougher than the Windsor overall, albeit not by a lot.

 

Thoughts welcomed.

[Young Ed]

Its got to be easier to put a v8 where there used to be one. I would think even grill less the 55 desoto would be a good project.

[_shel_ny]

I am impressed by that dash set up. I don't believe I ever saw one like that while poking me head inside cars at the yard. Really nice.

 

Please buy that car, and repaint the wheels

Edited June 16, 2013 by shel_bizzy_48

[GlennCraven]

Its got to be easier to put a v8 where there used to be one. I would think even grill less the 55 desoto would be a good project.

 

Probably so, and there's plenty of room under the hood it seems. The guy who has it now says he and a buddy had a 350 Chevy and 350 TH transmission mocked-up in the car (actually bolted to the motor mounts at the front) and there was plenty of room.

 

But from what I can see here there's also plenty of precedent for small blocks in the 1949 Chrysler Windsor and similar, and mounting kits to make it happen.

 

 

I am impressed by that dash set up. I don't believe I ever saw one like that while poking me head inside cars at the yard. Really nice.

 

Please buy that car, and repaint the wheels

 

The dash is what draws me to both cars, really, the Windsor in particular. Other than loose leatherette on the upper portion of the Windsor, its dash is fantastic and the steering wheel is great except for one crack. Trouble with the DeSoto dash is unless I want to stick with this guy's black with white and red theme, I'll have to undo his work and get rid of that red.

 

Pardon me while I ponder for a moment (and feel free to check my logic).

 

I'd say the Windsor had better treatment by its series of owners prior to being parked, and is probably closer to roadworthy (suspension and brakes-wise) once a drivetrain is in it.

 

The Windsor is worse on rust you CAN see (the vast majority of it low at the rear, around the trunk lip and bumper), while the Firedome is worse on the rust you can't see, like in and around that headlight bucket. The floors in the Windsor are definitely better.

 

The glass in the Windsor is all good, some of it new, replaced by the current seller. The DeSoto has seriously busted glass in the driver's door and passenger door.

 

Both cars would require 12-volt conversion. That could be a particular benefit to the DeSoto, because the wiring looked a lot more cracked, bare, mouse-eaten and whatever else than the Windsor's wiring. Though 64-year-old Windsor wires certainly could be near the end of their useful life anyway, even if I found a flathead and stayed six-volt.

 

Chrome is about equally present and of equal condition in both cars, but the DeSoto's missing and damaged pieces will likely be harder and more expensive to locate and replace. The same is probably true for almost anything else that is missing or damaged that can't be replaced by some universal item.

 

I have a pretty good plan for the Windsor that I've been mulling for as long as I've known it was available. The DeSoto has me a bit stumped on what direction to go, particularly if the '55 grille becomes too elusive or expensive to obtain. Not sure I'd want to sub-out a '56 grille (which isn't exactly cheap, either) and I've tried to think of rod or custom ideas for the car with a gaping maw instead of the toothy grille, but they aren't rapidly popping to mind.

 

Advantage Windsor for being a coupe, too, far as popularity of body style goes. But I could take more friends for rides in the DeSoto. Probably every friend I have! 

 

The Windsor seller "really wants" $1,500 for it, but he's going on two months now without it getting sold and he might ready to come down. But the DeSoto is $500 and who knows, sounded like the guy might even take less. ("I'd asked $1,000 and now I'm just trying to see what I can get for it," he said.)

 

I do have a fondness for both. But it may be more anticipation and excitement for the Windsor and a sense of obligation to "save" the DeSoto. Though the younger man who has it now isn't the type to just crush it if he can't get it sold. He said he'd keep it covered and eventually restore it completely when he has more time and money.

 

But we all know how plans often go. The seller's kid's first birthday was yesterday. I've been wanting a project car since I was in college, became a dad two weeks before my senior year of college, and my son turns 25 in August with me still looking for my first project. Enough said.