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Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion	Message format

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2014-05-26 4:09 PM (#442333 - in reply to #442320)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: Parts Unknown

Good question/s.

I am no wagonista/expert, but here are a few observations about them across the board:

All wagons used the same body. Differences were in frames (different wheelbases), nose
clips, and side trim.

Were the bumpers the same across the board ?

DeSoto had side trim, even if one ordered a bare bones stripper. I believe Dodge did too (?)

So, in stock form, those two are ruled out.

The Plymouths could be had with no side trim, but Chryslers are so rare that I am unaware of
whether or not they could be had sans side trim. Plymouth carried their wagon badging high on
the fin like on the rest of the cars, but NY'er carried the badge on the lower fender. I am unsure
where Windsor carried it on the wagons, but the rest of the cars had it up high on the fin.

I suspect the dragstrip crowd to be highly prone to removing trim and badging, being car guys,
so this photo may be misleading.

I hope more people gravitate towards saving and documenting the strippers. They are pretty cool.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2014-05-26 4:11 PM (#442334 - in reply to #442333)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: Parts Unknown

I should add that the above observations are in reference to 57 - 58 cars only. 59, while similar
in some regards, had some cars changed a lot. The 59 Plymouth being a strong example of this.

d500neil

Posted 2014-06-04 3:11 PM (#443750 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000

Location: bishop, ca

Back on the middle-lower of Page 10 of this thread is Life Magazine's famous article on drag racing in L.A. .

Coincidentally, today (6/4/14), the L.A. Times ran a nice article on TV Tommy Ivo, who ran Chrysler engines
in 57 and in the mid-on 60's, and on the drag race scene in the 50's.

Note how the cops were not inherently adversarial to the racers, initially.

(6. SR ----- 1957 - Ugly T roadster - to stop protesting ----- They protested Ivo's nice T for no fenders etc. So he built this 1925 T, as ugly as possible. Note the fox tails, mud flaps and ax..jpg)

(13. 1962 to 64 - First fuel dragster - world record'sThe Barnstormer.This dragster was the first to brake the 7 second barrier and run 190 mph.It went to England with Garlits in1964..jpg)

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6. SR ----- 1957 - Ugly T roadster - to stop protesting ----- They protested Ivo's nice T for no fenders etc. So he built this 1925 T, as ugly as possible. Note the fox tails, mud flaps and ax..jpg (97KB - 505 downloads)
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13. 1962 to 64 - First fuel dragster - world record'sThe Barnstormer.This dragster was the first to brake the 7 second barrier and run 190 mph.It went to England with Garlits in1964..jpg (159KB - 799 downloads)
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The Chrysler Kid

Posted 2014-06-04 3:37 PM (#443755 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

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Location: Ocala, Florida

Heres another screenshot of the stripper wagon used in the Misfits.

(Misfits0028.jpg)

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d500neil

Posted 2014-06-04 5:45 PM (#443776 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

LOL; the observer, in that other photo, is standing in front of the 'distinctive-trimmed' C-pillar, and the dragster is hiding the view of the
wheel cover.

That leaves 'us' with the lack of a quarter panel nameplate, and the general appearance of the end of the rear bumper.

jpmopar

Posted 2014-06-04 9:21 PM (#443799 - in reply to #443776)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Extreme Veteran

Posts: 468
100

Location: Southwest VA

Some friends of mine own a body shop that was first started by their late father in 1958. He used to drag race a '56 D-500 up until the mid 60's. The sons still own the car and they are about to begin a full restoration on it. Hanging on the wall in their office is this cool shot of the D-500 back in the mid 60's in all of it's racing glory. (Sorry for the poor quality of the photo but I was taking a picture of a framed photo..)

Jim

Edited by jpmopar 2014-06-05 1:38 AM

(D500.jpg)

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d500neil

Posted 2014-06-05 1:05 AM (#443822 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

THAT is one strange car (as-is!).

The grille and 2-door Club Coupe body can only be for a Coronet, and yet someone went to the trouble to install the Custom Royal
head light bezels and side trim on it (while de-trimming the hood area on it) and with the Custom Royal paint scheme, too.

The flags ornament looks like the Texan nameplate?

the photo was taken in the mid+ 60's, because "The Dodge Boys" slogan (check the decal on the hood) probably showed up around 1965?

Also, the drag technology, of dynamic weight transfer was well recognised at the time the photo was taken, and those are serious drag slicks
that its wearing, too.

All it lacks are Cragar mags, up front.

The clothing and hair styles are 1964+.

When was STP founded? [Well, thanks to the intra-web, STP Corp was founded in 1953, but, when was its iconic "STP" logo
created?]

Hope that the sons join this website!

Edited by d500neil 2014-06-05 1:13 AM

jpmopar

Posted 2014-06-05 1:31 AM (#443824 - in reply to #443822)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Extreme Veteran

Posts: 468
100

Location: Southwest VA

I'll ask the sons about the bezels and trim on this car. It's sitting there in the shop with a cover on it - disassembled and stripped of paint but everything is all there! They even have a factory aluminum 2X4 intake that their dad purchased from Richard Petty back in the 60's.

Jim

(1733878 Intake.JPG)

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jpmopar

Posted 2014-06-05 1:34 AM (#443825 - in reply to #443824)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Extreme Veteran

Posts: 468
100

Location: Southwest VA

Here's the ID plate from their '56 D500...

Jim

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longram60

Posted 2014-06-05 4:28 AM (#443832 - in reply to #443799)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Veteran

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Location: Dunnellon, FL

jpmopar - 2014-06-04 8:21 PM

they are about to begin a full restoration on it.
Jim

Neat car. Is he restoring it stock or to the racing version?

hemidave

Posted 2014-06-05 11:29 AM (#443851 - in reply to #443799)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
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jpmopar - 2014-06-04 9:21 PM

Some friends of mine own a body shop that was first started by their late father in 1958. He used to drag race a '56 D-500 up until the mid 60's. The sons still own the car and they are about to begin a full restoration on it. Hanging on the wall in their office is this cool shot of the D-500 back in the mid 60's in all of it's racing glory. (Sorry for the poor quality of the photo but I was taking a picture of a framed photo..)

Jim

Great picture Jim, Thanks for posting it and the story!

d500neil

Posted 2014-06-05 7:25 PM (#443888 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

Ok; the P/T plate is a wealth of not-much-information (which may well be consistent with the ordering of a stripper/race car).

What's there, is this, regarding a Coronet V/8 model 2-door sedan:

Built EARLY in the D500 program: o.o.a. 1/30/56, with the D500's production being intra-company introduced on 12/22/55, and publicly
introduced on 1/3/56.

The D500 models were initially intended to have single 4-bbl carbs, but Dodge quickly arranged for Kiekaefer to produce a dual 4-bbl FULL-RACE
intake aluminum manifold, which specifications were verbally presented to Bill France, on 1/9/56, and formally submitted, for NASCAR approval,
on 1/12/56.

For perspective, the Daytona Speed Weeks occurred around 2/22/56, the deadline for about 20 (max-intended) dualie-carb-cars to
have reported, at Daytona, for certification and "sealing" purposes.

Kiekaefer had promised the delivery of those 20 intakes to Dodge by 2/15/56, and it was internally suggested that those intakes be air-freighted to
Volusia Motors, their official distributor, in Daytona Beach.

Initially, there were 15 intakes that had designated recipients (for Daytona application, apparently).

The suggested retail value of the intake was "about $110.00", for four extra intakes that were to be made, in addition to the initial 15 units, and
which would be "consigned" to Corp. Executive Danny Eames, who would, then 'distribute' them to a(ny) dealer who took in an order to
sell one of them.

The initial 15 intakes may have been provided free of charge to the recipients.

On 1/12/56, the retail price of the "Double Four-Barrel Carburetor Group" was officially established at $425.50---NOT cheap.

So, the purchase history of that car's intake manifold would be very interesting to confirm.

It is possible that this car's aluminum "Kiekaefer"-designed intake manifold was purchased as one of the "claimed" about 100-total production run
of those intakes.

Presently, No official records appear to exist for their production (but....maybe not; stay tuned).

There were other sub-options available, including Chassis Parts Group, rear axle, tires and wheels.

Anyway, in Re: that car, it received some sort of non-identifiable "Special" paint scheme ('99')...which might have something to do with its present
paint scheme....or maybe not.

Before the car body is stripped for re-painting, its OEM paint colors should be well documented, because neither its Broadcast Sheet nor its
IBM Build Card will confirm precisely what its "99" paint code might have referenced.

The interior 'trim' motif is Black/White.

And, again, that is a VERY non-friendly 'street' intake manifold; no heat cross-over and all 8 barrels designed to work together,
not progressively.

Edited by d500neil 2014-06-05 8:15 PM

hemidave

Posted 2014-06-15 4:56 PM (#445241 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

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Pikes Peak The De Soto might be doing a photo shoot, not actually racing.....

Edited by hemidave 2014-06-15 5:01 PM

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d500neil

Posted 2014-07-13 9:58 PM (#449012 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

For anyone inclined to such things as reading about about racing, the 5/66 Rod & Custom has some good
articles about 50's Hemi drag racing (and slot car racing, too).

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Ray Bell

Posted 2014-07-14 2:36 AM (#449037 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 2482
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Location: Dalveen, Queensland, Australia

Heh!

The petty cost of Indy back then would be an appropriate comment!

d500neil

Posted 2014-07-14 3:04 AM (#449038 - in reply to #449037)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

Multiply the prices/costs by a factor of 10 to convert to 2014 values....

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hemidave

Posted 2014-07-14 2:41 PM (#449080 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
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Drag Strip 1960's

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flattie45

Posted 2014-08-01 3:58 AM (#451210 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Veteran

Posts: 195
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Location: Dorset, England

Hotrod Hayride Dirt Oval, England 2014.

photo 10527352_843726148973630_2867082690570827539_n_zps24cfbafc.jpg

d500neil

Posted 2014-08-01 12:09 PM (#451251 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

BOY, remove that whatevermobile from the photo and Suddenly, it's 1960!

(Dunno about the car's license plate's vintage status).

Edited by d500neil 2014-08-01 12:10 PM

flattie45

Posted 2014-08-05 7:37 AM (#451687 - in reply to #451251)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Veteran

Posts: 195
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Location: Dorset, England

Here's another, this time my son Tim was driving. Neal Reed photo.

photo 10527355_10152644845134257_4750189877340152366_n_zps8d41317f.jpg

hemidave

Posted 2014-08-12 11:51 PM (#452699 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
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San Juan Motors

(10458642_722295651140581_6529466815482692323_n.jpg)

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Ray Bell

Posted 2014-08-13 3:40 AM (#452720 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 2482
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Location: Dalveen, Queensland, Australia

Is that a race car or merely a promotional model?

flattie45

Posted 2014-09-07 4:43 AM (#455458 - in reply to #452720)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Veteran

Posts: 195
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Location: Dorset, England

Couple more from this year's Hayride

hemidave

Posted 2014-09-12 5:07 PM (#456093 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
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FWLK drag cars

(10644900_1454847198119888_2709711976191172164_n.jpg)

(Davis_1.jpg)

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d500neil

Posted 2014-09-12 5:29 PM (#456096 - in reply to #456093)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

BOY, gotta believe that that 59 PLY would have a better power:weight advantage over that 60 Matador, if both run in D/Stock Automatic.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2014-09-13 12:02 AM (#456125 - in reply to #456093)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: Parts Unknown

Would it ? The 60 Unibody cars lost a LOT of weight from the previous body-on-frame cars. I am
pretty sure a ram-inducted 383 or 413 would smoke anything available in 59 as well.

d500neil

Posted 2014-09-13 12:38 AM (#456127 - in reply to #456125)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
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Location: bishop, ca

Let's rock.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2014-09-13 1:55 AM (#456129 - in reply to #456127)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: Parts Unknown

d500neil - 2014-09-13 9:38 PM

Let's rock.

=============================

That was random !

I am just asking, .... what does a 59 Plymouth 2HT weigh vs. a 60 Dodge sedan ?

What were the possible powerplant options for each ?

I know a 60 Dodge could get a ram inducted 383 as factory. What could a 59 Plymouth get ... a 361 with inline dual 4's ?

MOPAR-TO-YA

Posted 2014-09-13 3:32 AM (#456131 - in reply to #443822)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert 5K+

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Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA

d500neil - 2014-06-05 12:05 AM

THAT is one strange car (as-is!).

The grille and 2-door Club Coupe body can only be for a Coronet, and yet someone went to the trouble to install the Custom Royal
head light bezels and side trim on it (while de-trimming the hood area on it) and with the Custom Royal paint scheme, too.

The flags ornament looks like the Texan nameplate?

the photo was taken in the mid+ 60's, because "The Dodge Boys" slogan (check the decal on the hood) probably showed up around 1965?

Also, the drag technology, of dynamic weight transfer was well recognised at the time the photo was taken, and those are serious drag slicks
that its wearing, too.

All it lacks are Cragar mags, up front.

The clothing and hair styles are 1964+.

When was STP founded? [Well, thanks to the intra-web, STP Corp was founded in 1953, but, when was its iconic "STP" logo
created?]

Hope that the sons join this website!

Those headlight bezels are for a 1956 Chrysler New Yorker..
Possibly Dodge used them in one of their trim lines?..........MO

60 dart

Posted 2014-09-13 4:23 AM (#456134 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert 5K+ Passed away 30th Sept 2024. You will be missed Chuck!

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Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA

if you go by max weight of the 59 ply v 60 dod , the dodge is exactly 200 lbs. more or 180 more by light weight----------------------------------------later

mopark

Posted 2014-09-13 6:09 AM (#456140 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: St George Queensland Australia

I'd like to answer some of the questions regarding the chrysler stripper wagon! that was discussed a few posts back! The station wagon in the photo's is in my opinion 57' 58'or 59' chrysler or desoto body because the roof gutter runs down the front of the c pillar and down the back of the c pillar, where dodge and plymouth wagons don't. On dodges and plymouths the roof gutter goes from the front around the car continuosly to the front again! This wagon also appears to have polished stainless gutter moulding which i think the base chryslers and desoto's wagons didn't. As far as i know all the station wagon rear bumpers are the same except for the 59' plymouth which is not notched to give clearance for the lower rear taillight body bulge!

hemidave

Posted 2014-09-17 6:14 PM (#456607 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
2000

New England Dragway Hot Rod Reunion 2014

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hemidave

Posted 2015-01-28 11:47 PM (#468871 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
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A few FWLKs in action or ready for action

Edited by hemidave 2015-01-28 11:53 PM

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60 Imp

Posted 2015-01-30 4:58 AM (#468948 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: North Australia

The pic of the Adventurer 'Ín Action" is very cool

Looks like a nicely optioned car too.

Steve

B/G 61

Posted 2015-02-14 10:09 AM (#470038 - in reply to #468948)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 2612
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Location: Parts Unknown

T.H.

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hemidave

Posted 2015-02-26 6:11 PM (#471063 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
2000

Michigan Madman

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hemidave

Posted 2015-03-09 9:34 AM (#472057 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert

Posts: 4654
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Heidelberg Raceway in PA

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Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-09 7:22 PM (#472088 - in reply to #472057)
Subject: RE: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

I hope ForwardLook trucks count as well???

Edited by Hyfire 2015-03-09 7:25 PM

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d500neil

Posted 2015-03-09 9:43 PM (#472107 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000

Location: bishop, ca

NONE OTHER...than Mister Norm Thatcher, to the rest of you plebians out there.

"And when you speak of him, speak well" [Crash Davis; Bull Durham].

Edited by d500neil 2015-03-09 9:46 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2015-03-09 10:13 PM (#472108 - in reply to #472107)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Location: Parts Unknown

So, let's get this straight ....

Norm Thatcher, Dodge truck, wire wheels, all back "in the day".

Some here would find old Norm in very bad form on this one.

Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-10 4:34 PM (#472155 - in reply to #455458)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

flattie45 - 2014-09-07 1:43 AM Couple more from this year's Hayride

Absolutely love that car. I always dismissed these Dodges, but have fallen in love with them over the last couple years. Perfect!

Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-10 4:43 PM (#472156 - in reply to #472155)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Another one of Mr. Thatcher's ForwardLook cars. I would have to say Norm's 300D is my personal favorite, but his '60 Dodge is a VERY CLOSE second. Neil... think we could locate this car???

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Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-10 5:10 PM (#472160 - in reply to #472156)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

The '58 D. Notice the wax applied to the front of the body in the second photo. To squeeze just a little more aerodynamics out of the least aerodynamic 1958 model available.

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d500neil

Posted 2015-03-10 6:06 PM (#472164 - in reply to #472160)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000

Location: bishop, ca

Josh, all we have for Mr. Thatcher, at this late date is Norm's (estate's) website:

http://normthatcher.com/

Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-10 7:51 PM (#472176 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Hey Neil, Actually that's my site. Someday I plan on posting everything I have. The family was nice enough to give me access to all Norm's personal papers and photos. Also, I've collected tons of additional stuff as well.

So Neil... The 1960 Dodge Dart Phoenix above. Can you tell if it is a D-500 or not? I was told it was, but don't know. All Norm's racecars were factory built with the largest engines available, manual steering, manual brakes. I think this is his only car that wasn't specially built for him. I say that because it doesn't have a radio, and Norm insisted on radios in all his race cars, not for music, but to make them look even more like street cars.

Did D-500s have external badges this year??? Ontop of the front fenders, are those stock or modified trim parts?

Edited by Hyfire 2015-03-10 8:12 PM

d500neil

Posted 2015-03-11 1:57 AM (#472194 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil!

Posts: 19146
5000

Location: bishop, ca

Josh, if we're talking 1960, yeah, there was one D500 emblem on each car, with the emblem being installed
on the passenger's side of the trunk, just like the 57 models.

That emblem's installation/location was the only way to confirm a D500 model, without opening the hood.

But, then, there is always the factory's build codings on each car and engine...but they can be hard to see....

If you've got Norm's file records, we should be able to confirm the engine numbers on the car(s).

You might, even, be able to sweet-talk certain Corp insider(s) into providing us with some basic info
on Norm's cars, based upon facory VIN's etc. on record.

60 dart

Posted 2015-03-11 4:01 AM (#472201 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

Expert 5K+ Passed away 30th Sept 2024. You will be missed Chuck!

Posts: 8954
5000

Location: WHEELING,WV.>>>HOME OF WWVA

the correct D500 emblem side for all 60 dodge D500's --------------------------------------------------later

Edited by 60 dart 2015-03-11 4:04 AM

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Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-11 7:27 PM (#472251 - in reply to #178862)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

I'm at a loss... I have no photos of the rear. Got one of the engine compartment (not stock), but can't coax and info from it.

Hyfire

Posted 2015-03-12 2:56 PM (#472320 - in reply to #472251)
Subject: Re: Cruisin's cool but who goes RACIN!?!?!?!

A later 1961 Dodge (tail end of the "Forwardlook"). This car just didnt have the weight or mass for land speed racing. It started getting a little nutty at high speeds. 125MPH was about the fastest this little car ran at El Mirage Dry Lakes before it was decided to re-run the big 1960 Dodge Dart one more year instead. Gene Cadenhead is shown standing beside it.

Norm had no interest in racing such a small car, but Chrysler was making an effort to improve the performance image of small cars and pushed Norm into this model.

(Last picture, I promiss)

Edited by Hyfire 2015-03-12 3:06 PM