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Veteran
Posts: 268
 
Location: CALIFORNIA NO RUST | does anyone know if sweptside trucks are long or shortbeds? i bought a running 57 dodge truck for 175.00 and it has no bed so i am going to make a sweptside out of it! (since i never will be able to afF**d one) any help would be great, also if anybody has a doner wagon i would be interested in it
Thanks
Jimmy |
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Location: Staffordshire, England | Hey Jimmy,
They look like long beds, they were D-100 Custom Cab pick-up chassis with 2-dr station wagon rear fenders.
They were 116" wheelbase if that's of any use to you.
Edited by Ian 2004-12-20 4:34 PM
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Location: Staffordshire, England |
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 Montys 1.JPG (77KB - 198 downloads)
Montys 2.JPG (65KB - 200 downloads)
Museum 1.JPG (89KB - 186 downloads)
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Account Suspended (Steve Hobby Alias)
Posts: 3365
Location: North West Jorsey | They came both ways. Depends on the wheel base. Been under tons of them. The 6 ft was only step side, but the 8 foot was both. Usually the sweptside was on the 200 and up. Would you believe they made a 400? |
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Location: Parts Unknown |
Original photos of these exist of versions using stock 57-8 Dodge non-wagon quarters, as well as the same off 56 Plymouths. I have seen a lot of them over the years. They were cheap and cheesy, ... just quarters tacked over stepside boxes, using the standard stepside fenders to act as fenderwells, and the tailgate has no visible relation to the sweptside design. This, in itself, would make a conversion about as simple as some bad welding, but keep in mind, the originals were finished nothing like the Cameo trucks they were trying to copy. |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | ALL 1957-1959 Dodge Sweptside trucks came ONLY in two wheel drive, long bed (116" wheelbase) and only as D-100 1/2 tons. The rear tailfins are modified 2 door wagon fenders that have 6 to 8 inches added to the front portion in order to fit the bed. They have special mounting brackets on the inside of the tailfins for mounting to the stock stepside beds that have 4 additional fender mounting holes on each side for the longer heavier fins. The inner fenders are NOT just stock stepside fenders but are a sweptside only item that is spot welded around the perimeter of the wheel well. The tailgate is a slightly modified stock stepside tailgate allowing for the tailgate handle instead of the original tailgate chains. I have owned more than a dozen of these over the past five years and still have 6 at the present time. I have completely disassembled and restored them often over that period of time. |
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Wise Old Village Idiot
Posts: 3591
Location: Dellslow, West ("By God") Virginia ! | Georgie, Porgie, kissed the girls, and made 'em horney, or something like that.
Anyway.
George, where are your from? Your forgot to list yer location when you filled out your profile section.
It helps those on the site. Who knows, the person you have been talking to might just live across town.
Thanks. |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | I updated my profile. I am currently living in Twin Falls, Idaho but was born and raised in So California. Left there in 1971. |
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | Don't follow the crowd!
Take a side road and make it a Desoto sweptside instead?
1956 Plymouth quarters instead |
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Veteran
Posts: 157
Location: Loveland, CO | "Cheesy"? Sure...I still wouldn't mind having one!!!
Chris |
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Member
Posts: 48
Location: Bismarck, ND | Better yet, make a Fargo. |
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Expert
Posts: 2473
Location: Dalveen, Queensland, Australia | Love them Fargos with the globe of the world on their badge...
Here's an Australian version of the same vintage, a van in this case, you can see how we got a different facelift to the one done in America.
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dodgepmgvan.jpg (14KB - 173 downloads)
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | I have a FARGO Sweptside (1958). Here is a link to some pictures:
http://imageevent.com/idsnowman/58fargosweptside
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Expert
Posts: 2473
Location: Dalveen, Queensland, Australia | Is that an 8 3/4" diff?
Great pics, by the way, nice to see the progress pics like that. |
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Expert
Posts: 1819
Location: Vancouver, BC |
You got the Sahara Beige (K) correct. but the red should be Cuban Red (G), if it is a Canadian 1958.
The Sahara Beige appears to be a 1958-only colour while the Cuban Red was used from 1954 to 1959. The DuPont Canada code was DUR-30, which was also used for Chrysler Canada's truck Commercial Red from 1950 to 1953 plus GM of Canada's truck Commercial Red from 1951 to 1955.
All in all, a very rare truck. with total production of 1958 Fargo trucks in Canada coming to 2,811 units. Do not know how many Fargo Sweptside trucks were built, but it was a small percentage of the total.
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Sorry for so long on the reply. Yes, it is an 8-3/4 rear. If I remember right, it is a 3.50:1 ratio.
george
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Expert
Posts: 1506
Location: Colo Spgs | Jimmy
Try going to this site and ask the truck guys the same questions: http://sweptline.org/index.php .
Rodger & Gabby
COS |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Roger....
If you are referring to the answer to the question he first posted, it was answered not long after he asked. Why do you think someone at the SWEPTLINE site would have answers about SWEPTSIDES??? They are horses of a different color.
George
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | chrysler300c - 2006-12-02 9:31 PM
Roger....
If you are referring to the answer to the question he first posted, it was answered not long after he asked. Why do you think someone at the SWEPTLINE site would have answers about SWEPTSIDES??? They are horses of a different color.
George
Hey George you ever think of making a Desoto version? to go with your fargo and Dodge versions!
I highly doubt that you would be able to find one and I have checked with Chrysler historical and they have no data on them, The one pictured above may be the only one they made or they could have made a few more? Either way like your Fargo it was an export only model and they were not sold in Canada. Hard to say were that photo was taken and this is the only one I have been able to find (I do have a front view of a regular bed 57 Desoto truck from Mexico)
The tailgate would need to be made or accquired from a foriegn market Desoto truck.
The quarters are 1956 Plymouth wagon and can be found.
Do you see anything else that is different from the standard Sweptside modifications? other than the dual bed mounted offroad tires?
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 306
| Nice album George, it's really exciting to see one being saved like this. |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Thanks for the compliment. We recently tracked down the 5th Fargo Sweptside that we had heard about but it is not for sale. Here are a couple pictures of a friends 57 SS that is going to auction in Scottsdale in January at the Russo & Steele auction.
http://imageevent.com/idsnowman/57sweptside
Not original colors or equipped, however a very exceptional Sweptside will be in somebody's garage after January.
George
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Lee....
I haven't ever thought of creating a SS but a Desoto SS sounds interesting. I ran into a guy about two years ago looking for parts for one that he said his client owned..... I never was provided a picture of it, so I have no way of verifying its existence. Your picture is the only one I have ever seen too. Check out the 57 SS that is going to auction in Jan at the Russo & Steele auction in Scottsdale. It is being done by a friend of mine in Tempe.
http://imageevent.com/idsnowman/57sweptside
George
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | Thats the first time I have ever heard of anybody claming to own a Desoto Sweptside.
I have people asking me all of the time where they can get one after they see the picture on my website. I tell them good luck and look real hard if they go on vacation outside the country.
I would love to see one be created. And if anyone had the ability and knowledge to pull it off I think you would. There is a guy here local with a couple of 56 Plymouth 2-door wagon parts/project cars I can get you in contact with if needed? |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Lee...
I think I would just rather have a genuine UTE with the 56 plymouth tailfins on it.... kind of like a predecessor to the ranchero but with real tailfins. I think the only think that would hold me back on a UTE would be the right hand drive. There is supposed to be one at DVAP in Arizona but I haven't been there to check it out.
George
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | This AP1 ute is in Colorado and is priced fair (considering what it costs to import them) but it has been modified with a aussie 6 cylinder hemi and floor mounted shift.
It is priced at $13K (I am asking 15K for my Plymouth)
http://www.classicalgasstation.com/1733a.htm
Use the link above to see more of it.
Driving the right hand drive car is not that bad once you get past the urge to climb in the wrong side of the car the rest is pretty easy. Granted since mine are stick shift cars with no turn signals (Kangaroos did not care what way you were going) it can get tricky turning a corner, shifting with your left and tossing a reversed hand signal with your right. My daughter loves to ride with me and do the hand signals but the Desoto will be restored with turn signals added.
Lee |
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Expert
Posts: 2473
Location: Dalveen, Queensland, Australia | Hmmm... the engine is a 'Hemi' six, however. Not used until 12 years later! |
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Expert ,, George Passed away July 28th 2021, He will be Missed
Posts: 1295
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Lee...
I suppose a guy to replace the dashboard with another from some (???) year mopar and make it a left hand drive.... then put some 56 Fury side trim on it..... it would make a very cool streetrod. Of course, it would need a hemi in it to round it out!
George
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | Ray Bell - 2006-12-06 10:01 PM
Hmmm... the engine is a 'Hemi' six, however. Not used until 12 years later!
Yeah the seller does not quite tell people that it has the wrong engine!
He is also off on some other information but most yanks would not have a clue!
The basic body is a 1954 Plymouth so that would be the best fit for a left hand dash? But the right hand drive gives it standout appeal
Gotta keep the forward look hubcaps on it! |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | That ute is too cool.
Would make a great looking mild kustom.
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59ute.jpg (71KB - 186 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | The Chrysler wires are a nice touch.
Plus the lowering, but isn't that 56 Chebby side trim?
Still looks good! |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | Yeah, '56 Nomad to be precise (the "up" sweep to the trim faces forward instead of back).
And if that makes ya mad, here's one with reversed '58 Fairlane trim.
I like the late '50s custom style, using trim from other cars and paint for a simple, clean look.
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59ute2.jpg (67KB - 189 downloads)
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Expert
Posts: 2473
Location: Dalveen, Queensland, Australia | Nahh... the blue would show the red dust too badly... |
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Expert
Posts: 3967
Location: DFW, TX | hahahaaaa
Guess I'll have to paint it Tahitian Red then...
You "criminals" crack me up. |
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Expert
Posts: 1357
Location: Iowa USA | Nah, it don't make me mad!
I never really cared for the whole 56 Chebby look.
The fairlane trim looks better.
Here is the 4 door sedan mild custom with the deluxe trim (the ute has base trim) kind of a cross between a 57 Desoto and 56 Dodge trim?
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Expert
Posts: 4533
Location: Ripon, WI | Dang... those are some cool cars you don't see every day... Bet you would get some odd looks with one of them at a show... |
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Location: The Mile High City | Here is an interesting conversion: http://www.hothemiheads.com/hemi_info/hemi_projects/hemi_project_62.html |
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Expert
Posts: 1267
Location: San Antonio TX | That is cool! Are there any bigger pics? The only thing I would have done different is to redo the bottom of the bed rockers to better match the shape of the cab. Might have redone the tailgate too; instead of the stock Dodge tailgate, I would have used the rear part of the trunk lid to match the fins and have the license plate in the tailgate. 
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Sweptside trucks
