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1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode
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The Chrysler Kid
Posted 2015-04-16 10:14 PM (#475733)
Subject: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



Expert

Posts: 1384
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Location: Ocala, Florida
We are considering buying this car. Can someone decode the plate. The exterior is a sort of coral and black yet it has a green interior. Just want to see what is original.

Thanks,

Randy.

Edited by The Chrysler Kid 2015-04-17 2:36 PM




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LD3 Greg
Posted 2015-04-16 11:47 PM (#475740 - in reply to #475733)
Subject: RE: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode


Expert

Posts: 1906
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Location: Ontario, Canada
It is a nicely optioned Royal 4 dr HT. A charcoal metallic roof, fins and lower with a tropical coral saddle. IMO, a dynamite colour combination. WOW, go for it!!!

Neil will likely provide a whole lot more info.

Greg
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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-17 1:06 AM (#475746 - in reply to #475740)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



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

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Thanks, Greg!

A most-interesting thing is that this ride has EITHER the manual-tune ("Velvetone") radio, OR...the big-dog
Signal-seeking radio system!

Given that it has all of the available Accessory Groups...with the exception of the standard 'push-button' radio,
(which would have, otherwise, been included within the push-button radio Accessory Group, then, the Sig-Seeker radio
probably WAS included, but as an individually-available option, which existence is, unfortunately, not expressly
confirmed on the P/t plate.

It, also, has the plain wheel covers, instead of the optional 'Spinner' wheel covers.

Can't read its TRM code, but it's probably: "117": gold/black Royal.

The Royal hard tops have the prettiest interiors of all the 57 Dodges, IMHO.

Your car's Broadcast Sheet and IBM Build card will confirm all of the rest of your car's many other
options and accessories...and tire size/type and rear end gear ratio.

Good stuff!

It's of very early build (o.o.a. 10/10/56) which is/was not, necessarily, a good thing, owing to the assembly line workers' prolonged
learning curve, on its unique, complex new-for-1957 body structure.)

Does it have the low-profile front end stainless steel trim caps, or does it have the pot metal 'crowns' on its
forward edges?

It was NOT transported to its selling dealership, via the usual "Truck" delivery Route, so, there's a bit of
a present mystery.

Its got tinted and shaded glass.

Power seat...sweet!...I've got a spare driver's side OEM power seat housing..complete with its vinyl skirting.

This piece (plastic-) is a lot heavier-duty than is the current modern Swedish re-pop assembly.

And, power brakes; power steering is not, expressly, confirmed on the P/T plate.

Its BDY code looks like 2179, which is the Royal 4-door hardtop.

There were fewer Royal 4-dr HT's than any other 1957 Dodge car model, like, 8,824 built, out of 134, 861 total M.Y. domestic
production....so, that is a RARE survivor.


Edited by d500neil 2015-04-17 1:08 AM
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The Chrysler Kid
Posted 2015-04-17 3:00 PM (#475787 - in reply to #475733)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



Expert

Posts: 1384
1000100100100252525
Location: Ocala, Florida
We will find out soon! Thank you you for your help! The deal went through. She's coming to Florida all the way from Iowa! Lucy will be getting a friend.
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The Chrysler Kid
Posted 2015-04-17 3:16 PM (#475788 - in reply to #475733)
Subject: RE: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



Expert

Posts: 1384
1000100100100252525
Location: Ocala, Florida
Here she is in Iowa. Going to be put back in the coral and charcoal. Supposedly it has seat covers that have been on since 1957! Can't wait to get under there. After Lucy's done this ones tear down will start. Should be here in two weeks. It has plaid door panels. Is that correct?

Edited by The Chrysler Kid 2015-04-17 5:02 PM




(image.jpg)



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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-17 5:56 PM (#475805 - in reply to #475788)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



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

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
It should look something like this..in fact, it may be identical to this Royal cloth/vinyl.

The 57 Royal HT cloth is my favorite colors/patterns.

The name of this Royal cloth and vinyl motif is: " Linear Lucidity".

Gotta love it!





Edited by d500neil 2015-04-17 6:00 PM




(1265t.jpg)



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The Chrysler Kid
Posted 2015-04-17 8:20 PM (#475817 - in reply to #475788)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



Expert

Posts: 1384
1000100100100252525
Location: Ocala, Florida
That's the interior.
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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-18 1:08 AM (#475845 - in reply to #475817)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



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

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Then, SMS should have your interior material in-stock, in bulk supply.

Your shop can custom cut/fit the SMS material to fit your car.

Door panels can take a while to create, at SMS, however.

What is the condition of your car's headliner, and sunvisors?


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The Chrysler Kid
Posted 2015-04-18 1:08 PM (#475885 - in reply to #475845)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



Expert

Posts: 1384
1000100100100252525
Location: Ocala, Florida
I have not seen this car in person yet so we haven't been able to inspect this closely. The door panels and seats are so nice and original I don't think we will redo them. I'll post some pictures of everything up close when it arrives Thursday/Friday. It is missing a piece of stainless on the rear drivers side door panel. Will this be impossible to find? Is it Royal specific?
Thanks again for your help.
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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-19 3:42 AM (#475934 - in reply to #475885)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



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

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
No.....Any exterior trim will NOT be difficult to find, or to polish/restore, etcetcetc..

Hopefully, the Unobtanium stuff (like headliner panels and sunvisors and color-coordinated rubber floor
mats) are still present and in good condition, and, also, the OEM rubber trunk mat, too.

Your ride might have (-had) the optional (on Royal models) "carpeting", instead of the standard equipment
"colored rubber floor mats"; we'll see about that, too.

I tell ya, your car's equipment and color scheme is exciting me; especially in Re: her physical
condition, for a 4-door HT model.

It would be a long time from now, but you/your shop SHOULD be able to create door and window structures that
are both firmly and solidly shut-able, and aligned, without rattles or leakages, but, also (why not?) you should consider
getting from Big M, on this site, a complete Power Window System, too....to augment your frustration and
anxiety in dialing in the correct operation and fitment OF the doors and windows!

Right now, the doors and windows look to be properly aligned, but, you are (will be) trying to obtain "bank vault"
like operation of them....THAT'S where your ultimate restoration satisfaction will present itself.

Also, when the time comes, your mechanical shop can re-grind the camshaft, and can re-curve the
distributor, and install a 4-bbl carb/dual exhausts (if they're not there, already)....and, maybe, install a
3-deuce intake.

Your ride probably has the OEM 3.36:1 rear-gear, but for quietness and smoothness (and economy) of operation, you
probably should find and install the 2.93:1 gearset.



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d500neil
Posted 2015-04-19 2:34 PM (#475989 - in reply to #475934)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



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

Posts: 19146
5000500050002000200010025
Location: bishop, ca
Randy's, job number-1....on your car's restoration, will be the evaluation and perfection of its door closure systems; and how
well the windows move and seal against the body.

Look for any evidence of leakages.

One trick is to apply talcum powder to the weatherstrips, close the doors, and check for the presence of residual
powder, which would indicate that the door(s)' weatherstripping is NOT in contact with the body.

Weatherstripping and rubber and fuzzy seals are available.

If the doors' alignments look good (and they DO, in the pics) you might leave the doors' alignments alone, but, first, you need
to remove the driver's side front door latch, to confirm that its (HIDDEN-from-view) LOWER star-wheel
lock is not badly worn.

These pics show the HIDDEN damage that can exist on the LOWER door latch...the wear/tear that is only
visible until when the latch is removed (or, when the latch assembly fails).

The first pic shows what you can SEE...of the visible upper star gear.

The next two show what can happen to the lower star gear...from years of door operation....and
without you having much pre-awareness of the defective condition of the door latch.






Edited by d500neil 2015-04-19 3:48 PM




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The Chrysler Kid
Posted 2015-05-08 4:13 PM (#477721 - in reply to #475934)
Subject: Re: 1957 Dodge four door hardtop decode



Expert

Posts: 1384
1000100100100252525
Location: Ocala, Florida
d500neil - 2015-04-19 3:42 AM

No.....Any exterior trim will NOT be difficult to find, or to polish/restore, etcetcetc..

Hopefully, the Unobtanium stuff (like headliner panels and sunvisors and color-coordinated rubber floor
mats) are still present and in good condition, and, also, the OEM rubber trunk mat, too.

Your ride might have (-had) the optional (on Royal models) "carpeting", instead of the standard equipment
"colored rubber floor mats"; we'll see about that, too.

I tell ya, your car's equipment and color scheme is exciting me; especially in Re: her physical
condition, for a 4-door HT model.

It would be a long time from now, but you/your shop SHOULD be able to create door and window structures that
are both firmly and solidly shut-able, and aligned, without rattles or leakages, but, also (why not?) you should consider
getting from Big M, on this site, a complete Power Window System, too....to augment your frustration and
anxiety in dialing in the correct operation and fitment OF the doors and windows!

Right now, the doors and windows look to be properly aligned, but, you are (will be) trying to obtain "bank vault"
like operation of them....THAT'S where your ultimate restoration satisfaction will present itself.

Also, when the time comes, your mechanical shop can re-grind the camshaft, and can re-curve the
distributor, and install a 4-bbl carb/dual exhausts (if they're not there, already)....and, maybe, install a
3-deuce intake.

Your ride probably has the OEM 3.36:1 rear-gear, but for quietness and smoothness (and economy) of operation, you
probably should find and install the 2.93:1 gearset.





It will arrive (finally) next week after many ups and downs with the shippers. I think we will do power windows. Hopefully not too many things have been hidden. It will get a full frame off like the Plaza. The colors are what made the deal. Arent they too cool? It does as I have seen from the photos a solid trunk floor. Which is amazing. Apparently all the doors shut nicely and the windows crank well. We will see though. Thanks again for all your help. I will get plenty of good photos when it arrives and start a thread in the members ride section.
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