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"Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s
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LostDeere59
Posted 2017-11-24 2:54 PM (#553044)
Subject: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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OK, I've read and read, and while I have a general idea can someone give me a summary of what both a "Spring Special" and "D-500" are?

My impression is the "Spring Special" was a trim design deviation, and the D-500 was a hi-performance package.

I know, I know, it's a newbie question . . .



Gregg
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mstrug
Posted 2017-11-24 3:05 PM (#553045 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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You talking 58 Dodge or what?
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Powerflite
Posted 2017-11-24 3:26 PM (#553047 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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Spring special was a sales event that all the makes held beginning in the spring of 1958 to try and boost the poor sales of that year. They created special colors and trim that they used to try and entice people to come into the showroom to purchase a new vehicle. They made similar spring special models for other years too, but it wasn't as widespread as in '58.

D500 is a Dodge model unto itself that was oriented for higher performance that lasted from '56-'61. It consisted of the best Dodge motor available for that year, suspension? & brake? upgrades (I am not an expert on what all came with it). Super D500 was the same thing, but with dual quads (But it was called the D500-1 in '56 only). There was another Dodge D500 as well, but it was a large 2 ton truck.

Edited by Powerflite 2017-11-24 3:29 PM
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56D500boy
Posted 2017-11-24 4:29 PM (#553055 - in reply to #553047)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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Powerflite - 2017-11-24 3:26 PM
D500 is a Dodge model unto itself that was oriented for higher performance that lasted from '56-'61. It consisted of the best Dodge motor available for that year, suspension? & brake? upgrades (I am not an expert on what all came with it). Super D500 was the same thing, but with dual quads (But it was called the D500-1 in '56 only). There was another Dodge D500 as well, but it was a large 2 ton truck.


I will just add that in 1956 and 1957 the D-500 engines were Dodge hemis. In 1956 (like mine), it was a 315 cu in hemi with solid lifters and a four barrel with factory dual exhaust (260 hp). For 1957 it was a 285hp 325 cu in hemi, 4 bbl, dual exhaust and hydraulic lifters.

In 1958 the D-500 engine was B-block 361 cu in. The 1959 D-500s were based on the 383 cu in engine.

As Nathan suggested there were always even more hp available if you went for the two four barrel option, e.g. D-500-1 or Super D-500 depending on the year.

Engines for the 1957-1959 Dodge D-500:

Type Size Horsepower* Years
ohv V-8 325 cid 285/310 1957
ohv V-8 354 cid 340 1957 (this is the D-501 which used left-over Chrysler 300B engines (correct me as needed)
ohv V-8 361 cid 320/333 1958
ohv V-8 383 cid 320/345 1959

* higher number = 2 x 4 bbl carbs

REFERENCE: https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1957-1959-dodge-d-500.htm

1959 D-500 Super D-500 383 two 4 bbl engine:

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Lancer Mike
Posted 2017-11-24 11:38 PM (#553081 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: RE: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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LostDeere59 - 2017-11-24 12:54 PM

My impression is the "Spring Special" was a trim design deviation, and the D-500 was a hi-performance package.

Gregg


Gregg, I am not going with "design deviation" ! It was the penultimate trim upgrade. We have got to be talking 1958 Dodge now.
I would add that some Spring Specials were factory coded as such. Others were created by the dealerships to warm up some of the cars that had been sitting on the lots for months. The dealer-created Spring Specials were interesting because the could employ all, some, or just one of the Spring Special trim components. In addition, they might go on different paint schemes and colors than the factory may have put together. When the dealers got a hold of all that trim, they created some unique cars!




Edited by Lancer Mike 2017-11-24 11:45 PM
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Rebels-59
Posted 2017-11-25 4:05 AM (#553088 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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There was also the Other Sales Event in Texas only for Dodges ,, The Dodge Texan,, Again just a ploy to sell more Cars like the Spring Specials. and just a trim upgrade with Texan Badges...
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mstrug
Posted 2017-11-25 5:36 AM (#553089 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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Then there is the spring of 1958 Plymouth Silver Special.



(58plysilverspecialspring1958.jpg)



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Powerflite
Posted 2017-11-25 10:07 AM (#553096 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s



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People usually define the "muscle car" phenomenon as a relatively cheap intermediate size car with very little options and big motors with lots of power. This was exemplified by the GTO, Fairlane, Road Runner and Super Bee (amoung others) of the '60's. But really the D500 from the '50's fit that definition very well. People could have ordered a lowly Dodge Coronet, which had an intermediate wheelbase, with as few options as you cared to get, and top it off with a big mean super D500 dual quad motor. So there you have it, the D500 was a muscle car 8 years ahead of the GTO, and 6 years ahead of the max wedge.
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62 413
Posted 2017-11-25 11:09 AM (#553103 - in reply to #553096)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s


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Powerflite - 2017-11-25 10:07 AM

People usually define the "muscle car" phenomenon as a relatively cheap intermediate size car with very little options and big motors with lots of power. This was exemplified by the GTO, Fairlane, Road Runner and Super Bee (amoung others) of the '60's. But really the D500 from the '50's fit that definition very well. People could have ordered a lowly Dodge Coronet, which had an intermediate wheelbase, with as few options as you cared to get, and top it off with a big mean super D500 dual quad motor. So there you have it, the D500 was a muscle car 8 years ahead of the GTO, and 6 years ahead of the max wedge.


And I wish I had mine back !!



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finsruskw
Posted 2017-11-25 11:31 AM (#553109 - in reply to #553044)
Subject: Re: "Spring Specials" and "D-500"'s


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You and I both!!



(At home 1962 out back on 4th Sttreet.jpg)



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