I just picked up a '56 Coronet 2-Door Sedan base model out of Connecticut for a great deal. I don't have many pictures yet, but here's one from they day after I got it home.
It's in absolutely phenomenal shape. I'm basically it's third "permanent" owner - the original owner sold it to a body shop owner about a decade ago, he held on to it for a little bit but did nothing with it, and then sold it to a long-time friend of his who hangs out at the shop a bunch. I bought it from that guy. The body shop replaced the rocker panels on it many years ago, but found nothing else on the car that needed work. They painted it in black primer and the most-recent owner had aspirations to rod it out a bit, but he enjoyed the fact that he could just hop in it and go to shows/meets, so he just left it together.
Me, my plans are to turn it into a true street rod - I'm going to upgrade the brakes (manual drum/drum to power disc/disc), add an air-ride suspension, shave the door handles and some trim pieces, chop the top 2-3 inches, and do a two-tone paint job. My plan is to spend 3-4 years working on it.
The first pic is current, the second pic is a Photoshop of my idea for it! (And yeah, I've already picked a better set of wheels!)
I really like your Coronet and am extremely happy to have another member here on the DCR who owns an older model Coronet! The car looks great now and I also like your plans for the car! Maybe you could open a thread in the DCR Restoration forum and allow us to follow you along as you work on the car!
Richard
For some unknown reason, nobody seems to take me seriously............
I really like your Coronet and am extremely happy to have another member here on the DCR who owns an older model Coronet! The car looks great now and I also like your plans for the car! Maybe you could open a thread in the DCR Restoration forum and allow us to follow you along as you work on the car!
Richard
Hey thanks, Richard! It's definitely been an interesting experience just getting to know the car over the past week+. I'm in my mid-to-late 30's, so this car is such a departure from the norm for me!
Yes I'll absolutely get a project log going. I'm trying to hurry up and sell a Jeep Grand Cherokee I no longer have need for, so I can use the cash from that to get a good-quality Miller welder. That'll really start to open the door on this project!
Do you own an older Coronet? I could really use some help with some era-specific questions, like how the heck the oil-filled air cleaner works!
No sir. While I love all vintage Mopars, all of my vehicles have been from the mid 1960's or newer, so that's why I will enjoy following your restoration of your very cool 1956 Coronet! Don't worry though, because we have a fantastic group of folks here on the DCR that will do their very best to help you with any question you might have!
Richard
For some unknown reason, nobody seems to take me seriously............
No sir. While I love all vintage Mopars, all of my vehicles have been from the mid 1960's or newer, so that's why I will enjoy following your restoration of your very cool 1956 Coronet! Don't worry though, because we have a fantastic group of folks here on the DCR that will do their very best to help you with any question you might have!
Richard
Gotcha. Well, I'll tell ya my favorite sad story: I fell in love with B-body Mopars several years ago, courtesy of walking the grounds at the Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals every year since 2006. Of course, something like a '69 Charger was and always will be out of my price range... But in 2013 or so a '69 Dodge Coronet came across eBay. It was primer gray just like this '56 I acquired. It had a green interior that was a little ratty, it had been modified into a basic bracket-racing car, had a trunk-mounted fuel cell, and a GORGEOUS 440 big block crate motor that looked brand new. I WANTED it... But I felt for sure the price would skyrocket, and when it sold for something like $9,000, I was so pissed that I didn't jump on it.
Losing out on that car was one of the reasons why, when this '56 came up for sale a few weeks ago - also on eBay - I basically told my wife, "This one isn't getting away..." It didn't.
I am almost positive that every single member here on the DCR has a similar story regarding "the one that got away"! While finding parts for a 1969 Charger would be easier that for a 56 Coronet, the fact that you love this cool Coronet will give you the resolve to find or make whatever your car needs to get it to where you want it. 1966 and 1967 B-Body owners like myself and many others here on the DCR have to have that same resolve to find parts for our cars as well, as the aftermarket part suppliers show very little interest in reproducing parts for our cars, so we will feel you joys and your frustrations as your progress on this car progresses! Sometimes when you get a bit frustrated you just have to step back, take a few deep breaths and continue your journey to get what you need!
Richard
For some unknown reason, nobody seems to take me seriously............
