Barn Full of Dusty Classic Cars
It’s interesting how automobile collections are built. Usually, they favor an era, a manufacturer, or a type of vehicle. The group here may have been a collection at one time, but from the looks of things, they’ve been there a long time without any attention. Yet the seller says that they will all run. Few details are provided about the cars and the seller doesn’t indicate any prices, so you’ll have to contact him/her directly to get the scoop. Thanks to Mitchell Press for the heads-up on these vehicles which are all in one place in Rio Vista, California, and are available here on craigslist.
Six vehicles are indicated by the photos, but it looks like more are there, whether or not they’re for sale, too. Three are Chrysler products, one is a Jaguar, another is a Cadillac Hearse, and a sixth vehicle is one that I don’t recognize. Based on the limited info we have, and the photos provided, here’s what we know.
1957 Dodge Custom Royal
This is a 4-door sedan and it’s from the first year of the “Forward Look” redesign of 1957-59. The seller says it has a Hemi engine, so that would make it either a 325 cubic inch V8 with a 4-barrel carburetor and 285 hp or double the carbs and you’d got 310 hp. But is there any rust, and what about the interior?
1956 Dodge Custom Royal
Another 4-door sedan that could also be a 1955 model (per the seller). Also said to be a Hemi V8, this one should have a displacement of 315 cubic inches at 260 horses. The seller does say it has 25,000 miles (or 125,000) with an automatic transmission.
1963 Chrysler Imperial
Here’s another 4-door, but it’s a pillarless hardtop. It looks like a ’63 model as the taillights are no longer sitting atop the fins but set within them instead. As such, there should be a 413 V8 under the hood (not a Hemi) and rated at 390 hp from the factory. Like the others, what work does it need?
The rest of the pack consists of a Cadillac Hearse which may have been built by Superior Coach Co. and it’s likely from the late 1960s. Then there’s a 1950s Jaguar that I can’t quite make out, and finally, an old timer that could be from the 1930s or 1940s with no information provided. Do any of these vehicles light your fire?
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Comments
Chill out Miss Landers, thought no personal attacks?
I would gladly take either of the Dodge Royals. The 1950s era car is the only one I’ve never owned.
Hey mom, hey dad, hey wally; aren’t we a Mopar family?
Normadesmond is just calling it like it is: the seller is illiterate.
Forty or fifty years ago, a lot was being said about the decline of the American educational system; and that in the future the country would be filled with a bunch of poorly-educated, easily-led, knee-jerk dumb-ass half-literate rubes.
Welcome to the future.
Well said, mate!
The scary thing is that it’s actually going to get even worse. “Idiocracy”. Buckle up.
Nailed it!!!!!
Are those Crsful’s cars?
Interesting, appropriate observation !
Seems like the oldest car in this bunch is a ’33 or ’34
Plymouth coupe. And it seems to be in really good
shape for its age. From what I can see here, it looks
to be a DeLuxe model judging from the bumper guards and driving lights. They also had Chrysler’s
first independant front suspension that proved to be
troublesome, and wasn’t offered in ’35. The Jag looks
like the one I put a 350 Chevy and a T400 tranny into
in ’72. Me, I’m partial to the ’57. Sure, it’s a 4-door, but
so what! It’s got a hemi! Someone will get a good deal on any one of these cars….just wish it was me!!!!
I think it’s actually a mid 30’s Studebaker, if I remember the grille ornament correctly.
Thanks for the ID on the Plymouth Kenneth. I really like that car plus the S-Type Jaguar. It should have a very nice 3.8 or 4.2 straight 6 engine in it if I remember correctly. I won’t be buying but I think they are cool cars. I can smell the dust just looking at the photos.
Would love to see people wash their cars before selling but I guess they just want rid of them and not the highest price. I understand the reasoning.
Cadillac is a ’68
Knew it was a 67 or 68! Thanks, mate
That’s right. Look like an M&M Coach.
It was just “Imperial,” not “Chrysler Imperial” in 1963. Imperial guys are sensitive about that. Beyond semantics, this one looks like an Imperial LeBaron, the top of the line, and one of just 1537 built for 1963.
It’s always cool to see what’s in the barn. But 4 door Mopar’s do zilch for me.
1. The Dodge Custom Royal sedan is a `55, not `56 as per the photo. Looks fairly complete.
2. The HP rating on the 413 the `63 Imperial has is 340, not 390. That was reserved for the Chrysler 300J with dual quads on the long ram intakes.
do I remember the duel 4 barrel 413 in 1964 you could get one in a Plymouth fury I raced a new one at a light with my 1958 Impala 348 3 speed stick I thought I was driving a vw
In 62. And it was a Max Wedge. 410hp. You didn’t stand a chance. They were built for drag racing. Very rare in a Fury. Available in the Savoy and Belvidere also.
The first Dodge isn’t a Hemi engine, that’s a small block polysphere.
Question,
In ‘57 the Crown Imperial had a 392 ci hemi. In the 57 Dodge were they using up inventory on the smaller engine??
The only one that perks my interest is the 63 Imperial 4 Dr hardtop. I don’t mind 4 doors if they are hardtop versions. Too bad the seller didn’t have better pics and descriptions. Still an interesting find.
An illiterate person can’t read. They also have difficulty understanding what words, like “illiterate,” actually mean. It doesn’t refer to an author’s writing ability. The author has some typos or minor writing errors. However, the article was informative and well organized.
It may lack content due to the lack of information provided by the seller. The author did a decent job. They just need to proof read their work a little better.
Funny color for a hearse.
Hearses are not all black, white or grey. While not uncommon, I have seen this colr used on hearses in the Deep South.
Some of the cars would be nice, but what about the dealership signage appearing in a couple of the pics?
The insignia on the radiator grille looks like a Cadillac insignia on the 30’s car but maybe someone stuck that on it?
Just a note, whenever possible if you no more than get the dirt off. It does wonders for the price someone is willing to offer $$$$$. There are some interesting vehicles worth a look.
The first one looks like a polysphere engine to me?
And there was nobody like that in your generation? My neighbors are your generation and quite a few are a box of rocks upstairs.
This is about cars here. I’ll take the Custom Royal all day long. Having it for a driver would make my day every time I used it.