Luxurious Finned Project: 1959 Dodge Custom Royal
Tail fins were all the rage in the auto world during the mid to late fifties, so it’s not surprising that Dodge added them to the Custom Royal about halfway through the car’s life cycle for the 1957 model. Unlike many designs that incorporated these eye-catchers into the rear panel assembly, Dodge used separate pieces that were added on and often a different color from the primary paint, with the two-tone cars sometimes wearing the same shade on the fins and lower body extremities. This 1959 Dodge Custom Royal needs restoring, but it seems like a decent candidate if you’re looking for a late-fifties hardtop to take on as a project. This one is located in Oakham, Massachusetts, and can be spotted here on Craigslist, with the asking price set at $22,000.
Mitchell G., thanks a lot for your tip here! The story goes that the original owner was the car’s caretaker for many years, and Pennsylvania was the Mopar’s primary state of residence during this time. Back in the early eighties, some metal work was performed, including replacing the outer floor pans and rocker panels. I’m not sure why the repairs stopped here, as there’s quite a bit of rust still on the quarter panels, at least on the sections behind the rear wheels. However, the seller mentions he has an original Mopar panel to replace one side, so when an opposite is sourced, you’ll be in business.
There’s no word on whether the engine in the bay is original to the car, but the seller does indicate that it’s running well. The transmission is also said to function properly, controlled by the love-it-or-hate-it push-button gear selector. One mechanical upgrade that gets mentioned is the front brakes, which have been converted to disc, but there’s no information about when this was done, or if the pads are still in their normal life cycle.
The instrument panel and gauges seem to remain in surprisingly good condition, and the top of the dash doesn’t look all that bad either. However, the front seat is in near ruins, but the owner says he’ll provide nice replacement covers from another ’59 Dodge, though no photos are provided. Some positive news is that several pictures are shown from the underside, with many of the frame rails appearing to be in reasonably solid condition, if you try to imagine what they look like below the surface. I could envision a sharp cruiser here with some love, but I’m not sure about sinking twenty-two grand into it for starters. What are your thoughts?
Auctions Ending Soon
1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1Bid Now23 hours$7,100
2003 Porsche Boxster SBid Now24 hours$5,500
1966 Lincoln ContinentalBid Now1 days$500
2000 Jaguar XJ8LBid Now4 days$1,250
1977 Datsun 280ZBid Now5 days$275
Comments
Even though I like the ’60 models better this ’59 is one stunning car and I would not kick it out of my driveway.
A face that would make Christine wet herself!
Can’t miss those tailfins lol
DeSoto has always been my favorite of Exners fabulous finned fantasies. But recently I have come to appreciate Dodge especially for that aggressive front end featuring those evil eyes 👀. For 59,Buick would feature those intimidating cats eyes as it tried desperately to catch up with The Forward Look.
When I was a kid my father bought me a ’59 Coronet 2dr. with six and 3 on the tree for 50 bucks. And it was RUSTY. Holes in the floors, in front of the back wheels and nothing left of the trunk. In the trunk there was a piece of plywood on top of the gas tank. I was only 12 at the time and I used to drive it up and down the street when my parents were at work. In ’59 Dodge made the tailights longer, more like rocket tips. every one of mine was broken. These had really beefy frames, so if you can do sheet metal work this may be the car for you. But at 22 grand I’m just not feeling all fuzzy inside
What size engine is that?
Looks like the 326 2V.
361 B Engine
That’s a B/RB series. 350ci.
361 B Engine
My suggestion would be to push it back in the “barn”!!!😱😱😱😱
Hey Sam, LOL but sorry to hear about your restaurant venture with Ella Fitzgerald going bust. Guess Sam & Ella’s was not inductive to customer appeal! 👍
this can be a really nice car problem is the price in a number two shape this vehicle is worth quite a bit , but this vehicle will need alot of money put into it to get it to that and the price is just too much no wiggle room to work with, that is the problem today people overpricing older two door hardtops it has turned into a big problem because of peoples greed…..
I could see $8K max for it.
Confessions from childhood. It would be interesting to poll how many kids “borrowed?” Mom or Dads car while sleep or at work. Most of todays youths are too busy gaming to be bothered.
Amen and Hallelujah to that! Tech has ruined our youths appreciation for so many things. Knowledge is power, and those kids are being led down the path to total dependency on artificial intelligence. They don’t even know how to DODGE the issue.
Roger that Rick!!! I went to the store yesterday and the highschool kid totalled my purchase and before handing me my change of $7.23 I gave her 2 cents to get a solid quarter back and she got totally confused and frustrated and said let me do this my way. We are in trouble. I’ve also heard from 2 unconnected sources many young people don’t have a dedicated work ethic.
Well Frog, I’m really surprised she didn’t think you were talking about a QUARTERBACK! 😲 surely she knows all about Taylor Twit 😉 and her boyfriend. What a TravisT! Many years ago, a local school superintendent went on a tirade, indicating there was NOTHING relevant to the past, only the future matters. At the same time, the head of the math department announced that there was no need for students to learn basic math. They would be easily able to find what they need on their calculator, including using those for testing! Beam me up, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of intelligence in today’s world.
GUILTY!!!!! In high school, used to “borrow” parent’s 1961 Olds Station Wagon with 394 ci in the early morning with next door neighbor. We thought it was so cool to watch that speedometer change colors on the freeway!
My friends mother was a school teacher and carpooled with 3 other teachers. They took turns driving weekly. She drove a 1961 Chevrolet Biscayne 4dr and we or i should say he would take her car and drive all the gas out. His mom and dad couldn’t figure out where the gas was going.
During one of our drivess he hit a pothole and the passenger side fender hit a parked car. That was the beginning of the end. She had the day off and went shopping with her friends. When we returned she was standing on the porch waiting not happy. She said i was a bad influence and didn’t want him hanging out with me.
My cousin took his mothers1968 Chevrolet Caprice 2 door for a joy ride and it started snowing while we were out. We put it bac in the garage wiped the car off. When we came out of the garage we noticed tire tracks 150+ feet from the street going into the garage so we had to shovel the driveway.
DeSoto has always been my favorite of Exners fabulous finned fantasies. But recently I have come to appreciate Dodge especially for that aggressive front end featuring those evil eyes 👀. For 59,Buick would feature those intimidating cats eyes as it tried desperately to catch up with The Forward Look.
I’m surprised at the almost-all-white paint scheme on this Dodge. As I recall, these cars, especially the Custom Royal, were known for their flambouyant three-tone color combos.
But I’m with you, Rick; the DeSotos of those years were the coolest. In 1959, I traded my falling-apart ’53 Olds ragtop on a ’57 Fireflight 2DHT done up in a glorious orange and white. It didn’t have a radio (not unusual in those days), but I got lucky and found an OEM–knobs and all–in a mail-order parts warehouse.
I learned to drive on a Black 55 Firedome. Did you see recent Barn Find on 55 Coronado? My parents passed up the chance to buy a 59 ADVENTURER and the last 61 DeSoto in our area, only trade our 55 a few months later for a 62 Plymouth Belvedere. Loved my parents, but hated that Plymouth. Perhaps one of the ugliest cars ever. Until recently when all vehicles have no class. 😉 Guess this is just another 😭 sob (definitely not a SAAB 🤮) story.
This is a genuine 20 footer! And unless he finds someone with deep pockets and great memories of Dad’s ’59? $22,000 is a big ask.
This 59 Dodge Custom Royal is gorgeous, and it’s a good thing they did front disc conversion but don’t see alot of evidence of that. It’s not an Insane price for a car like this that didnt need rear quarters possibly replaced, and that welding and labor, aint cheap these days, and for the entry price at $22k, knowing all that, its a hard pass for me. Even though, shes a beauty.
I’m assuming this is one of 2 variations of the Mopar 361, and looks like it only has one 4bbl carb, not two. If the engine and mechanicals are sound, it’s one to consider, but entry price and the gamble of that are too high. Doesn’t mean you can’t dream.
Times certainly have changed Rick W. When I got out of service after Vietnam ended i crossed trained to become a journeyman machinist. During my apprenticeship we trained under the shop old timers. During course curriculum we used calculators to figure out equations. In the shop the elder men wouldn’t allow them so we had to learn trigonometry geometry math etc while maintaining a close tolerance of -+ .064.
I probably just addressed my own question why the workforce has gone overseas.
Born in 1947, in the 50s, Dad (a machinist, later moving to Quality Control at Inland Steel) frequently lamented that upper management brought numerous visitors from China and Japan on tours of the plant, including cameras. He predicted that to be a big mistake. Need I say more? OK! Inland Steel is no longer a 🇺🇸 company. God Save America!
One of the best time captules with a little work it will survive the 22K ask!