Ask the Car People.SM


Tulsa Belvedere Time Capsule... Bad Idea, Even Back Then! - READ ONLY

39 messages,  Last post on Jul 21, 2007 at 11:03 AM

You are in the Classic Cars - Archived Discussions Forum.

This discussion is ARCHIVED. To reactivate the discussion, post a request in the Lost In The Town Hall... discussion.

What is this discussion about? Classic Cars

Messages Page 5 of 5

#35 of 39 Life was tough on '57 Plymouths... by lemko

Jun 22, 2007 (7:51 am)

...even back in the day. Look at this sad Suburban from 1965:
 
http://www.oldride.com/rustyrides/51200970.html

#36 of 39 Re: Life was tough on '57 Plymouths... [lemko] by andre1969

Jul 20, 2007 (8:55 am)

Replying to: lemko (Jun 22, 2007 7:51 am)
That Plymouth looks pretty rusty along the rocker panel, and the front right tire looks like it's canted at an unholy angle...must be hell on tires! As for that back section of rear quarter panel though, that's not rust-out. That's where they put the spare tire back in the day, and there was an access panel in that spot. The panel is merely missing.
 
Here's a page from an old brochure that shows spare tire removal in action.

#37 of 39 Re: Tulsa Belvedere Time Capsule... Bad Idea, Even Back Then! [andre1969] by mattgergeni

Jul 20, 2007 (2:16 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jun 19, 2007 6:46 am)
You do realize that back in 1998 they buried another car in Tulsa don't you?
 
You can read about it at: link title
 
They did a little extra planning this time and hope that this Plymouth will last until 2048 when they dig it up.

#38 of 39 Re: Life was tough on '57 Plymouths... [andre1969] by lemko

Jul 20, 2007 (7:32 pm)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jul 20, 2007 8:55 am)
Wow! You learn something new every day! Removing the spare for my 1968 Buick Special Deluxe wagon was a real chore. It was in the right rear fender, you opened a panel from the inside, and lifted it up! You had to be pretty strong. The jack was behind the tire.

#39 of 39 Re: Life was tough on '57 Plymouths... [lemko] by andre1969

Jul 21, 2007 (11:03 am)

Replying to: lemko (Jul 20, 2007 7:32 pm)
I'm not positive, but I think the DeSoto and Chrysler wagons of that era, when equipped with the third row seat, had no spare tire at all. Instead, they used "Captive-Air" tires, which were kind of a pre-historic run-flat that either had a separate inner air chamber, or a solid center section that would allow you to limp for about 100 miles if the outer chamber was punctured. I'm not sure if Dodges used Captive-Air tires or had the spare up in the fin, like Plymouth.
 
I'm actually surprised that they went through the effort to differentiate the Chrysler/DeSoto wagons and Plymouth wagons like that. Back then, the wagons of all four divisions used the same body. Dodges and DeSoto Firesweeps were on a 4-inch shorter wheelbase than the big DeSotos and Chryslers, but all that length was taken away ahead of the firewall, so it didn't affect the body. Plymouths were normally on a 4-inch shorter wheelbase than Dodges and DeSoto Firesweeps, and in this case the length was taken out in the trunk area. Normally that would have required some major changes to the body, so to keep from doing that, they simply put Plymouth wagons on the larger 122" Dodge/DeSoto Firesweep wheelbase. They continued to do this through 1961, when Plymouths and Dodge Darts were on the 118" wheelbase, but the wagons were on the larger 122". It made for a huge station wagon...supposedly the roomiest wagon on the market at the time.

Messages Page 5 of 5

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement