Plymouth and Dodge made lots of handsome cars during the mid-Fifties, but from a hobby standpoint the Tri-Five Chevys (1955-1957) and to a lesser degree the same-era Fords have grabbed much of the attention.
That doesnât mean being a little different canât deliver big payoffs. Thatâs the case with this 1956 Plymouth Belvedere two-doorsedan restomod. The red and white paint, shiny trim, whitewall tires, and full wheel covers make this Belvedere look like a handsome restoration, but thatâs not true once the hood is popped to display a powerful 408-cu. in. Mopar stroker engine thatâs backed by a Torque Flite transmission and a Trac-Lok Dana 60 rear end.
Four-wheel disc brakes are behind the NOS wheel covers and the steering is an updated rack-and-pinion setup. Outside of the powerful exhaust rumble the only other performance hint is the slightly lowered stance. This 1956 Plymouth is a true sleeper or as the seller describes the car âa wolf in sheepâs clothing. â A Mopar 360-cu. in. V-8 was built by BlueprintEngines and stroked to 408-cu. in. The provided dyno sheet shows 391 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 462 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. An Edelbrock aluminum intake manifold is topped by an Edelbrock carburetor, the ignition is from MSD, and the Sanderson headers are ceramic coated.
The seller says the camshaft is a little âlumpy, â but the engine produces adequate vacuum for the power brakes. An aluminum radiator and twin puller fans keep the engine cool, the seller notes. The Torque Flite three-speed automatic transmission and torque converter are Street Fighter units from TCI. The Dana 60 Trac-Lok positraction rear end has 3.54:1 gears and performance Strange Engineering axles. Thereare approximately 3,200 miles on the engine and transmission, according to the seller, who adds that cold starts âgenerally need to be revved up for a minute or two, â but there isnât any smoke.
The only drivetrain weeping is reported to be âsomeplace on the transmission, â but the transmission does âperform very well with no funny noises or clunks, â per the seller. The shifter is a Band M Quick Silver unit. This 1956 Belvedere received a frame-off restoration with the bulk of the bodywork and paint done by The Chrome Grille in Venice, Florida. The front fenders were replaced with rust-free ones from Arizona, and the floorpans, rear quarters, and rocker panels received 1956 Plymouth-specific repair panels from Black Car LLC, per the seller.
The car was stripped to bare metal before the original Cherry Red and Eggshell White paint was applied in 2007. The seller reports no dents, scratches, paint chips, or swirls. All the glass and the windshield were replaced during the restoration, but a new rear window couldnât be found, so there are some reported light scratches on it. All the seals were replaced during the restoration and remain in âexcellentâ condition, per the seller. All the stainless trim was professionally straightened and polished, and all the chrome parts were re-plated.
The custom interior was designed and installed by Hoytâs Auto Upholstery using bucket seats from a 2005 Nissan Altima along with a center console from the same Altima. Premium white vinyl was used along with 1955 De Soto red cloth accent panels. Extra De Soto material comes with the car. The driverâs seat is power actuated, an Ididit tilt steering column is topped by a custom Grant wheel, and a Painless Wiring harness replaced the original wiring. The seller describes the carpet and headliner condition as âvery goodâ and adds that nothing is missing in the way of interior trim.
All the gauges were new when the car was restored and still work well, per the seller. There is a custom stereo, and the trunk was upholstered to match the interior. The car has won a Best Interior award. A Fat Man Fabrications front frame stub kit was grafted to the original Plymouth chassis. The kit provided power rack-and-pinion steering, power disc brakes, and a 3-inch-lower stance. Jamco 3-inch lowering springs were installed in back. The rear disc brakes are from Master Power Brakes. The steel wheels are 15-inch Lincoln units with NOS Plymouth wheel covers and radial whitewall tires, sized 205/75R15, that were installed in August 2021.
All the suspension components are reported to be in âexcellentâ working condition.Used 1956 Plymouth Belvedere 3,197 miles, Red
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Every 1931 Model A was powered by Fordâs 201-cu. in. flathead inline-four, which had a compression ratio of 4.22:1, received its fuel through either a Zenith or Holley double-venturi carburetor, and produced 40 horsepower.
During the restoration, this Model A was converted over to 12-volt electricals, and received dual exhausts. The engine is said to start immediately after the fuel valve is turned on and the manual choke engaged. It does not smoke or use excessive oil. The Ford transmission was removed and replaced by a five-speed Borg Warner T-5 manual, a gearbox that allows the car to cruise at speed but with lower RPMs.
A view beneath the hood reveals a Per Tronix electronic ignition system and distributor, along with generally clean presentation, with only minor surface corrosion visible in a few spots. the paint still presents well after a waxing, describing it as being in overall very good condition. Some chips exist, but the bodywork has no dents and does not need a repaint. The two-tone color scheme is augmented by scarlet pinstriping.
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This 1940 Oldsmobile Model 90 four-door sedan has been transformed into a luxury street rod by the addition of a modern General Motors powertrain and a full leather interior, cooled by aftermarket air conditioning.
The seller describes the custom maroon metallic paint is as being in âvery good condition, with very good interior leather and
carpeting, â and he reports no known functional issues. This Model 90 is powered by a General Motors Goodwrench-branded aftermarket 350-cu. in. crate V-8 engine of unspecified age and is mated to a GM Turbo Hydra-Matic 350 three-speed automatic transmission.
The engine is said to have traveled about 7,500 miles. The seller makes no statement about engine accessories or carburetion, but the engine wears a paper-element air cleaner. The seller states the engine starts and idles properly without smoke, that the transmission shifts smoothly, and that the powertrain is free of leaks. The engine bay presents as being strongly clean in the provided photos. While making no statement about its
age, the seller rates the paint at â8.7 on a scale of 10, â noting two small chips near one running board as blemishes. The body seals and weatherstripping are reported to be in âvery goodâ condition, and the seller states that the car is free of rust.
The chrome and condition of the semi-waterfall 1940 grille appears to be excellent, per the photos. The seller says custom bodywork has included filling of the rear fender seams and a sunken license plate. a small rock chip on the passengerâs-side glass and says the exterior lighting is functional. The Oldsmobileâs passenger cabin boasts leather seating with a power-operated driverâs seat of unstated sourcing. The seating
materials are in âexcellentâ condition and that the carpet is good, with no holes or tears visible.
The headliner is reported to be in âexcellentâ condition with functional dome lighting. The dashboard incorporates a polished instrument panel mounting vintage-type gauges that are reported to be in proper working order. An aftermarket CD audio system is reported to be functional. The Oldsmobile is said to be equipped with keyless entry. The carpeted trunk presents as being strongly clean in the photos.
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