1959 FORWARD LOOK: CHRYSLER/
BODY & CHASSIS
Body panels, replacement chrome and even glass for these cars will be almost impossible to acquire in Australia. Virtually any body panels that need replacement have to come from the USA and that involves sometimes astronomical freight costs. When choosing any car this age and value, pick one that has undergone a comprehensive and documented restoration or is a pampered original. With the car on a hoist, look closely at body attachment points, suspension mounts and the lower firewall. Examine front chassis members for kinks or signs of accident repair. From there the most important areas for scrutiny are roof edges and windscreen surrounds, sills and floors. Second-hand panels are available from overseas specialists but don’t expect anything rare or in good condition to be cheap. A DeSoto bumper said to immaculate was offered at US$2500. Windows, especially the side and rear, can be a challenge to replace and costly unless supplied locally. Prices for a new Plymouth windscreen ranged between US$290 and $475 but even domestic freight within the USA added $195.
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
Unlike General Motors which tended to produce engines specific to one or maybe two Divisions, Chrysler shared power units between all of its associated brands. The 5.2-litre (318) V8 was the base engine for most of these cars and very easy to replace or rebuild. Most upmarket models, including Plymouths and Dodges sold in Australia, would have used the optional big-block 361 (5.9-litre) V8. It was derived from a 350 cubic-inch unit which was the basis for numerous Chrysler Corp engines stretching all the way to the monster 440. Dual four-barrel carburettor set-ups are desirable but scarce. Unless you happen upon a very rare manual model, all of these cars use Chrysler’s highlyregarded Torque Flite automatic transmission. Torque Flite is button operated, so run through the functions and make sure the tranny responds within a second or so. In perfect condition the Torque Flite rates among the smoothest of older autos so be wary of one that thumps noticeably on down-shifts, vibrates or whines when accelerating.