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The Underrated Orphans from the 1950s

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Jive-Bomber, Nov 1, 2012.

  1. Jive-Bomber
    Joined: Aug 21, 2001
    Posts: 3,754

    Jive-Bomber
    MODERATOR

  2. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Good choices. Outside of the lowboy Stude coupes most of those cars were probably considered oldd peoples cars by most of the younger crowd then. I still remember a new at the time jet black Packard Clipper convertible with a red interior cruising though the park where we were having a faimily picnic in 1956 or 57 and thinking it was about the most beautiful car I had ever seen at the time. To this day I've never seen another one just like it.
     
  3. jerseymike
    Joined: Sep 25, 2008
    Posts: 707

    jerseymike
    Member

    maybe underrated in car sales and appreciation, but certainly not by customizers. the 5 cars listed here have some of the most sought after custom parts of any car! i know you mean the cars as a whole but look at the grills, taillights, bumpers and other classic custom parts on these cars and i think you'll see them in a new light. hope i didn't steer your original topic off course, i think as a custom car lover these cars were gold!
     
  4. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    All good choices, especially the Plymouth. 55-56 Dodges share quite a bit with them and can be quite nice looking with their split grilles and stacked round tail lights.

    On kind of a side note, 15 years ago, when i was first driving my '53 Ford around, I used to hear all the time about how the 52-54 Fords were the "lost years" and how unusual it was to see one customized, or even in stock form. But I'm really glad to see they've earned a stronger following over the last few years, as it seems there were plenty of them customized back in the "glory years".
     

  5. PUMPKINHEAD
    Joined: Dec 16, 2007
    Posts: 438

    PUMPKINHEAD

    Love the 55-56 Plymouth. Had a chance to buy a really nice driver about 8 years ago.....still kick myself for not getting it.
     
  6. ROBERT JAM
    Joined: Nov 13, 2002
    Posts: 1,261

    ROBERT JAM
    Member

    I had a 55 2dr hardtop! Ive looked for years for another nice one never have found one.I think they were factory customs .Nice lines compared to the ford and chevys of the same year.
     
  7. 2OLD2FAST
    Joined: Feb 3, 2010
    Posts: 5,216

    2OLD2FAST
    Member
    from illinois

    Girl I dated in college drove a nash w/ the fold-down seat , new it was gonna be a good night when she drove... ahh to be young again !!

    dave
     
  8. Just got rid of my 1956 Plymouth Suburban a couple months ago. Fun car...
     

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  9. eddie1
    Joined: Jul 27, 2006
    Posts: 568

    eddie1
    Member

    All good choices but I would like to add the De Soto also has one of my favorite dash designs of the fifties.
     
  10. BeatnikPirate
    Joined: May 21, 2006
    Posts: 1,416

    BeatnikPirate
    Member
    from Media, Pa.

    Here's 3
     

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  11. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,013

    belair
    Member

    Really like that plymouth wagon (looks like a small 57 chevy from the side little in that pic). And I mean that in a good way.
     
  12. Rocky Famoso
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,000

    Rocky Famoso
    BANNED

    My addition to the list...
    My family had one like in the first photo, first car I remember as a 4 year old kid.
    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
  13. Jeff Norwell
    Joined: Aug 20, 2003
    Posts: 14,809

    Jeff Norwell
    MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    55-56 Plymouth make EXCELLENT custom material...mild custom material that is....
     
  14. Mike VV
    Joined: Sep 28, 2010
    Posts: 3,029

    Mike VV
    Member
    from SoCal

    Mr48 wrote -
    What's a lowboy? Do you mean Loewy...as in Raymond Lowey ? He was the head of design of those cars, though Robert Bourke headed up most of the actual work on the 53, 54, 55 Studes.

    But to ansewr the original question....I agree, the Stude lineup is a much forgotten car.
    I drive a 59, 2dr. wagon Lark almost daily. Is that a Dodge, did Ford make those, where were those made, are just a couple of the many questions I get.

    Mike
     
  15. Rocky Famoso
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,000

    Rocky Famoso
    BANNED

    You never heard 'em called that?
    Yeah, I get that all the time with my '53...
    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-l5tpY6SXMc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
  16. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Miss my 56 Plymouth Suburban a lot! Oh well. they come and they go. ~sololobo~
     

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  17. while your choices are all good, I really think you have made a huge mistake in passing over the '51-52 Kaiser coupes (short roof, solid quarter window) and the '51-54 Kaiser two door sedans (longer roof w/ rear vent window). And considering custom potential, two things; the K-F Corp. came very close to a deal with GM to put Olds 303 V8s in front of the GM Hydro they were already using, and the factory did consider convertibles building one prototype.
     

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  18. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    1954-55 Kaiser in fact pretty much any Kaiser....


    [​IMG]
     
  19. Weasel
    Joined: Dec 30, 2007
    Posts: 6,698

    Weasel
    Member

    And the Kaiser Darrin....

    [​IMG]
     
  20. murfman
    Joined: Nov 6, 2006
    Posts: 540

    murfman
    Member

    I'll just say ANY Plymouth from the 50s is kool. It is amazing the change from 50-59 especially in the Mopar lineups, but the Plymouths are my Favorites
     
  21. WildWilly68
    Joined: Feb 1, 2002
    Posts: 1,727

    WildWilly68
    Member

    Love the 53-55 Stude's, I have always thought they were way ahead of their time as far as body style goes.
     
  22. catdad49
    Joined: Sep 25, 2005
    Posts: 6,399

    catdad49
    Member

    Always loved the gasser look and was inspired to think outside the norm by the previous posts on the JJ. What I envisioned was a 55 Plymouth two door sedan, straight front axle and pie crust cheaters in the rear. Possibly a 413 or a lighter, higher revving 340 for power and of course, three pedals. Didn't get as far as color, wheels etc., but I think the raw material is out there and a whole lot cheaper than a Chevy of the same vintage. Doesn't cost a thing to dream, Cat
     
  23. stude_trucks
    Joined: Sep 13, 2007
    Posts: 4,755

    stude_trucks
    Member

    No wonder Studebaker went under. They have made these lists several times over now. :D I'm predicting the straw that broke the camel's back, the Avanti, will be in the 60's list. Just a wild guess. :p
     
  24. autobilly
    Joined: May 23, 2007
    Posts: 3,123

    autobilly
    Member

  25. da dodge brother
    Joined: Apr 2, 2010
    Posts: 396

    da dodge brother
    Member
    from wisconsin

    1955 Dodge Royal Lancer. Had this one since 2001..:cool::cool::cool: 100_1271.jpg

    100_1274.jpg
     
  26. 327Eric
    Joined: May 9, 2008
    Posts: 2,116

    327Eric
    Member

    Here is my 55 president turned in to a 54 champion. Only took 8 years to find all the front end stuff[​IMG]
     
  27. The Continental
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 363

    The Continental
    Member
    from Texas

    Great list. Some other I really like,
    Imperials
    Studebaker, '50, '57-59 Hawks, '58(kind of looks like a a '61 GM bubble top roof)
    Olds '50-51 88
    Merc Breezeways and hardtop wagons

    I'd be interested in seeing some Packardbaker customs too.
     
  28. edweird
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 3,186

    edweird
    Member

    heres my orphan.
     

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  29. big_jae
    Joined: Apr 22, 2010
    Posts: 53

    big_jae
    Member

    any pics of some 40's-early 50's chrysler
     
  30. plodge55aqua
    Joined: Jan 4, 2009
    Posts: 1,710

    plodge55aqua
    Member
    from Alberta

    The best part about a Underrated Orphan.. It will never be reproduced.. Thats fine with me.. I have a Plodge.. its nice having something that not many others have.. and it still blends in with the Nicer Old Rides.. ..:)..

    I also have a orphan Wagon Willys.. :eek:
     

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