Offered for sale is a turquoise blue and eggshell white Plymouth Belvedere from 1956. This was the first year of Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner's ''Forward Look''. Most notable would be the introduction of the first push-button automatic transmission to appear in an American automobile and a more dramatic rear-end treatment highlighted by a pair of rakish tailfins. With the ''forward'' look for design, two tone paint and nice trimmings, this cruiser is right out of the finned era. It's a 4-door sedan, definitely a suburbia second car mainly used for running errands to the grocery store. This car was fully restored between 2007 and 2010 and has a rebuilt engine. Documentation and pictures of the restoration are available. The original matching engine is available to go with the car, as well as many parts left over from the restoration including a full set of original glass.
This Belvedere was a 70th birthday and 50th anniversary gift for my dad and mom, who grew up with these cars in the garage. Unfortunately, he is no longer able to drive the car.
Exterior
With many ''borrowed lines'' from various cars (the headlights from the Lincoln, the taillights from the Tri Fives, and the trim spears and paint from the mid 1950's), this is not a muscle car, but a family hauler which has nice conveniences and great classic looks. Turquoise blue paint applied in 2008 covers most of this steel slab sided car. Chrome trimmings are all in very good condition, and all glass is free from any delamination and all surrounded by nice Stainless trim. An eggshell white painted top and on either side is a mixture of trimming and paint change over creating a forward facing large white arrow that points forward. This white wraps around the lower part of the rear deck near the roll pan and is peppered with badged stainless moldings. A nice rear wrap mourned curved glass offers up great visibility and standard wheel covers are wrapped by mid-sized white walls on all 4 corners.
Interior
A swing of the door and some modern art from the mid 50's reaches out to your eyes with some black background broadcloth and a funky white stitched design within this upper door panel. In the mid door is white vinyl and this is broken up on the bottom by a black vinyl panel that is very smooth and tight. Slipping inside we find ourselves perched on a black vinyl bench with a white tub surround on the bottom. A rear bench is within these confines as well and is looking in fine condition. The original dash with the push button transmission to the drivers left, then some black steel with a white insert and aluminum panels for the round gauges, a central cigarette station, and a round panel on the panel in front of the passenger with Plymouth badging in your grandmother's handwriting. Nice clean black carpeting covers the floors and a white headliner in what appears to be mohair is floating above. Noted is some water damage to this fabric near the driver and passenger sun visors. Since this car did not have them originally, six lap seatbelts were added for safety. The AM radio was fully restored and is in working condition.
Drivetrain
Underneath the hood in the engine bay sits the 277ci V8 which is topped with a single 2-barrel carburetor. A Powerflite 2-speed automatic transmission is on back and a 3.73 rear axle is attached. Engine is clean and was rebuilt in 2008. All stainless steel exhaust, stainless brake lines and stainless fuel lines were also added.
Undercarriage
Some light surface rust is throughout the underside. On the floor pans all metal is solid as the same for the framing. Rockers have suffered a bit of invasive rust on the interior underside rocker metal showing some smaller areas. Independent coil sprung suspension is on front, and leaf springs for the rear. Drum brakes are seen all around. Power assist has been added to the brakes.
Driveability
A quick start, with a smooth idle for the rebuilt V8. The steering has had power-assist added. Good acceleration and sustained nice cruising speed with a smooth ride and shifting getting. All functions are working as they should.
Dripping with mid 1950's styling, in essential turquoise and white livery and plenty of spears and trimmings, this is a nice Plymouth example that is a strong runner with the rebuilt engine, and all in good to very good condition overall.
