When someone refers to a Dodge Coronet, many enthusiasts minds may head straight for the Coronets of the late 1960s including the wide array of high-performance models including the Dodge Super Bee and R/T. In reality, the late 1960s Coronets were actually the sixth generation! But don't get it confused-the Coronet had performance options available long before the Super Bee came along. This 1956 Dodge Coronet appears to be a Super D-500, packing quite a lot of power and performance... for the time period. To top it all off, it is a convertible, which makes it all the more desirable and all the more challenging to find. The exterior of this car is as clean and straight as can be. Since the whole car is black, any imperfections would be very much apparent. Typically seen in a two-tone paint scheme, this Coronet was ordered in solid black which gives it a much different appearance from other Coronets of the era. While it has plenty of classic 1950s charm, the black monotone sort of hints at it being something more than your average Coronet. All of the brightwork and emblems are in excellent condition, and although this car saw a full restoration in the 1990s it hardly looks as if a year has passed since its completion. The interior is a spectacle, as were all things Mopar in the 1950s. Dodge had some very unique interior designs during this time period, and this Coronet did not escape the mid-century patterns. The black and white seats complete the look of this car, matching perfectly with the exterior combination of black paint and whitewall tires. Much like the exterior, the interior shows minimal wear since the restoration and reflects both care and infrequent usage. Chock full of restored components, the interior looks almost like new and is nothing but a window into the '50s. The convertible top works as expected, and is easy to let up and down at your leisure for those cool summer days. Lift the hood, and this is where things start to get exciting! The power plant is a 315 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi with serial number D500-7230 putting out 260bhp, which was quite a number for the time period. A D-500-1, the NASCAR homologation version of the Coronet D-500, would've had a modified 315 with dual 4-barrel carburetors putting out 285hp. This Super D-500 is equipped with dual 4-barrels on an Offenhauser intake manifold that would've likely been equipment for a 1957 or later vehicle. Additionally, this car is equipped with such amenities as power brakes and power steering to aid in handling. Hooked up to a two-speed automatic push-button transmission, this Dodge will get up and go. For the time, this was a very quick little vehicle! This is a car that you certainly wouldn't park next to another of at a show or event, and if you did, you'd be as shocked as the owner of the other! A head turner and a rare specimen to boot, this Coronet Super D-500 is a turn key vehicle that is ready to hit the streets. Contact Shelton Classics & Performance for details at 877-496-5680 or visit br/- TITLE: CLEAN DOES IT WORK? Air Conditioning N/A Heater YES Speedometer YES Oil PSI Gauge/Light YES Temperature Gauge/Light NO Fuel Gauge YES Tachometer N/A Wipers YES Horn NO Radio NO Headlights YES Tail Lights YES Brake Lights NO Reverse Lights NO Turn Signals YES Emergency Brake YES Keys â€" Ignition, Door, Trunk YES Runs & Drives YES
|