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CA Central Coast

K

kezammit

Member
Local time
5:40 PM
Joined
May 27, 2009
Messages
20
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Location
Arroyo Grande, CA
Hey, everyone, finally got my first Mopar ride - a "barn find" behind a hotel in Palo Alto. It's a 1968 Coronet 500 White Hat Special, red with white hardtop, white interior with factory buckets. It has a 383 with the 727 auto on center console. Reading code plate, looks like the only thing that was changed was the 2bbl replaced with 4 bbl. Dings and dents all around but no rust, had a runaway truck hit front end so working on some donor fenders and have new grill, etc. Reworked the brakes but still have a leak on the rears I need to chase. Engine started right up with starter fluid, but issue with the neutral safety switch still needs resolution. Runs and sounds great, can't wait to get it on the road!

While new to Mopar, I have a 48 Dodge P/U that my brother and I restored and we both have 54 Dodge pickups (first with V8s) in the wings and I have a 54 Dodge Power Wagon ready for resto.

But the Coronet comes first!!

Will post some pictures of the car "in the rough" when I get a chance.
 
Welcome to FBBO kez! Are you sure it was a barn find in Palo Alto because there are not many barns in Palo Alto and all the ones I have seen have been turned into B&Bs. ;)

Was it in East Palo Alto?
 
Motel Find, Not Barn Find

You are right about the barns in Palo Alto! Actually it was under a car cover behind a motel that a friend of mine uses when he is visiting there. I recognized the shape under the cover and started asking questions, and it belonged to the owners daughter. It took me about 6 months to get her to sell, and what changed her mind was the city cited them for too many non-op cars on site (I did not turn them in!). Perserverance pays because she called and asked if I was still interested and I got right up there with the car trailer. Picked it up for $3500, which I think was pretty good for the shape it's in.

Have run the fender code, and seen some stats on how many Coronets were built, but not sure how many were 500's built as "White Hats" - any idea where I can find such data would be appreciated!
 
SOMEBODY CALL THE COPS!!! THIS GUY STOLE THAT CAR!!!! 3500??? That is very cool.... Welcome to the site man. There is a wealth of knowledge here. Been a big help to me. I am a newby mopar guy too. I have had all brands, but never what I wanted. Mopars all the way from now on......
 
Oh yeah, What about some pics man???? WE LOVE PICS.
 
I thought that was a pretty good price for a 500 auto with no hemi, but not stolen, maybe I am wrong on that... will try and get some good shots tomorrow, but it's no trailer queen, will take some massaging of the dents and I already have the RF fender off and grill out - they were pretty badly mangled.

It is great to find this resource - already had several great tips!

Anybody know of a Mopar club on the Central Coast of CA? We're halfway between SF and LA.
 
OK, here is a picture of the Power Wagon project - still collecting missing pieces before tackling this project. Hopefully picture loads with the post...

Power Wagon.JPG
 
That is one big bad truck. I love it..
 
Mopar ****

OK, I did get some pictures of the car today, and now you can tell me if I got a good deal or not. As I said, the body is a bit rough, but no rust - a good CA car!

I have included some shots from all angles. Have removed much of the interior to start prepping for body work (and make it easier to get to some of the electrical connections). Also removed the RF fender and grill work that was pretty mangled. Rebuilt carb already, and the car starts now without a snort of starter fluid. Rebuilt rear brakes, fronts seem OK, but I have one more leak to find and fix.

One question - this car has a white interior as shown, but had black arm rests and black sun visors - can this be correct, or should they originally have been white?

I need a mentor to help me do the body work, would like to do it myself and do it right!

Coronet Rear.jpg


Right Rear.jpg


Interior.jpg


Front.jpg


Left Rear.jpg
 
Cool looking car. I'm pretty sure the armrest pads should have been white. More than likely they were trashed years ago and what someone found to replace them with was black.

What color is the headliner?
 
I'm not usually very lucky but I got lucky this time! It was well hidden - in the motel parking lot behind the building, and it is not a very busy hotel anymore. I think most people just saw the car under the cover and never gave it a second look, but I recognized the shape of those rear fenders under the cover and started poking around and asking questions. I promised the previous owner that when I got it running and restored, I would bring it back up for her to see it again - she really hated to let it go. But she was also not taking very good care of it - had lent it to a friend for several years who did most of the damage you see, and also lost the original build sheet, which she had!
 
Bummer for her, good for you. I dig the car, faded red paint and all.:grin:
 
Yep...I stand by what I said....You got a heck of a deal... Sweet car.
 
500

Cool car and cool color combo. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

-JT
 
Thanks, guys! Will definitely post pictures as I go - where is the best place on this site to do that, set up a gallery??

Also, anybody familiar with Sunchaser School of Metal Work in Pasadena, CA? Wondering if I should try that or a local community college body class to get started?
 
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