Our 59 Belvedere came to us about a year ago. My wife and I had discussed buying a 50’s car
when we retire, but that is years from now. Last summer we were driving through the midwest
visiting various relatives. We had been visiting my wife’s aunt, about to leave for the next state,
when at we happened to mention wanting a classic car some day. The aunt got all excited and
insisted there was a car we needed to see before we left. It had belonged to another relative by
marriage that had passed away, and now the car was a part of the estate. We said no, thank you, as
we were not ready for one yet, and we were particular because my wife wanted a car with wings (fins)
and I wanted a convertible. The aunt got even more excited, and said we MUST see the car, as it
was a convertible with fins. I must confess, when she told us it was a Belvedere, I really did not
know what a 59 Belvedere looked like. So, we went to see the car and it was love at first sight.
That was about all we talked about for the rest of the trip. A month later, we drover back and
trailered Belvedere home.
At the time we bought it without really knowing what we had. The sellers did not know either,
so we came up with an “as is” price. The engine started, but there was almost no gas in it so we
could not take it for a driver. We looked it over and took a lot of pictures. We had lots of questions
but almost no answers about the car. Now that we have owned it for over a year, I have a better
idea what we have. The car has every option - power top, windows, steering, brakes, adjustable
front seat, dual mirrors, dual antennae, and the Golden Commando engine. It even came with
the original manual. According to it, the only option we are missing is the automatic headlight
dimmer. To top it all off, all the power options work except for the A/C, which still has the
original compressor. We have had to do a lot of cleaning and some basic maintenance on it to get
it in running order, and there is a lot of restoration that should be done to get the car in the
condition it deserves, but it has proven to be a great find and a car my wife and I both love.
Welcome- and GREAT story! Your excitement was clearly felt thruout your introductory post.
There are several options which your car doesn’t display, but going by your list, one has to wonder why a person would buy the #3 car in Mopar’s 1959 line-up (Sport Fury being #1, Fury as #2), and then add so many options. Maybe they particularly liked the simpler Belvedere trim package…no medallions, no gravel guards, no sill stainless, no Sportdeck…the dealer must have been ecstatic, adding up all the option costs.
I look forward to seeing more of the interior…does it have swivel seats or bench?
I did notice the car’s generator has been replaced with an alternator.
Do I see the firewall is white? Revealing the original color?
The drier for the factory A/C…doesn’t it sit in a well in the inner fender, and not out in space as this one shows? The stacked horns suggest factory A/C…
Roger, I think that small device off the AC compressor is called a “muffler”. My dealer add on compressor set up has the same device (not yet istalled on my car yet) that is piped off the compressor.
I will check the manuals for its correct name for it. My 70 Cuda Convertible has this same device too of the compressor but is in a different orientation then this car has,
Nice Belvedere Convertible - I’m restoring one right now, they seem to be rarer than the Sport Fury Convertible, how lucky you are. Good luck with it.
Roger - I think the dryer is there and in the right place, notice the piping running behind the horns.
Dick.
I see that now. The tube on the left heads to the drier in its inner fender “pocket”.
When I was putting the factory A/C on my car, I had little to direct me…the A/C came from a 318 parts car in Idaho, and I was trying to install it on a 361. I had some photos supplied by a member in Wisconsin (who has a factory a/c car), but I had neither time nor skills to create a “pocket well” for the (missing) drier. This is only the second factory A/C '59 Plymouth I’ve ever ‘seen’.
Car resides in Texas now, but was purchased in Kansas.
Best I can tell the car was white originally. The previous owner acquired the car in 1984.
I bought it from his son, who could not recall the car being any color but red, suggesting the original owner painted it before he parted with it.
I would love to know the original color of the top, but at this point I do not know if that can be determined.
If the car’s VIN number starts with M255 the code for the top should be on the data plate.
The engine bay is white so I’m pretty sure the original color was iceberg white (paint code X) so the top was white or black.
Cars build in Evansville never received a data plate
You can order the build sheets from the Chrysler historical department.
Then you will know exactly how your car came from the factory.
I can make a list of options and such things but who knows what was added over the years.
Your car was the 8344th Belvedere build in Evansville. I guess early 59 but this will be confirmed with the build sheets
Accessory group 311, full size wheel covers / stone shields / clock / glove box lock $39.20
Accessory group 312, back up lights / windshield washers / variable speed wipers $27.85
Air conditioning $445.60
Solex tinted glass $42.60
Golden commando $86.50
Remote mirror, matching passenger mirror $26.25
Power brakes $42.60
Power steering $76.60
Power windows $102.30
Dual rear antenna $12.45
Dash pad $13.50
Deluxe steering wheel $13.85
Torqueflite $226.90
Most likely had 8.00X14 white walls $55.95
Does it have swivel seats, aluminum inserts, sure grip, power seat, undercoating with fiberglass pad under the hood?
So far the car was $4026.40 brand new!
The washer jar should be a jiffy jet bag, air cleaner is the wrong color and full of holes. I guess it was raced back in the day.
