Dick Koch's convertible

[Dick_Koch]

John & John - Both of you are to be envied for the work you are doing on your convertibles. I will be joining you soon in the same endeavor, I bought the Belvie Convertible in Jamestown, CA. and should be receiving it soon. I’m real excited even though it will need a lot of work. John Q, like yours it was out in a field for quite some time but by the pictures I have (I will try to figure out how to put them on the site) it doesn’t seem to be as bad as the one I’m restoring right now was under all that paint. I will probable be picking your brains as soon as I finish my hardtop. You too Roger if you don’t mind. This is the only way I would ever have been able to afford a Convertible. What with my stash of parts and my parts car I should have everthing I will need. I even have a bolt of black and white factoy correct upholstery cloth that was in the trunk of my green car when I received it. I even may be able to clone it to a Sport Fury. I also have two engines a 318 A block and a 318 La block, two torqueflight trannys and a drive shaft.

NOW as to all of youse guys belly aching about the cold weather it was 45 degrees on my back porch this morning, had to wear long pants when I took the dogs out. So I quess I will hunker down inside today and try to clean up this mess on my desk.
Dick.

[Dick_Koch]

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by Dick Koch » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:49 am

John & John - Both of you are to be envied for the work you are doing on your convertibles. I will be joining you soon in the same endeavor, I bought the Belvie Convertible in Jamestown, CA. and should be receiving it soon. I’m real excited even though it will need a lot of work. John Q, like yours it was out in a field for quite some time but by the pictures I have (I will try to figure out how to put them on the site) it doesn’t seem to be as bad as the one I’m restoring right now was under all that paint. I will probable be picking your brains as soon as I finish my hardtop. You too Roger if you don’t mind. This is the only way I would ever have been able to afford a Convertible. What with my stash of parts and my parts car I should have everthing I will need. I even have a bolt of black and white factoy correct upholstery cloth that was in the trunk of my green car when I received it. I even may be able to clone it to a Sport Fury. I also have two engines a 318 A block and a 318 La block, two torqueflight trannys and a drive shaft.

NOW as to all of youse guys belly aching about the cold weather it was 45 degrees on my back porch this morning, had to wear long pants when I took the dogs out. So I quess I will hunker down inside today and try to clean up this mess on my desk.
Dick.Attachments



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Dick Koch

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by Dick Koch » Thu Jan 13, 2011 10:56 am

OPPS, John, didn’t mean to intrude on your thread. Thought I was starting a new one. Does anybody know how to transfer this to a new thread.
Dick.Life is Beautiful! Sex, Beer & Mopars.
Dick Koch

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by rogerh » Thu Jan 13, 2011 11:14 am

MISTER KOCH!
This is AWESOME news! ANOTHER convertible gets a second chance! And joins this List!
I’ll keep my comments brief, since this needs to be a new thread.
Before you have it shipped east, think about what you might need from Big M..save on shipping
Last edited by rogerh on Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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by big m » Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:15 pm

Congratulations on your purchase, Dick!

That convertible looks quite good, the one i had been told about near Angels camp was supposed to be quite poor, maybe this was a different car?

—JohnIn rust we trust!
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by Matthew Keij » Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:01 pm

Nice car! It is in pretty good shape.

From what i can see:
No dash pad in it, std steering wheel, normal rear view mirror.
Had a normal mirror on the left side, bumper wings! (John Q can learn from that), Sport Fury medallions on it, Sport deck.

Cant wait to see more pics of itIf it ain’t dutch, it ain’t much
She’s real fine, my 361
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by Dick Koch » Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:11 pm

Matthew - You have some pretty good eyes, I was so excited to get it I didn’t even notice the Bumper wings, medallion, etc.
Dick.Life is Beautiful! Sex, Beer & Mopars.
Dick Koch

[Matthew_Keij]

That’s why i am here Dick! I know all the options

When do you expect to have it deliverd? I really like to see more pics of it.
You are just a little bit too far for me to come and check it out

[Dick_Koch]

OK everbody - Here’s my new thread. will have to reload the pictures and another one I found. I see some seat springs and a Grill, I have another grill here. I also have a valance from a 4 dr. Belvie Sedan but its quite different from the one on a Sport Fury.
Dick.

[Matthew_Keij]

Valance should be the same for all 59 Plymouths.

I might have a pretty good steering wheel if you are interested

[Dick_Koch]

I’ll take a side by side picture and post it.
Dick

[Dick_Koch]

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by rogerh » Thu Jan 13, 2011 3:35 pm

Yeah, I got a chuckle seeing the Sport Fury medallion next to the Belvedere script.
Some eyebrow stainless can be seen in the green plastic “recycle” crate.
Let’s hope all the seat springs are there, however a person CAN cut down a hardtop rear seat backspring to fit, and swivel seats can still be found.
Interesting that it has bumper wings, but no rocker moldings or stone guards. Maybe there are more goodies to go with (rattlesnakes and black widow spiders not included). i don’t see a valance…
I am just stunned at how apparently rust-free, and dent-free it is. It appears as though it may have been one of those slow-motion restorations-in-progress…(someone had sanded on the paint).
We’ll know more when Dick has it delivered.
Dick, you must have had the sweetest voice for you to talk the widow into choosing you over all other parties! Did she stick to the original Hemmings price?
Matthew, which letters do you see written on the hood?
rogerh

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[rogerh]

matthew, thanks for relocating this thread.
Thanks for the added picture, Dick, showing the dashboard.
Matthew is correct, the valances are the same across the models. ( referring to the under-front-bumper air scoop.)
When John Quinn comes back in from his very long walk, and no longer has that blood in his eyes, he will tell you not to start calling it a Sport Fury (see reference in your comment on valance)…it is a True-Blue Belvedere convertible!

[Matthew_Keij]

I didn’t do anything Roger, it was all mister Koch.

Forgot, it has manual windows.
I got some great looking handles for those!!

[Dick_Koch]

Mr. Roger - I’ll have you know I personally relocated this thread myself, so there!
Dick.

[rogerh]

Well then, you are even MORE AWESOME than I ever realised !
Car appears to have clear glass all around.
who wants to hazard a guess as to original color? (I say white, judging from what can be seen of the rear edge of passenger compartment)

[Dick_Koch]

Roger - You may be right. I was thinking wiht the black and white upholstery material I have (picture later) white may be a good color.
Dick.

[Matthew_Keij]

White is a nice colour (got a white daily driver) but i think you need the inserts if you go with white.

Here is a pic for you Dick

[rogerh]

I am not going to say which color I prefer. I was just playng detective with the pictures provided.
I also will refrain from voicing my opinion on whether you should go strictly factory-original, or custom.
I don’t have a book showing the Factory choices for Belvedere interior and exterior colors.
Plenty of time for you to choose which way to go. Will it be an investment, or a BigBoy Toy?

[Dick_Koch]

Good Points Roger - I’ll have to think about it.
Dick

[Steve_Storey]

Wow-what a great find!!

[Denver_59_Fin_Conver]

Dick, I am happy for you on snagging this one! It does look in great shape with the top and all the trim to boot, Hopefully it has the interior Window quarter panels. I do see one of them (drivers side) but maybe it is in the trunk or out of view on the floor of the car.

I do like the color of it…Will you keep it the same? Or to early to ask?

I do hearby claim the first Dibs on this car should Dick sell this car 20 years from now!!! Looks like when I do come down for a visit we can ride in a convert like we talked about last year!!!

Whatever I can do to offer any convert assistance I will!

John Q.

[Denver_59_Fin_Conver]

Opps I responded to the other identical thread posting instead of this one.

What long walk? I was working all day to day and just got home! The car looks super! looks like most of the hard to find convertible parts are there Trim wize, Hopefully the passenger side interior quarter window steel panel is in the trunk.

Yes, lets keep it the rarer production Belvedere trim instead of the Gaudy SF trim that we see everyday!

Let me know what the VIN is to see if it is later or earlier then my M253 114148

Look forward to assisting you in anyway I can!

John Q.

[rogerh]

“..passenger side interior quarter window steel panel”…?
Maybe I am replying too soon, but I don’t understand what you are talking about. Are you talking about the access cover (white, visible in one photo) which covers the quarter window mechanism, and glass while lowered
I do not see a drivers side quarter window…let’s hope that’s somewhere in the car.
It appears all the dash wiring has been removed…good excuse to order a brand new (and safe) one!

[Denver_59_Fin_Conver]

Roger, this is the interior piece of stamped metal that is wrapped in fabric and has the intergral arm rest platform built into it. This interior panel gives space to the convertible top array to raise and lower without hitting the seat or the passengers.

This is the part that has the interior Courtesy lights installed in them if it is a SF Convertible. (though mine will have them too!) Not the widow regulator flat access panel that is flush with the interior structure of the quarter window interior structure.

You can see the top of the drivers side piece in the one side view picture of Dick’s new ride but it is not shown in place on the far passenger side picture of Dick’s Belvy Convert.

I will show a picture of a one (not from my car) But from Tom Fox’s Convertible.

John Q.