Fixer Upper: #3 1955 Dodge

Are series of Fixer Upper cars continues with a twist. Are Fixer Upper #3 is a 1955 Dodge Royal and will not be sold when completed. We plan on keeping this one.

Have you ever watched the TV show American Pickers? If not, it is a TV series about Mike and Frank who travel around the Country looking for antiques for their American Picker stores in Iowa and Nashville. My wife and I enjoy the show and had an opportunity to “pick” one of their locations sometime after they had been there. The location in Eastern Tennessee is one with a large collection of 50s and 60s cars and related memorabilia. Mike and Frank scored a couple of nice large Ford signs but the owner really didn’t want to sell much.

Our experience was similar, but much more rewarding. The owner, like most of us, has a memory connected to every car and item on his property. However, we were able to pick a 1955 Dodge, a 70s vintage go-cart and vintage wall clock from an old automotive shop.

The Dodge is the subject of our next Fixer Upper Project Car. It is a Dodge Royal two door hardtop in survivor condition with original paint and interior. It shows a documented 58,000 original miles and is a one owner car! We received the original TN title with the car.

The car is nearly rust free having always been garaged. The interior shows a little wear and there are a couple of paint issues. The biggest deal is that somewhere along the line the top of the engine was removed. We will need a complete engine rebuild and a thorough inspection of all the mechanical systems with repairs as needed to the brakes and fuel system.

Although no work has been done to the car as of yet other than clean up it appears to be a solid foundation.

Our goal for the car is a road worthy survivor without lots of restoration. Some will be required but we will keep it to a minimum to protect its survivor status.

See the next Post on this build.