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Old 24th February 2014, 00:18   #1
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My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Sometime in April 1955, a church in south Kerala picked up a Dodge Kingsway, for use by the head of the Church. The car was light green in colour, and served the owners well for several decades.

It was later passed on to one of the followers of the church, who used regularly, for quite some time. In his ownership, the car was painted blue. He parked it once it became impractical to use on a daily basis.

It lay there for many years, and started to sink to the ground, but what hurt it the most was the 'repair' done by a mech who had no clue what he was doing.

With the help of a kind BHP-ian, I was able to lay my hands on it, in 2011.

This is the condition I got it in.

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-20110713-14.07.24.jpg

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-20110713-15.05.52.jpg

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-20110713-17.46.39.jpg

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-20110713-17.53.17.jpg

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-20110713-17.54.57.jpg

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-20110713-18.06.07.jpg


If anyone feels that the pics look bad, the real life version was much worse.

There may be people who are of the opinion that this is not a feasible project, but to me, it made perfect sense.

Love, as they say, is blind.

Last edited by moralfibre : 25th February 2014 at 10:07. Reason: Correcting spelling.
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Old 24th February 2014, 01:09   #2
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re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Bring it on, JayD!

What a transformation!
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Old 24th February 2014, 12:50   #3
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

It might be old and it might have more rust than metal. But God, does the Kingsway have a personality! It looks so darn imposing, even lying dead on the flatbed.

Going by how your Landmaster turned out, I'm sure she's a beauty today. Please share pics of the restoration & completed car.
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Old 24th February 2014, 13:29   #4
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Quote:
Originally Posted by JayD View Post
Sometime in April 1955, a church in south Kerala picked up a Dodge Kingsway, for use by the head of the Church. The car was light green in colour, and served the owners well for several decades........

help of a kind BHP-ian, I was able to lay my hands on it, in 2011.
It feels nice the see another restoration story. My first thought was that the front windscreen is unbroken and the trim is complete . The car has good body line and one would have to presume that the trims were stored safely.

However, noting that the amount of work required on this car and after seeing the pictures of the completed car, I will surely be following this thread for updates.

Thanks JayD for starting this thread and sharing this story, keep posting.

Cheers

KPS

PS. Hopefully I will soon start a new thread on my 1954 Dodge once you complete your story

Last edited by moralfibre : 25th February 2014 at 10:07. Reason: Correcting spelling in quoted post.
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Old 24th February 2014, 14:23   #5
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Happy for you, as you saved a legend from its death bed and happy for the car, as it got a new lease of life. Cant wait for the remaining 'Rustoration' Story.

Glued to this thread.

Last edited by Blow Horn Ok : 24th February 2014 at 14:26.
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Old 24th February 2014, 17:43   #6
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

The car sure has the looks and am waiting to see how it will turn out after the 'rustoration'.
How about the engine and the insides. The outer body looks 'workable' and not that rusted considering that it is from Kerala. Hope you do get the 'right' person who will do justice to the vehicle.
Please do keep us updated on how it will turn out.

P.S wont be saying that love is blind Mr.JayD..just that certainly beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
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Old 24th February 2014, 21:24   #7
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Indeed, the beauty of an object lies in the eyes of the beholder!

This Dodge Kingsway, bearing registration KLK/923 (Right?) is in excellent condition.

The car still has its original Straight-Six in there.

To say, that the finished car is excellent is actually an UNDERSTATEMENT. I am running out of adjectives to describe it..... lovely, excellent, perfect all fall short.

In my opinion, "excellence personified" is an apt comment.

You are lucky, JayD! I'm turning green with envy, the same colour as the car.

Once more, the finished product is excellence personified!

Cheers!

P.S: When the car was but in a state of decay, on the flatbed, look just how much more regal it appears when compared with the W124, in the
fifth picture.

Can't help, but make this comment, inspite of me being a Merc buff. Dodges! Lovely creatures!

Last edited by FINTAIL : 24th February 2014 at 21:37.
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Old 25th February 2014, 09:18   #8
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

With all due respect to JD. I just got to see this beauty in metal and its a head turner for sure.

Last edited by karlosdeville : 25th February 2014 at 12:06. Reason: Deleted pic based on request from owner, who is sharing the whole resotration story in stages
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Old 25th February 2014, 12:07   #9
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

wow. The restored version looks stunning. I guess planning a trip to Kerala will have a new agenda. Sheer Beauty! Awesome JayD.
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Old 25th February 2014, 12:19   #10
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steeroid View Post
Bring it on, JayD!

What a transformation!

Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO View Post
It might be old and it might have more rust than metal. But God, does the Kingsway have a personality! It looks so darn imposing, even lying dead on the flatbed.

Going by how your Landmaster turned out, I'm sure she's a beauty today. Please share pics of the restoration & completed car.
I agree, there is something about these cars, especially the dodge and the plymouth which makes them look majestic, no mater how run down they are!

The car is in the final stages of completion, pics coming up!

Quote:
Originally Posted by KPS View Post
It feels nice the see another restoration story. My first thought was that the front windscreen is unbroken and the trim is complete . The car has good body line and one would have to presume that the trims were stored safely.
However, noting that the amount of work required on this car and after seeing the pictures of the completed car, I will surely be following this thread for updates.
Thanks JayD for starting this thread and sharing this story, keep posting.
Cheers

KPS
PS. Hopefully I will soon start a new thread on my 1954 Dodge once you complete your story
Thanks KPS,Even though it was very very rusty, the fundamentals of the car were in proper order, that's why I picked it up.

Most of the trims were available, but some bits were missing. They had to be procured seperately.

Looking forward to seeing your cars resto too!!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blow Horn Ok View Post
Happy for you, as you saved a legend from its death bed and happy for the car, as it got a new lease of life. Cant wait for the remaining 'Rustoration' Story.

Glued to this thread.
Thank you! Pics coming up..

Quote:
Originally Posted by Seventhgear View Post
The car sure has the looks and am waiting to see how it will turn out after the 'rustoration'.
How about the engine and the insides. The outer body looks 'workable' and not that rusted considering that it is from Kerala. Hope you do get the 'right' person who will do justice to the vehicle.
Please do keep us updated on how it will turn out.

P.S wont be saying that love is blind Mr.JayD..just that certainly beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder

The original engine was present, but was in a fully damaged condition. Was completely worked upon, and is in Mint condition now.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FINTAIL View Post
Indeed, the beauty of an object lies in the eyes of the beholder!

This Dodge Kingsway, bearing registration KLK/923 (Right?) is in excellent condition.

The car still has its original Straight-Six in there.

To say, that the finished car is excellent is actually an UNDERSTATEMENT. I am running out of adjectives to describe it..... lovely, excellent, perfect all fall short.

In my opinion, "excellence personified" is an apt comment.

You are lucky, JayD! I'm turning green with envy, the same colour as the car.

Once more, the finished product is excellence personified!

Cheers!

P.S: When the car was but in a state of decay, on the flatbed, look just how much more regal it appears when compared with the W124, in the
fifth picture.

Can't help, but make this comment, inspite of me being a Merc buff. Dodges! Lovely creatures!
Thank you! The colour was chosen as the car was originally green. I already have a car, in a similar shade, hence decided to tweak it a bit!

Last edited by JayD : 25th February 2014 at 12:21.
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Old 25th February 2014, 12:32   #11
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Soon after the car got home, My dad and i evaluated things. We noted the following points


1) The entire work was to be done at home. The amount of TLC needed was such that no garage would do justice.

2) Most of the original trims were available, but metalwork had taken a severe beating, thanks to kerala weather.

3) The engine was fully dead, as it last ran in the 70's

4) The starter and carb were missing, suspected to have been flicked by someone at some point of time.


That aside, we started to disassemble whatever was on the car. Pics below.
Attached Thumbnails
My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4739.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4740.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4741.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4744.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4745.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4800.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4868.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4869.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4870.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4871.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4872.jpg  

My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'-dscn4877.jpg  

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Old 25th February 2014, 12:49   #12
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

Hey Jay D ,Couldn't help it .so had to log in after almost a year.Nice to see this project.And i still remember the way you got hold of that blue M800.lolz.
Steeroid ,nice to see your post.
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Old 25th February 2014, 15:02   #13
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

@ JayD: You're going to restore the Dodge right in your front yard? Kudos!

Will be watching this thread.
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Old 25th February 2014, 17:37   #14
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

My goodness JayD!! It must have been a huge feat to restore this beauty. I cant imagine the amount of hardwork and personal time you have put in this to restore the majestic Dodge.

Kudos JayD!! I will be closely following this thread man
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Old 25th February 2014, 20:32   #15
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Re: My '55 Dodge Kingsway 'Rustoration'

A great car worth spending your resources. Waiting to see the beauty in restored form. All the very best.
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