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-   -   1959 Plymouth Belvedere - Restoration begins (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintage-cars-classics-india/187085-1959-plymouth-belvedere-restoration-begins.html)

This 1959 Plymouth Belvedere has made Jaipur its new home, the car was supposedly used as a Governor's car in Madhya pradesh, imported by GOI. It was bought from its second owner, who hardly used the car since buying it in 1971. The odometer reads 3000 miles, which might be genuine.









The marks on the roof show that a beacon light was fixed there



The interiors





the only missing thing is the rear glass, an old ambassador glass and frame was fixed there earlier and now has been removed.







The car after some cleaning

Looking at the first pic. reminds me of the buried time-capsule '57 Plymouth in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after twas unearthed in 2007:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/92477...g-time-capsule


Only this car was fortunately kept away from water-logged places, unlike the Tulsa Plymouth, so is relatively in better shape!
It appears the original colour was blue- so any plans to revert to it while restoring? That said, the current patina paint doesn't look too bad either IMHO! :D

This car was advertised in OLX a few weeks back and was in Bhopal and the asking price was 15 lakhs.Any idea what it finally got sold for?

Target right now is to work on the mechanical's & electrical's and to get the engine running and to procure the missing rear glass, the owner wants to use it in the same condition for a while and will then decide on the future course of restoration.

Here is the engine bay of the Plymouth, the engine was fired and runs sweetly,
the water body was not working and has been removed to look into the issue.

The car needs work on suspension and brakes before it can be driven.

The restoration work has started on the Plymouth Belvedere, here are some pictures

Is the car being repainted? If so, aren't the side trims/pattis and other cosmetics going to be removed first?

Full grounds up restoration has commenced,trims etc will of-course removed in due course, right now the body is off the chassis and work on the underside has begun , suspension and mechanical parts have arrived from the US as well.

Engine has been removed for checking and cleaning, doesn't need much work.

The chassis was cleaned/cleared of all rust and painted with primer.

Thanks for sharing, KartikeyaL! As per your request, giving this car its own thread :thumbs up.

Chassis has received a coat of paint and work on suspension has begun.





Tinkering work on the underside of the body is almost complete and it has received a coat of anti-rust.

KartikeyaL,
Its going to be a great car once it is restored. Nostalgic! After going through this thread, I have gone back 20 years when I was in my teens.
I remember coming across one Belvedere in Aurangabad Maharashtra which was stationed in collectors premises. It was accompanied by '64 Impala. Somehow I didn't go for any of them:Frustrati as we were very much looking for 1956 Dodge Kingsway. Later one of my friends dad purchased it. Sure I will check the status of it.

Stanher,
I remember watching Boyd Coddington show which was filmed during the unearthing of Belvedere. He was present during the complete project. The following year he died. I am sure somewhere I have its video on my computer.

That's an amazing car! Can't wait to see it restored. Good luck for the massive undertaking ahead!

Part of me was hoping the gorgeous patina on the paint would be left as it is with a coat of clear sprayed on top like the guys at Gas Monkey Garage did a few time on their show Fast N' Loud!

The underside has received rubber coating.

This is going to be one hell of a spectacle on the road! A quick question to all those who restore such cars, where does one obtain spares for such cars, are they easily available?