Diamond in the Rough: Chrysler With Patina

November 27, 2013
Story By
Evan Griffey

1950-Plymouth-Business-Coupe-patina-feature

This one put me in a pickle. I was driving and had to weigh how much time to devote to identifying the car versus how much time I could take my eyes off the road. It was a tough ID because all the Big Three used the body style in question in the late 1940s. The next day I pulled in the driveway and discovered my query to be a 1950 Chrysler Business Coupe. I knocked on the door but no one was home…a concept that would become an all too common theme in the coming weeks.

Comparing the collectibility of a 1950 Ford to a 1950 Mopar is like comparing incandescent light bulbs to LEDs; it’s pretty much futile. I am a fan of ’49, ‘50 Blue Ovals. In my eyes they were ahead of the curve from a styling standpoint with their slab-sides and bullet grilles. Conversely, Mopar and General Motors offerings from 1950 look the same, had the same bulging rear fender, the same headlight placement, heck look at them in silhouetted profile and you’d might as well flip a coin to tell them apart. That being said, the GM and Mopar cars of 1950 still make desirable project platforms on their own accord.

This 1950 Chrysler Business Coupe scores high on the Patina Scale. A little, very little, prep work and few coats of clear to seal the deal, and this old-timer is on its way to being a prime-timer.

The grilles on this era of car is prominent…we’re not talking late ‘50s Buick grille level yet, but it’s coming. The trim on the Bizzy Coupe was outstanding, bright and un-tattered.

The sign on the windshield said it all; "99-percent complete." But there are some red flags. The disagreement in price was a harbinger of things to come. I called the phone number on the side-window sign every day for 12 days. I even left two voice messages, and I hate talking to machines! Eventually my calls would transfer directly to voice mail where, without delay, I was hit with the venerable ‘mail box is full’ message. I began feeling like I was playing a game of "Where's Waldo." A key ingredient to being a successful seller is accessibility, this was ridiculous.

On a more serious note, the sign on the rear window had encouraging comments like “First best offer!” and “comes with extra parts,” both music to the ears of any prospective buyer. The "Bill of Sale” comment is a bit more worrisome. This means the seller doesn’t have a proper title to the car. For registration-related issues you need to know the ground rules in your state. In Washington, the buyer of this car can apply for a replacement title via an Affidavit of Loss/Release of Interest form and register the car, but it will be a long time before he sees a title.

Some say this body style, especially a Mopar, is the Rodney Dangerfield of hot rodding. I disagree. I'm of the mindset that its underdog status makes this ride an opportunity. I am a big fan of the Discovery Channel’s “Fast N’ Loud” TV show. The Gas Monkey Garage built an Oldsmobile of this era, about the same color too if I remember, and I would follow their lead with this ride… a modern fuel injected Hemi V8 would get the party started. Next would be a disc brake conversion, air-bag suspension, cool period-correct nostalgia wheels, and full re-do of the interior. But before anyone can follow this script, Waldo has to materialize and make the sale. Uncovering these cars during the Diamond in the Rough series this month has been a real adrenalin rush, but I would love to actually I one of these rides some day and live the dream. I recently spotted a cool, E30 BMW 318i and I just happen to ‘need’ a commuter car. Been meaning to keep tabs on this Bavarian and just happen to pull up when the owner is outside… the sun just popped out… where’s my bike? -Evan Griffey

Diamond in the Rough: Chrysler With Patina

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