1958 Dodge Coronet

This motor car is being sold as part of an overseas collection. It has been imported under the Bonhams temporary admission customs bond and is therefore subject to the lower rate 5% import tax if the car is to remain in the UK. The 5% is calculated on the final selling price. For example, if the car sells for £5,000, then £250 is added, making the total amount payable of £5,250.

In common with the majority of cars in this collection, this vehicle has been on static display for a number of years and there is no history available beyond that displayed in our photography section.

We have not started or driven the car so cannot vouch for its mechanical viability or functionality. It will require recommissioning prior to road use and is sold ‘as seen’.

It is available for view and inspection at our HQ near Abingdon and we will be happy to show the car to you and/or your appointed mechanic.

This is a 1958 Dodge Coronet Texan Custom Special Edition 4 Door Sedan.

As such it is an extremely rare vehicle and is believed to be the only one in the UK at present.

It has an LD2, ‘Red Ram’, OHV 325 cu in V8 engine with 2 barrel Carter carburettors. The car comes with pushbutton, 2-speed PowerFlite automatic transmission, ‘Torsion-Aire’ independent front suspension and all-round hydraulic drum brakes.

It also has the Texan Custom Edition chrome pack which includes a Texas emblem on the back, two red Texas emblems on the rear fins, and an adhesive ‘authenticity’ sticker on the passenger side front window that states, "Made exclusively for Texans by Dodge".

It has cream paintwork and sand/beige upholstery and interior.

We know that the car was first registered in the US on 31.12.1958. It was imported from Texas to the UK in 2005. We believe it spent some of its life in the UK in service as a wedding car. During this period it had some work done, which we have listed in the History Highlights section.

In 2007 the car was bought by the vendor and shipped off to join his collection, where it has been on static display ever since.

This low mileage, highly original, dry-stored example appears to us to be in good overall condition and, despite needing cosmetic attention in one or two areas, we believe it to be a solid example of the marque and model.

We say this with the proviso that we have neither driven the car nor started the engine.

In the main, the paintwork has held up reasonably well over the years and much of it still has a decent depth of shine and lustre to it. How much of it is original we can’t say, but we know that the roof was resprayed in 2006.

The panels and shut lines are consistent. Or at least as consistent as they would have been in 1958. There are very few dinks, dimples or dents to speak of.

The brightwork, too, is very good overall, despite a light crease and a few scratches on the rear bumper.

Together with the acres of chrome, the car’s ‘swept’ fins, Dan Dare tail lights and all-round green-tinted glass combine to create a powerful aesthetic evocation of 1950’s America.

Frankly, this car couldn’t be more Texan if it were chewing a cheroot and wearing a boot lace tie.

All of the badging is correct, as far as we can tell.

The main concern with the bodywork is the presence of some apparently superficial rust in a few places, notably along the tops of the sills where they meet the kick plates, under the chrome strips on the front wings, inside the door jambs and hinges, and under the leading edge of the bonnet.

There are two areas of somewhat less than perfect repair work between the sills and the rear wheel arches on both sides.

The dashboard has more chrome, shiny plastic, knobs, levers, switches and buttons than a pinball machine in a 1950’s diner.

The interior condition is really very good and supports anecdotal information stating that the upholstery and interior were refurbished at some point in the not too distant past.

The cloth and vinyl upholstery and door cards have held up very well and, although they would thank the next owner for the judicious application of some soapy water and elbow grease, they are not worn, torn or otherwise damaged.

The headlining is in decent condition and, in general, so are the carpets, save for some obvious discolouration and staining in the driver’s footwell.

As with the outside of the car, the inside is basically sound (and very authentic) but looks like what it is: i.e., a car that’s been in a static display for well over a decade, is a bit dusty and could do with some spit and polish and TLC.

The rubber seals around the inner door frames are cracked and perished in places.

The boot, which is big enough to cover two post codes, sorry, ZIP codes, has some staining to the carpet but is otherwise fine.

The dashboard and instruments, all black, have some patina but no damage or wear to speak of.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of the electrics as we haven’t started the vehicle.

In general, the undersides seem to be well preserved, with all structural and mechanical parts apparently in possession of a decent amount of engineering integrity. Some components are clearly rather more recent than 1958.

We’ve seen nothing more than standard superficial rust, which seems entirely appropriate for a car that’s spent most of its life in sunny, salt-free Texas and a climate-controlled collection.

The engine bay is clean, dry and looks ready to be coaxed gently out of hibernation.

The car has just over 54,271 miles on the clock. In June 2007, when it last had an MoT certificate, the number was 54,224 miles.

Clearly, it’s not been up to much recently.

Work undertaken during its brief two-year (2005 – 2007) stint in the UK includes:

• repair and respray roof
• supply and fit new core radiator
• remove front wheels, strip brakes
• re-grease wheel bearings
• clean and adjust brakes, replace wheels
• check out poor starting, remove dynamo - send for repair
• make new earth lead for battery
• repair 'y' piece exhaust.
• remove rear wheels and brake drums
• clean and adjust brakes
• fit new wheel studs, refit wheels
• refit dynamo and adjust fan belts
• change engine oil and filter
• change air filter
• change spark plugs

Currently, this car has neither an MoT certificate nor a V5 and is not registered in the UK. The winning bidder will receive a receipt for their purchase, and proof that HMRC is satisfied the import duty (aka bond) is paid.

The winning bidder will need these documents, plus a fresh MoT, to apply for a V5C from the DVLA (unless they choose to ship it to another country of course).

The car is located with us at our HQ in Oxfordshire. If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

We haven’t been able to start or drive the car so our understanding of it is somewhat limited.

This car has been kept warm and dry in a static collection for nearly 15 years. Prior to that it had 2 years in the UK, during which time it was serviced and maintained as needed and occasionally put out to do some light work as a wedding car.

Before that, it spent 47 years carrying people with 10 gallon hats and rhinestone belt buckles around Texas. Possibly.

A 1958 Dodge Coronet Texan Custom Special Edition 4 Door Sedan in this condition would turn heads in Dallas or Houston. In the UK, people will stop and stare with their mouths open wherever you go.

This is a rare, special, handsome beast and one we’re happy to offer for auction with an estimate of £5,000 - £10,000, plus 5% Bonhams bond payment.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car is located at our headquarters near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, so to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.