aturman

Thanks. As for the gyromatic, I know it was available in the Coronet in 1950, as I've owned two cars so equiped. The sedan's emblem even states "gyromatic" under Coronet. Since neither car was running, I've not gotten to drive a gyro equiped car, but, essentially they work as a double overdrive, where you lift your foot off the gas and when you reapply it, it "clunks" into gear, then you manually switch to high and repeat the process. Chryslers called it a "Simplamatic" transmission. Here's the wikipedia entry. Apparently it's an "underdrive" rather than an "overdrive" set up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluid_Drive I have a hunch this car has a truck engine that was swapped in. Did they have a higher compression ration/more horsepower than the car versions?

I'm parting out a particularaly rusty 1950 Coronet, and noticed that the block and head are red, and appear to have always been this color. Were there cases or times when these engines were red instead of the more customary silver? Also, this car is equiped with a windshield washer. Was that a factory or aftermarket option (it would determine whether I'd bother trying to remove it or not)! And, about my own car: I've got a 1950 Coronet Diplomat. However it has a color matched (instead of woodgrain) dash and fluid drive instead of gyromatic. I recently sold an unrestored Diplomat, which had both of these features. Were these extra dollar options throughout the line? I always thought that was something that separated the lower cost Meadowbrooks from the Coronets.