dual antennae template

[Steve Storey]

Thanks John for the template and it appears it came thru the ether in scale. I've notice on eBay antennae sets for under $200. They seem to be repros for Chevy. Should these be considered acceptable for a MOPAR. Or should one hold out for a NOS set. Does anyone have thoughts on this? Steve

[rogerh]

Personal taste, I guess. I wanted my car to be all Mopar, and I was extremely lucky to come across a decent used pair when I needed them. I havent seen the "Chevrolet" antennas you say are on Ebay, but the fact is there are not many 1959 Plymouth experts/purists roaming around out there who will spot your incorrect antennas or sideview mirrors...

[Ron Keij]

Steve,

If you are looking for a NOS set be prepared to spend a lot of money! I have seen good used sets sell for $800 But checking Ebay can help, I found my set there and bought it for $300 and that was when the US dollar wasn't worth anything for us Most of the repro sets have a very small base compared to the originals and if they are too small they don't look good, you can check the old pics of my car in the showcase for an example. The last two years I was at Carlisle I have seen good used sets for sale at Frank Mitchell's stand and he was asking $800 for a set.

Ron

[rogerh]

then I surely won't tell you what I paid for my used set ten years ago!
I think I have a set of Chevy-type small-base antennae. I bought them becasue they ressembled the Mopar ones, but they are obviously smaller.
I hear about Dennie Turner in FLA, selling rebuil antennas,,,I have never checked into his offerings or prices. He advertises in Hemmings Motor News, I believe.

[Denver 59 Fin Convert]

Roger is right, that just about any Dual antenna will work if you are not in a Judging competition. If you can find some and afford some correct Mopar issued ones. That would be great! But very few of the cars we have are in that category of Correctness that would be judged for point loss on not having a correct Mopar issued duals!

When you using the template I posted, use the curve to locate the base from the trunk opening, just use the front mounting hole location and adjust the cable cutout and rear hole to your version of the base.

I mentioned to a fellow Mopar friend here in Denver about the template I had and he said he had a correct set of dual antennae to sell to me at a low cost to replace my aftermarket kit. He said the same thing as Roger, very few would know the difference. If these had not come along I would have no problem in using the after-market versions. People see the duals and that is unique enough.

John Q.
Denver 59 Fin Convert
Arvada, Colo

[Steve Storey]

Thanks for all your input. Guess i'll proceed with the knockoffs. A few years ago i did manage to find a set of mirrors from an old gentleman located in Illonois? named George Dalinas. He had a beautiful black SF conv. The mirrors are truly works of art as i'm sure the antennae are also, but alas! At the time George was 88 years young. He also had a great wagon. Steve

[Dick Koch]

Hi Guys - I made the mistake of putting the Chevy dual rear antennas on my red SP and they looked like crap, the base is not thicker on one side so they lean outward. I guess the main reason I was not happy is because I knew they were not correct and althought this is not 50's Mopar country a lot of the local car guys spotted that they were not correct. They are in the pictures on the site of the Red SF. I ended up getting the correct ones from Dennis Turner. Now I be Happy.
Dick.

[rogerh]

veering from the topic, George Dalinis ALSO had a Fury convertible (the factory didnt make 'em), which got a lot of attention and a write-up in at least one car magazine. He had to sell out due to failing eyesight..(I never heard about the wagon..)