1949 Plymouth P18 Special Deluxe Convertible
Old cars have gotten a bad reputation lately as being a rich man's game; news reports and TV shows depicting cars passing over the auction block for literally millions of dollars can easily put that impression in peoples' heads. Happily, like so much of what passes for 'reality TV' and 'news' these days, most of it is orchestrated hokum, and an example of the bank-draining insanity that can happen when you have a live camera trained on you.
When you say 40's cars you think of post war pent up spending, but if you look at the pre Jet Age, before those fine finned beauties, you'll see enough has changed in our cars nearly 70 years on that these machines manage to feel vintage"they transport you to another era. We also need to look at the word 'Deluxe' which was used by virtually every car manufacturer at one point or another.
This car oozes 'Deluxe' in many ways, like its design, embellishments, interior chrome, and curved lines. All affordable, and a real piece of vintage iron, in need of some TLC coming from long term indoor storage and now in our overstuffed Hallowed Halls. Now that's Deluxe in the flesh, a 1949 Plymouth P18 Special Deluxe convertible.
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
Exterior
This snazzy design harkens back to a simpler time and can best be described as a presentable example with dull but intact paint and shiny chrome embellishments. Its nose utilizes a mild V formation in triplicate plus 1 for the grille, and a bumper below that is showing light tarnish in this framing. Big wide integrated front fenders flare inward as they move from the door panels to the front where they meet in a peaked hood with a single spear racing back toward the windshield. All this and more steel is bathed in Kitchener Green. Inclusions, signs of body work and bubbling is noted in the finish putting this car into the category of a 20 footer. A split windshield fronts the newer tear free black canvas top which floats above the 2 doors this car has available for the passengers and we note a clear plastic rear window. All rocker trimmings are solid and shiny and support the slab sided doors on either side. The rear design of this car curves downward gracefully, and has a single V-shaped tail light emanating from each rear fender with chrome trimmed spear on top and a curved bumper on the bottom. Nicely preserved big dog dish wheel covers are wrapped by wide white bias ply tires all around.
Interior
Knitted green broadcloth with smooth dark green vinyl bolsters and tops covers the front and rear benches. These present with some seam splitting, tears and light soiling. The bench in back is flanked by smooth dark green panels dressed with bakelite and chrome cranks. The door panels are covered in more dark green vinyl. They have some art deco inspired chrome as well as shiny chrome handles and cranks with cream bakelite escutcheons and knobs showing nicely on this dark green background. Up front, the full metal dash is finished in Kitchener Green and there are also plenty of beautifully chromed bezels and a horizontally mounted radio and central speaker cover that has shades of an old jukebox. Another small curved chromed panel hangs below the dash, and houses more bakelite knobs. This dash is very inspiring and clean, but the chome does present with some pitting. The Kitchener Green also shows up on the door sills and center framing for the windshield. Tan carpet floats this Art Deco interior and a big cream bakelite steering wheel is fronting the dash and it also has plenty of chromed embellishments.
Drivetrain
Among all the other niceties this car offers up, is an unrestored appearing engine bay with a 218ci L-head inline 6-cylinder engine. Patina abounds on the black with a black painted oil bath air cleaning system above a 1-barrel carburetor and intake. On the back is a 3-speed manual transmission and a 3.90 geared rear axle turns the tires.
Undercarriage
The X frame is riddled with patina and surface rust but remains solid structurally. Rockers and floor pans are stamped steel and show repair panels for the flooring. Independent coil spring front suspension and leaf spring rear is on, and drum brakes are seen all around. We note a new full single exhaust system has recently been installed.
Drive-Ability
Some TLC will be in order before ignition is achieved, as with any car out of long term storage. We do note the engine turns by hand
Plymouth built solid cars to last in the day, and this car upholds that theory. Bulletproof construction which was built to last and with all the chrome add ons it was sure to be a looker, and it is! Rounded fenders and hood, and a clean interior and we are looking really good with this example.
NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
