Vehicle Description
When Walter P. Chrysler introduced the Plymouth brand in 1928, its
mission was to take on Ford and Chevrolet in the highly competitive
low-cost car market. The typically arrogant Henry Ford dismissed
Plymouth as a bit player, assuming he and Chevrolet had a firm lock
on the market. But Plymouth got off to a strong start, with
maiden-year sales of about 50,000 units. While that figure paled in
comparison to Ford's annual sales of half a million cars, it
pointed to a bright future for Chrysler's junior brand. In the wake
of the market crash, the importance of low-price cars rose, and
Plymouth was soon fighting among the top three. For the 1932 model
year, Plymouth hit their stride with stylish new PB series. These
cars are considered the pinnacle of the pre-war Plymouth range,
with beautiful, upmarket styling and sparkling performance from
their robust four-cylinder engines. Central to the PB's appeal was
its stylish and sophisticated looks, with curvaceous one-piece
front fenders, free-standing headlamps, and an Imperial-like hood
that stretched from the radiator to the base of the windscreen,
adding visual length. The star of the line was undoubtedly the
beautifully proportioned Sport Roadster, which offered style,
character and driving enjoyment in abundance. One particularly
endearing piece from the Frank Kleptz collection is the 1932
Plymouth PB Sport Roadster. Frank often bought cars in groups,
refurbishing some and selling others to fund the more expensive
pieces in his collection. He wisely held on to this car and one day
got the bug to restore it for the AACA Fall National Meet in
Hershey, Pennsylvania. Frank was notoriously ambitious with his
projects, and in this case, he didn't leave much room for error -
completing a full restoration in only nine weeks and three days,
just in time to get it to Hershey! It is easy to see why Frank
Kleptz found the little Plymouth so endearing, particularly in its
smart yellow livery with red accents, wheels, and upholstery. The
attractive styling gives it a notably upscale appearance,
especially with this car's period-correct accessories, including
the dual side-mount spares, folding windscreen, and chrome radiator
shell with contrasting painted slats. Despite taking fewer than ten
weeks to restore it, the quality of Frank's work is impressive. The
PB wears an AACA National First Prize badge from 1974 and remains
in good condition overall, having matured nicely through the years,
displaying a moderate yet appealing patina on the paintwork and
chrome. The bright red upholstery is delightfully bold and a
perfect match to the red accents on the body. Interior appointments
are appropriately basic for a runabout roadster of this type, and
the instruments and controls are authentic and nicely restored. The
well-preserved restoration makes this Plymouth PB an excellent
basis for a casual tour and event car. Recent mechanical work
includes a rebuilt fuel pump and carburetor service and the L-head
four-cylinder fired to life with relative ease. It runs quite well,
though due to the extended period of storage, some additional work
is needed to return it to the road, most notably in the fuel
system. Otherwise, the engine bay is tidy and authentically
detailed with period-style fittings like the Fram oil filter and
proper lacquered fabric wiring. Plymouth's rare and charming PB
Sport Roadster stood head and shoulders above the competition in
the low-cost car class, hitting the sweet spot of style,
performance, and value. That ethos still rings true today, as this
marvelous Plymouth returns to the market for the first time in
nearly 50 years and is sure to endear itself to its next custodian.
Offers welcome and trades considered For additional details please
view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6846-1932-plymouth-pb-sport-roadster/
