Vehicle Description
1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe
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 that will not break the bank. Now that's Deluxe in the
flesh, a 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe.
Exterior
This snazzy design harkening to a simpler time can best be
described as a nice example with good paint and shiny chrome
embellishments. Its nose utilizes a mild V formation in triplicate
plus 1 for the grille, and a shiny bumper below 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
dual side spears on the bottom of it. All this and more steel is
bathed in blue. A split windshield fronts the metal top which
floats above the 4 doors this car has available for the passengers.
All rocker trimmings are solid and shiny and support the flared out
doors on either side. The rear design of this car curves downward
gracefully, and has a single rectangular chrome trimmed on top and
bottom taillight, 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
Striped gray broadcloth with thin red and yellow stripes covers the
front and rear benches. These are in excellent condition. The bench
in back has padded arms for added comfort. All door panels and
vertical panels are covered in a darker gray felted broadcloth, and
have some art deco inspired chrome delineating as well as shiny
chrome handles and cranks with cream bakelite escutcheons and knobs
show nicely on this dark gray background. Up front the full metal
dash is a two tone faux painted wood grain with a lighter wood look
on top and darker for the front. There are also plenty of
beautifully chromed bezels and a vertically 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 beautifully
polished and clean. This faux painted wood grain also shows up on
the door sills and surrounds of the glass and center framing for
the windshield. Above is a ribbed dark gray felted broadcloth
headliner, and on the floors dark gray carpeting. A big brown
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 a beautifully
restored engine bay with a 218ci L-head inline 6-cylinder engine.
All fully restored and black painted oil bath air cleaning system
is above a 1-barrel carburetor and intake. On back is a 3-speed
manual transmission and a like new radiator has supple hoses
running to and from the mill.
Undercarriage
The X frame is nicely painted black and is solid structurally.
Rockers and floor pans are perfectly stamped steel and painted a
lighter blue which is a nice contrast to the black. Independent
front suspension and leaf spring rear is on, and drum brakes are
seen all around. A careful look all around and you can be hard
pressed to find anything that's awry.
Drive-Ability
A quick fire up and off to the test track where it was a delightful
drive. Smooth power and expected handling was noted, however, some
brake work needs to be done as the pedal goes almost to the floor
and it does feel as if the brakes are dragging. I could not keep my
eyes off the dash. It is so wonderfully designed and restored!
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 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.