Vehicle Description
The ultimate little old lady special! 70,000 original miles,
slant-6 engine, manual transmission, very basic. But it's also
ultra-clean, nicely maintained, and fun to drive. If you like
no-frills motoring, this Savoy delivers fun without worries!There's
definitely some appeal to a car that covers only the basics-as my
father was fond of saying, that means there's less to go wrong. And
having dealt with dozens of '60s and '70s luxury cars full of
electric motors, vacuum-powered climate control systems, and
complex but primitive electronics, we have to say that this Savoy
is incredibly refreshing. It was indeed purchased new by an elderly
lady and stayed in her family until the 1990s, so it was obviously
considered an object of value. There's evidence of good maintenance
over the years, and the second and most recent owners seem to have
continued that tradition of care. The light blue paint is exactly
what you'd expect on a price-leader Plymouth, neither flashy nor
plain, but just bright enough to be pleasing without attracting too
much attention. The bodywork underneath remains in great condition
and it doesn't look like this car ever spent much time in harsh
weather. All four doors close with a final-sounding THUD and even
the rubber gaskets and weather seals close it up reasonably well.
The bumpers and other chrome pieces are in good order, the anodized
grille is in great shape, and all the glass is clear. And from the
outside, it certainly doesn't look all that basic at all! It's just
a clean, honest old car.The interior continues that theme, with
original upholstery throughout. There's a little dirt and wear on
the driver's seat, but nothing to note and certainly no damage, and
the back seat looks almost new. Rubber mats were standard equipment
and there's a refreshing low-maintenance vibe there, too. The door
panels are excellent with only some slight discoloration on the
armrest where someone might have placed their elbow while cruising.
The steering wheel shows a bit of wear, but it's just paint that
could be refinished in an afternoon if you wanted it perfect, but
we like the no-nonsense originality that it represents. Big, round
gauges cover the basics and how cool is that neo-western font they
used? That's just plain cool. Options include a heater/defroster
and an AM radio, to which someone has added an FM converter under
the dash, but that's' about it. Heater controls are just to the
right of the gauges and yes, that's 3-on-the-tree shifting and a
clutch pedal on the floor, which makes it entertaining to drive.
Even the headliner is in great shape. And, of course, there's a
massive trunk out back which carries the original mat, jack
assembly, and a spare tire assembly with a tire that's never been
used.Chrysler's 225 cubic inch 'slant-6' engine is about as close
as you can get to indestructible. We've all heard stories of
legendary abuse and mistreatment, and yet they keep on ticking year
after year. With just 70,000 miles on it, this one is barely broken
in and you can see that it's been nicely maintained-we did not
paint the engine, we merely cleaned it up. The original air cleaner
and carburetor handle intake duties and it starts easily and idles
smoothly without any special procedures or attention. There's good
torque on tap, which combines with the right gearing to make the
Savoy feel energetic, if not fast. You'll note the engine bay is
quite clean, more evidence that it didn't suffer through winter
weather, and it sure is refreshing to see an engine that's this
easy to work on. The 3-speed manual has light clutch action and
shifts nicely, and the car is perfectly happy on the highway at 65
MPH without any issues. Brakes and steering are manual, so plan
ahead, but control efforts are light once you're out on the road.
The undercarriage is a little dirty but there's no structural rust
and all the floors are clearly visible, so no surprises there.
Chrysler's torsion bar front suspension provides a great luxury car
ride and somewhere along the line the shocks were replaced. The
exhaust offers a nice 6-cylinder burble and basic steel wheels with
hubcaps carry 225/75/14 whitewall radials with lots of life left in
them.Documentation includes the original owner's manual, service
certificate and booklet, marketing materials, and a shop
manual.There's a refreshing simplicity to this Savoy that we find
very appealing. Not only is it less stuff that can go wrong, but
it's a reminder that even in the 1960s, basic transportation was
what most people wanted. This car has obviously led an easy life,
both because of its extended ownership and because of its modest
specifications, making it a great entry-level hobby car that will
surely attract attention simply due to its honest look. And we have
to admit that slant-6 does make some pretty cool noises. If
back-to-basics is your thing, this Savoy is a great choice. Call
today!Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or
professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to
purchase.
