Vehicle Description
1949 Plymouth P18 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 P18 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 bumper below that is showing signs of
rust and delamination 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
Plymouth Cream. Inclusions, signs of body work and bubbling is
noted in the finish putting this car into the category of a 10
footer. A split windshield fronts the tear free power black canvas
top which floats above the 2 doors this car has available for the
passengers and we note a factory Mopar spotlight perched on the
driver's A-pillar. 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
lightemanating 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
Ribbed tan broadcloth with smooth oxblood vinyl bolsters and tops
covers the front and rear benches. These are in excellent condition
with only light soiling of the cloth cushions. The bench in back is
flanked by smooth oxblood panels dressed with bakelite and chrome
cranks. The door panels are covered in more oxblood vinyl, and have
some art deco inspired chrome as well as shiny chrome handles and
cranks with cream bakelite escutcheons and knobs show nicely on
this dark red background. Up front the full metal dash is a two
tone faux painted wood grain surrounded by Plymouth Cream. 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 somepitting. The Plymouth
Cream also shows up on the door sills and center framing for the
windshield. Grayish green 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.
All done in a chipped off gray with a black painted oil bath air
cleaning system is above a rebuilt in 2019 1-barrel carburetor and
intake. On back is a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive and
a like new radiator has supple hoses running to and from the mill.
A 3.90 geared rear axle turns the tires.
Undercarriage
The X frame is nicely painted black and is solid structurally.
Rockers and floor pans are stamped steel and show repair panels for
the flooring. 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 even down
to the new in 2019 fuel tank.
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, the
speedometer is inaccurate, the vacuum wipers are slow and the radio
failed to belt out any tunes. These issues aside, I could not keep
my eyes off the dash. It is so wonderfully designed and
preserved.
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.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.
