Vehicle Description
1938 Plymouth P6 Deluxe 4 Door Sedan
"It's on display right now. The brilliant new 1938 Plymouth. It
celebrates the most outstanding record in automotive history. 10
years ago Plymouth was introduced. People found it has more beauty,
safety, and economy. They bought it by the thousands. No car has
ever made friends so fast! The 10th year Plymouth is here, the
greatest car we've built. Be sure to see it!" From a 1938 print ad.
New Plymouths in 1938 were touted as the low priced option to other
cars and prices for the 5-passenger sedan started at just $685.
For consignment, a 1938 Plymouth P6 Deluxe 4 door sedan showing
71,159 miles but the true miles are unknown. Owned by our consignor
since 1984, this one has some rough edges, but also has a
mechanically restored drivetrain according to the owner.
Exterior
A single stage satin finish of Sea Green coats the car just as it
would have in about 1942, after a few years of use. The paint here
is thick however and covers some rough surfaces so when you get
within 20 feet, the imperfections of it all becomes obvious. But
from a distance, it's a nice tone and the metal accent work on the
grille is ornate and attractive, including the epic tall ship motif
on the hood ornament. In profile, the large pontoon front fender
takes center stage below a metal accented engine cover and long
nose. The rounded roofline surely opens up the interior and a fixed
rear quarter window provides light and visibility before the
rounded C-pillars rise from the back where a humpback trunk adds
visual balance to the full bodied car. There are a few cracked
windows that would need to be addressed, and the bumpers and
metalwork would benefit from restoration. Along with the paint
imperfections mentioned, this otherwise complete car would be a
good candidate for a cosmetic restoration.
Interior
Tan cloth covers the door panels and it's certainly seen better
days but provides options for some customization. The front bench
is covered with a blanket and the frame cloth is tattered, while
the back seems to be in better shape but still suffers from tears,
chew marks, and discoloration. The steering wheel and dash are
complete and wear several shades of brown, while a Trico fan is
mounted on the steering column. In the center we find the
instrument cluster, just two gauges with six bits of information,
wonderfully housed in a metal grille above the choke and throttle
levers. A brown knobbed shifter rises from the floor which has a
variety of carpeted and rubber mats. The headliner is discolored
and loose and the trunk is mostly barren save for the carpeted
shelf mat and a can of leftover Valspar paint.
Drivetrain
Behind the engine cover sits a driver quality 201.3ci L-head inline
6 cylinder rated at 82 horsepower. It's fed fuel by a 1-barrel
carburetor and set into motion via a 3-speed manual transmission
which transfers power to the rear axle and 4.10 gears. Drum brakes
are found front and rear and they have been bled and adjusted
according to the consignor.
Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with many years and many miles of grease
build up on most major components along with some oil drops on the
pan and transmission. There's plenty of surface rust but a welcome
lack of major invasive rust. The single exhaust flows through a
stock style muffler before exiting out back and leaf springs make
up the suspension front and rear.
Drive-Ability
With some fiddling of the throttle and choke, we were able to
confirm that indeed, this '38 starts and runs and shifts into gear,
taking us onto the test loop to test what limited functionality was
normal nearly 90 years ago. Everything on board worked and although
not the prettiest cow in the barn, she can make it around the
pasture with no problems! While Classic Auto Mall represents that
these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we
cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of
your purchase.
Good bones top off a list of good qualities on this running project
car and while you search for parts and professionals, you can enjoy
it on the road for a bit. Statistically speaking, we don't get a
lot of vintage Plymouths at that mall and when we do, we're not
surprised that the "start up" brand did so well in the 30's. Their
unique styling sets them apart from Chevys and Fords of the time.
This one is a blank slate for your dream restoration.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
