Vehicle Description
Nice original car with a no-nonsense '50s attitude. Believed to be
41,505 original miles. Great-running 260 cubic inch 'Poly head' V8
with 3-speed manual transmission. Comfortable, spacious interior.
An affordable vintage cruiser with a bit of a surprise under the
hood.The Plaza was Plymouth's entry-level car, which made it
affordable in 1955 and affordable today. This particular Plaza
sedan has a few nice features, not the least of which is the
great-running little V8 under the hood?a nice upgrade from the
usual flathead six. For 1955, styling was reserved but
contemporary?Exner's dramatic fins hadn't yet made it to the
Plymouth lineup. The clean design still looks handsome today and we
believe that the color is called Miami Blue, which definitely has a
'50s look. It was probably repainted decades ago, panel fit is
still quite good and while there are a few signs of age and use, it
has a lovely soft shine that only vintage paint can offer. The
white top adds some contrast and the optional fender skirts make it
look a bit sleeker than some of its siblings. All four doors close
with authority, the hood snaps down without a big slam, and there's
no evidence that this car has ever been wrecked or patched up. Even
the bright trim is quite nice, including the simple single-bar
grille and stainless side trim. The only notable deviation from
stock are those modern plastic chrome side mirrors that seem to
date from the '70s. We believe the interior has been freshened at
some point but the striped seat covers were professionally done in
the original patterns and they look right in the vintage 4-door.
The cloth inserts are comfortable even on warmer days and we're
pretty sure the door panels, headliner, and floor coverings are
still factory-issue. A big rubber mat protects the front carpets
and there's a bit of wear on the big two-spoke steering wheel, but
it isn't cracked or damaged, which is a nice surprise. All the
gauges work, even the oil pressure and temperature dials way over
there on the passenger's side of the dash. And yes, you do see a
clutch pedal, because this car has a 3-speed manual transmission
that makes it feel pretty lively around town. The original AM radio
remains in the dash but unfortunately, we weren't able to tune any
stations with it. There's a big, comfortable back seat that's great
when you want to bring some friends along and the windows aren't
cracked or discolored by age?nice! There's also a massive trunk
that's obviously in solid condition and includes a full-sized spare
tire and jack assembly.Most Plazas came with a fairly unambitious
6-cylinder flathead, but this one sports the late-production 260
cubic inch 'Poly head' V8. Considerably more potent and fairly
state-of-the-art for 1955, it transforms the Plaza from a frumpy
grocery-getter to a fun cruiser. Wearing a correct oil bath air
cleaner on top of the original 2-barrel carburetor, it has a nice
torque curve that makes it easy to handle around town and an
effortless freeway cruiser. The electrical system is still 6-volts,
but it cranks over easily and fires eagerly, settling into a nice
V8 burble at the tailpipe. Brakes and steering are unassisted, but
control efforts are modest, so you don't have to worry that you
just can't manage without power steering?remember these were
designed to be driven by women, too! The 3-speed manual
transmission has light clutch action and well-chosen ratios, so the
V8 always feels like it's on its toes, and with 3.73 gears out
back, it feels quick but cruises easily at 60 MPH. The
undercarriage is unrestored and a little grungy, but you can see
that the floors are solid and there are signs of conscientious
maintenance over the years. The single exhaust features a
glasspack-style muffler, so there's a nice V8 sound that doesn't
get annoying and the tube shocks are relatively recent so it rides
well. Factory steel wheels with plain-Jane hubcaps are appropriate
and carry 205/75/15 whitewall radials of indeterminate age.Extras
include a factory Service Manual.Just a pretty little car with a
reasonable price and a great-running V8 under the hood. This Plaza
is ideal for local cruise nights and maybe for reliving a slice of
the past that doesn't seem to exist anymore: a no-frills
experience. We like the way the V8 feels and the manual
transmission makes it fun to drive. Not a show car, but something
that doesn't need any major work and can be enjoyed right away.
Sometimes simple is better. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
