Make: | Plymouth |
Model: | Special Deluxe |
Type: | Sedan |
Trim: | -- |
Year: | 1950 |
Mileage: | 92,896 |
VIN: | 805LA5120 |
Color: | Black |
Engine: | 218 Inline 6 |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Manual |
Interior color: | Black |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Local pick-up only |
Ask around, and I bet you'll find that your parents or even your grandparents drove a car just like this 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe back in the early '50s. Rugged, reliable, and surprisingly entertaining on the road, this was basic transportation for millions of Americans. Today, it represents a cool niche in our hobby: cars that are purchased for fun, not profit. Basic black always looks great on cars like this, and the streets were filled with similar low-profile cars... throughout the '50s. All those old photos you see have cars just like this going about their business, parked by the curb outside a dry-cleaner or hardware store, or churning up a cloud of dust on some lonely country road. And they looked awesome doing it. This one was restored to a good level, with amazingly straight sheetmetal, decent panel alignment, and fit and finish that you just don't expect at this price level. Clearly, this was something special to someone and they threw the budget out the window when they were doing the work. It's got plenty of age and use on it now, but we're not going to hold that against it, because it shows an honest patina that works especially well. The chrome and stainless is probably original, including the bumpers, which could probably use some freshening. On the other hand, the rest of the trim is stainless, so all you need to do is buff it out. With room for six, cars like this were part of family road trips on America's fresh superhighways. The upholstery is black vinyl with gray piping, which isn't quite correct but works rather well in the plain-Jane sedan. It's simple, elegant, and dignified, which encompassed everything about the early 1950s. The instrument panel covers the basics, with a large central speedometer flanked by the auxiliary gauges, and a row of switches just below, and it's all original so there are some needs here. Plastics improved greatly during the war, so the steering wheel is in good shape, although the paint has obviously worn off in some areas. Matching black carpets and lower door panels work with the monochromatic interior, and a 3-speed manual gearbox offers easy 3-on-the-tree shifting. There is no radio, but this car does have an optional heater/defroster unit that has a cool set of controls under the center stack. You'll also be pleased to see that there's a lot of room in the trunk, which seems big enough to handle everything in your first apartment! Don't underestimate Chrysler's 218 cubic inch flathead six, which delivers snappy performance around town and a pleasant 60 MPH cruising speed on the highway. Virtually indestructible and with plentiful parts availability, maintenance is a snap and this truly is an old car that you can use every day without worries. It's pretty much just as it was built, complete with oil bath air cleaner, accessory oil filter, and bright red paint on the block, and the owner reports that the engine was rebuilt shortly before he bought the car several years ago. There's a big aluminum radiator to keep it cool and the 6-volt electrical system remains, but that's nothing to be afraid of with appropriately-sized battery cables and good grounds. A recent single exhaust system offers an authentic exhaust note and bias-ply wide whites have been fitted to the original wheels. Discover how much fun an old Mopar like this can be without a huge investment. Dipping into a bygone era might be just what you're looking for in your next old car. Call today!