- 44,725
- 5,439 below average
- 9,995 great
- Lithia Springs, GA
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- oldride.com
- 5,439 below average 44,725 black manual
With obvious patina, it's an affordable, fun way to get started in the greatest hobby on earth. There just aren't many solid, running, driving old cars that are cheaper than this. Finished in basic black, this upright little sedan has an old fashioned '40s look and just the right amount of patina to make it care-free. It retains all its original chrome and trim, most of which is stainless steel so it can be buffed and polished to a high shine without an expensive trip to the chrome shop. The parts that are chrome, including the bumpers and sleek bullet-shaped hood ornament, show some light pitting but are in good enough shape to just leave them alone. The interior has newer seat covers on the seats that's in good condition, but it appears that the rest is completely original. Traditional patterns were used but nothing is over-done, keeping to the plymouth's everyman theme. Original carpets are showing their age, but replacements are cheap and easy to install, and the same might go for the headliner as well. Note that all the original garnish moldings and door hardware has been retained and while there's some flaking, it looks honest. The dash is full of dials with individual round housings for the various instruments, and this car carries accessories like an am radio and under-dash heater/defroster, which were actually a big deal in the mid-40s. The trunk is lined in a piece of cast-off carpet and carries a full-sized spare, just in case. Plymouth's 95 horsepower 217 cubic inch inline-six is a big overachiever, delivering peppy performance around town thanks to a set of steep gears in back (back then there were no interstate highways and cars rarely saw more than 50 mph). The engine bay is tidy and quite authentic, showing original parts like the oil bath air cleaner and 6-volt generator. A big part of these cars' appeal lies in the way the machinery does its work, and enjoying one as it was built is a true pleasure. It's also surprisingly thrifty, and plymouth advertisements of the day suggested that it was among the most economical new cars to operate. It fires up easily and idles with a nice six-cylinder grumble from the single exhaust. As a barn find, it was serviced, the brakes and suspension have new components throughout, and the 3-speed manual transmission shifts cleanly. These are really nice cars to drive! Finally, it's finished with fresh goodyear radials on the original wheels, so get ready to hit the road. Parts are still easy to find, it's easy to drive, and there are enthusiasts everywhere. This is a lot of car for not a lot of money.
9,995 Lithia Springs, GALithia Springs, GA at oldride.com