It is so rare to find a 67 year old car in stunning condition, ully driveable anywhere, ith known history, nd barely 70,000 miles, or less than $40-50,000. Add that it's an original black plate California car, t still has the original powertrain, nd it's really pretty. Before you read the ad, he history of the car, nd the details, erhaps you'd enjoy watching some video. Since eBay won't let me give the YouTube URL's, ust go to YouTube and do a search as shown. A picture is worth a thousand words. A video is worth a thousand pictures! Enjoy!
1) Walk Around Video. Take a look! 1948 Plymouth Special Deluxe Must See2) How about a nice test drive? Click here. 1948 Plymouth: P15 Driving3) More driving & under hood happiness 1948 Plymouth Driving Back HomeIf you don't get result, mail me and I'll send you the URL's.
HISTORYIn February of 1948, r Albert Ross of San Mateo, A bought his wife, elissa a new car. She drove the same car for the rest of her life till she passed in 1979, hen Mr. Ross sold the car to his dear friend and mentor, arshall Agee in Fresno. Marshall really liked the car and decided to do a high quality street restoration of the car. In 1980-81, e spent over $10,000 (1981 dollars!) doing the car over. He had a rubbed lacquer paint job done, echromed all the chrome, nside and out, achine polished the fabulous stainless steel trim, eplaced all the upholstery including carpet and headliner, ad period correct 6.50 16 bias ply wide whitewalls made, nd spent over $3,000 duplicating the factory faux wood stenciled and clearcoated dash and window frames. He flew an old master from the deep south somewhere who did it all by hand. That dash and window trim makes the car. With the miles of shiny chrome and that almost three dimensional wood, he dash outshines even a Cadillac or Lincoln of the era. A few months later, e re-bushed the suspension, eplaced the clutch and overhauled the engine. Soon after, e replaced virtually all the rubber and insulation seals on the car. Everything worked, t looked fabulous, nd he covered it up in his air conditioned and heated shop, nd didn't drive it for years on end. He and I last took it out for a drive in 2013, hen his health was already failing fast. We had a blast. Since then, is health has gone and he has authorized the sale of his toys. This is the crown of his collection. His family has asked me to handle the sale, s a favor to my friend. I am honored to help, nd I sincerely want to find a fine home for this grand old Plymouth.
THE CARThe engine is the venerable 217 cubic inch side valve 6. With 97 horsepower (but a whopping 202 pound feet of torque), he car zips along nicely with traffic. It was designed to cruise at 55 but handles 65 nicely. It is geared for the slower traffic of the period, o the engine is racing above 60 or so. But the power is there. The transmission is a three speed manual on the column, ith the easiest to work clutch you can imagine. Everybody drove them in the period, ecause that was virtually all you could get. You can learn to drive it in 15 minutes, t's so simple and user friendly. Steering and brakes are manual (again, hat's what everybody drove then!), ut with the correct size tires and the magnificent maintenance the car has had, ou can steer with one hand and stopping is easy. It's difficult to hear the motor running. Chrysler was the first to use rubber motor mounts on mass produced vehicles (Their trademark for that was "floating power"). Ventilation, ith 4 roll down windows and 4 pivoting vent windows, lus a cowl vent, s awesome. And the open windows don't blow your hair the way modern, erodynamic cars do. This car is a driver or a local show car, OT a project. Not that you can't do stuff to make it even nicer... it's that you don't have to spend a winter living in your garage to make it work. You can get in, tart it right up, ive it a quick wash, nd take it to town, o a car show, r just for a ride, ust as it is. nd boy, o the heads turn when you drive this magnificent, parkling almost-70 year old masterpiece anywhere. In the second video, jogger gave me a thumbs up and a big smile. Happens all the time! We think everything modern is better, nd in many ways that's probably true. But the post war families had it pretty good with their cars. Driving this car feels as natural now as it did then. You're not conscious of being in almost 70 year old machinery.... till you look out over that long, hiny hood!
BACKGROUNDBack in the day, iddle class Americans were just becoming able to own new homes and cars. The "Big Three", herolet, ord and Plymouth, ere their cars of choice. Affordable, oomy and reliable... and GOOD LOOKING! Today, ou rarely see an original 40's Chevy. And most of them are re-powered, ince the original engines didn't have full pressure oil flow in the engine, nd the rod and main bearings were non-inserted babbit with oil just squirted at them from the pan. Catastrophic engine failures were common at higher speeds in the old Chevys. You see even less Fords of the era. The Ford flathead V-8's were the fastest of the group, ut they were famous for overheating and vapor lock. You simply couldn't use them on hot days. Meanwhile, lymouths just ran and ran. They had cooling systems that were ahead of their time, ully inserted rod, ain and camshaft bearings, ubricated with 40 PSI fully pressurized and circulated filtered oil, nd they ran forever. Watch 40's movies and notice the taxicabs. They were all Chrysler products, ecause they were the most reliable. Plymouth was a bit like Toyota was later...not the most exciting, ut they ran forever with minimal maintenance. But, n the passion tri-5 Chevys, nbsp;Ford Deuce coupes and the like, he old Plymouths kind of got lost in the rush. Here we are now, ecades after old car collecting became popular, icking through the rusty bones of the few remaining Fords and Chevys, nd we are re-discovering the OTHER member of the Big Three. And Plymouths are beginning to sell well. Values my not approach the Chevys for awhile, ut they are increasing measurably and at a faster rate. For less than $10,000, n this Plymouth's range, ou can't even get a 40's Ford or Chevy with just a stripped body with no suspension, ngine or interior. And this car is ready to drive or show.
When Marshall and I last drove the Plymouth in 2013, he radio and heater both worked. Now, notice neither one seems to have power. I suspect a fuse or loose wire. The speedo cable broke about 7 years ago on a rare 10 mile trip to Sanger. So the odometer is probably 30 miles off. That's about all there is to list. So, guess there is a LITTLE bit of tinkering the new owner will get to do :). The extremely rare vacuum windshield wipers work fine. The steering wheel isn't cracked (VERY VERY RARE). This car really makes sense for a toy that doesn't bankrupt the family and which can always be used as a spare car. It's all good!
This is a no-reserve auction. Once someone makes the opening bid, he car will sell to the last bidder. I will deliver it on a trailer, nywhere from San Francisco or Sacramento, o The inland Empire and Orange County, r anywhere in between, or $150. I will also deliver to any CA port for the same fee, f you are exporting it. We even have a photo of the house where the car originally lived in San Mateo, nd a vintage list of the difference in equipment between the Deluxe and the Special Deluxe. Amazing what wasn't standard in those days!!
Please feel no hesitation to call me, ny time during the auction. I'm a 72 year old car (and antique bus) nut, nbsp;I love to talk about cars and have restored over 50 in my lifetime. You don't have to buy the car to call, ut please do call if you need anything not listed or pictured in the ad. Non-text number is 909-266-1740. Email either through eBay or direct at WSTRNFLT@aol.com. I am not a dealer. I am a hobbyist. I find, e-do, rive, njoy, nd eventually sell old collectible cars and school buses.. Check my 16 year history with eBay. Quiz me with questions on the car. This could be your happy ending....or even a new beginning. Good luck bidding!