For Fan Car Friday this week we bring you Bill and his travelworthy 1950 Plymouth Deluxe Club Coupe. Fan Car Friday is a segment where we want to share with the world the automobiles that our fans have. We have absolutely no affiliation/relationship with the cars, the build or the owners. This post was made with written consent from the owner.
“Plymouth? I didn’t want a Plymouth. I wanted a Ford!
In the summer of 1995, I decided I wanted another antique car. I had not had one for 15 years. I drove by what turned out to be a 1950 Plymouth Club Coupe with a FOR SALE sign on the windshield. My uncle and aunt had a 1951 Plymouth when I was a little boy and I had fond memories of that car so I stopped to look at it.
The owner came out and after talking for a while I drove the car and could not believe what I was driving. It only had 30090 original miles on it and handled like a 1 to 2 year old 1950 Plymouth.
The car was originally purchased from a dealer in Racine, WI by a school teacher. I was told that she lived about two blocks from school and normally walked to work, thus the reason for the low mileage. In 1989 the car was purchased by a young man who kept it approximately one year.
It was then sold to a Mopar collector who owned a body shop. He stripped the car down to bare metal and found there was no rust and no prior body damage. At this point he repainted it in the original color (Channel Green), had the bumpers rechromed, new white wall bias ply tires, new brakes and put a set of seat covers over the original worn upholstery.
He owned the car for five years and then sold it.. The man who bought the car only kept it for 6 weeks and decided to sell it so he could buy a big rig for his business.
I purchased the car on August 21st, 1995. I immediately joined the National Plymouth Owners Club and have maintained my membership ever since. Many friends have been made in the Plymouth Owners Club over the years not only in the USA but also Canada, Australia, Sweden and the Netherlands.
The car was very plain and only had two options – a heater and built in self-cancelling turn signals. In 1950 these were both extra cost options. Over the years I have added: door handle guards, spotlight, fender skirts, outside sun visor, radio, clock, deluxe steering wheel with horn ring, fog lights, Jiffy Jet windshield washer, radial WWW tires, backup light, grille guard, gas filler guard, curb feelers, trunk guard, glove compartment light, trunk light, rear window venetian blinds and overdrive. All of these items were Mopar accessories and most of them came in the original Mopar box.
In 2007 my wife and I drove the Plymouth from Illinois to California on Historic Route 66, attended the first National Plymouth Club meet held in California, went up the Pacific Coast Highway across the Golden Gate Bridge to see the redwoods, and came home Historic Lincoln Highway. Our trip was featured in two issues of the Plymouth Bulletin, August and October 2007.
Over the 23 years that I have owned the car, I have put 38000 additional miles on it and the engine still has never been apart . The car has brought home many, many awards including four National Plymouth Club 2nd place awards.
As I have gotten older, I have decided to just drive and enjoy the car and the car shows and not have it judged anymore. It is so much more relaxing this way and I can enjoy the friendships that I have formed over all these years.”
When automobile production began to get back into full swing after the War, buyers had to face car shortages, strikes and a sellers’ market. In 1946, the Plymouth station wagon was listed for $1,539 from the factory, but it was difficult to find a dealer who would sell one for that price. By 1948, the same station wagon was priced $2,068 – the higher model prices due to escalating labor and material costs. For 1950, the Station Wagon had a price of $2372 – and production was 2,057. Though the station wagon totals seemed low, the Special Deluxe was a popular vehicle, with 234,084 examples of the four-door sedan being sold in 1950.
The P-20 Special Deluxe was Plymouths most expensive vehicle in their model range. Power was from an L-head six-cylinder engine that delivered nearly 100 horsepower. A three-speed manual gearbox was standard, as was the woodgrain finish on metal interior panels, a nice selection of interior fabrics, and a bright metal windshield and rear window frames.
The P-20 was available in several body styles, including as a rolling chassis. Other options included a convertible and club coupe. Pricing ranged from $1,630 – $2375. Total production for 1950 for the Special Deluxe was 350,290 units.
https://www.conceptcarz.com/z19022/plymouth-special-deluxe.aspx
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Those old Mopars were so unique and reliable relative to many other makes.. My dad had a 1952 Dodge “cruiser” with a sun visor. He loved that car.
In 1964 a friends father made a “barn find” of a 1951 Plymouth much like the featured car.
He gave it to his son to get back and forth to school. It had very few miles on it and was pale blue and white. He drove it for years.
What a great looking car. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one like it. It seems like its quite small. Love it good work. You should be proud
My Grandmother bought her first new car – a black 1950 Plymouth Deluxe Business Coupe from Moran Motors – the Chrysler/Plymouth dealer in El Monte, CA. Out the door it was $1750. It was Plymouth’s cheapest car with no turn indicator, no oil filter and only a driver-side sun visor. It gave her kids the opportunity to accessorize it as Christmas gifts. First was a heater, an oil filter, then those popular woven fiber seat covers. I inherited the car in 1992. As a result of its light weight, it was fairly fast for its 97 HP L-Head 6. Overdrive would have helped because it was likely turning 3000 rpm at freeway cruising speeds and played out this side of 80. It was a well-built, rugged car and still being driven by its current owner as a reliable grocery getter. It’s perfect for that because you could almost fit a couch in the deep trunk. BTW, the wool upholstery still looks like new even though the rubber floor mats crumbled years ago
I traveled several times in my future father in laws 1950 green Plymouth with my future wife Marlene,who by the way is Bill’s cousin! Since Bill and Helen restored their 1950 Plymouth,Marlene and I have enjoyed riding with Bill and Helen, bringing back those great 1950 memories! Congratulation Bill and Helen, a very neat car!
I had the pleasure of riding in Bill & Helen’s 1950 Plymouth on the same weekend this photo was taken. After the group decided where to go for dinner, Bill & Helen graciously invited 4 of us to join them for the ride of several miles to the restaurant. The inside was fabulous and the ride was smooth as silk.
I bought a 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe The Probate Judge Of Dallas County in Selma Alabama. He was a car collector and this was one of his first collection. I am now in the process of restoring it. I am at the point where I can drive it around the block after extensive brake work done. I bought it with no brakes, drove it up on the trailer and towed it 6 1/2 hours home to Nashville. It was my Fathers Day gift to myself. I am looking to the day when I can wake up and piddle with it all day. I am finish with the 57 Chevy now this will be my last project. That’s what I told my wife, but a man got a right to change his mind.
I have a 1950 Plymouth complete, orignal 6 cyl. engine, less the oil filter with tranny. Came out of a 1950 business coupe. Locked up, but it is free to anyone who needs it for a project. Knoxville TN. area
Sir do you still have this engine?
My first car was a 1950 buisness coup. I am now 80 yrs old and would like to drive it again before I die.
I recently bought the exact same car. Unmolested, all original with 60,243 documented miles. Can anyone tell me the name of the exterior color?
channel green i have 1950 4 door special deluxe same color get this with 10,5oo miles car looks and runs like new Andrew