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Hot Rod Alternative: 1933 Plymouth Two Door

Go to just about any classic car show and you will find at least one hot rod built from an early ’30s Ford. Now don’t get me wrong, they make for awesome hot rods, but thanks to the Beach Boys it sometimes feels like every ’30s based custom is a Ford. While I get that parts are readily available for them and you can even buy brand new chassis and bodies, I think it would be fun to build a period hot rod out of something like this 1933 Plymouth. I know it’s been done before, but this one already has a great look to it and you just don’t ever see these early Mopars on the road. You can find this Plymouth two door here on eBay in White Pigeon, Michigan with a BIN of $12,900.

I have to admit, it would be difficult to modify this two door. Not because there aren’t options for it, anything can be done with motivation and means, but because of its condition. They didn’t build that many, which is likely one of the reasons you don’t see very many hot rodded. The 190 cui inline six also lacks the performance parts support of its Ford alternative, but you could give this engine a proper rebuild and slightly increase compression while you’re in there. These engines were advanced for their time with a fully pressurized oil system, 4 main bearings and a vibration reducing mounting system called Floating Power, so it shouldn’t be difficult to squeeze some additional power out of it. If you could get 85 to 90 horsepower from it, you could give a flathead V8 some decent competition.

Overall, these were quite advanced cars for their day with things like hydraulic brakes and a fairly sophisticated suspension. It’s actually surprising they didn’t sell more of them. The interior’s were well appointed for their price range and the exterior is pleasant to look at. This two door would have set you back about $500 in ’33, putting it right in the same price range as Ford’s Model B. And while we are on the topic of price, the seller’s $13k asking seems a bit optimistic given the lack of an interior and the amount of work it will need.

It really is hard to say what should happen with this Plymouth. It’s an amazing car, but it’s just rough enough that restoring it will be expensive. Yet, it’s original enough that customizing it would just feel wrong. You could meet somewhere in the middle. Sort the brakes, refresh the suspension, polish up the original paint, piece together the interior with hot rod parts, install a slightly larger carb and tune up the engine. It wouldn’t be a performance machine, but it would be a nice driver with a really cool look that retains enough of its original parts to one day be restored. What do you think, would you restore it, modify it or just get it going and leave the rest as is?

Comments

  1. Avatar Rustytech Member

    I like it, and it would make a great hot rod. Late model Hemi running gear would be my choice, but over $12k in this condition? NO WAY! I think $35 to $4500 is all the money on this.

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  2. Avatar jeff6599

    Either he doesn’t know what a roadster is or he thinks someone is going to cut the top off and remove all side windows. Possibly he may be secretly thinking that it could be a hiboy lowrider!

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  3. Avatar Joe Haska

    I just don’t understand what makes you guys think you can make a Hot Rod, that is going to be as good and as popular as an early Ford, with a Plymouth, Nash or whatever. That’s like saying, I know Corvettes are really popular, because there Corvettes, but I am going to do something different, sort of like a Corvette, and it will be just as good as a Corvette. No it won’t, it is something else. The formula for Hot Rods started in the late 30’s and progressed through today, and no matter what you say or try to do, it is an established accepted truth, and supply and demand and price proves that.
    Yes there are other makes, that make neat Hot Rods, but no matter how you build it, it never seems to reach the acceptance level of Fords, Because they are what established the standard. I have seen some super builds of other marques , but usually they take much more effort and money to get the accolades that a Ford would. I am not trying to be a jerk or a snob, it is just a fact, and someone always wants to prove it isn’t. As time goes on and the builds get more and more sophisticated and expensive, the really different cars do get recognized, but they really have to be spectacular, to reach that point. I should qualify the Hot Rod I am defining is a late 1920’s car 1928, to a late :1940’s car -1948,
    After that it is a whole different ballgame ie: Tri-Five Chevrolet’s , Camaro’s, Mustang’s, Chargers and many more, but true period Hot Rods were 99% Fords, and they still are!

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  4. Avatar Speedy D

    $12K is definitely high — but $35-$4500 is too low. My friend just sold this 33 Plymouth in Canada for the equivalent of $6200 USD. Condition appears to be similar

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    • Avatar Speedy D

      Another picture

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  5. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    Love the Wilkie For President plate over the license. His standing with FDR in opposition to isolationists allowed unity with the President over the coming war but angered the conservativesof the party which he nominally led even after his loss to FDR in 1940.. Almost became FDR’s running mate in 1945…that would have been interesting.

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    • Avatar Dave

      That would be a keeper for sure.

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  6. Avatar Joe Haska

    After reading my post and thinking about it, it was stupid and doesn’t make any sense. What I should have said is ,you are trying to change history, and you can’t. Fords in the early 30’s, until the mid to late 40’s, were the fastest affordable production car you could buy, period. They were V-8’s and there wasn’t anything close to them, in their price range. Even when they were brand new , the racers of the day, realized how fast they were, and to make them even faster, all they had to do was remove sheet metal, fenders, lights , running boards , hoods you name it , and it didn’t cost anything, it was free.. It also wasn’t a big speed secret, and young guys who wanted to go faster, figured it out too. Thus the Hot Rod thing was born and the best way to do it was with a Ford V-8, nothing else could do that.
    Certainly you can make a Hot Rod out of other makes today, just not a traditional early Hot Rod, they were all Fords, because of history, the time and what was available, that’s the way it was. Also, for whatever reason besides what it was then, they are still the most sought after car to Hot Rodder’s today.
    End of story, I will shut up now, and please build whatever you like!

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  7. Avatar KEN TILLY Member

    I would restore it back to original condition, after all, there can’t be many of these left in original condition on the roads of America so why hot rod it?

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    • Avatar Steve

      1.Not economically feasible. One would spend $30-40k restoring a car that would be worth $30k (TOPS).
      2. Not practical on modern roads. You would be lucky to sustain 45 mph for long.
      3.Safety. I believe these had mechanical brakes still.
      4. Modern conveniences. Everybody wants A/C!
      I can continue…

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      • Avatar KEN TILLY Member

        Hi Steve.

        1. Even if you spent $40k restoring it at least you would have something different from everybody else.
        2. How often, and for what distance, would you want take it on a modern road?
        3. Even mechanical brakes work well if properly set up.
        4. Open the windows just like they would have done back in the day.
        5. ENJOY IT! It’s not a FORD or a CHEVY!

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      • Avatar Jerry Brentnell

        for one thing you don’t know what your talking about plymouths had hydraulic brakes from day one ,open drive shafts, way better car than gm and ford all day long! no wood in these bodies this would do 60 mph all day long pressurized cooling system! that engine is the same one you will find in every fork truck, portable welder, and hundreds of other equipment! and who needs all this crap on new cars! its a perfect home for a 225 slant 6 and enjoy it bet ya it could be done for less than 15 grand how do I know used to own 35 4 door drove it all over the place never let me down and that was in 1966!!!

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      • Avatar 36 dodge

        All Plymouths had hydraulic brakes.First Plymouth was 1928.Ford still had mechical till 38 and half.Had 6 in my 36 Dodge at first and would do 70 all day long.

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  8. Avatar Dave

    For a few bucks more you get a rumble seat, finished.
    https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/d/1935-plymouth-rumble-seat/6251150411.html

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    • Avatar Steve

      Wow. A ford motor in a mopar. Musta been what he had laying around…Mopar fanatics everywhere would be up in arms! LOL Should at least done a 340. A stroked out 440 even better…But nowadays, if youre going to the trouble, a modern hemi… I think there is a hellcat crate motor…

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      • Avatar Dave

        I’d put an old 426 wedge in it.
        Would have a hard time finding the road though. On second thought it’d be fine for me the way it is.

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  9. Avatar Chuck Cobb

    “Floating Power” referred to rubber motor mounts. I’ll be different here. 225 Slant 6/4 speed. Mopar bodies were all steel here at this time, Ford and GM still using wood in their bodies. Mopar were some of the first with hydraulic brakes

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  10. Avatar Steve

    Juice brakes on these?

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  11. Avatar Leroy

    Notice the master cylinder in the engine pic? I doubt it’s hydraulic clutch.

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    • Avatar Karl Kretschmar

      The ’33 Plymouth did have hydraulic brakes but this one has been modified. Originally the master cylinder was under the floor, mounted on one of the frame’s crossmembers, not the firewall. Here’s a pic of that crossmember with the M.C. mounted.

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  12. Avatar John D.

    Yep, juice brakes, I believe on even the first Plymouth. Walter Chrysler liked to push the safety of his product. That is why you can find videos of the cars rolling down a hill and driving away. Incidentally, these flathead 6 engines could be pushed to over 300 horsepower by milling the head, stroking with later crankshaft, balancing and blueprinting, and increasing the displacement.

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    • Avatar seth karpen

      Wow, 300hp

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  13. Avatar Pugsy

    Chop that top and drop it.
    I have no problems seeing it cut up to look better than stock.
    Mopar loyalists would shudder if the saw what I’m doing to my 41 New Yorker coupe.

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  14. Avatar Jerry Brentnell

    one other thing here , years ago there was a stock car racing class for flat head fords and flat head mopars and the dodge boys whipped the ford v8s tails on a regular basis , there was lots of go fast parts for these engines

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  15. Avatar 36 dodge

    All Plymouths had hydraulic brakes.First Plymouth was 1928.Ford still had mechical till 38 and half.Had 6 in my 36 Dodge at first and would do 70 all day long.

    Like 0

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