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350k People Couldn’t Be Wrong: 1935 Plymouth

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Fun – Action – Thrills — Find them in a Plymouth! That’s what the advertisements said in early 1935 as the revised Plymouths hit the roads. And considering 350,000 were sold and Plymouth was the third largest make in sales for that year, I think lots of folks agreed with those sentiments! This particular one is unrestored, and is located in Villa Park, Illinois. It’s listed for sale here on eBay where the starting bid is $7,995 but the buy it now is $8,500.

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You might not expect it from looking at the car, but the seller says it actually starts, runs, and “purrs like a kitten.” That’s a great place to begin with any classic car, especially one this old! The seller has health issues and the person selling it for them (who wrote the eBay ad) says there’s absolutely no rust through. Close ups of some vulnerable areas seem to bear this fact out.

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This body style is known as a business sedan, so I’m guessing this ample trunk was to haul around whatever was needed to conduct business. There were 15,761 built of this model according to this website and they originally sold for a list price of $570. While that doesn’t seem like a lot of money, it’s $10,061 in 2016 dollars after being adjusted for inflation. Okay, it’s still not a lot of money! With hydraulic brakes and an all-steel body, things still not on every car by any means, Plymouth had a pretty neat specification for the time.

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We can’t tell much about the interior apart from that it will need some reassembly. I’m guessing that thermostat gasket hung on the dash was a reminder to replace it; in the engine shots you can tell it has leaked. I do like the fold out windshield; I think that’s a great ventilation feature and again, not something found on every car at the time.

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According to this website, the 1935 version of the inline six received some extensive in-block cooling improvements even though the basic design had only been on the market for two years. There’s a tremendous amount of other information about 1935 Plymouths at that site as well; if you are considering bidding on this car I would advise taking a look. It seems like a pretty decent buy to me, considering the limited amount of work that will be necessary to be driving down the road in style. Do you agree?

Comments

  1. Avatar Ed B

    Don’t think that this is a Business sedan. According to the website you cite, this most likely is a DeLuxe Touring sedan. Business sedans had no rear trunk (just the spare tire) and the touring sedan is shown with a trunk.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Jamie Staff

      Methinks you’re right, Ed — thanks!

      Like 0
  2. Avatar Leon

    Wonder if it was ever a Mafia Staff car ?? Lol

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  3. Avatar nessy

    8500 for a basic Plymouth sedan in need of work? As much as I like Pre War 2 American cars, this one is not going to sell for 8500….

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  4. Avatar Doug Towsley

    Cool car and better shape than 95% of unrestored or unmolested prewar cars I have seen. I am not certain on exact value on this, but I would NOT count this one out on selling at this price. If it were me listing it, I would probably start in the same neighborhood in price and add “Or best offer” and see what happens. If this was a west coast sale, YES over priced, but not for midwest and east coast at all. (rust belt) and marketed right old iron tends to sell higher thats not full of salt cancer. I have known of a lot of people who come out west to buy and ship back old vehicles for this reason. The fact that allegedly this thing runs is a huge bonus.

    I have a 39 Plymouth coupe, and a 39 Dodge Coupe, sold a 37 2 years back. Unlike my coupes which are not restorable this one is.
    However *IF* I was shopping for a project, I like this Plymouth prewar pickup even better. Its really rough, and not as nice as this car but OH MAN! Is it cool looking and currently cheap with NO reserve.
    See: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plymouth-pt50/262467480680?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36862%26meid%3D259c64c4924f4255b5dd06243b4f3025%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D22%26sd%3D182159206725

    Like 0
  5. Avatar bcavileer

    BThe improvement in the cooling system was a tube off the back of the water pump that flowed water through the casting in the area of the exhaust valves. While a big improvement for sure, the tube is very suceptible to rusting out and clogging up. A very easy repair though and readily available still. Pull the rad, pull the waterpum and slide the tube out through the opening in the block. You will be pleasantly surprised at how much cooler the motor runs after the repair. BTW, that motor was around for decades. Almost indestructible. This is not a business sedan.

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  6. Avatar Doug Towsley

    That is an excellent tech tip, hardly anyone would ever know that or know where to look it up. **** Perhaps a nice addition, which could ALSO generate web traffic hint hint*** Would be a section of the site with tech tips like yours and indexed by make, model and year. Probably would need a filter to screen out the dumb ones but little nuggets like this one are a treasure.

    As to that engine, I am pretty sure the one a friend uses is the same, Not sure on the gearbox though. He has a setup he built in early 1970s using a free standing motor on a stand coupled with a gearbox that has a Granny gear and a reverse as well as regular gears. They fire it up and snag logs floating down the river up onto the bank, then harvest for lumber or firewood. Some are strays from commercial timber harvest and some just loose logs. But they been doing it for decades. Motor fires up and purrs, then when winching in the logs leans into it and yards them out with ease. Other than oil changes and occasional tune up the motor has been in use without overhaul or repairs since 1972 and no sign of any issues.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Randy W

    If I didn’t have so many projects going I would scarf this rare conditioned car up in a heartbeat. What a deal. A little restore cleanup, wipers, sand and paint, now you have an inexpensive fun drive.

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  8. Avatar Mark S

    Back in the days of these Plymouths and dodges these car had a reputation of being tough work horses. These engines were full pressure oiling systems. I have a 51 dodge 218 CID that also runs well it has never been rebuilt has 89k miles on it and runs with a solid 40 psi on the oil gauge. If I was I a position to buy this car I’d take it in a heart beat. Final footnote the wheel bolt patern on these cars is the same as some of Chryslers modern vehicles. I’m currently investigating the possibility of fitting front disc brakes onto my 51 from a dodge caravan.

    Like 0

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