I spotted this beige bundle of curiosity on craigslist and it got my attention. It’s not every day that you see a restored 1951 Plymouth Business Coupe with a lady’s name (Mae Dury) in angled script on both doors, who had an alleged tie-in to Chicago mobster Al Capone. But that’s the story circulating in some circles and more about that below. All I know is that this beige and white restored ’51 Plymouth Concord Three Passenger Coupe (that’s what Plymouth’s sales brochure calls it, but let’s call it a Business Coupe) is located is Valdese, North Carolina and is for sale here on craigslist for $10,900. The only description the seller gives of the Plymouth is: “6 CYLINDER – 3 SPEED ON THE COLUMN. RUNS AND DRIVES GREAT.”
So, who’s Mae Dury and why is her name on both doors of this car? There’s a scan of a newspaper article telling the story of a Miss Mae Dury who was supposedly Big Al’s secretary. Mae also owned a restaurant in Wisconsin that was rumored to have been one of Capone’s hideouts “when things got too hot in Chicago.” The article also says that Mae looked after Al’s affairs after he was imprisoned and how Capone custom ordered a 1951 Concord Business Coupe as a “thank you” gift for her. Considering that Al Capone died on January 25, 1947, I’m not sure how he arranged to order Mae a custom ’51 Plymouth. The article has a black and white photo showing the car wearing a dark and light two-tone paint scheme, and its interior is described as having “A very trick (but tacky) tiger-striped interior and other 50’s sheik do-dads.” The Plymouth looks much tamer today and there’s no evidence of any tigers living inside of this business coupe.
Based on the limited photos, it looks solid, and I’m not spotting rust or other concerns. The beige body paint (which the seller claims is custom) is presentable and the top and old-school visor is painted white. The “Mae Dury” script is still angled and on each door and the chrome, trim, and glass all look good. (But I’d lose the wire wheel covers).
The restored interior continues the beige/brown/white color scheme and it’s in nice shape. It’s not period correct, but looks comfortable with no major wear showing on the lone bench seat, door panels, or carpet. The original steering wheel has a few cracks and discoloration marks, and it compliments the attractive chrome and medium-brown painted instrument panel. It was even ordered from the factory with an optional heater; part of what Plymouth called the MoPar All Weather Comfort System.
Under that beige, bulbous hood is the Plymouth’s L-Head Six Cylinder engine that could generate 97 horsepower at 3600 rpm when new. It is listed as having 51,570 miles and is paired with a Synchro-silent three speed manual transmission. It “runs and drives great” according to the seller. I’m not sure if the Al Capone story is true or not or if it’s just a tribute car to the memory of Mae Dury. Maybe the next owner can get the Paul Drake Detective Agency to look into that. Even without the supposed Al Capone connection, I’d still find this oddly-proportioned business coupe an interesting car. And I’m not going to try to speculate how many bodies (or anything else you shouldn’t be transporting across state lines) could fit into that cavernous trunk.
Maybe Mae Dury had a connection to Scarface, but without paperwork to prove the connection this was actually that Mae Dury’s car, the story is all just hearsay. Besides, as the author pointed out, Capone took a dirt nap in 1947 so obviously, he couldn’t buy a car made in 1951. That aside, it’s a nice car for not a lot of money. It’s all moot anyway as the Craigslist ad has been “deleted by its author.”
Hub caps can go bye-bye. Color not helping. Love these business coupes in all black.
This car is no stranger to the innernet[sic] world. Research shows, Mae Dury had a large restaurant near Green Bay, Wis from the 30’s to 1963. There are a lot of rumors about her connection with Capone, but none ever verified. I’m sure Capone had lots of,,,”connections” in Wis. The hideout claims are iffy, and his REAL hideout was in N.Wisconsin, near Butternut, a good distance from Green Bay. Not to say, his green armored Cadillac didn’t pass through, however.
My “connection” with Capone, as if, was, a good friends dad and uncle ran a fishing guide service in N.Wis. as young men in the 30s, not far from Butternut. His dad was never a BS’er, and he claims, him and his brother did indeed take Capone and his cronies fishing. Naturally, no pictures allowed, it was said, when Capones green Cadillac came into town, it was clear who it was, and authorities looked the other way. The 407 acre hideout was sold about 15 years ago, and no plans to restore it.
My dad had a small “connection” with Capone. In the late 40’s he was a mechanic at a Ford dealership in Lake City FL. A hearse traveling from Miami to Chicago pulled in with a bad wheel bearing. My dad changed it and was informed the deceased inside was Capone himself.
Capone I believe was buried in FLA. I guess he might have had a wake in The Windy City but wouldn’t he have flown? Either way, the only place he ended up finally was way down below, right where he belonged.
@ Paul: nope, he’s buried outside of Chicago. It’s kind of a tourist attraction, I’ve gone there myself. From Wikipedia: His body was transported back to Chicago a week later and a private funeral was held.[132] He was originally buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chicago. In 1950, Capone’s remains, along with those of his father, Gabriele, and brother, Frank, were moved to Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.
Nice car, BF.
I like it very much.
Bob
I can believe Mae’s history with Capone to a point, but any connection of Capone and this `51 Plymouth are just BS. Capone died of syphilis, and being who he was, was allowed to die at his FL. home in 1947. I’d bet Mae simply bought this car for herself as anyone would. It’s that simple. (Although her buying one of the cheapest cars available in the US in `51 seems a bit puzzling.)
My dad had a small “connection” with Capone. In the late 40’s he was a mechanic at a Ford dealership in Lake City FL. A hearse traveling from Miami to Chicago pulled in with a bad wheel bearing. My dad changed it and was informed the deceased inside was Capone himself.
Nice car. Can’t say that I’ve ever seen a 51 Plymouth business coupe. The cheesy wires stay with the seller. Next to go is Mae’s signature. I sure don’t want to have to memorize that claim to fame. Everything else looks good from here.
I’m 66 and my whole life I’ve been trying to figure out if these were the coolest or ugliest cars ever made. :)
They weren’t particularly handsome. Chrysler hit their stride at mid-decade and went Bazzaro World by 1960.
I like business coupes and it’s still on my bucket list to own one. I’d have actually pursued this one but it is no longer available. Bargain IMO at the asking price. I agree with others that Mae and the fake wire wheel covers should be ditched with due haste.
If this isn’t the ugliest car ever designed I don’t know which one would be. A guy in SoCal had one in the correct black. I used to see it all through the eighties and figured he must have been some sort of retired sandcrab ( navy base civie) who commuted to the base from the City,
As fer Syphilitic Al and his supposed connection to the car, this has all the hallmarks of a wannabe Nineties hipster wearing a pomaded do, rolled up wifebeater and listening to the Atomic Fireballs :)
My dad grew up in Cicero IL…..just outside of Chicago. Cicero was another place Capone went when it got too hot in Chicago. My dad…. as a little kid…..along with his friends would wash beer bottles for Big Al’s outfit.
This brings back old memories. When I was a preschool kid, the lady next door had a dark green one of these. When she and my mom went shopping together, I rode in it standing up behind the seat. I remember a lot of those trips, all of which occurred in the mid 50’s.
“Custom ordered” the cheapest, entry level Plymouth for his lady friend? What a cheapskate! Where do people come up with these stories???
I had a cousin who had one of these, she called it “The Turtle”.