In the late ’50s and early ’60s, fins were the thing to have, well at least for big highway cruisers. The Plymouth Savoy not only has fins, it has some big and odd looking ones, but that’s what makes them so cool! This 1960 Savoy might be a 4 door, but it’s a two owner survivor that was in storage for 25 years. It’s original slant six has been rebuilt and runs well. You can drive this finned beast, but it needs brake work before it will be safe to actually drive on the street. I’d get the brakes sorted, clean it up and hit the road to see how those fins do on the highway! With bidding just over $2k and no reserve, this could be fun budget classic that will get tons of attention everywhere it goes. You can find it here on eBay in Anderson, California.
Here’s the rebuilt slant six. It looks to be in nice shape, but the engine bay could use some detailing. I know some would be tempted to install a V8, but I would leave the six, but install some upgrades. Plymouth actually offered a number of performance parts for the 225. If you can find all the parts to recreate the Hyper Pak, you would have one mean six. The stock 225 was rated at 145 horse and 215 pounds of torque, but with the Hyper Pak intake, carb and cam, power increased to nearly 200 horsepower! Yes a 440 would make it more of a sleeper, but tricking out the six would be so cool.
The inside is complete and doesn’t look too bad. It needs to be cleaned up, but that isn’t a huge issue. The headliner and backseat have some tears. Those are issues that could be addressed down the road to make it a more enjoyable place for the whole family. For the time being, I’d throw a seat cover on the backseat and just clean the rest of the interior.
I know this isn’t the most sought after of finned classics, but it’s not something you see often and would be certain to get lots of looks. Being a big and cheap 4 door, you could load the entire family up in it and not have to worry about spills or crumbs! So we know what I would do with it if I were to buy it, but how about you? Would you find a V8 to install in it or would you just upgrade the indestructible slant six?
One thing about this one… It’s straight as an arrow. I like the 6 cylinder and the standard shift set up. Recently, my neice was quoted just under 1K to repair the front brakes on her 2005 Malibu at a local repair shop. I did everything on their quote for just over $140.00. I even used upgraded rotors and finned calipers.
So, fixing the front brakes on this one may be a little cheaper than $400.00.
Absolutely! What a lot of people don’t realize is that brakes are a relatively easy fix. But repair shops charge a small fortune for this service because they can…
I’ve been through Redding in the summer and its a real hot place. Desert weather with trees in the mountains. Not sure if this Savoy is my cup of tea but I love the fins and lines up front. Ultimate sleeper? Maybe but beefing up the 6 sounds really cool. With 2 doors too many I think it’s a pretty rare find. I have never seen another one.
MM
Chrysler called them “stabilizers”, not fins, and this was the last year for them. While the blue engine is correct for 1960, I believe the only Chrysler product to have an alternator in 1960, was the Valiant. Pretty basic car here.I’d be interested in seeing the option list, if any. These were pretty nicely styled, compared to the odd looking cars that followed. Not sure about any kind of municipal car, although, they did tend to get the bottom of the line, but so did Uncle Phil. Cool car. Speedo turns colors.
First year for the slant six, ’59 still had the old prehistoric flathead six. This looks almost like some sort of ex-agency vehicle.
From the ad : Originally some sort of civil service vehicle (police, military, or county vehicle.)
According to “Allpar”, THE most informative site on Chrysler products, claim, this car would have been the Patroller 30-D Economy Six model, mostly for city use, where high speeds weren’t an issue. The Patroller Special, was powered by the 318, and the Pursuit Special Golden Commando 395 ( powered by the 361, 395 was the torque) was top of the line, in pursuit cars.
Back in the early 60’s, my Father in-law purchased a ’60 Plymouth ex-Highway Patrol car. Had a “Golden Commando 395” decal on the breather. Had a “discussion” about what that meant. Never convinced him it was torque rating.
I would keep and beef up the 6 for sure. Lower the rear a few inches, install some wide white rubber and paint the body a period correct light green or maybe the original green, with a white top. Dogdish caps and trim rings. And Howard A is correct…Chrysler called them stabilizers. After all…it was the “jet age” :)
It was the jet age for sure.
Slant 6 and “more doors”.. Should be a cheap buy for someone that likes it.
What a monster – lucky to have survived the great destruction period – needs to be saved and not rodded – saying that, a torqueflite would be nice…..column shift manuals are just crap
The one great thing about a column shift manual is most people nowadays have zero clue on how to drive one – built in anti-theft!
I would love to have this. I would fix the brakes and keep it as is.
Great comments always learning something here. Kudos to the seller for saving her and selling at No Reserve therefore letting the market decide the value. I’d be a player but the wifey says “no more cars!” At my age divorce is not an option.
I really like fins. They make me smile. When I was a kid, I’d always get excited when I saw the new models go by. I remember when the neighbors got their brand new black and white 4 door Plymouth in ’59. So I happily went to eBay when you posted this car. And I’m intrigued by the slant 6 and I love the 3 on the tree. BUT……this is one butt ugly automobile
This body style, as many others back then, are “color sensitive”. Meaning that in some color combinations, they didn’t look too good, but in others, they looked really nice. The Furys had a silver inset behind the front wheels, I believe? There were some great factory colors back then.
A neat find! If it was a “government vehicle”, it is probably the basest of the Savoy line, equipment-wise. Be that as it may, without all of the chrome of the Belvederes and Furys, easier to re-do/restore.
As neat as it might be “as is”, it would be better with 8 spark plugs. There are lots of Poly-318 parts coming back into availability, so that would be a somewhat easy upgrade. Add a 4-speed OD TorqueFlite, aftermarket fuel injection, Mopar Perf electronic ignition, power steering and power brakes, plus a/c and you could drive it “forever” anywhere you wanted. All the chassis probably needs is a good set of D shocks and a front sway bar (slant 6 cars usually didn’t have that item). LOTS of possibilities for not a lot of money.
I laughed at the “true” anti-theft statement regarding the column shift. Hadn’t thought about that, considering younger people don’t know what carburetors are.
What a sweet survivor. Super straight, great styling, and not much to do to put it back as a driver. Very Cool !!!
This is just a nice driver. Nothing but a good cleaning and detailing and drive it. I don’t think I’d change anything although I’m not at all fussy about the distributor hiding under the right side of the motor. Fortunately it shouldn’t need attention that often. It’s interesting how the Plain Jane cars are gaining momentum at the local Show’N’Shines these days. I took my ’49 Chevy to one last Saturday and my friend took his ’67 Nova. We had to sneak away to grab something to eat while the chrome boats next to us got hardly any attention at all. It seemed like all the original-type cars and trucks got the spectators…
Hi geomechs, I’ve noticed that too. I’ve been to a couple small shows out here and the folks with resto-mods seem a tad lonely, while folks gather ’round the 4 door Studebaker. I too got a kick out of the “anti-theft” device. The manual choke was another. If I didn’t want my ex-wife to drive a certain vehicle ( somehow, she ruined every car I had) I’d put a manual choke on there, and she was clueless.
Hi Howard. With my ex, all I had to do was have a manual transmission. However that doesn’t work with Kenzie; she can drive a manual just fine. She DOES still find some confusion with 3 on the tree. I explained it to her while we were on a tour and she thinks she got it. But she hasn’t gotten to actually trying it out yet.
Last Sunday I went to another show and it was interesting to see that a ’65 Chevy C-60 was a big hit. I had quite a time having the crowd thin down enough to allow me to take some pictures.
Here’s a pic of my friend’s 1960 Fury convertible piloted by the Oregon Duck’s mascot in Eugene, Oregon. This car features the optional chrome fender inserts and front bumper bar.
I hope the one who buy this beauty leave it unmolested, how many of these (and I ask the same about 1000´s of another car/trucks) have survived stock? Someday plople wake up and realice (and prefer) that!
Not everything in life is having the biggest D**K; MPG with the Slant Six is reasonable (or may I say remarkable even in these days), clean , detail and enjoy it!
I owned an almost exact duplicate. The only difference was that mine had the 318 v8 in it. Sold it to someone in Green Bay many years ago. Been looking for it ever since.
Been coming back to this car since I stumbled on it and now, I’ve also began looking at the posts. Dang, I know every in/out/under inch of this car! We had one when I was growing up. A black 4-door Savoy, with a slant 225, and 3 on the tree. The first vehicle I learned to drive. Eventually even becoming “iconic” in the university where I studied. Friends called it the batmobile… Now in my 70’s, I’m still drawn to it. I dunno… I’m probably just racking up the nerve to go for it. Is it still around? The last post I see is from 2018…