“Suddenly, it’s 1960” was the ad slogan that introduced the legendary Forward Look generation of Mopars back in 1957. For Plymouth, that slogan had a double meaning by 1959, as big changes were coming in the following year. In that respect, this 1959 Savoy sedan located in Fort Collins, Coloradi and listed here on Craigslist for a modest $2,000 could be considered and end-of-an-era car.
The epic size of the quarter panel tailfins makes the 59’s unmistakable from this angle. This model year has never been as collectible as the iconic ’57-’58 body style (a certain movie may have had something to do with that), but the upside for buyers today is the substantially lower asking prices for the 59’s. Obviously, the main concern with this era is rust, and it seems this car has some. While only two exterior photos appear in the listing, some rust around the headlight eyebrows and taillights deserve closer investigation. 1959 was the last year of traditional body-on-frame construction for Plymouth – the 1960 lineup was of the unibody design.
The “Jet Age” interior looks complete and original, but very toasted. Both the windshield and steering wheel are badly cracked and in need of replacement.
This car is equipped with the famous “typewriter” pushbutton shifter that appeared in Chrysler cars from 1956-1964. Despite their finicky reputation, most were very reliable, the usual culprit being dirty or maladjusted cables. While no underhood photos are provided, this would have been equipped with a cast-iron Torqueflite with a tailshaft-mounted parking brake. In other mechanical matters, the seller indicates the car has a 361 c.i. “B” big-block engine with a 4-bbl carb, power steering/power brakes and a Sure-Grip (limited slip) diff.
With a near parts-car asking price, Forward Look fans might want to take a closer look at this one. The seller also states they are open to trades for other vehicles or a Gibson Les Paul or whatnot. Do you have anything you would trade for this high plains project?
I agree with the write up.
This is the least attractive of the 3 years.
I will take either a 1957 or a 1958 over this one any day.
It makes you wonder how bad the body is when five of the seven pictures in the ad are of the dash and the other two are practically straight on. At least the seller isn’t asking an arm and a leg.
In order to protect themselves, a wise buyer would be smart to value this as a parts car and make any offer accordingly.
Steve R
The two taxi cabs that chased down Spencer Tracy in It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World were exactly like this. What a beating those cars took.
Given that this bare-bones Savoy has the 305HP 361 4BBL. V8 and automatic, I doubt this one saw any taxi duty. Probably more like plain-clothes patrol duty.
Back in the early 70s when I was in my senior year in high school, my girlfriend’s dad bought her a ’59 Pymouth Savoy 4 dr, 6 cyl 3sp on the column, was the last year for the flathead 6 that Mopar had been making since the late 30s. We affectionately called it the “Refrigerator” because it was white (this was in the days before harvest gold and icky green etc. and all fridges were white) the heat didn’t work and the style of the exterior door handles was nearly identical to a lot of the old fridges at home. That car was super slow, and a previous owner had put factory-style Roadrunner stickers next the Savoy emblems no doubt as a joke
This could be a cool ol’ family-and-friend cruiser if it were lowered, painted baby blue, with skirts, wide whites and some magna-flows to announce the approach of that 361. I could dig it!
Where is Colorado? I couldn’t find on mapquest. Seriously this year Plymouth style left something to be desired. They were tough cars though. I had one before I even had a license, we drove it on the farm access roads for several years doing General Lee type jumps and through mud Boggs. I intentionally tried to blow up the motor ( flat head 6 ) unsuccessfully! Twelve miles from the farm to the junkyard at 60 mph in second gear. Not much value here though.
Go-Par, easy enough to lower. Lowering blocks in the rear and crank down the torsion bars.
So ugly it could be cool that way that you describe. 361 is no slouch!
Padded dash you fools….maybe a base trim level….with lots of options….just like my vintage girl !
These Chrysler products from the 50s always looked sinister to me as a kid. Especially the DeSotos.
Long before Christine.
They were just used cars then.
I remember a couple sitting at the back of Lincoln Manor in Chambersburg PA, where we lived in one of the small cottages while my Dad was doing temporary duty at the army depot.
They were fascinating. One of them was a 59. When it rained, bubbles would come up in the paint at the fender tops. If I pushed on the bubble, water would come out, like a blister.
In those years, the Savoy was the mid-level trim Plymouth. Plaza was the lowest and Belvidere was the highest. Taxis and police units would be the Plazas, I suspect. As the 318 was the normal engine, somebody had to have ordered this car for it to have the 361. SureGrip if it was ordered in CO. So, a pretty nice Plymouth for the year that was competitive with 352 Galaxies and 348 BelAirs. But also beat them all in cornering.
Add some Vintage Air and bluetooth stereo to the mix and a neat, incognito hot rod could be had. Some VN-501 15×7 wheels, too . . . with whitewalls.