I have always found the concept of a business coupe, or a three-passenger coupe to be an unusual arrangement. Once popular for traveling salesmen, the business coupe started to fade away in the early ’50s and by the end of the ’50s, was consigned to history. For years, as all of these aging business coupes traveling sales days were concluding, the seemingly obvious next step was to, what else, but turn them into hot rods! And that’s exactly what we have here, a 1947 Plymouth DeLuxe that has put on the hot rod ritz! It is located in Bremerton, Washington and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $4,500, reserve not yet met. There is a BIN option of $17,500 available too. Thanks to Larry D for this tip!
Talk about a ’50s vibe, this Plymouth has it all going on with a pearlescent blue finish, chrome spotlights, wide-whites, and spinner wheel covers attached to red-painted rims; fuzzy dice anyone? There is no denying its condition even if the seller states, “The paint still looks great but has minor flaws and shows little age. The chrome is still nice but shows some wear and dings“. The images don’t reflect these shortcomings – here’s a walkaround video so you can see for yourself. The fake lake pipes are a bit of a stretch but they certainly keep with the plan.
The biggest surprise is in the engine room where there is a non-typically outfitted 217 CI, in-line, six-cylinder flat-head engine holding court. The one-time 95 HP six-banger has been enhanced with an aluminum cylinder head, intake manifold, and dual Carter two-barrel carburetors. The seller claims that this Plymouth runs and drives well and this operating video will allow you to see and hear it in action. Three on the tree helps this Plymouth in the go-went-gone department.
The dash in this DeLuxe coupe is busy, to say the least. Typical for the era is all of the chrome enhancement and then there is an aftermarket tachometer and auxiliary gauges that have been added. The seller states that the dash has been rewired – note the added charging socket (lighter?) on the passenger side below the glovebox door. One of the neatest features is the vertically mounted original radio – very nice to find. The black velour upholstery and matching door panels are probably not what I would expect to find but it works fine without clashing with the rest of the interior. The seller states that the driver’s side of the seat has experienced some wear but it still presents well. The area behind the front seat has been finished off in a similar matter as has the “business” end of this business coupe under the rear decklid – it’s ready for an aluminum siding sample case!
The seller suggests, “Overall, this would be a great candidate for a driver/project” and then further adds, “Extremely solid platform to enjoy as is or to give a freshening“. I think I’d leave this Plymouth coupe as it is, how about you?
This looks to be a well thought out car with a strong vintage vibe that suffers from a lack of interest, as demonstrated by the BIN price.
Steve R
This was someones Dad’s or Grandpa’s dream, but now he is dead. No one cares who isn’t 85 years old. If the price were a third of the asking price, well, then maybe. I myself like this a lot, though I would have preferred a more standard color and the regular engine. I will not pay the equivalent of a new Ford passenger car for it.
Agreed. Coming from a Gen Xer, this looks cool, but not $17.5k cool. I’ve wanted a 49 Merc for a long time, but there’s no nostalgia for me Iike there is for my 80yo dad who made the mistake of trading his for a used Studebaker in 1958. And I’m not willing to pay what a Boomer would pay.
“And I’m not willing to pay what a Boomer would pay.”
hmmmmm.
Engident, are you also indigent?
The guys who had interest in these cars no longer have drivers licenses. I cannot figure out why they’re even ask such high prices…the days of these heavy metal behemoths are in the past. They had far more character than the stupid little Honda’s and subarus that are produced today, but there is just a fast diminishing audience
The aluminum head on a flat six is a rare piece though. Wish we knew the manufacturer
That’s an Edmuns head, they are rare. I happen to have a Edmuns dual intake manifold with two Holiy 94’s on it for my Stovebolt engine.
This car brings back high school memories, but our cars never looked this good.
Neat properly priced cruise worthy.What can YOU build for $17,500
Is that an Edmunds head or a Fenton as is the intake manifold?
I believe those Hudson tail lights look better on the Plymouth than the original Hudson.
IF I had it, I would get rid of the lake pipes, the visors over the headlights, hubcaps, wheels and tires. I would install factory 15″ wire wheels from the 50’s
and decent radial tires. And for safety I would install a disc brake kit on the front. And then I would drive it until it completely fell apart. I absolutely love it.
My Dad had a 46 that could be this ones twin. Engine set up the same, I use to love how the speedometer changed colors the faster we went. It was suppose to be mine at 16 but it got totaled so we built a 48 Ford for me. I sent the link to my mom I’m sure she’ll remember a lot more than me.
Hey, it’s genuine.
Vehicles like this one often come with a 350 and a slushbox from the general.
I hate that, but a flat six and a three-on-the-tree works well for me.
I appreciate any comments, pro or con.
Hey it is a Edmunds aluminum head. I just saw the pictures on ebay. I guess I am just a big DUMMY. The reason i had questioned if it just might be a Fenton head is when we bought our speed equipment way back then we wanted the head and the intake manifold to match and if it was an ohv we wanted the valve cover(s) to match also. I don’t know how many times I have been back to look at this car because it really brings back so many memories
This is a really nice little business coupe. I also own a 47 Plymouth business coupe, flathead six an three on the tree. I am sporting red wheels with wide whites and 50s spider caps. It is two tone charcoal and silver. Wish I had a way to display it on this site. Enjoy the cars friends
Absolutely awesome. Looks like in should be in the old small page “Rod and Custom” magazine. All the right gear, bumpers, hubcaps, flathead 6 with the right speed equipment. I can imagine hearing the note out of the split system exhaust. Don’t think it will last long at this price. If it was in Oz, I’d own it.
It has dual carter single barrel carbs, not two dual barrel carbs.
The speed equipment is rare and there is a good reason for that, I had a 51 Plymouth Wagon and I got obsessed with finding Speed Equipment I did find some, it was not cheap, I asked around, meaning the old guys that had experience. I got the same answer, why would you want it, it’s not going to make any difference. It might look better, but it won’t be any faster.
A friend is building a model-A right now. He’s using only vintage Fenton performance parts, from the intake, valve covers, fuel block, exhaust manifolds, even the exhaust clamps are NOS Fenton. He’s been an avid swapmeeter since he was in junior high school in the early-60’s and bought the manifolds nearly 50 years ago. The rest of the car consists of mid to late-50s parts, nothing newer, that includes the 265cid small block chevy and P code chevy rear end center section. The last model-A he built was a pick up, it’s target date was 1953 and used nothing newer than that.
So yes, these parts do have a place. They aren’t great for race cars, but that’s the case nowadays too. Only a fraction of modified cars you see at shows and cruises will ever see a race track.
Steve R
Business coupe love the smooth lines. Someone wanting to get into the car show/ cruise seen . $17,500 and your there . I would leave exterior as is tightly up interior. Straight 6 with three on the tree and lake pipes so cool. Would hook up lake pipes if non functional now. There has been some custom body work making them snug up tight.For those who haven’t drove a three on the tree it will take you back when driving was a manual thing. How cool to open your hood at car shows to show it’s not an ugly LS with twin turbos that every other car in the row has. Someone will have fun with this car. Bremerton Wa is known for love of cars .
tuba or double base musician’s concert car? (they leave that big stuff at the practice hall between gigs). Rock drummer’s daily drive?
Finally, I don’t need a station wagon any more…
All ways go w/the period correct mods or oem (right dwn to cloth covered wires and mechanical breaks).