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Parked Since ’64! Dusty 1939 Plymouth Business Coupe

Thanks to Paul B. who found this 1939 Plymouth Coupe located in Westfield, Massachusetts and listed here on Western Massachusetts craigslist.  I drove a 1940 Plymouth to Senior Prom about 20 years after this one rolled into a barn and, between my Prom and the next time this car saw daylight, I had gone to college, married my sweetheart, fathered two children, and witnessed one graduate from high school. All those days and years of storage in the Bay State no doubt took some toll on the this little coupe, and the 20,839 miles on the odometer are believed to be original, so this Plymouth comes wrapped in question marks.

Wow – Plymouth went all out with the striped interior! Just kidding (I hope). Despite the “all original” claim, I doubt this coupe left the factory with the interior shown here. Perhaps a previous owner was a Candy Striper, or dated one. The “Business Coupe” moniker describes two-seat coupes (sometimes 2+2 thanks to tiny back seats), ideal for traveling salesmen who (long before the Internet) peddled everything from pots and pans to encyclopedias by driving to your house and banging on your front door.

The Plymouth body was redesigned for 1939, with a V-nosed hood and two-piece windshield. Since the Plymouth was all-new in 1940, these ’39s are rather unique. Thanks to allpar.com for some details. The 201 cid inline six cylinder continued, with two variations delivering 82 and 86 horsepower. That four horsepower is about what a $700 exhaust system adds to your Honda today. My family’s Plymouth had the same engine and “three on the tree” transmission. Though no hot-rod, the torquey straight six had no problem achieving and sustaining highway speeds and could ascend nearly any hill in third gear. Considering its long slumber, low mileage, potential high originality, and host of unanswered questions, where do you value this little coupe?

Comments

  1. Avatar Gaspumpchas

    Dam Sam thats cool. slide a v8 in there.Loved that era Mopar!!!

    Like 0
  2. Avatar LAWRENCE

    nice……

    Like 0
  3. Avatar slickb

    this one might be to nice but I would love to take a car with an body stile like this and make a old Gasser tribute car that I could drag race and be safe in it but it looks all old and cool.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Davey

      Spelling

      Like 1
  4. Avatar Rick

    You are exactly correct about the hill climbing ability of Plymouth cars. There’s a very steep hill in my area known as Plymouth Hill, so named for a Plymouth being the only car to top the hill in 3rd gear with no downshifts.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Jude

    My Dad’s first car!

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Jeff

    I like it much better than the blue one…& the price is inviting.

    Like 1
    • Avatar RNR

      The blue one has a 340 in it and recently changed hands for a little more than $10K…..

      Like 0
  7. Avatar whmracer99

    If the bones on this one are as solid as they appear this would be a great basis for whatever you wanted — gasser, restoration, hodrod, resto-mod, etc.. Me, I’d love this as a resto-mod with a modern drivetrain but basically stock exterior but to each his own. Pricing works for just about any option.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Gearheadengineering

    This has been on CL for a few weeks. Makes me wonder if it is as solid as they claim. The photos are awful quality, so you can’t really tell.

    – John

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Andre

    Would be slick with Olds power and chrome reverses

    Like 0
    • Avatar David Barlowe

      Andre, an Olds. Are you freaking crazy. Leave it all MOPAR. Use the olds for a boat anchor. My God.

      Like 2
      • Avatar Fred

        I agree keep it Mopar or drop in an AoK built Mopar Flathead 230 with dual carbs and exhaust

        Like 2
  10. Avatar Pa Tina

    Parked in a salt mine?

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Tom S.

    Parked on a dirt floor for 53 years? No photos of the underside? Think about it.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Howard

    Reminds me of the ’39 I had.I had a 361 dodge with push button dodge trans.Ran well til a tree fell on it

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Maestro1

    It’s great. Endless options for conversions or restorations on this one. The door panels are not stock. SMS probably has the interior for this car. Have fun.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar William Gutierrez

    These cars from those years are hard to find as survivors so keep it original .

    Like 0
  15. Avatar geomechs Member

    They’re unique and nice, even in 4-door livery. Sure hope this gets a good home and a proper restoration. Would not like to see one of these get the torch treatment.

    Like 1
  16. Avatar George Soffa

    I had a ‘39 Plymouth 2 door sedan that was my main wheels after I scattered the 390 in my ‘67 Fairlane and decided to build a 427 Side Oiler, which I located !! That old Plymouth got me to and from my steel mill job, to my girlfriends and Drive-in’s for dates , just great dependable car !! It also carried parts in its roomy trunk and the 427 block and crank when I had them magnafluxed and surfaced !! Had $300 in it and sold it for $$900 !

    Like 0
  17. Avatar sluggo

    This one looks in pretty decent condition and probably best suited as a restoration, or some sensible suspension and brake upgrades. I have a 39 of these too,, had a 37 as well and had to decide which I liked better as the earlier style had the horse collar style grill,, this one is more art deco so i kept the 39. But mine is very rough so no resto on mine.
    The problem with restored is these dont get big money restored so must be a labor of love,,
    I dont know why but same year Ford Coupe would go for way more money.

    Like 0

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