The rise of station wagon sales in the 1950’s can be attributed to the postwar baby boom and the growth of what we call suburbia. For model year 1957, Ford was the wagon king selling almost 320,000 units, followed by Chevy with 294,000. A distant third place was Plymouth, which was getting outsold about 3-to-1 by Ford and Chevy. Much has been written about the groundbreaking ’57 Forward-Look Plymouth. Although their styling was great, what wasn’t so great was their quality-control and rust issues. Here’s a one-owner ’57 Plymouth that wasn’t sent to visit Mr. Junkyard early. It’s also a Suburban Station Wagon that happens to be a 9-passenger model. There can’t be many out there like this one, folks. In fact, this is the first ’57 Plymouth Suburban we’ve featured on Barn Finds. It’s located in Gilroy, California, and is for sale here on craigslist for $17,500. Thank you, T.J. for spotting this rare Mopar long roof and sending it to us!
I’d really like to hear the story behind this one. How did it manage to survive? The seller says it’s a “one-owner, 100% original, 1957 Plymouth 9 passenger station wagon,” then in the next sentence lists several things that are new or have been rebuilt, so “somewhat original” is a more accurate description. The Suburban is wearing its factory black and gold two-tone paint which still has a shine, but there are thin spots visible in a number of places. The seller says there is “zero rust,” so maybe it’s been a garaged California car for most of its life. The chrome and glass and trim all look good for its age. The only thing I’d add to the car’s appearance are period-correct whitewall tires.
The Suburban’s interior looks great and has new upholstery and carpet. The ’57 Plymouth sales brochure bragged that buyers “had a choice of modern, wear-resistant fabrics in an almost limitless combination of harmonious colors.” The period-correct black-and-gray interior looks great on all three rows of seats, as does the instrument panel, steering, wheel, and dash. You can spot the famous push-button PowerFlite automatic transmission and two under the dash aftermarket gauges. The seller says that everything works.
Although the seller doesn’t give us specifics, the ’57 Plymouth sales brochure says that all Belvedere, Savoy, and Suburban V8 models had the Fury 301-cubic-inch engine under the hood. The seller states that it’s been rebuilt and that the transmission has been “gone through.” 66,000 miles is on the odometer. I tried to find a production number for how many of these 2-door (most families with kids wanted a 4-door wagon), 9-passenger Suburban Wagons were produced, but had no luck. It couldn’t have been a large number, making this rare Mopar even rarer and more tempting. What do you think?
Ron, while searching to figure out how many of these were made, I ran across a couple sources saying that only the 4 door wagons were 9 passenger, so maybe the third seat was added?
Other third seat wagons had access to the spare tire by a removal panel on the passenger side, behind the rear wheel well. I don’t see that on this car. Special ordered maybe, since special orders weren’t a big deal back then? One of my books displays a 9 passenger only using the four door wagons.
That’s what I thought Todd. On 9 pass. MoPar wagons in `57, since the third seat folded down into the well normally reserved for the spare tire, the spare was mounted vertically on the pass. side behind the lower rear quarter panel. (You would see the cut-out for the panel in the fender) this one doesn’t have that, which tells me possibly yes–that third seat was added post-production.
I’m digging in my rusty, foggy, dusty, memory banks, and I don’t ever remember seeing ANY 2 door 9 passenger wagons. I’m thinking about what Todd J. Said above, and wondering as a second possibility that this was special ordered this way. I know some people preffered a 2 door wagon to keep the kiddos from flinging the door open at 40 mph giving Mom a heart attack up front. Cool wagon here. And very impressive condition. Other than white walls pike Ron mentioned, thats all I’d change. Great write up Ron. I enjoyed it.
I was wondering about why anyone would want this configuration, and I had never thought about kids opening the doors. Good point.
Little brats!
On the other hand, what to do if you’re sitting in the back and there is an emergency and you need to get out quickly? I had a friend that was in the back seat with his girlfriend in a two-door car. It went off the road into the Navarro River. The two in the front got out but not those in the back. That was over 50 years ago but still comes to mind.
11,196 2 door Custom Suburbans built, which is this one.
20,111 2 door De Luxe Suburbans built.
There were no 2 door Sport Suburbans, only 4 doors.
Custom & De Luxe also came in 4 doors.
The Sportone side trim pictured was optional on Custom Suburbans, and standard on De Luxe Suburbans.
Customs were Plaza based, De Luxe were Savoy based.
Oh, okay, I got it now. Christine’s
more practical cousin. Last time I saw one was up on YouTube maybe 10 or years ago. The car I saw had a 3 on the tree 🎄 with OD. Had the same engine and man did that thing sounded sweet! Had a ’59 Sport Fury when I was 20 years old. Had the
305 HP 361 and all the trimmings. So yeah, I have a soft spot in my heart for this era Plymouth. Needs a nice set of
WSW tires to make it look right.
Maybe dual exhaust from the manifolds back complete with
resonators too. That way, that V8
could breathe a little better. One thing’s for sure, you’ll have the only one in town.
I have the Dodge version of the 2-door Suburban, and yes you won’t see another one as only 7,163 were built and the survival rate was very low. My copies of factory sales brochures indicate that Suburbans were only 6-passenger and 4-door wagons were 6 or 9. But this is where it gets interesting – the parts manual shows a whole section of parts for the 3rd seat in a Suburban. And the well where it would fit carried the spare tire in the 2-door. So was the spare moved to the right rear quarter panel like the 4-door? I’d love to see this car in person to check that detail.
In 1960 the Valiant 9 passenger wagon 3rd seat was a factory option.
V100 9 passenger wagons were 1,928 & V200 9 passenger wagons were 4,675.
In ’61 the 3rd seat was dealer installed.
So no production numbers were kept for 9 passenger wagons that year.
Further proof this unique surviving 57 Plymouth Custom Suburban sports a dealer-installed 3-row seat is the manual rear window crank. This brochure indicated all 9-passenger Suburbans had a remote power rear window. I imagine this example does not have the external spare tire carrier of the 4 door suburban 9-passenger wagons. https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/1957-Plymouth-Wagons.pdf
I searched the model for some colors more in keeping with the wacky 50s colors, but there weren’t many. Most of the photos showed muted colors for some reason. But this salmon color is cool. Great car, nice writeup Ron.
The external spare tire cover was located on the passenger side.
The gent that was selling the 62 409 dual 4 bbl, 4 speed Bel Air owns this Plymouth as well. I looked this one over pretty good too, it’s in really amazing condition cosmetically. I did not look underneath, but up top, pretty impressive for almost seventy years old.
Look at it. Making any was too many.
In my opinion it is not a good looking car.
No one asked you.
Are you a car designer?
I remember Chrysler products of this era being the style leaders. To bad that their styling took a wrong turn in the early ‘60s.
Are you?
Kinda reminds me of the 6, and 8 door airport taxi Limousines, which I love. Actually, saw one of them that was a 6 door station wagon. This is nice and minty.
$@ C@@L! It has to be a factory or dealer custom. 9 passenger 2 door wagons don’t exist in the Plymouth world. Script from ad: One owner 100% original 1957 Plymouth 9 passenger station wagon. New Brakes, carpet, upholstery,shocks,tires,original black and gold paint, engine rebuilt, trans gone through, zero rust car, low production car.2 Dr wagon. All glass is beautiful, everything works,push button transmission, third seat. I have 3 57 Plymouths and this would be a gem in the collection. Building a 2 door pickup out of a 4 door Belvedere sedan with 2 door doors from a 1959 Plymouth sedan. The roof line is the same in sedans. Marc.
never see these in the wild.
Even though this is a low line model, it was still a huge step ahead of anything from General Motors. This car was long, low and wide, while General Motors was still tall, fat and narrow. Big big styling difference. My parents had a wagon like this, and they pulled a motor boat to the lake with it. But it was a very nice. Model with air conditioning. I remember the handles pulled out from the door. I used to get sick riding in it when it was raining because the third seat rode backwards. My dad used to get upset with me. But I was just a kid.
I’m surprised that Plymouth would use the same name as a model that already exists with a different car company. Namely, the Chevy Suburban.
Was this Plymouth’s answer to the Nomad ??
I don’t think so. For several years, Plymouth only made two door wagons.
Suburban is also another name for station wagon. In PA there used to be license plates that read “Suburban”, as on my father’s 53 Ford wagon, no title for a car or “Truck” too for trucks. You are correct about Suburban trade name for Chevy trucks of that type.
GMC called there ‘Cameo’ style truck Suburban also. Marc, 58 Cameo owner.
I didn’t know Mopar made 2 dr wagons. My Mom had a 57 Beldevere. She loved it as it was her first new car. My Dad hated it. They were leaving for vacation and he came out to a broken torsion bar. Then he came out to a broken spring another time. He had 61 Valiant next with a 225 and 3 on the tree. It was only taken out by rust here in the Northeast. The drivetrain was like the energizer bunny with no issues.
I owned a 57 Belvedere two door hardtop for 20+ years and I regret selling it. It was a great driving, dependable car. It had the usual rust issues in the eyebrow area and the rear fender wells, but not bad, and repairs were made. I wouldn’t mind having another one, but doubt I could afford one now. The good old days.
I also had a 57 and a 58 Plymouth two door wagon. The 57 was sold and the guy who bought it used it in Hagerty’s race this past year. It was quite a surprise to watch the race and see my former car pass by, but it was kind of cool.