This 1937 Plymouth PT50 pickup looks almost like it’s been modified already, it just has that look. There isn’t much doubt in my mind that it’ll end up as a rat rod or restomod, but I hope that the next owner keeps at least some of the original look. They are rarely seen and are super unique trucks. This one can be found here on eBay in Elgin, Illinois and the current bid price is $5,300 with no reserve.
Plymouth had it going on in 1937, it’s hard to argue with that. The design and style of these trucks are just outstanding. Plymouth’s first real pickup, the PT for Plymouth Truck, would come in 1937. They had danced around the edges of commercial vehicles for a couple of years with basically slightly-modified cars having truck-like functions, a box, or a storage area behind the passenger compartment.
The company went on to build trucks a few times before their demise with the last “trucks” coming in the early-1980s as the Plymouth Scamp. They were more of a tiny El Camino-like car-based vehicle rather than a truck on a truck chassis such as this PT50. These trucks were only made from 1937 to 1941. The seller says that this truck has been stored for many years. It has the appropriate areas of heavy surface rust in the box and underneath, but nothing looks too jarring.
This is the only interior photo but I can’t complain (for once) because the seller has included a couple of photos of the inside of the box and an underside photo and even an engine photo! I know, 2020 is looking up! That unique shift knob is on a 3-speed manual shift lever. It 1937, it cost $5 extra to have the fenders painted in body color other than being painted black. A bumper, at least on the rear of the truck, was also an option.
The engine is a 201 cubic-inch inline-six and the seller says that it turns over, the transmission shifts as it should, and the parking brake still works. Even the seller talks about wanting to add a late-model Hemi drivetrain so I don’t hold out much hope for the next owner getting this original engine running again. I hope I’m wrong. Have any of you owned a Plymouth pickup?
I read, before the war, the Plymouth pickup was quite popular. Never made it after the war, however. I suppose Dodge was the one people remembered. I think the “PT” in “PT Cruiser” stands for Plymouth Truck, as well. Naturally, I’d keep it original save for some gearing mods, but snowballs chance in Hades these days. I only hope the final result doesn’t stray too much, they were beautiful trucks.
I thought that the PT in PT Cruiser meant “personal transportation.”
I thought that the PT in PT Cruiser meant “predictably tepid.”
Part Time
Portable toilet????
pretty tiny
Ok, I’m going to beat all the meatheads to the punch: I would like to put a 4 speed in it/a hemi in it/clone it into a GTO….blah/blah/blah. Such an honest old truck. For the love of all things holy, leave it alone.
Agree. Make it go and stop reliably and just enjoy it.
amen! Somethings deserve to be preserved! This is one of them.
These are pretty narrow between the rails in the engine compartment. I’ve seen a few built in the late 50s- 60s running first generation 1953-1958 Dodge Hemis of 241, 270, 315, and 325 cubic inches. They look very natural together.
It’s a cool truck. Being the first year of this model and surviving in original condition for so long it would be nice to see it restored, especially if it remains close to the current high bid. If someone from the “leave it stock” contingent, regardless of whether the follow this site, can’t be bothered to step up and buy it, when will they ever? Unfortunately, we will probably never know what direction the new owner decides to go.
Steve R
Okay, what about a later model Plymouth or Dodge six, say a 218 or 230. These engines weren’t the fastest
things on the road, but they DID fit between those narrow frame rails you
mention. Want proof? Check out the July 1970 issue of Rod & Custom Magazine. There, you’ll find an article
about a gentleman who performed a
swap like this into a ’35 Plymouth sedan
with satisfying results. Or, go all the way with a 225 slant 6 and either a 4 speed or a Torqueflight tranny. On something like this truck, it’s time to go
old school and save this cool old truck.
I like that they covered the carb with tinfoil, they should have done the same for the water outlet ……
Fascinating trucks and this one’s a (relatively) east restoration……
Keeps the rats and mice from using the intake system and cylinders to store acorns. Ask me how I know.
That’s not all those rats and mice do in the cylinders. They pee and it runs down the cylinder walls and makes them rusty and very pitted. Ask me how I know!!
Good comments all, first thing I thought of was a 340 4 speed and dont touch the body, but going stock or a “leaning tower of power” slant six would do very nicely. I love the look it has right now, no “P” word. Good luck to the new owner, Stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
Bet it happened to you, didn’t it Paolo?!
I had a ’46 Plymouth sedan with about
the same issue. Mine was a huge mouse nest in the carb. I removed what
I could from the carb, but some of the
nest and a lot of droppings fell down into the intake manifold. When I got my
car started, this huge plume of smoke
rolled out the tailpipe and fogged up the
whole back yard! It was so bad that my
buddy’s neighbors were about to call the
fire department because they thought
my car was on fire! Since it was Summer, we had great mosquito control
for awhile as we adjusted whatever we
needed to get the car to idle smoothly
again. After the big smoke out, the car
ran great and didn’t smoke at all. We
drove the car a lot that summer and
enjoyed it a lot. Wound up selling it to
my buddy as I was too busy to restore
it further. Wish I’d kept it now.
I never knew of this truck. What an awesome design, I had to Google an image of a restored one as soon as I saw this. I hope it gets restored.
I so hope someone keeps it original. The next generation won’t even know trucks like this ever existed.
Ya gotta love that grill with the attached headlights. Looks like it’s raked back enough to match the slant of the windshield. Rolling art to these old eyes.
Fix what needs to be fixed, keep it as stock as possible and drive it.
Deserves a better fate than becoming a rat rod.
I think it should b restore to factory stock. If not why not put the slant 6 in it. You would have enough power and still get decent mileage.
Slant 6 with a 5 speed, 4:10 rear gears, 80s Mopar police wheels painted to match, updated brakes and enjoy. Or original flathead 6 with an overdrive column shift 3 speed and just stay off the freeways. I don’t mind mild patina like this, just preserve, maintain and enjoy. It does have the right front fenderwell spare, I always struggle with what to put there when you update wheels. Originals look out of place.
Yea 427, cop brakes, cop shocks, cop transmission-Jake and Elwood would look good in this truck~Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
With a Dodge 4spd O/D box behind one of these and up graded brakes what a great show piece would atract the lookers in hordes
Sold for about $6,700. I hope it was someone who will fix the grill and restore it mechanically. Maybe put the biggest Chrysler flat-head six or even a slant-6 in it, but leave it mostly original.
My dad had one like this it was all white,and tan colored with chrome reverse stock rims on it, and dual exhaust stacks to.my dad built a dog 🐕 kennel for it to keep the coon dogs in it for coon hunting,I was five years old back in 1965 lol !
My neighbor has a nice original ’37 Plymouth pickup. It was used in the Hallmark movie Valley Of Light
I have a 1938 Plymoith pickup mostly original. Great truck for local trips.
I have e a 1938 Plymouth pickup. Owned for 30 years. Great truck.
No longer listed. Someone got a really beautiful truck.
I’d leave the outside as is!! That’s the truck’s life story but I would have to upgrade the power train. I’m an old fart that likes a/c!!
That is one straight up, bad a__ truck! If I got ahold of this ol’ lady, I would absolutely have to rat it out to the max! Just sayin…….
I have a 37 Dodge 3/4 ton. I’ve had since 1973. It had a 7′ bed. Streched the cab a foot, cut the bed back to 6 foot. Nova sub frame,, 350 eng.