Finding a car that has been in the same family for 86-years is something of a rarity, but it appears that this is exactly what this 1933 Plymouth PD Coupe actually is. It has been in garage storage for more than 50-years, and the family has now decided to part with it. The owner seems to be slightly confused about what the car actually is, but there’s little doubt that it is a Plymouth PD DeLuxe Six Rumble Seat Coupe. The owner has set a BIN price of $25,425 for the Coupe, but the option is there to make an offer. You will find the Plymouth Located in Monte Sereno, California, and listed for sale here on eBay.
For Plymouth, the PD Coupe was rushed into production following the sales failure of its predecessor, the PC. The PB was widely praised for its style, performance, and space. When the PC was introduced, it was physically smaller than the PB, and styling changes emphasized this. As a result, sales dropped dramatically. The PD was rushed into production on a stunningly short 6-month development program. This car halted the sales decline because where the PC struggled to sell 60,000 cars, in the same period, the PD sold 190,000. This PD is actually in quite remarkable condition. It still wears its original paint and pin-striping, and apart from some minor surface corrosion in spots, it is absolutely rock solid. Some of the external trim has deteriorated, and while it might be able to be restored, there are some items that will require replacement. The owner also says that the windshield will need to be replaced. Overall, if the Plymouth can be kicked back into life, it could quite easily be driven as it now stands.
The big ticket item for the PD, and for the PC before it, was what was happening under the hood. Where Plymouth had been going to market with cars fitted with 4-cylinder engines, the PC introduced a 190ci 6-cylinder engine, and this was carried over to the PD. Two versions of this engine were available. The standard engine produced 70hp, while an engine with a high compression aluminum head was also available, and this produced 76hp. This car looks like it is fitted with the standard engine, which is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. The owner doesn’t provide any indication regarding the state of the engine, so hopefully, it won’t take a lot of work to get that flat-head six back up and running.
The interior of the Plymouth has survived five decades of storage remarkably well. There are these visible tears in the seat, and a couple of small ones in the headliner, but the overall condition is extremely good. If you threw a blanket over the seat, you could definitely use it as it is. The one aspect of the trim that we don’t see is the rumble seat. However, I think that it would be quite reasonable to expect it to be as good as this seat, and if it has had limited use, it may even be better.
The 1933 Plymouth PD Coupe is a car that may not be worth huge money, and part of this is due to the sales volumes of that model year. Still, to find one as original and solid as this one squirreled away for five decades is something of a rarity. The general styling of the PD Coupe also made them a firm favorite as the basis for a street rod project, and that’s been the fate of many of these. If you can find a good one today, then prices between $35,000 and $55,000 are pretty common. This one is solid and original, and its value may well lie in getting it mobile again, and leaving the panels, paint, and interior exactly as they are.
That brings back some very fond memories of one I thought I had but didn’t over 50 yrs ago. I had figured out what I thought was a usable frame that could be modified to the car. Plan was to lift the body onto a new frame with new drivetrain so it could be returned to original config if ever wanted. Never happened due to conditions beyond my control but I had dreams.
Loved the suicide doors and crank out windshield. Hated the bumblebees that took up making a nest under it. It had sat in a corn crib for over 15-20 years when I found it. Knowing the owner helped, right up the time he passed away.
IMHO way overpriced. Good luck to the new owner.
Cheers
GPC
funny If was a 33 ford coupe you guys would be frothing at the mouth throwing money at it ,if it was a chev built out of wood it would have fallen apart by now! here sits a car that is 3 times the car of a ford or stovebolt! chrysler used this same engine into the 50s still lots of these in portable welders, farm machinery etc plus this has hydraulic brakes open drive shaft, and more , try find that on your 33 ford! this anti mopar crap is just that crap! mopar or no car!
It seems high priced to me too! It’s a great example of the cars from that era!! I’ve never drove one that was as original as this one is!! I would love to get it running and driving and take it on say a 20 mile excursion!! The seat the interior, the dash board all look so vintage!! It’s a crime to me that most of the cars we see are going to go in someone’s collection and never be driven
Probably over priced but… If I won the lottery I’d upgrade the suspension and brakes and stuff a Viper V10 Drive Train in it and leave the rest as is..
It’s not like it’s a ‘32 Ford coupe.
Its not a rumble seat coupe but a business coupe. Still desirable but not worth quite as much. And hopefully it goes to a good home that will keep it original and not ruin it with some lame brain ideas.
O.K. the more I study this car, the more questions pop up. After studying the lousy pictures I can see it is a rumble seat coupe – the question is, why is there no handle inside the car to roll down the back window? And why does the body plate number indicate its a business coupe (PD1925BC). A rumble seat coupe body would end in TPC. It has the shorter deck/rumble seat lid of the r/s coupe, the handle is at the top near the rear window and it has step plates on the bumper and fender. ????
Jim, what are the possible scenarios that would have caused this discrepancy? Could it be a Business Coupe converted to a Rumble Seat Coupe (TPC) from original rumble seat parts?
Do all rumble seat coupes have the wind down rear window?
Have you ever seen a rumble seat coupe with a fixed rear window?
Thank you, Darren
I had the exact same car, bought it in Hillcrest near Durban South Africa, only difference was mine was right hand drive, it had a freewheel mechanism, but is that a PD, mine had twin sidemounts, was that not the difference between a PC and a PD or was it the early PD’s that had the shorter chassis frame and the later that used a longer Dodge frame to enable the sidemounts……….
NADA says 12,300 for this car in top shape high retail.
Since its not running then asking price is way out of line.
Seller does not seem to motivated.
Pat Gill – Sidemount fenders were optional on all models except early PC
I don’t say this very often but like Stilbo said this body would go on a newer frame and suspension, the fenders would be gone and there would be a healthy BBC sitting between the rails up front. They produced a lot of these cars, they are not rare and they are not to valuable, that is my reasoning for building a street rod out of it.
I had 2- 1934 ply one was a PE 2-sedan made into street rod the other one kept original 1934 PC 2-door. nice cars
this was the PC stock all black
this car was in the great race 1934 PC in the seventys wish I kept this one two. I paid 6 grand for this one.
this was the street rod PE 327 Chevy Mustang rear end. nice car too.
This was the street Rod Pe. miss this one to. took me 5 years to build this one.
Overpriced x5, sorry. That said, this is a great find. I always love seeing time capsules like this.
This Plymouth is a handsome car. If a ‘33 Ford coupe is the cool guy everyone wants to know, the ‘33 Plymouth is his handy, responsibile brother who saved for retirement. Kinda boxy, kinda big, but looks good on Sunday. I’d get him running and pile on the miles.
And oh yeah… a well-tuned in-line 6 is a glorious sound we have almost forgotten. Get it running and keep it.
About $20,000 to much.their trying to sell sentimental memories, can’t do it.
Hi All – I just spent 3 hours inspecting the car out in the sunlight. I am preparing an inspection & appraisal report for the owners. The seller has authorized me to share these photos. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RmVMr7p4xAQHBYXq32XD-2fQrLMgqxyx?usp=sharing
I am not selling the car for the owners and I have no financial interest in the car. I am happy to answer any questions if I can brendan@bisappraisals.com
Let me clear up a few things that I do know.
Specifically in California pre-1954 cars used stamped numbers on the blocks for the VIN. The stamped ID on this motor block is PD16475. I used this number to verify the VIN with the state and the title is now clear. The tag on the firewall is PD1925BC which is a buisiness coupe. There is a 3rd ID plate on the B pillar, passenger side with the number 2014264. This tag is gold brass and black and it it read “Serial Number”
With regard to the rumble seat configuration it’s my opinion that the factory modified a business coupe to be a rumble seat coupe. I went through this are of the car and found no evidence of a backyard conversion. The cardboard side panels look factory in fit and finish. The rumble seat itself looks to me like it’s a Plymouth item. I believe the paint is original.
A few questions for the Mopar Pro’s. How did the rear hatch of a coupe open? Turn handle down by the rear bumper? Or was it also a top side larch and door like the rumble seat? My point is if someone modified this car after it was sold they took the time to find the exact seat, door, side panels, etc.
The body number and the configuration do not match. How this mis-match came about is not certain. What is certain to me is that this car is complete and it is corrosive rust free. Nothing is missing.
I appraised a 1928 Dodge Fast 4 (body ID) with a Victory Six motor. An expert confirmed to me that the body was either not tagged correctly at Dodge in 1928 or they simply didn’t hesitate to put whatever they had together.
While we were moving the car outside on car dollies and a floor jack it slipped and the floor jack caught the car by the tie rod. That is bent. 3 of the 4 tires held air, I found a set of tools under the seat but I can’t confirm or deny that they came with the car originally.
Brendan – I replied at length to the prospective purchaser about this car; not sure if he has shared those comments with you or not. As I am out of town, I cannot access my data base of 900 1934 Plymouths to see if this car has been registered at some time in the past or not. Here are some of my observations — the body of the rumble seat coupe was different from that of a business coupe; the distance from the rear window to the deck lid/rumble seat lid is different, as is the length of the lid as it pertains to the lower portion of the lid opening. Unlike a Ford, you just can’t simple switch the hinges to make a rumble seat coupe out of business coupe. All rumble seat coupes had a roll down rear window and this car does not appear to have a roll down window. The body number PD1925BC indicates a business coupe – the rumble seat coupe would end in TPC and also have a different numbering sequence. The engine appears to be correct but you will need to find it stamped into the left frame rail to verify this (its stamped by the running board mounting bracket, both front and rear as well as near the arch over the rear axle – probably to the rear of the arch but could be forward or at the top as well). The key to the entire car is the serial number found on the doorpost (2014264). I would suggest getting a copy of the build card from FCA Historial. The only way they can access the record is via the serial number – and they demand proof of ownership before releasing this information. The build card will tell, among other things, the body style, build date, date shipped and to which dealer; also engine/body/serial numbers, tire info and size, key numbers, and codes for paint and upholstery. As I told the prospective purchaser, I have never seen a rumble seat coupe without a roll down rear window. There are slight differences in body construction to accommodate the roll down window, (not making it an impossibility to install or remove one) but highly unlikely. My own theory is the original body tag was removed for whatever reason and this was installed as a replacement. Some people don’t think these number mean anything but they do. I speak with nearly 50 years of experience with the 1934 Plymouths and currently own two, a PE business coupe and PE coach plus have a PE 4 door in pieces and have owned multiple others. If any further questions feel free to call on me. Jim Benjaminson, Mem. Sec., Plymouth Owners Club, Inc.
Jim – thank you very much for the great information and I will get that 2014264 tag translated. I noticed that this tag is held on by 1 standard style screw and one is missing. In case you missed it I posted pictures on my G-Drive. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RmVMr7p4xAQHBYXq32XD-2fQrLMgqxyx?usp=sharing
This is the second pre-war MOPAR I have appraised that has been a mystery with numbers and styling not matching.
Safe travels.
Brendan – had ’34 on the brain when I wrote the above but everything I said also applies to the ’33 Plymouths. I also own two of them plus have a registry of known ’33s, although the number is not as extensive as the ’34 registry….looked at the photos in the zip file, nothing really jumped out except the lack of roll down rear window.
Who really cares if it was to have a roll down window or not. It’s a 33 pd coupe, meaning long wheelbase 112″ the best proportion 33 or 34 mopar built. 33 pc looked as if it ran into a wall .34 pe 114″ had to long of a nose for it’s body. Any one who knows much about street rods will tell you full fender smallblock (mopar or chevy) low to the ground,and it still looks as kool as a 32 -34 ford. Super nice complete origonal cars are getting harder to find.Esspecially mopars. 25k not out of line for a complete solid rust free car. If I did’nt have so many I,d buy it.