If you were a Plymouth dealer in the mid 1930s, times were pretty good. Plymouths were selling very well, making the brand was the third most popular in America. However, good sales can always be made better. Chrysler head honchos decided that a rebadged Dodge light duty pickup for Plymouth was the perfect product to boost the bottom line. This 1937 Plymouth PT50 pickup, being sold on craigslist in Bayville, New Jersey, is one of the 10,709 pickups to be sold that first year of production. Unfortunately, this rare pickup looks to be down for the count. Does the $7,500 asking price leave any room for the extensive repairs needed to bring this swayback hauler back from its slow return to the Earth? Thanks to Levi A. for the tip!
Our friends over at the Allpar website provide an interesting history of these unique trucks. Like the story of the Mercury badged trucks that we cover every now and then, adding a Plymouth truck allowed dealers who didn’t sell Dodges to have a truck line available to their loyal customers. Since Plymouth was a companion brand to dealerships that carried Dodge, Chrysler, or DeSoto, the latter two brands had previously been forced to send customers to the nearest Dodge dealer. 1937 marked the first year that these trucks were produced. Four different models were offered, ranging from the pickup (called an express), a cab and chassis, a panel delivery, and a station wagon. All were based on the new for 1936 Dodge pickup.
This 1937 may have once put a little extra jingle in a dealer’s pocket, but it looks like the truck’s best days are behind it. The grill slats have been cut out and replaced with screen, the headlight assemblies look to be rusted out at the bottoms, various dents, bruises and scrapes litter all four fenders, and rust has swiss cheesed a number of panels. One other glaring issue is the “swayback” look the whole truck seems to exude. While a close inspection would be needed, the general appearance of sagging makes you wonder if the frame hasn’t rusted out on the passenger side.
Inside, the situation is almost as bleak. What looks to be missing instruments in the left side of the dash are actually holes that have been drilled for some reason. We can also see the broken windshield and rust holes along the bottom of the cowl and passenger door. The glovebox door is missing, but the instruments, steering wheel, windshield crank, and at least one door handle are all still hanging on.
We don’t have a dedicated picture of the engine, but the second and third photos above do reveal that a flathead six Mopar engine is installed in the truck. If it is the original motor, then it would have put out 70 horsepower from its 201 cubic inches of displacement. A gearshift lever, seen in picture four, hints to the three speed manual transmission still being with the truck. Unfortunately, we see no sign of the hood sides and no mention is made as to their whereabouts. The driver’s side front fender reveals that this truck was equipped with a fender mount wheel and tire. Of course, it is not present in the picture. One good bit of news is that the Plymouth stamped tailgate hasn’t wandered off. These are fairly rare and quite desirable for obvious reasons.
Is this pickup worth the asking price? They are very rare, and Mopar collectors love them for both their good looks and low production numbers. However, this one is very rough. It would take a lot of money and effort to bring this Plymouth pickup back from the dead. Good examples sell for right around $20,000.
Do you think you could get your money back out of this truck if you properly restored it?
To bad it’s so rough but in my opinion it’s rarity justifies it being saved. As a lot of you know up here in Canada we had a rebranded dodge truck too. The Fargo and it was for the same reason expanding availability to other Chrysler, Plymouth, and DeSoto dealers. My dad had a 51 or 52 Fargo it was his daily driver until I came along in 1960 he had to sell it and get a family car to fit my older brother and me in for going places. I’d tear this truck down to the bare frame and rebuild it back to original condition. It would be a fun project and would be likely the only one at cars and coffee nights. What a diamond in the rough. Great find.
Sure is a ruffian. Didn’t realize these were so rare, Guess the price reflects this, wonder if the Dodge counterpart shares the same sheet metal. Tailgate made out of unobtainium. Wonderful to bring back. Beautiful truck!!
Good luck to the new owner!!
Last time I saw one was at the first Street
Rod Nationals in Peoria, Illinois in 1970.
That particular truck ran a 289 Ford V-8
and C-4 driveline. It was dark blue with
a black naugahyde interior. Although it
wasn’t finished, the owner ran what he
brought and what a truck it was too!
Dad didn’t believe Plymouth made a pickup truck ’til I showed him pictures
of that truck that I’d taken in Peoria
at the Nats. Looks like these were
sold as late as 1941. Sadly, they didn’t
return after the war. If they had, Plymouth would’ve made a mint on
them. While this one may be too far
gone for me, someone will buy it and
bring it back from the dead.
$5,000 All day, bring your own trailor and get out of NJ asap. Frame is shot so this is a restomod. Beautiful truck amazing gracefull lines. This gem will bring big bucks when all done to rock star specs.
I don’t think the frame is shot. I believe it’s just the running board that is rusted. These frames were like tanks. Probably doesn’t matter, like you say, someone will put this on a newer chassis, guaranteed.
Cool truck! Deep pockets needed!
I used to see the odd Plymouth truck in SoCal during the 1960s and into the ’70s. (Kenneth, I joined NSRA not long after hearing about the Peoria Nats…)
As Canadian Mark noted, Chrysler Corp badged ‘export’ models differently from its domestic (USA) offerings. There is a De Soto-badged ‘Dodge’ pick up that is a regular competitor at the local drag strip.
I guess this one is worth what someone is prepared to pay…
’37 is the best hood ornaments ever!
Most definitely an involved project. I’ve seen worse than this being brought back to pristine so nothing’s impossible. A lot of time and dedication to the job. You’d never get your money back out of it but, as I and others have said many times, it’s the journey.
The price is totally out of line!!!
For 10.5K you can buy this one with a S-10 chassis and small block Chevy!!!!
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1937/plymouth/pt_trucks/100962039
Florida yellow hammer with blue jean door panels. Pass. Though better bargain it is. Just not at 10.5k. How about 6.7k.
$7,500 is totally out of line.
Buy this one for 10.5K with a small block Chevy and S-10 all ready done!!!!
https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1937/plymouth/pt_trucks/100962039
$7,000 to much.
Whats up with that A-pillar inside of the cab? That’s how that was made back then? Man I need a full race cage to feel safe in that. All them factory cuts in the pillar.
Gimme a R, Gimme a E, Gimme a S, Gimme a T, Gimme a O,Gimme a M,Gimme a O,Gimme a D,,,,what does it spell? RESTOMOD, just the way it is today, folks,,
I’ve got nothing against restomods but I personally think they’re better if the builder stays brand loyal so I’d put this on a Durango chassie with a 360 CID engine.
Just ratlle some 4×2 up the chassis rails, it’ll be fine…
Got a zero too many, but.
This needs a ton of work. But I definitely like the lines of it.
Wish I still had old garage, I’ offer $350 for the tailAte.
Used to find older tailgates, bring back to like new, and modified them enough, as to enable to be lowered, to line garage walls.
Some more common used for tip down workbenches, up hogh on rafters hanging for storage, but others I cushioned for seating during beer breaks and evenings of bench racing B’S sessions.
This rig has some salvage portions for those of resto needs, but at this asking price, no way!
Not beyond repair, but very much overpriced. As a restored vehicle it would top out at about $18K to $20K.
when I was a kid my Dad and Uncle had a Plymouth PU, used for the roofing business ,I remember the mayflower hood ornament , the truck was old then , they sold it and bought a 1950 Dodge 5 window pick up 4 speed , I learned to drive on that one , cool trucks .
If it helps a potential buyer make a decision, I have a very nice pair of 1936 P1 hoods taking up space in my garage.
I’m in the process of nuts and bolts restoration back to stock on its sister, the Dodge Brothers P/U, its not about getting the money out when finished, its about the passion and journey why one does these….if it were just for money, nobody would be bringing these back to life and we have piles of more rust back in the earth….
This site is great, the significant parts missing can be found with in the Barn Find community. Atta boy Pete in PA.
@Beatnik Bedoin: I’ll be 64 on Thursday
and to this day I can still recall the sights,
sounds, and smells of that first Street Rod Nationals in Peoria. Seems like only
yesterday that I was standing in front of
the Fox Theater watching Ron Weeks of
Norwalk, California rumble by in his
chopped top ’34 Ford sedan with that
blown 394 Olds V-8 shaking the ground
beneath my feet. Or the near stock look
of Orville Elgie’s ’37 Ford Panel Delivery
as it passed me by motoring along with
a 350 Chevy under the hood. There were
nearly 2,000 cars at the old Fairgrounds
for folks just like me to admire and enjoy.
For most of us, it was the first time we
ever saw a real street rod in the flesh
so to speak. Oh sure, we read about them in the pages of Hot Rod and Rod
& Custom Magazines but to see all
those rods and customs in one place
was truly a sight to behold. For months
afterward, all I could think about was
building a car of my own from the
ground up. Shoot, I even forgot about
girls for awhile ’til Dad said I’d better
come out of the garage and go on a
date–or else. It was trucks like this
Plymouth that made all my memories
possible. Those days are a time I’ll
never forget.
I sold my low mileage, never touched, ’37 PT50 shop truck in ’83 to buy a new XLX Sportster. I’ve regretted the sale ever since. Lovely little trucks, all metal bed, open drive line, hydraulic brakes.
I think the spare wheel carrier is on the passenger side. I am from South Africa where you would be correct, but this is a left-hand drive truck and the well is on the other side. Not nit- picking; just saying.
Thanks for site that is a weekly treat.
If anyone buys this, I am interested in some of the parts! I have 2 of these, they are seriously cool. Email me bigbuck8@gmail.com if you have parts. Thanks
I bought this old girl – she’s rough, but all steel- came with multiple sets of steel fenders, hoods, head light buckets- she has a sister in my garage with a LS1 implant in progress-for some of us, the end game isn’t the cost and the value when completed- it’s the pride knowing that this girl is my vision, sweat and blood
Hello, have you done anything with the truck? If so it would be great to see pictures.