All of us get a case of wanderlust every once in a while. Who here hasn’t daydreamed about buying and restoring an older car and taking it on a trip across the country? If you are looking for a project car that would be a great driver for such a plan when finished, then add to your list of possible rides this 1940 Plymouth coupe for sale on craigslist in Hillsboro, Oregon. As you look at the pictures and read the description for this prewar Plymouth, you can see that this is a solid car worth the effort and expense of a restoration. Described as very original, is the seller’s asking price market correct at $12,500 for a car needing this much work? Thanks to T.J. for the tip!
You can blame Peter Egan, the famous writer for Road and Track and Cycle World, to a large extent for my desire to take a cross country trip in an old car. In addition to his regular writing duties and the monthly Side Glances column he wrote, Egan also usually managed to take an extended trip or two every year with an old car. Most of these trips would feature a breakdown of sorts in a random town in rural America along the way to a final destination of minor historical note. He wrote as much about the people along the way as he did the car, and Egan could paint a portrait of any small town that made you feel you had been there. Anyone who wants to read more can look for a copy of his book “On the Road, ” which was a collection of these stories. It is out of print, but his Cycle World equivalents are still available, and are titled as “Leanings 1, 2, and 3.”
So, with this most wonderful of brainwashing sloshing around in my addled mind, I have always sat around and tried to game out just how to go about planning a trip of such magnitude. While some would break out a big map or atlas and start planning the route, I always get stalled out on the ride itself. Would a Harley be too much to endure for days on end? What about a vintage Corvette? Egan seemed to have a lot of luck with MGBs, maybe that would be the ticket. Tom Cotter made a cross-country jaunt with a Model T, but I think that may be a bit too much. Perhaps a Model A Ford. My waffling back and forth has been endless, but I do think the changing of the times since this dream started has me rethinking the possible rides.
We have to admit that the world is becoming a bit more dangerous, and thievery and vandalism can be a problem. This led me to believe that a closed car that didn’t draw too much attention would be ideal. I would also add that the ability to travel secondary roads at the pace of traffic and have sufficient hydraulic brakes to slow the car down in modern traffic situations could be useful. The car would have to have an engine that is known for reliability and replacing parts wouldn’t require waiting on a machine shop to get you out of Cow Knuckle, Montana in a timely fashion.
When I came across this 1940 Plymouth coupe, it hit me that while this may not be the perfect choice, it could be a really good one that would work well. Prewar Plymouths were some of the bestselling and longest lasting cars of that era. They were early adopters of hydraulic braking in the low-cost field and the flathead inline six engine is legendary for its durability. Due to their use as industrial engines long after they were no longer used to power cars and trucks, some parts can still be had at your local NAPA. Anything else you need is just a phone call away at suppliers like Roberts Motor Parts and Andy Bernbaum Auto Parts. Add to these attributes that a later model overdrive can be added to these cars along with more modern front brake upgrades, some speed parts, and a step up to radial friendly wheels which would be required with some brake conversions.
The Plymouth coupe you see here would be a great starting point. The owner feels like the car’s originality is one of its biggest selling points. It is, of course, but I am not so sure that this car would clean up enough to be presentable without a full restoration. As you can see from the photographs, the body is remarkably free of rust and rot for obviously having lived a great portion of its life out of doors. Everything is there. Including the coveted overdrive that I referenced earlier. It is just that restoring everything would push the costs of this project well beyond what you could pick up an already finished Plymouth of the same era for.
The seller tells us that the car may have been owned by a salesman for AAA. It was loaded down with AAA material and even had helper springs installed in the rear to offset the weight of whatever he peddled that was stored in the cavernous trunk. As anyone knows, one brochure is light. A box of them is a whole lot less light. Most people are unaware that fold up pickup beds were an option found in some thirties coupes to broaden their appeal to buyers. All of this points to the suitability of this car for a long trip. There is plenty of room for camping gear, coolers, and the luggage necessary to rotate out clothing before it is capable of simultaneously standing on its own and repelling farm animals.
As far as the engine goes, the removed spark plugs and obviously once separated cylinder head reveals that the car was likely parked due to engine problems. An engine rebuild on a flathead Mopar can be rather expensive with the final cost depending on the amount of labor you are able to put into the project. There are used engines out there, but your chances of finding a factory rebuilt engine in a wooden crate have diminished over the years. This engine is headed for a machine shop no matter what.
In all, this is the kind of car that restorers would have jumped on back in the eighties. Today things are different. There are a number of previously restored cars of this type popping up every day in places like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and craigslist. With a new set of tires, a cleaned-out gas tank, some brake work, and a thorough going over of the cooling system they can be back on the road in short order. Hopefully someone with the talent, determination, and pocketbook to restore this Plymouth will emerge and a deal can be struck. It would be a really nice driver no matter what the destination.
Ever want to hit the open road in an old car? Been there and done that? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.
Hitting the road is something the crew chief and I have done a lot of over the years. Pick a direction you haven’t taken and go. First one was in conjunction with moving from Florida to Nevada and the great chance to make an extended trip out of it. Took every available side road possible while towing a ’57 Porsche Cabriolet with a 10 year old ’59 coupe, both filled with camping gear, food and water. the potatos lived in the coup’s engine compartment along with some of the canned food. It was great fun while it lasted but I really had to get to work. Now, if I was to buy this Plymouth for what the asking price is there wouldn’t be anything left to buy gas with.
Wow she’s all there but the price is definitely high. My want for this is strong tho.
Friend of mine bought one like this from a junkyard, got the mill unstuck and drove the snot out of it. 50 in second and no faster than 60 flat out. OD might help. Slant 6 leaning tower of power would be a cool and reliable upgrade. 340 would be cool. Just an old grey hair dreaming, Price is way too high, its a 40 ply not a 40 ford. Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC
I vote 340! 👌
my grandfather had a pre war plymouth coupe that had a pickup bed in the trunk, I always thought he cobbled something together to do that seeing that poor people had poor ways of doing things, maybe it was factory
Great write-up, Jeff! I took a ’40 Plymouth sedan to my senior prom, so this really brings back some memories. The straight six was smooth and had plenty of torque, climbing about any hill in top gear. The “three on the tree” seemed to baffle people who had no experience with one. Fun fact, the sedan could accommodate two half kegs, standing up, in the trunk. I always loved the art-deco instruments and nearly 100% of passengers remarked on the flat floor and how the seats were “like two couches.” Best wishes to the new owner!
Back in the day, a high school friend had two ’40 Plymouths. He paid the princely sum of $50.- each for those gems. Fifty bucks was his limit for buying a car until he saved enough to buy new, which he did a couple of years later. For the benefit of the youngsters in the audience, during the 1950’s it was possible to buy a reasonably reliable old car for less than $100.-. Forget about Pep Boys and NAPA, the junk yards had what you needed at prices you could afford. $250.- would get you a one owner eight-to-ten year old cream puff capable of taking you across the lower 48 without a problem.
My friend’s 1st 1940 Plymouth was a faded gray 4 door sedan rescued from a flood and in dire need of a paint job. A couple of friends offered to wallpaper it for him. He drove it until it died on the highway. Always prepared for an emergency, he reached into the glove compartment and retrieved the Bill of Sale, signed it and stuck it on the steering column and walked away.
His 2nd ’40 Plymouth was a Black Opera Coupe with folding jump seats in the back. Actually, this was in V.G. condition but, 18 years old. I wouldn’t mind owning it today. He kept this one a bit longer and sold it when he bought another $50.- bargain, a ’48 Ford coupe.
Yep, those were the days!
Great write up! I cc’d once, Would do it again. What a car, rivals the 40 ford
I saw a custom made from the same car, chopped, nosed, decked, rounded door corners, drip rails removed, all the tricks. Very sweet car. Do that, drop a mild 318-360 in it and cruise til the sun comes up. I’m a Mopar man through and through, never understood why these cars never gained popularity as they were very nice cars. That said, $4500.00 would be reasonable, $13k is way out there.
40 Ford’s rule! Plymouth was slow.
I currently own a 1940 Plymouth 2 door sedan. Bought it in Albuquerque,NM. It’s rust free and after some TLC it runs great. Nothing quite like the experience one feels driving an antique car. The sheer mechanical simplicity coupled with the necessary involvement of the driver is nothing like a modern automobile. Reminds me of the same feeling I get from my 1969 BMW R60/2 US. I highly recommend it. Purchased mine 2 1/2 years ago for $6K. Pass on this one folks, there are better deals to be found out there.
Go for it . I have a 41 windsor 3 window. Installed a sbc , it’s going to be my wifes car so … I did remove a original six with od . Rebuilt before I removed ( previous owner ) Id like it to go to use , a good home . Ive been storing them for 15 yrs .
Gary
Is that a large fuel filter on the engine?
That’s the oil filter and was actually an option on them. The Plymouth was also the fastest factory car also in this time hopefully she finds a good home
I think the 41 olds rocket has that title .
A 46 Plymouth Business Coupe was my first car in the 60’s. Paid $55 for it and got $60 when I traded it in on a 56 Chevy. Unfortunately I forgot to take out my dad’s jumper cables from the trunk, which he valued mor than the car….
I bought a Plymouth like that in74, drove it home for $300, put some work in it, drove it alot it was a great little car.I sold it for $1000in79, wish I had it back
My ’42 Dodge business coupe was very similar to this Plymouth. Differences would be the running boards and back side windows. The ’42 had neither. (I recently posted how my father’s Toyota Corolla was used to tow it home). Only paid $25.00 for it and it was near perfect in every way. AND because it was a military vehicle, I was the original registered owner at 17 years old in 1971. Had under 27,000 miles on it.
Decent solid looking car, appealing style, needs too much at that price, driver pre-war coupe’s are out there for less than you would spend to make this a reliable runner unless buyer has real skills and make’s a deal around $8k , give or take. Gotta love the pre war coupe’s, Ford, GM, Mopar, all had good lines.
I was promised the same car, only grey in color, by a neighbor in 1966 as a junior in high school. Just wait for my wife to find the title and it’s yours. I waited and dreamed and planned. One day I saw the tow truck drag it away to the junk yard. I asked why and he just shrugged. Still don’t understand.
Humphrey Bogart drove a 2 model Plymouth in the movie High Sierra with co-star Ida Lupino.
Bogert drove Plymouths in most if not all his movies from the 1940s. Probably because they were advertised(?) and considered the working man’s car.
Looks like a good one to restore. My buddy has just picked one up about a few months ago qt an auction. Its in a little better shape then this one. Still a flat head six car an a two door with original paint. The only difference is that he picked his up fo a whole lot less. He was able to purchase his 40 for 2,200.00. Thats alot less then there asking for this one. The good thing about him getting his so cheap is now he can afford to put about 6-7,000 back in it, making it road worthy an cosmetically nicer inside an out. People dont realize what it takes this day in time to restore these old cars an trucks. This one definitely be a good one to restore. That’s if you can get some what less then the asking price.😁👍