Plymouth

US, 1928 to date

Chrysler Corporation, Detroit, Mich.

The 4-cylinder 21hp Plymouth car appeared in 1928 at a list price of $725 for a sedan. This Plymouth car replaced the earlier 4-cylinder Chryslers and represented a serious challenge for Ford and Chevrolet in their lowest price class. The Plymouth car had side valves, internal-expanding hydraulic brakes and ribbon-type radiator and gave the Plymouth car a close resemblance to the 1928 Chryslers and De Sotos, and Plymouth cars sold over 100.000 in its first year, even improving its sales position in the bleak economic climate of 1932. Plymouth cars adhered to four cylinders until 1933, when the Plymouth PD-series 6-cylinder was listed at less than $600. 1934 de luxe models of Plymouth cars had independent front suspension, but this was dropped after a year and did not reappear for some time on Plymouth cars. The standard engine in the later 1930 Plymouth cars had a capacity of 3.3-litres, rather smaller than that used in comparable Chevrolets and Fords: a small-bore 2.8-litre version Plymouth car was made for export up to 1939, but the name Plymouth was not usually found on Plymouth cars sold in England, which were nominally Chrysler Kew and Wimbledon sixes. After World War 2 evolution followed that of other Chrysler Corporation cars closely, the old-fashioned styling losing the Plymouth car division its long-held third place in American sales to Buick. Further, Plymouth cars retained the L-head six as its staple power unit right up to 1955, when Flight Sweep versions were introduced with over-square ohv V8 engines on accepted American lines in a variety of powers from 157 to 177bhp. The capacity of these Plymouth cars had 4.3-litres, while the six, now of 3.8-litres, remained available. These 1955 Plymouth cars were lower and longer than their predecessors and could be obtained with synchromesh, overdrive or automatic gearboxes.

The Plymouth Fury models of the ensuing decade represented a breakaway from the traditional Plymouth stolid family car, while the Plymouth Car Division was also responsible for Chrysler’s contribution to the compacts, the Plymouth Valiant launched for 1960. This Plymouth car had rather more European styling than its competitors, with a dummy spare-wheel moulding on the tail; interesting items of specification were the unitary construction of the Plymouth car, alternator ignition, and inclined in-line 2.8-litre ohv 6-cylinder engine. The influence of the Plymouth GT car on America resulted in the Plymouth Barracuda of 1965, a fastback coupé using the Valiant’s 8ft 10in wheelbase and a 4½-litre V8 power unit. Plymouth cars, like Ford and Chevrolet, was aiming at comprehensive coverage of the low and medium price market in 1966, with the compact Plymouth Valiant, the sports-compact Plymouth Barracuda, the medium-sized Plymouth Belvedere, the full-size Plymouth Fury, and the luxurious ‘VIP’ 4-door hardtop Plymouth car, offered only with a 5.2-litre V8 engine and selling for $2.930. An increasing emphasis on sporting Plymouth cars was detectable by 1968, when in addition to the established Barracuda there were two other sports coupés Plymouth car, the Plymouth GTX and the Plymouth Road Runner. All three Plymouth cars were available with 4-speed manual gearboxes and the 6.981cc 425bhp hemi-head V8 also used by Dodge. In 1970, when Valiant prices started at a low $2.172, there was also a Valiant sports coupé, the Plymouth Duster.

In 1971 Plymouth car company added a sub-compact to their Plymouth car range when they offered the 1½-litre Hillman Avenger as the Plymouth Cricket. The 1972 range of Plymouth cars embraced the Valiant on a 9ft wheelbase, the Barracudas and Satellites, and the full-size Furys with V8 engines and automatic transmission as standard. Engines in the Plymouth cars ranged from the Valiant’s 3.2-litre and 3.7-litre sixes up to the largest Chrysler unit, a V8 of 7.210cc. Electronic ignition was offered on the costliest Barracuda model. Casualties of new Federal regulations were the hemi-head engine and convertibles, and the same range Plymouth cars with minor improvements, among them manually-operated sun roofs, was offerd in 1973.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com

Wanderer

D, 1911 – 1939

(1) Wanderer Fahrradwerke vorm. Winkelhofer & Jaenicke AG, Schönau, 1911 – 1917

(2) Wanderer-Werke AG, Siegmar, 1917 – 1939

The Wanderer firm – like many others – started with bicycle manufacture; motor cycles followed and led the way to Wanderer cars. Extensive experiments with Wanderer cars were undertaken. In 1905 the 2-cylinder Wanderermobil was ready, but this Wanderer car remained a prototype. Another Wanderer car – which is still in existence – is claimed to date from 1904.

It is reported by some sources that Ettore Bugatti offered a small car design to Wanderer in 1910 before starting manufacturing on his own. But Wanderer cars did not take over the Bugatti car, as their own Wanderer car designs were ready and they started production of these Wanderer cars in 1911. Their first production Wanderer car had a 4-cylinder 1.150cc, 5/12PS engine and a two-seater tandem body. This Wanderer car was popularly known as the Püppchen (doll). Engine capacity was increased to 1.220cc in 1914 and the output raised to 5/15PS. Three- and four-seater Wanderer cars were also available and this model Wanderer carwas listed until 1922. Some 4-cylinder models Wanderer car in the 1½- and 2-litre range followed udring the 1920s. A 6-cylinder Wanderer car (the W11) with a 2.540cc 50bhp engine was built under licence by Martini of Switzerland. The W11 was also available in a sports version of 2.995cc and 65bhp. In addition to 4-cylinder Wanderer cars, a range of 6-cylinder cars was built during the 1930s which were based on a Porsche design. These Wanderer cars had push-rod ohv engines, and later cars had swing-axle rear suspension.

A very sporty looking Wanderer car appeared in 1936, the W25K (K for Kompressor). The 1.936cc engine with blower developed 85bhp and the Wanderer car easily reached 93mph. However, this Wanderer car did not figure much in competitions and was produced in limited numbers only. After 1932 Wanderer was a member of the Auto Union. Their cars had a reputation for quality, finish and good performance although they were intended for workaday use. In the Auto Union catalogues they represented the ‘upper middle-class’. Wanderer car production ceased at the outbreak of World War 2 in 1939, by which time two sv models, with all-round independent suspension, a 1.8-litre four and a 2.6-litre six, were being offered.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; HON  

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com