1949 Plymouth P18

When you say 40\'s cars you think of post war pent up spending, but if you look at the pre Jet Age, before those fine finned beauties, you\'ll see enough has changed in our cars nearly 70 years on that these machines manage to feel vintagethey transport you to another era. We also need to look at the word \'\'Deluxe\'\' which was used by virtually every car manufacturer at one point or another. This car oozes \'\'Deluxe\'\' in many ways, like its design, embellishments, interior chrome, and curved lines. All affordable, and a real piece of vintage that will not break the bank. Now that\'s Deluxe in the flesh, a 1949 Plymouth P18 Special Deluxe.

Exterior
This snazzy design harkening to a simpler time can best be described as a nice example with good paint and shiny chrome embellishments. Its nose utilizes a mild V formation in triplicate plus 1 for the grille, and a bumper below that is showing signs of rust and delamination in this framing. Big wide integrated front fenders flare inward as they move from the door panels to the front, where they meet in a peaked hood with a single spear racing back toward the windshield. All this and more steel is bathed in Plymouth Cream. Inclusions, signs of body work and bubbling is noted in the finish putting this car into the category of a 10 footer. A split windshield fronts the tear free power black canvas top which floats above the 2 doors this car has available for the passengers and we note a factory Mopar spotlight perched on the driver\'s A-pillar. All rocker trimmings are solid and shiny and support the slab sided doors on either side. The rear design of this car curves downward gracefully, and has a single v-shaped tail lightemanating from each rear fender with chrome trimmed spear on top and a curved bumper on the bottom. Nicely preserved big dog dish wheel covers are wrapped by wide white bias ply tires all around.

Interior
Ribbed tan broadcloth with smooth oxblood vinyl bolsters and tops covers the front and rear benches. These are in excellent condition with only light soiling of the cloth cushions. The bench in back is flanked by smooth oxblood panels dressed with bakelite and chrome cranks. The door panels are covered in more oxblood vinyl, and have some art deco inspired chrome as well as shiny chrome handles and cranks with cream bakelite escutcheons and knobs show nicely on this dark red background. Up front the full metal dash is a two tone faux painted wood grain surrounded by Plymouth Cream. There are also plenty of beautifully chromed bezels and a horizontally mounted radio and central speaker cover that has shades of an old jukebox. Another small curved chromed panel hangs below the dash, and houses more bakelite knobs. This dash is very inspiring and clean,but the chome does present with somepitting. The Plymouth Cream also shows up on the door sills and center framing for the windshield. Grayish green carpet floats this Art Deco interior and a big cream bakelite steering wheel is fronting the dash and it also has plenty of chromed embellishments.

Drivetrain
Among all the other niceties this car offers up, is an unrestored appearing engine bay with a 218ci L-head inline 6-cylinder engine. All done in a chipped off gray with a black painted oil bath air cleaning system is above a rebuilt in 2019 1-barrel carburetor and intake. On back is a 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive and a like new radiator has supple hoses running to and from the mill. A 3.90 geared rear axle turns the tires.

Undercarriage
The X frame is nicely painted black and is solid structurally. Rockers and floor pans are stamped steel and show repair panels for the flooring. Independent front suspension and leaf spring rear is on, and drum brakes are seen all around. A careful look all around and you can be hard pressed to find anything that\'s awry even down to the new in 2019 fuel tank.

Drive-Ability
A quick fire up and off to the test track where it was a delightful drive. Smooth power and expected handling was noted, however, the speedometer is inaccurate, the vacuum wipers are slow and the radio failed to belt out any tunes. These issues aside, I could not keep my eyes off the dash. It is so wonderfully designed and preserved.

Plymouth built solid cars to last in the day, and this car upholds that theory. Bulletproof construction which was built to last and with all the chrome add ons it was sure to be a looker, and it is! Rounded fenders and hood, and a clean interior and we are looking really good with this example.

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