Mild-Custom Cruiser: 1938 Plymouth De Luxe Coupe
I just like the look and stance of this ‘38 Plymouth De Luxe Coupe that the seller calls a “fun little mild-custom cruiser.” It’s an interesting mix of old and new and the seller describes it as “driver-quality with upgrades/updates to the drivetrain for maximum reliability around town and on the highway while still retaining its vintage vibe.” Located in Sacramento, California, it’s for sale here on eBay at No Reserve and as of this writing had generated 21 bids with a top bid of $10,800.
In 1938, Plymouth celebrated its 10th Anniversary of battling Ford and Chevy in the highly competitive low-price car field. And it proved to be a sales success with Plymouth rising to the #3 spot in overall car sales in 1931. Plymouth’s 1938 models were advertised as having “fresher, more appealing style, extra size, unmatched safety, record economy, unusual riding and driving ease, and “The Best Buy of the Low-Priced Field.” This De Luxe Coupe has great late-30s era flowing lines and proportions and you can see why many that survived were given second lives as hot rods. The seller provides more than 150 photos and describes the Metalflake Blue paint as “having imperfections but still very presentable for a driver.” You can spot a few dings and a dent in the fender skirt, but the chrome and glass look good and I can’t spot any rust. I like the classic 50s-style pinstriping along with the red wheel rims and wide whitewalls.
The interior has a stock look and doesn’t exactly compliment the car’s blue exterior, so it will be interesting to see what the next owner does with it. The brown bench seat is described as being “in good shape with no major rips or tears and has good springs,” and aftermarket Steward Warner winged oil pressure and temp gauges have been added. The seller states that the Plymouth’s speedometer and dash gauges aren’t hooked up, it has no heater, and the cabin appears to be missing some dash trim, the kick plates, and headliner. The seller also shares that the coupe has the original hydraulic brakes and original steering box which is described as “smooth and easy to handle.”
Under the hood, the Plymouth’s original 201-cubic inch L-head has been swapped out for what the seller says is a little later-model Chrysler 230-cubic inch Flathead Inline Six backed by a GM T5 5-speed manual overdrive transmission. Not much is shared about this car’s history including when this surgery was performed or how many miles are on the engine. The ad lists the mileage as 100,000. The seller goes on to say the engine is “strong running, starts right, doesn’t overheat, and doesn’t smoke or miss.” So, what do you think? Like I said, I’m curious to see what the next owner does with this cool old blue Plymouth coupe. What would you do with it?
Auctions Ending Soon
1969 Ford MustangBid Now21 hours$1,050
1965 Ford Falcon Station WagonBid Now3 days$2,300
2002 Jaguar XK8 ConvertibleBid Now4 days$4,000
1979 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28Bid Now5 days$4,500
1960 Dodge D300Bid Now5 days$300
Comments
That’s a nice one:-)
I Like / Love it. Yes I probably would repaint in a more period hue and change the interior to a more period appearance to match. The drive train is just fine maybe update the steering and braking systems. I would do nothing to detract from the originality in appearance.
What? Won’t ditch those fender skirts? I thought that would be a given. The red wheels are way over board, but I could live with those if the fender skirts were history. BTW, love the I6, just loved them. Pull out tree stumps with the right gearing. Glad there are still a few in running order.
I’m not crazy about that blue which looks like the same color so many cars were repainted in back in the 80s , but yeah, the skirts would be the first thing to go if I was lucky enough to get it.
Maybe just pics ,I don’t see flake ,just metallic?
Dump the fender skirts. Bogart drove a Plymouth “coo-pay” in several of his early movies
Pretty sure the movie car is on display at the Museum of Western Film History, Lone Pine, CA. (37 Coupe, stock) I’m agreeing with previous posts… Love this car, lose the skirts, etc. This one is welcome in my garage.
Speaking with the museum folks, I learned that the 37 coupe used in the movies, was his PERSONAL car.
Put after market vintage air/heat and drive this baby as is.
God Bless America
These cars were undergeared for modern use, so the 5 speed is a great upgrade. Don’t know what the dual carbs will do for power, but torque is your friend.
The color that may look good on cars from the sixties and later takes away from the appearance on this one that is primarily in stock form. If it were mine paint it , remove the skirts and enjoy.
I’d drive it and not change a thing. I’m an old guy and I like old school. The engine and transmission combination is right down my alley.
Would dump the skirts and the lowering blocks. Too bad they didn’t source the MOPAR dual carb and split exhaust manifolds that were used on their trucks instead of that hacked up job. I had those on my ’48 Ply. coupe and they did make a difference to performance and sound.
Geo, IMO the “hacked up job” you referred to shows ingenuity and true hot ridding roots. If you couldn’t afford to buy it, then make it. But as I said just my opinion.
Geo and Wayne,
That’s not a hack-job or a home-built intake manifold, it’s a genuine “Edmonds Custom” cast and polished aluminum intake. If you look close, one can see the Edmonds Custom emblem cast into the manifold between the carbs.
I had a postwar Chrysler Windsor coupe with a flathead 6 like the engine shown in this car. I found an Edmonds Custom manifold with dual Ball & Ball carbs & stuck it all on my car. Those dual carbs and a better flowing intake manifold made a serious difference in the car’s “get up & go” ability.
If this was my car I wouldn’t do a thing to the drive line.
That said, either the paint color would have to go, or the skirts, as they don’t work well with this color. I suspect that with a color change to a “less flashy” color like maroon, dark blue, or dark metallic gray, the skirts would actually look better.
Personally I love the skirts and stance I like the cool look of a tail dragger. Keep the I-6 and the 5spd stick box. Spend $$ to get the paint and interior jivin’ and go!!!
I had a 39’r that looked like this. O nly diff was the front clip. Loved that little car. Drove alot of miles in it. The engine finally gave up and I got a 49 Plymouth coupe.