Solid Runner: 1937 Plymouth P4 DeLuxe Sedan
As a starting point for a restoration project, this 1937 Plymouth P4 DeLuxe looks to be a pretty decent candidate. It runs and drives, and its overall condition seems to suggest that it could be returned to active duty with very little work. The Plymouth is located in Frankfort, Illinois, and is listed for sale here on eBay. The owner has set a BIN price of $5,900, although the option is available to make an offer.
The owner provides no photos or details regarding the state of the floors or frame, but the photos that are provided certainly give us cause to be optimistic about the vehicle. It has a number of minor dings and dents, but no real signs of rust. The worst damage has been inflicted upon the trunk lid, and this will take a bit of work to set right again. The glass is also missing off the headlight on the driver’s side, but otherwise, the Plymouth does seem to be complete.
In spite of the impression given by this photo, it appears that the interior is actually complete. It looks like the seats and door trims would respond quite well to a deep clean, but the photos of the headliner tend to indicate that this will need to be replaced at some point. The dash is complete and looks to also be in pretty reasonable condition, so in all honesty, it really doesn’t look like it will take a lot of work to make the interior really shine.
The 201ci flat-head six-cylinder engine in the Plymouth produces 82hp and sends this to the rear wheels via a 3-speed manual transmission. This is where we receive even more good news. The Plymouth runs and drives, and the owner also says that the brakes work really well. The condition of everything under the hood looks pretty promising for an unrestored car of this age, and the owner has also said that he is willing to supply a video of the vehicle to anyone who is interested in becoming the next owner of the car.
It really does seem that there would be very little work required before this Plymouth is ready to take on the tarmac again. There is no reason why it couldn’t be driven and enjoyed in an unrestored state, but it could also be a pretty stunning looking vehicle if it underwent anything from a sympathetic tidy-up right through to a full body-off-frame restoration. It will be interesting to see which option our readers would choose for this old classic.
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Comments
Nobody is bidding on it and nobody is commenting on it. Doesn’t sound like a lot of interest anymore for these. A homely looking thing, not much appeal today, but years ago, this would have been the find of the decade. Simple cars with features of more modern cars. I bet some people look at this thinking, crank starters and 2 wheel mechanical brakes, but truth is, they had synchromesh transmissions,( if some can even handle that) 4 wheel juice brakes, and rolled just fine, on 2 lanes, that is. What’s going to happen to all these cool cars from the 30’s that nobody wants?
Nice little cruiser. Great commentary by Howard A, he sums it up nicely. I’d drive it as is. the beauty of this car is the simplicity. Good luck to the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
I love Plymouths from the 1930s! 1939 and 1937 hold the title for favorites of the decade. I’d definitely get this one if I had the solution to the never ending time/money/space conundrum. I’d paint it period correct Mopar colors, either dark green or maybe chocolate brown.
The problem is changing demographics, the people who had these cars and lived through the war are almost gone now (save my grandmother, who will be 93 this June). Heck, even 1950s icons are going by the wayside, giving muscle cars domination of the market. Combined with the fast and impatient drivers of today in their electric shaver CUVs or lifted trucks, I’d be a little nervous to take this pretty girl out. I almost get rear-ended about a third of the time driving my 3 speed Mercury Comet, and having to pause a moment at 20-25 MPH to shift leads texting drivers to have an aneurysm and angrily pass. I then end up right behind said people at the next light and sometimes honk at them once the light turns green to remind them they’re in such a hurry.
Anyways, I’d love to have it, but I am definitely an exception it seems. Naturally, the drivability of any car shows how many people want it, and with today’s drivers its increasingly risky to take it out around our distracted and impatient drivers.
Have to drive them as if on a motorcycle, bicycle or scooter and with the same sense of awareness.
The crawl up your ^*# driver is abundant where I live, regardless of what one is driving
I bought a ’37 Plymouth from my father-in-law in 1967 for $30 and promptly got drafted. After I left, my dad had it worked on and running when I got home on leave from medic training. While away, someone kept pestering him to sell it, and I finally reluctantly agreed to do so. Made a nice profit, though……sold it for $90! Sure have regretted selling it!
I do love the look of the late 30’s cars. I am trying to find a 38 Buick convertible with dual side mounts and a rumble seat in good condition. There is one for sale now, but the guy is asking way more than what it is worth today. I made him a fair offer, but he declined. So, I keep watching. One will come my way soon.
Bob, you can’t compare a normal 30s type sedan to a 38 convertible rumble seat side mount Buick or any other open rumble seat higher end car from this era. Nobody is going to give away a car like this. There will always be buyers in line for an open top late 30s Buick, Cadillac or Packard, ect, plus the 38 model Buick is highly wanted. What condition was the car in and what was your idea of a fair offer? I have two 38 Buicks, an opera coupe and a convertible coupe. They are not for sale, my boys will someday get them, they are only school age but already ask to drive them when they turn 17 so there is hope for the Pre War Era cars. I have loved them since I was a kid. Don’t ask me why, I was born in the 70s so I am only in my 40s. Something about that era of art deco.
Nassy,Nasty, my goal was to hopefully find someone that might want to sell their 38. The one I was talking about was restored almost 40 years ago. The seller stated that it was still nice. My offer was well north of $50K. Which I feel was fair for an old restoration. He wanted about $20K more. So, all is well, I have always found what I want for a reasonable price. All I need to do is wait. I am pleased to hear that your kids love yours. You have proven that there is hope that another generation may still love the 30s cars.
Well said Bob. Over 50k for an older restoration 37/38 convertible coupe Buick was a fair offer. Was it a Special or a Century? That makes a pretty big difference too.
I agree with everything Howard said as well. I thought the same thing when I was considering a 36 Dodge sedan a few years ago. What sealed the deal for me was the synchomesh transmission and juice 4-wheel brakes.
My purchase was not driveable but in similar condition body and interior-wise. I paid half of the asking for this one.
The sad fact is that there just isn’t much of a market for pedestrian cars of the 30s like this one. Buick, Packard, or better? Sure. But the lower end stuff doesn’t get much attention.
Not a 30’s Ford or Chevy.. Four doors. But it’s grandpa MOPAR so I’ll probably get flack for this but with boneyard 5.7 Hemi’s ubiquitous, it’d be cool to upgrade the drivetrain, interior and suspension bits and cruise.. Patina and all.
And I’m not necessarily a “patina” guy.
I would love this car but the price seems too high considering the market.
Nessy , to be honest I do not know which it is. I currently own a 38 Sport Coupe. It is a Special. It does not have side mounts or a rumble seat. It drives like a dream. I am the third owner. She could use a paint job, but I can live with it as is. People offer to buy it, but it is not for sale.
Once bought a 1953 Plymouth 4dr as a second car. It was a wonderful car for a very low price, its only defect was a very tired engine. It was hit while parked at the market. A thoughtful note was left by the offender. After spending a half hour searching for which dent was the most recent without success, we called the note’s author and excused him from any liability and thanked him for his honesty. BTW, the Plymouth’s radio was one of the best I’ve ever encountered. I think it was a Philco.
This looks like a really nice honest car. I would only do what the car needs to be a nice original car that would be fun to drive and enjoy. Like they say it’s only original once.
Is this 1937 Plymouth still for sale?