Plymouth's spotted in India

Jim Benjaminson · April 20, 2012, 06:19:50 PM

Hi Subbaiah - Yes that 51 Cranbrook woodie is a very rare car - Plymouth never made a woodie wagon after 1950. That has to be either an aftermarket item or someone that is talented in wood working built that. I have seen a 50 two door woodie wagon (it was eventually shipped to Germany) but it was a conversion. Beautiful car regardless! Thanks for sharing all the photos! I'll look forward to the info on that 39 convertible sedan!

Subbaiah · April 20, 2012, 02:24:45 PM

Enjoyed the old stories. Thanks Bob and Pat for sharing the same.

Next cars are a 1951 Cranbrook (modifications include diesel engine and change in front glass) and a beautiful 1952 Cranbrook Woody. The Woody is very rare for us here in India. Also seen is a 1951 pictured in Andaman Islands which is unique considering the Island distance from the main land.

Cheers

Subbaiah

36 Ply · April 19, 2012, 08:47:45 PM

Bob Drown and I are a bit older than you, Subbaiah, I was born in 1944. In 1966, I was in the U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division, at Bear Cat (former) Republic of South VietNam.

Cheers, and keep the photos coming, they are great.

Pat O'Connor

RC Drown · April 19, 2012, 02:00:31 PM

Not to hyjack this thread, but this goes along with What Pat has had to say.

In 1966 I paid 100 dollars for a 1951 Ford coupe, my first car, then in 1968 I paid 50 dollars for a 1956 Ford 2dr with a 312 and automatic tranny. The '56 just had a 35 dollar paint job, so I figured I paid 15 dollars for the car an 35 dollars for the paint job :), then in the Fall of 1968 I bought a 1961 Ford Fairlane for 75 dollars then shortly thereafter went in the Air Force in Dec of 1968

Subbaiah · April 19, 2012, 01:00:30 PM

lol, I am willing pay double the price for the same car ;D. Wow Pat, it must have been wonderful. This would be a dream in our part of the world. I cannot imagine buying a car for $15, even if it ran for just 5000 miles. Though this is much before my year of birth (1966) I am sure life was less uncomplicated in those days.

The next car is a 1950 P20. This is relatively rare car in India. As can been seen she is Left Hand Drive indicates that this car was imported into India. This car is currently house in Manjusha Museum at a place called Dharmasthala, which is about 150 miles from Bangalore

Cheers

Subbaiah

36 Ply · April 19, 2012, 08:18:50 AM

My '47 cost 15 bucks (dollars) in 1962, not $1500. I bought it from a Pontiac dealership that was about to go out of business a month before I graduated from high school. I drove it for about 5000 miles, then the engine blew up.

Back then, we teenagers would buy a cheap car (it was all we could afford), drive it until something expensive broke, then cruise the back row of the car lots for a replacement.

Other examples from my early years: 1948 Plymouth, 25 bucks
1947 Ford station wagon, 15 bucks
1954 Ford 2 door, 85 bucks

These cars were worn out when I bought them, but they would still run if you kept thick oil in the crankcase.

Pat O'Connor

Subbaiah · April 18, 2012, 11:13:26 PM

Quote from: 36 Ply on April 18, 2012, 08:59:52 AM
Very nice P-15. Mine cost $15.00 in 1962.
Pat O'Connor

I guess it was $1500 in 1962. Glad you like the P15 photo's. Seems that there is a following for P15 D24 cars in the US, In India the 50's have a larger following. Since we got our independence only in 1947, imports of cars increased only in early 50's as these cars were assembled in India.

Here is a another beautiful P15 from Bangalore.

36 Ply · April 18, 2012, 08:59:52 AM

Very nice P-15. Mine cost $15.00 in 1962.

Pat O'Connor

Subbaiah · April 18, 2012, 12:11:17 AM

Quote from: Jim Benjaminson on April 16, 2012, 11:55:43 PM
Evening Subbaiah - Just got back on the website and looked at your latest photographs. The baby blue car is a 1936 Plymouth (the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard is the clue to that car). But the car that blew me away was the light blue 39 Plymouth convertible sedan. This is the only year for that body style and I've kept track of their movements for many years. I know of only 19 survivors but this car bumps the number up to 20. Is there anyway you can get me the owners name & address -- also the serial and body numbers from the car? It looks like a very nicely restored car. The dual sidemounts were "officially" not an option on this body style but were standard on the station wagon, sedan delivery and commercial sedan. However, I do know of a '39 convertible coupe with rumble seat here in the USA that has dual sidemounts and the factory build card shows the car left the factory with them. I'd love to correspond with the owner of this very rare Plymouth!

Very exciting isn't it? I too am very enamored with the 1939. The car is owned by a very rich tobacco baron in Hyderabad which is about 400 miles from where I live. Fortunately I will be going there in the next few months and I will make it a point to get you all the details and more pictures of the car for you. That is a promise.

Here are pictures of another P15 from Mumbai (Bombay)

36 Ply · April 17, 2012, 09:19:52 AM

Nice to see the '47 Plymouth photos; it was my first car, in high school.

Pat O'Connor

Jim Benjaminson · April 16, 2012, 11:55:43 PM

Evening Subbaiah - Just got back on the website and looked at your latest photographs. The baby blue car is a 1936 Plymouth (the instrument cluster in the center of the dashboard is the clue to that car). But the car that blew me away was the light blue 39 Plymouth convertible sedan. This is the only year for that body style and I've kept track of their movements for many years. I know of only 19 survivors but this car bumps the number up to 20. Is there anyway you can get me the owners name & address -- also the serial and body numbers from the car? It looks like a very nicely restored car. The dual sidemounts were "officially" not an option on this body style but were standard on the station wagon, sedan delivery and commercial sedan. However, I do know of a '39 convertible coupe with rumble seat here in the USA that has dual sidemounts and the factory build card shows the car left the factory with them. I'd love to correspond with the owner of this very rare Plymouth!

Subbaiah · April 16, 2012, 11:25:38 PM

Here are a set pictures of 1947 P15 Special Deluxe seen in Delhi, Hyderabad and Lucknow

Subbaiah · April 15, 2012, 11:17:38 PM

Quote from: RC Drown on April 15, 2012, 11:24:24 AM
It looks as if it is a 4dr convertible, is it?

A great looking car, that is for sure

Yes it is 4 Dr Convertible.

There is a another article of a similar car in Hyderabad, but I cannot fathom if both the cars are same though the color looks different in this article

RC Drown · April 15, 2012, 11:24:24 AM

It looks as if it is a 4dr convertible, is it?

A great looking car, that is for sure

Subbaiah · April 15, 2012, 08:19:56 AM

Here is a very beautiful 1939 convertible tourer from Hyderabad. This car appeals to me very much.

RC Drown · April 14, 2012, 11:04:57 AM

Subbaiah,

My Grandfather bought a '37 Plymouth 4dr brand new, drove it until 1950, then he bought another new Plymouth. My Father learned how to drive with the '37. I don't remember the '37, but I well remember the '50 Plymouth.

Thanks for sharing these photos,
Bob

36 Ply · April 14, 2012, 09:10:26 AM

Oops,

In my post below, I should have said 1936 Plymouth tail light lens, not 1935. I should know better, as I own a '36.

Pat O'Connor

Subbaiah · April 14, 2012, 08:20:14 AM

Here is a 1937 P4 owned by a Royal family in Rajasthan

Subbaiah · April 14, 2012, 01:04:49 AM

Quote from: SD Glenn on April 13, 2012, 05:07:35 PM
Beautiful cars Subbaiah. Thank you, I appreciate all the work that goes into these. I realized things were reversed (when the driver is on the right). From your pictures I only now realized the Foot Feed is all the way over to the Right. lol Is the brake and clutch pedals reversed also? Or is the brake still next to the foot feed? It would make sense I guess. lol
SD Glenn

Quote from: 36 Ply on April 13, 2012, 09:30:36 PM
Subbaiah,
I just wanted you to know that I've enjoyed all the photos that you've been posting. The tail light on the 1935 Plymouth looks like the trunk (boot) mounted stop light from a 1946-48 Plymouth. That's an ingenious use of the lens; I suppose the owner had trouble locating an original tail light assembly.
Regards,
Pat O'Connor

Dear Glenn,

lol The brake and clutch pedals are exactly the same as in LHD vehicles. The only inconvenience is, if you have a foot operated starter like to one in my PB. The foot operated starter in a RHD vehicles will have to be accessed between the clutch pedal and hand brake. Whilst in a LHD it will be next to the gas pedal with unhindered access.
Glad you liked the pictures so far

Dear Pat,
Thanks for point out the tail light, you are absolutely right. I was fascinated by the tail light, till you rightly pointed out and I realized that I have been fooled :-[
Glad you liked the pictures posted so far and thank you very much Pat for the appreciation.

Cheers

Subbaiah

36 Ply · April 13, 2012, 09:30:36 PM

Subbaiah,

I just wanted you to know that I've enjoyed all the photos that you've been posting. The tail light on the 1935 Plymouth looks like the trunk (boot) mounted stop light from a 1946-48 Plymouth. That's an ingenious use of the lens; I suppose the owner had trouble locating an original tail light assembly.

Regards,
Pat O'Connor

SD Glenn · April 13, 2012, 05:07:35 PM

Beautiful cars Subbaiah. Thank you, I appreciate all the work that goes into these. I realized things were reversed (when the driver is on the right). From your pictures I only now realized the Foot Feed is all the way over to the Right. lol Is the brake and clutch pedals reversed also? Or is the brake still next to the foot feed? It would make sense I guess. lol
SD Glenn

Subbaiah · April 13, 2012, 12:25:56 PM

Here is a 1936 P2 from Delhi, which was recently restored

Cheers

Subbaiah · April 11, 2012, 11:33:38 PM

Insipte of my best efforts I could not source the external pictures of this 1935-36 car. Probably it is a 1935 but registered in India in 1936. But this is phaeton/convertible, hence rare. From the meters can any one identify the exact model of this car? This car in in Hyderabad

Edit: This is 1934 PE/PF Touring because the radiator cap is under the hood as seen in the picture of the engine

Jim Benjaminson · April 11, 2012, 01:42:34 AM

I will probably have to down load it onto a disc and mail it to you.....beautiful pictuers of your 7-passenger and of the PJ Plymouths!

Subbaiah · April 10, 2012, 12:28:15 PM

Here is very beautifully restored PJ Rumble Seat Coupe. This car came to a rally in Calcutta

Subbaiah · April 09, 2012, 11:37:29 PM

Though there is a 1934 PE Deluxe being restored in Lucknow, Central India, I have no pictures of the same.

Next is a couple pictures of 1935 PJ's from Delhi and Chennai (Madras)

Go Fleiter · April 09, 2012, 04:42:53 PM

Beautiful! Thanks

Subbaiah · April 09, 2012, 11:31:14 AM

Quote from: Jim Benjaminson on April 09, 2012, 01:41:35 AM
File was too big to send. Will have to find another way to get you photos/info -

Dear Mr. Benjaminson, please send it same to my mail ID where you had sent the 1978 Issue on PB's. I will look forward to receiving the same. The 31 PA phaeton would be only one in India.

Here are pictures of my 32 PB seven passenger as she came home from restoration. Restoration was done in 15 months. Much work has been done on this car post these pictures

Cheers

Subbaiah

Jim Benjaminson · April 09, 2012, 01:41:35 AM

File was too big to send. Will have to find another way to get you photos/info -

Jim Benjaminson · April 09, 2012, 01:29:01 AM

Good Evening, Subbaiah - thank you for posting the photos of these early Plymouths in India. I was quite surprised at the bottom photo - of the silver/blue 1931 PA Plymouth phaeton. Back in issue 250 I did a picture/story on the PA Phaeton's and noted how few of them still exist. One of the cars pictured was a car from India -- I am wondering if this could be the same car. The car was owned by a gentleman from Dubai but the car itself was located in India. I don't know if I can send you the entire file on issue 250 but will try -- if not, I will try to locate the original photo and send to you.

Subbaiah · April 08, 2012, 12:17:59 PM

Here is another 1931 PA sedan which was chopped. Since it lacked originality the car has been rodded to its current form

Subbaiah · April 08, 2012, 09:33:13 AM

I thought that I must share with you pictures of Plymouth's spotted in India. We have a very active portal called Team-BHP where members including me regularly post pictures of vintage cars, which come to the rallies or posted with permission of the respective owners. All the pictures have been sourced from Team-BHP and the link is as below http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintage-cars-classics-india/. All credits go to my source.

Chrysler Corporation cars namely Dodge Kingsway, Plymouth Belvedere and Savoy were assembled in India from 1949 till 1958 http://www.allpar.com/world/india.html

I have tried to arrange the pictures based on the model. Please note that in India we consider the year of registration as the model year and hence I might be inconsistent with the year. For example a 1932 car would be registered in India in 1933 as these cars were all shipped to India. Hence if there are discrepancies in the model I stand to be corrected.

We start with a couple of 1929 U and a 1931 PA