Plymouth's spotted in India

bcudajoe · September 21, 2023, 07:49:24 PM

I realize this is probably a REAL long shot but if anyone can provide a point of contact or can locate the 65 Plymouth Belvedere station wagon shown in one of the photos from India posted on June 25, 2012 by Subbaiah, please contact me. Thanks very much.

Subbaiah · July 23, 2013, 02:00:24 AM

Quote from: Subbaiah on April 07, 2013, 10:30:26 PM
Here is a genuine barn find of Capt. Chauhan from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh which is a State located in Northern India. Details and pictures courtesy the owner Mr. Chauhan who is currently restoring this car.

Model : PE, Engine No. PE 176092, Body No. 600-74219 by Briggs , Detroit, Serial No. 2343903

You will see that most pre-war cars exported to India came with front fender mounted dual spare wheels. This would be due the fact that the roads in India were very bad at that time.

Cheers

Subbaiah

This link is a must read http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/pre-war/134769-restoration-1934-plymouth-pe.html#post3094077 as it explains on how he modified and fixed the engine

Cheers

Subbaiah

Subbaiah · May 04, 2013, 08:59:52 AM

Here is a 1957 Plymouth

Subbaiah · April 07, 2013, 10:30:26 PM

Here is a genuine barn find of Capt. Chauhan from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh which is a State located in Northern India. Details and pictures courtesy the owner Mr. Chauhan who is currently restoring this car.

Model : PE, Engine No. PE 176092, Body No. 600-74219 by Briggs , Detroit, Serial No. 2343903

You will see that most pre-war cars exported to India came with front fender mounted dual spare wheels. This would be due the fact that the roads in India were very bad at that time.

Cheers

Subbaiah

Subbaiah · February 03, 2013, 10:38:07 PM

Quote from: GWS on January 29, 2013, 04:50:05 AM
The import paperwork states the car is a 1954 Chrysler (they misspelled just about everything and exactly is states CHIRYSLER PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE INFINI (CAR). The document further states the VIN (chassis number) as 14088556. The original documents were in extremely poor condition and this is the best we could recognize to have the local authorities to generate new copies. The car was originally imported from India in 1992.

I would appreciate any and all information and guidance offered. Once again if this isin the wrong section or format please let me know how to correct. Thank you .

GWS
Dubai

Can you please post pictures of the car. Which State in India is this car located? I can surely guide you in this restoration.

I live in Bangalore, Karnataka

Cheers

Subbaiah

TodFitch · January 29, 2013, 11:16:46 AM

Quote from: GWS on January 29, 2013, 04:50:05 AM
Good day to you all. I am not sure if this is the proper place to post this but I need help please. And yes this is my first time on this forum. I live in Dubai, U.A.E. and have a classic car restoration hobby garage. Very recently a friend referred a gentleman to me regarding his car. The car is a family heirloom and they want it restored. I am happy to help them but I am not familiar with this car and indeed not very up on Plymouth's.

The import paperwork states the car is a 1954 Chrysler (they misspelled just about everything and exactly is states CHIRYSLER PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE INFINI (CAR). The document further states the VIN (chassis number) as 14088556. The original documents were in extremely poor condition and this is the best we could recognize to have the local authorities to generate new copies. The car was originally imported from India in 1992.

The story is that a UAE national with Indian family members had a residence in India. This car was the vehicle used for that residence requirements. The owner of the vehicle is now quiet elderly and the family wants to restore the car. It is RHD (right hand drive). This family has recently donated a heritage home to the local government for the purpose of display and making a museum. The car will occupy a place in this museum if I am able to restore the car to a condition that befits the situation.

I would appreciate any and all information and guidance offered. Once again if this isin the wrong section or format please let me know how to correct. Thank you .

GWS
Dubai

Might have been better to start a new thread but I don't think that is a big deal.

If they used the same conventions on exported cars as for those sold in the United States, the serial number should be on the front left door post. With some luck, it is there and matches your paperwork.

If I've typed the information into my database correctly, your serial number of 14088556 shows the car to be a 1955 Plymouth P26 built in Detroit with a 6 cylinder "L-head" engine. If/when exported Chrysler may well have marketed it under a different name like DeSoto or Chrysler.

GWS · January 29, 2013, 04:50:05 AM

Good day to you all. I am not sure if this is the proper place to post this but I need help please. And yes this is my first time on this forum. I live in Dubai, U.A.E. and have a classic car restoration hobby garage. Very recently a friend referred a gentleman to me regarding his car. The car is a family heirloom and they want it restored. I am happy to help them but I am not familiar with this car and indeed not very up on Plymouth's.

The import paperwork states the car is a 1954 Chrysler (they misspelled just about everything and exactly is states CHIRYSLER PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE INFINI (CAR). The document further states the VIN (chassis number) as 14088556. The original documents were in extremely poor condition and this is the best we could recognize to have the local authorities to generate new copies. The car was originally imported from India in 1992.

The story is that a UAE national with Indian family members had a residence in India. This car was the vehicle used for that residence requirements. The owner of the vehicle is now quiet elderly and the family wants to restore the car. It is RHD (right hand drive). This family has recently donated a heritage home to the local government for the purpose of display and making a museum. The car will occupy a place in this museum if I am able to restore the car to a condition that befits the situation.

I would appreciate any and all information and guidance offered. Once again if this isin the wrong section or format please let me know how to correct. Thank you .

GWS
Dubai

Go Fleiter · January 25, 2013, 12:41:08 PM

beautiful varnish!!
I like Your shots from India!
Greetings from D?sseldorf! Go

Subbaiah · January 24, 2013, 10:15:52 PM

A freshly restored P2 makes an appearance in Delhi. Here are the pictures.

Cheers

Subbaiah

RC Drown · January 12, 2013, 09:46:24 AM

AWESOME, thanks for sharing

Subbaiah · January 12, 2013, 07:25:28 AM

Quote from: Jim Benjaminson on January 12, 2013, 12:08:19 AM
Just wondering if the Indian '57 (it would have been a '56 model here in the USA) was built in India by PAL - Premier Autos ...????

That is correct. All the cars would be registered and sold about a year later in India. Till 1954 all cars were imported as CBU's (Completely Built Units) and sold. From 1955 the cars were assembled in India. My Plymouth was registered in 1933

Here is a beautiful 1954 Plymouth convertible in the Pranlal Bhogilal Museum. The car keeps company to one of the greatest collections in India. Here is a link http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/pre-war/28055-pranlal-bhogilal-collection-auto-world-dasthan-kathwada-gujarat-6.html#post909438. Please do look at the pictures of the cars in the museum located in Gujarat

Cheers

Subbaiah

Jim Benjaminson · January 12, 2013, 12:08:19 AM

Just wondering if the Indian '57 (it would have been a '56 model here in the USA) was built in India by PAL - Premier Autos ...????

Subbaiah · January 03, 2013, 10:39:49 PM

Quote from: Sebastiano on December 07, 2012, 08:34:09 AM
According with Jim Benjiaminson it is a 29U,
I have one like this, in my the whelles are different (in my car no wood smoked whelles)
I like a lot..

Your car is look very good. Thanks for sharing. It is difficult for us to reach your levels of restoration considering that we lack knowledge of originality and availability of parts is an issue. Lastly most of the workshops who do restorations lack the infrastructure.

Quote from: Jim Benjaminson on December 04, 2012, 08:59:52 PM
Hi Subbaiah -- this car is a 1929 Model U - not a PA - still a VERY rare car, looks to be pretty well preserved!

Happy New Year to all. Thanks Mr. Benjaminson for you post that this is a 29U

Here is a 1957 which is recently restored in the Southern State of Kerala

Cheers

Subbaiah

Sebastiano · December 08, 2012, 07:07:30 PM

The cars are both mine. The little girl is the daughter of a journalist friend of mine to follow the event.
Seb

SD Glenn · December 07, 2012, 11:55:59 AM

Seb, Very Charming little girls, both of them. Are they both yours?
Great,
SD Glenn

Sebastiano · December 07, 2012, 08:34:09 AM

According with Jim Benjiaminson it is a 29U,
I have one like this, in my the whelles are different (in my car no wood smoked whelles)
I like a lot..

Jim Benjaminson · December 04, 2012, 08:59:52 PM

Hi Subbaiah -- this car is a 1929 Model U - not a PA - still a VERY rare car, looks to be pretty well preserved!

Subbaiah · November 27, 2012, 05:08:06 AM

I just found out that there is a PA at Chennai (Madras)

Cheers

Sebastiano · September 25, 2012, 08:36:06 AM

Compliments !
very rare and nice,
I have a P8, coup?.
I like greetings
Sebastiano

Subbaiah · September 23, 2012, 07:22:22 AM

Here are more pictures of the 1939 Plymouth P8 from Hyderabad. I had promised Mr. Benjaminson that I will get the Chassis details. I understand that this car is extremely rare as it Dual Side Mounts (could by a one off) and is one of the 12 Right Hand Drives cars ever produced. I am using all my contacts at Hyderabad (570 kms/356 Miles away from my home) to try and meet the owner and request for the details.

This car as can been seen in the first picture, keeps company of a some very well maintained vintages/classics. The last pictures confirms she is a RHD

Go Fleiter · July 01, 2012, 04:28:47 PM

Thanks for these beautiful pics, I didn?t know.
They made smaller and bigger types.

Go

Subbaiah · July 01, 2012, 12:18:11 PM

Quote from: Sebastiano on June 28, 2012, 07:16:51 AM
I meet this truck in India, I liked it

Quote from: Go Fleiter on June 30, 2012, 04:39:26 AM
This tata surely is of Mercedes Benz ancestry!
Greetings from sunny D?sseldorf! Go

Tata started to manufacture Mercedes Benz trucks under license in 1954

Go Fleiter · June 30, 2012, 04:39:26 AM

This tata surely is of Mercedes Benz ancestry!
The radiator style and even the laurel wreath around the Tata symbol in the medallion is MB.
Th cabin is nicer than the european variety.

http://www.olafs-fotoseite.de/And312.html

Greetings from sunny D?sseldorf! Go

Sebastiano · June 28, 2012, 07:16:51 AM

I meet this truck in India, it is abbandoned but I believe that somebody must take to keep away for the future
I liked it

Sebastiano · June 26, 2012, 06:09:30 AM

congratulations!
I could'nt believed that in India there were so many Plymount,
some are in excellent condition,
Thanks for sharing
Sebastiano

Subbaiah · June 25, 2012, 12:12:25 AM

Here the last set of pictures of the cars which I am aware of. I am sure more Plymouth's will come up in rallies around India

First appears to a 1965, V8 Station wagon. Followed by a rare AAR Cuda, as muscle cars are very rare in India. Last is a 74 Valiant owned by a member of the royal family in Kerala

Cheers

Subbaiah

Subbaiah · June 24, 2012, 11:42:22 PM

Quote from: SD Glenn on June 11, 2012, 12:13:37 PM
Hey Subbaiah , good to see you are still around, haven't seen nothing from you for a spell. Thanks for the post, love those old cars.
SD Glenn

Thanks Glenn. Being travelling quite a bit on official work hence I my posts have been limited.

Cheers

Quote from: Go Fleiter on June 12, 2012, 01:40:22 PM
nice story! Thnaks for posting!

Glad you liked it

Cheers

Go Fleiter · June 12, 2012, 01:40:22 PM

nice story! Thnaks for posting!

SD Glenn · June 11, 2012, 12:13:37 PM

Hey Subbaiah , good to see you are still around, haven't seen nothing from you for a spell. Thanks for the post, love those old cars.
SD Glenn

Subbaiah · June 10, 2012, 02:01:20 PM

Some more history of the DPCD cars manufactured in India

Subbaiah · May 14, 2012, 03:22:52 PM

This 1929 Model U has been parked long term for display in a movie theater in Kolkata (Calcutta). The car is seems to be in very original condition.

Cheers

Subbaiah

Subbaiah · April 29, 2012, 11:25:21 PM

These 1959-60 cars are not common as India stopped imports and started to manufacture cars in India

Subbaiah · April 28, 2012, 12:18:57 AM

More 1956's including one retained by the Army as its regiment car

Subbaiah · April 25, 2012, 10:06:00 AM

More 1956's including a Suburban

Subbaiah · April 23, 2012, 11:31:08 PM

There a lot of 1955-56 Plymouth was assembled here till around 1958 and these were sold as Dodge Kingsway, Desoto and Plymouth Savoy/Belvedere. In India there is an obsession for mileage and most of these cars were converted to diesel using Perkins P6 engines.

Subbaiah · April 22, 2012, 10:38:43 PM

We a another convertible and sedan from 1954

Subbaiah · April 21, 2012, 11:34:51 AM

The next were the P-25 largely the Belvedere trim. Basically the Belvedere cars were assembled in India as Desoto Custom, Dodge Kingsway and Plymouth Belvedere. Except for the trims everything else is the same in these cars. The engine numbers read as DP-25 in the Dodge(I am currently restoring one). From 1949-50 Premier Automobiles was assembling cars in India. All these cars were right hand drive cars. There are quite a few Dodge cars of 1953-54 in India, but surprisingly I do not have many pictures of Plymouths but will hopefully get some soon.

However there are a lot 1954 Plymouth Convertible Coupe still surviving in India. Convertibles were imported in mass only in 1954. Maybe with the change in model in the USA these cars got shipped to India. As can be seen these cars are all Left Hand Drive cars legal sold in a Right Hand Drive country in 1954 ;D

Cheers

Subbaiah

36 Ply · April 21, 2012, 08:48:27 AM

That's pretty funny about the Amby; it reminds me of some of the cars I drove when I was younger. I am mostly living in the 20th century, with a bit of 21st century.

Pat O'Connor

Subbaiah · April 21, 2012, 12:07:05 AM

Quote from: Jim Benjaminson on 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.

Posting these pictures has been a major learning exercise for me. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge.

Quote from: Sebastiano on April 20, 2012, 07:09:42 PM
Hi,
I was in India two weeks weeks ago,
Delhi, Haryana, Upper Pradesh etc
I havn't seen this kind of cars on te road, only Ambassador...

Even the once famous Ambassador( Amby) is getting rare. The joke on the Amby is that "Everything makes a noise but the horn ;D. India is unique in that you have people living in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. You love it or hate it. Hope you loved it

Cheers

Subbaiah

Sebastiano · April 20, 2012, 07:09:42 PM

Hi,
I was in India two weeks weeks ago,
Delhi, Haryana, Upper Pradesh etc
I havn't seen this kind of cars on te road, only Ambassador...