my question concerns the 1949 Plymouth Business Coupe. To my knowledge, this car was classified in the P17 Deluxe series. The taillights were short and rectangular, located just above the rear splash pan in between the trunk and the fenders.
While looking at a website (oldplymouths.com), I saw two different ones pictured that were unlike any I have ever seen. Both had the taillights of the special deluxe, mounted high on the fenders in small chrome fins. I only had a good rear view of one of the cars, but this one had a trunk lid that looked to be from a 1950. The license plate is mounted lower than on a regular 49; also, there is a housing for the license plate light ABOVE the license plate. A short distance above this housing is the Plymouth script in block letters.
Here is the link:
http://www.oldplymouths.com/generic199.html
I'd sure like to hear from anyone who knows for sure if these two cars are original from the factory
Thanks
bullet_nose_stude
After opening the link, navigate to the photos section, and look 1949 cars - once you get there, look for links to cars owned by Don & Bonnie Turner and Ed & Kathy Woomer - you may even know these people
I'm just very curious if these cars are produced this way from the factory - if so, they are both new to me
I think the following statement from the referenced web site answers your question nicely.
1949 was the first year of the "Box-On-Box" styling for many car manufacturers. It was the first truly new styling to follow World War II. Many good photos of 1949 Plymouths may be found on these pages of the website. Surprisingly enough, the very first 1949 Plymouths were actually "left over" from 1948. Plymouth was a little slow in tooling up, so they issued what is known as "1949 - First Series" cars. These cars sometimes were a bit odd, containing DeSoto clutches, Dodge transmissions, Chrysler rear ends - you get the idea.
So, I think you are looking at an early and a late 49 Business coupe.
Marty
Hello,
I guess I have egg on my face (again). I checked the business coupes referenced and agree with Jim Benjamin that they look like later additions to the cars. Sorry I missed that when I posted them to my website.
For a look at the correct tail lights for a 49 business coupe, visit this link:
http://sitepreview.bigstep.com/generic169.html
Sorry for the confusion.
Bill Ward
www.oldplymouths.com
:'(
Another comment - look at http://sitepreview.bigstep.com/generic104.html for another view of the rectangular taillights on a 49. This is even a better view.
As to the "first & second series" of 49's, the first series were generally the same as the 48's. Chrysler was real slow getting tooled up for the 49 model year (probably because of the Korean war) so, when everybody else came out with their 49 models, Chrysler wasn't ready - so they kept on selling 48s until early in 1949 (Feb. or March?) when they had something new to offer - the "second series". The "second series" is the first of the Mopar "box-on-box" body style.
Bill
:'(