1946 Plymouth 4-Door

Special Dlxe Sedan

6 - Cyl.

Manual

P1550329

Gasoline

You are bidding on an original, 1946 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-door sedan with a lot of history. This car was purchased new on May 7, 1946 from Hinckley Dodge in Ogden, Utah, by Mr. Albert Bergen for $1249.61, cash. Actually, that price was for the more expensive Dodge, but the dealer wrote it up so Mr Bergen could pay MORE for the car without getting in trouble with the Feds, who were concerned about post-war inflation after WWII. For all I know, Mr. Bergen may have added some cash under the table to the deal -- cars in 1946 were scarce! None had been produced in the US since 1942. This car has been with me since 1970, when I purchased it from the kid who lived next door to Mr. Bergen. The old man gave the car away in return for all the favors the neighbors had done for the Bergens as they grew older. One Saturday morning, this single Air Force Pilot was looking for a project car. Checked the Salt Lake papers - nothing. Same for Ogden papers. So I started driving around town and came across this car for sale. The kid needed some ready cash for side pipes on his Mustang, so he sold the car to me for $225. I drove it down to the inspection station in Ogden, and all it needed was a new muffler and some new sealed beam headlights to pass inspection. Oh, and the front brake hoses, too. When the mechanic pulled on one of them, it snapped off in his hand! And I had been driving it in traffic. The car had about 70,000 miles on it in 1970. Over the years, the car has been reupholstered, painted, and repainted, but it has always been with me. In fact, not only did my wife and I drive away from the church in it is 1974 when we were married, I kept it long enough so that both of my daughters rode in it (chauffeured by me, of course) when they got married. Thhere is nothing fancy about this car, except that it is a piece of history. It is the only car I have owned that is older than me. After WWII, when production of private autos resumed, the DuPont company had trouble meeting demand for color laquer paint. Initially, all Chrysler Corporation Products could only be had in three colors - white, black, and gray. This car was originally delivered in Airwing Gray, and I have tried to match the original with quality two-part urethane enamel. When we were taking it down for restoration, we removed the front clip, the interior, the engine, and rear fenders. We did not take the body off the frame, but we inspected everything, and dealt with any rust issues at that time. This is a SOLID car. The engine was rebuilt by a local machine shop at 90,000 miles. There was so little wear in the cylinder bores, you could barely catch a fingernail on the ridge at the top of the stroke. The head already had hardened valve seats, so no mods were required to run the car on unleaded gas (unlike Fords and Chevys of the era). This six cylinder, rated at 85 true horsepower, will outrun a Ford V-8 of the same vintage. It will pull smoothly down to 12 mph in high gear. The original upholstery is under the current seat covers, which approximate the original in appearance. The headliner is the gray mousefuzz we all remember, only it is clean, with no water stains. The 218 cubic inch flathead six cylinder engine runs smoothly and will propel you up to 85 mph, although it is happier around 55 to 60. This car has no power steering, hence the large steering wheel to give you leverage. No power brakes either, but they are super strong drum units of unique two-leading-shoe design exclusive to Chrysler. I have the original driveshaft, but I had it replaced with a modern unit when we couldn't get the original to balance properly. This car is 6V POSITIVE GROUND vehicle, and dealing with the electrics can be a challenge. Currently, the headlights are giving me fits; the car could probably use a complete re-wire, and then the problem will be solved. The transmission is a 3-speed, with gearshift on the steering column (3 on the tree), allowing three people to sit in the front, three in the back, for six passenger capacity. The back seat is access through rear-hinged "suicide" doors, and is roomier than any sedan today, though the overall length of the car is shorter than a current Ford Taurus. This is not a perfect car. but you will be able to enjoy it immediately, and work on the minor issues as a project. Sale terms $500 deposit via PayPal within 48 hours of end of auction; payment in full within 14 days. Buyer responsible for transport. Though drivable, I recommend the car be trailered, unless you are nearby Florida. When I bought the car, they made me promise to take care of it and give it a good home. Good luck and thanks for bidding. I hope you are the one who will continue the tradition on this grand old Mayflower.