1939 Plymouth Convertible Coupe
82 hp, 201 cu. in. L-head inline six-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, independent coil spring front and semi-elliptic spring rear suspensions, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 117 in.
Although the earliest automobiles were open-topped, the convertible concept didn’t appear until the late 1920s. The first drop top to arrive on the scene with a power-assisted top was the 1939 Plymouth Convertible. The Plymouth lineup originated in 1930 and helped the Chrysler brand prosper through the Great Depression.
The convertible was a rarity, as Plymouth was the only division of the Chrysler brand to offer open-air cars. Of the 417,528 Plymouths that were rolled from the assembly line that year, a mere 5,976 of them were convertible coupes, and an additional 387 of them were four-door convertibles.
Under the hood, the Plymouth’s 3.3L 201 cu. in. inline six-cylinder engine, paired with a three-speed sliding gear manual transmission, received 82 horsepower. The convertible had a 117 in. wheelbase with independent coil spring front and semi-elliptic spring rear suspensions, and four-wheel drum brakes.
The revitalized Plymouth debuted a longer length, with wider styling than previous models. With more curvaceous exterior styling, this classic featured a tall, peaked “prow” with horizontal chrome grille trim and a modern V-type windshield. Distinctive rectangular headlamps were integrated into the front fenders, giving the car more personality.
Current owner of this 1939 Plymouth Convertible Coupe purchased it from estate of original owner, Jack O’Brien, out of California. We have all the original paperwork including “Bill of Sale”, Title, and much documentation. Jack purchased the Plymouth while at the “Golden Gate International Exposition” in 1939 with a down payment of $1.00 as a deposit to hold the vehicle. The car is unrestored with the exception of a new conv. top, new leather interior (incl. rumble seat) which is an exact duplication of the original, and chrome bumpers. The car also has an older paint job and drives well, although we did notice the brakes starting to bind a little after a test drive. The car has patina from years of use and enjoyment body and mechanicals. Owner purchased the Plymouth in 2007. Only two owners from new.
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