All Original 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Club Coupe

1941 Plymouth Description

I am reluctantly selling my all original 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Club Coupe due to health reasons. I am only the second owner of this beautiful little coupe, having purchased it from the estate of the original owner in 2010. I have the factory records indicating the build date (October 1940) and the subsequent transfer to the dealership and sale to the first owner. When I purchased it, it had been sitting in dry heated storage for approximately 30 years. The mileage is just over 48k, and is documented as original. I went through it top to bottom to return it to perfect operating condition. The radiator and fuel tank were removed, thoroughly cleaned and reinstalled with all new hoses and lines. I replaced the fuel pump and water pump, rebuilt the original carburetor, and disassembled, cleaned and reinstalled the original oil bath air cleaner. All new tune up parts including plugs and wires, coil, points, rotor etc. The front end is as tight as a new one, and tracks absolutely straight with no play. The steering box merely needed to be drained and refilled. The 3 speed column mount transmission shifts effortlessly, and likewise was only flushed and refilled. The emergency brake needed only minor adjustment to return to perfect working condition. The clutch is light and smooth with no chattering or grabbing. The original 201 inline flathead 6 engine maintains excellent compression and has never been apart. I simply cleaned the water jackets, removed and cleaned the oil pan, checked all gaskets for soundness and changed out the oil filter assembly and lines. It runs smooth and accelerates with no smoke or rattles. It maintains excellent oil pressure and runs cool even on hot southern California days. The differential was drained and refilled. It retains its factory 4:11 ratio, and it zips through city traffic with ease and cruises comfortably at 60 mph. The front wheel bearings were replaced. The rear axles were pulled, inspected and reinstalled with new bearings and shims. The brakes were rebuilt with new shoes and springs, new master cylinder, rebuilt wheel cylinders and all new soft and hard lines. The original drums needed only a light turning. The tires are Lester 6x16 wide whites with less than 1000 miles on them. The chassis and springs were fully lubed, and the front and rear shocks were replaced. It drives nice and tight with no squeaks or rattles. With its independent coil spring front suspension, longer wheel base, excellent brakes and well balanced steering, it rides and handles better than Fords or Chevys of the same era. Plymouth also introduced their "safety rim" wheels in 1941, preventing the tires from separating from the rims in the event of a flat. It truly is a pleasure to drive.
Cosmetically, the car is in very good original condition. It retains its original paint with only minor wear, some small chips and minor touch ups done over the years. Some areas are thin from polishing, and some areas have minor, nearly invisible "spider web" crackling. I felt it was still too nice to repaint...you can't replicate an original patina. There is absolutely no rust anywhere, and there has never been any body damage. The doors, hood and trunk fit tight, close solidly and have excellent gaps. The frame, floors, rocker panels and trunk are absolutely solid. The original engine splash guards are all intact and rust free. The running boards are solid with only minor wear to the original rubber. The glass is all original, and the windows roll up and down as they should with no play or rattles. The headliner and upholstery is all original. The drivers seat and door panels show only minor wear. The rear jump seats look virtually brand new. All of the wood graining is original and in excellent condition. The original floor mat has one small area of wear at the base of the accelerator. All of the gauges work as they should and the speedometer is accurate. All lights, including the gauge and dome lights, work properly. The two speed wipers and cigarette lighter work. The dual horns work. The radio lights but only hums. The original heater & defroster with two speed fan works perfectly with no leaks. All of the stainless and chrome trim is present and in very good condition. The wheels retain their original pin striping, hubcaps and factory trim rings. The trunk still has its original mat and lining, and still has the original tool kit and wheel chocks. I have the original owners manual, sales brochures and shop manual.
The Plymouth has optional turn signals, fog lights, front grill guard and blue dot tail light lenses installed by the original owner. I added period correct Guide Lamps with NOS 1941 Plymouth stop light lenses and halogen bulbs as additional brake lights. Combined with the original center stop light, these are very effective and really improve the safety.
I put a great deal of time, effort and money into making this one of the best driving original Plymouths anywhere. Unlike a lot of "restored" classics with shiny paint but marginal mechanics, this original car performs as good as it looks and is just as clean underneath as it is up top. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere, I've taken it on numerous road trips throughout California with no problems. (The starter mechanism did stick once, but simply manipulating the actuating rod manually and then lubricating it freed it right up. That's the bonus of driving an older car....very simple to diagnose and repair!) I never intended to sell it, but life is unpredictable. All reasonable offers considered.