Threeowner car since 1939
201 CID Lhead inline sixcylinder engine
Threespeed manual transmission with automesh
Blue exterior and tan interior
Roller bearing Ujoint
Hypoid rear axle
Truestead steering gear
Antifriction chassis bearings
Xtype frame
Precision hydraulic brakes
Sealed headlamps
Documentation includes binder of information, photos, multiple advertisements, service and operation schedule, brochures, a questionandanswer booklet, paint chips, a repair and tuneup manual, invoices and more
Some cars are hard to let go and some inspire boundless family loyalty. This is one such car, a 1940 Plymouth Deluxe Fourdoor Touring Sedan, currently at MotoeXotica Classic Cars. It has been part of three documented families since 1939
This Plymouth was made in Chryslers Los Angeles, California factory in late summer or early fall of 1939 (it was just the 148th vehicle built there that year) and shipped to the Tarola Motor Car Company in Portland, Oregon. On October 9, 1939, the original owner, named Sadie C., traded in a used Chevrolet sedan (year not recorded) for the Plymouth.
Finished in an outstanding blue hue, the cars paint and trim are in overall excellent order. The windows, lights and bodywork are all in similar fantastic condition. Note the drivers side only reverse light perched above the back bumper. The engine bay is extremely tidy and the trunk looks great, too, with its spare tire, wheel and wheel cover plus a jack. The cars chrome bumpers shine brilliantly.
This Plymouth rolls on Goodyear Deluxe AllWeather wide whitewalls, size 6.0016 at all four corners. Each tire is mounted around bodycolored beauty rings with factory center caps. The tires are in very good order while the wheels are in excellent order.
Under the hood is a 201 CID flathead sixcylinder engine bolted to a threespeed manual transmission with automesh. The engine had familiar L head while the compression ratio remained at 6.7 to 1, the highest figure in the lowpriced field. Again, four piston rings were used and the engine had full pressure oil lubrication. The crankshaft used four main bearings. Cooling system capacity was 3.5 gallons while a 17gallon fuel tank was fitted.
The new transmission introduced for 1940 also allowed the engineers to lower the front floor hump and all models were treated to the column shift lever. With the emergency brake lever located on the left side under dash by the steering column the front seat was obstruction free and could carry three passengers in fair comfort.
An entirely new transmission incorporating a blocker type of synchronizer to prevent gear clashing was used in both models. The transmission cover was moved to the side of the case and an extent ion at the rear of the transmission provided the use of the 39s short drive shaft despite the increased wheelbase of the 40 models. The transmission gears were helical cut for quieter operation. The ventilated clutch used a 9 dry plate. The rear end has a 4.1:1 ratio.
Inside, the cavernous tan interior is in overall excellent condition, including the front and rear bench seats, the carpet, headliner and threespoke steering wheel. The instrument panel, with its full instrumentation and Safety Signal speedometer, and the inner door panels, are in similar excellent condition. Even the window sills are wooden and complement the rest of the interior well. A verticallymounted factory AM radio completes the interior.
With a threeinch longer wheelbase over the comparable 1939 models, the engine moved forward four inches and the rear axle aftward 7.5inches yielded 10 cubic feet of additional interior space.
The cars second owner, Bill C., requested a history of the vehicle from the family that owned it before him and Charlene W., complied. Her maternal grandparents bought the Plymouth new and eventually passed it on to Charlenes parents. She cant remember a time when the Plymouth wasnt the family car. In fact, when Bill bought the car, Charlenes Beaverton High School sticker was still visible in one of the rear wing windows.
At some point, the Plymouth ceased being the familys only car, but they never let it go and Charlenes father hoped his grandson would someday be able to restore the old car. That didnt happen but one day, while the Charlene and her husband were at lunch with their former neighbor, Bill C., he handed them a business card that had a picture of a blue 1940 Plymouth Special Deluxe Sedan on it. Long story short, the car eventually came home with Bill; it is restored now and Charlene visits her Plymouth occasionally at Bills.
In 2015, Bill sold this car to Doug M., who joined Cascade Pacific Plymouth Club. Old Blue had an illustrious career, including a Best of Class trophy at the 2016 Forest Grove Concours and a writeup in the National Plymouth Club Bulletin.
Paul Woudenberg, author of Ford in the Thirties, wrote, The 1940 Plymouth was all new easily the best Plymouth to appear in the short history of the marque. The Chrysler Corporation had finally come up with a new style which was handsome, albeit boxy, and in keeping with the latest trends.
Documentation includes binder of information, photos, multiple advertisements, service and operation schedule, brochures, a questionandanswer booklet, paint chips, a repair and tuneup manual, invoices and more.
Competition to this Plymouth in 1940 included Chevrolets Special Deluxe sedan, Fords Deluxe Sedan, Nashs Ambassador Six sedan, Oldsmobiles Special Sedan, Packards 110 Sedan and Pontiacs Torpedo Sedan.
If youve ever sought a LowPriced Beauty with the Luxury Ride, your search could end here at MotoeXotica Classic Cars. Stop by today to see this brilliant prewar Plymouth today.
VIN: 3245649
This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 79,488 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE
Note: Please see full terms and conditions listed below that pertain to the purchase of any said vehicle, thank you.
Click to View the 1940 Plymouth Deluxe Video
Specifications
VIN:
Exterior: Blue
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