Despite the looming war clouds over Europe and no one knew what awaited Hawai'i in December of 1941, Plymouth, Chrysler's value division, was riding high. Sales for the year broke 522,000, about 75,000 units less than Ford, which came in second place. We are selling for a local consignor to satisfy an estate. Recently serviced with tune up and runs great!
One of big reasons for that surge in sales is the Special Deluxe trim offered that year. With a booming economy, sales of the P12 .....
Special Deluxe easily outstripped the combined base model (P11) total and the P11D, which was also called Deluxe, amounting to 354,139 vehicles. With a price difference of just $60 between the P11 and P12 four door, and only $20 over the P11D, it's easy to understand why buyers opted for the top-of-the-line model.
This Plymouth Special Deluxe two-door sedan looks great in Metallic Green. It was made in Chrysler's Evansville, Indiana assembly plant before it was shipped by rail to St. Louis, Missouri. It was delivered to an E. Roddeck of University City, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb, on March 20, 1941, from St. John's Motor Car Company Predating federal law by 45 years, Plymouth pioneered a center-mounted stop light in its own housing on the deck lid. Unlike in 1986 models, there were no stop-lamp bulbs in the regular tail lamps in 1941.
The chrome bumpers fit tightly to the body while the cargo area is in good, original order and has a full-sized spare tire and wheel. The engine bay is decent. True-Steady steering was standard; it used rubber mounts to keep road shocks at bay and made the car easy to park. The car has front and rear fog lights.
Continuing the design theme of '39-'40 models, horizontal grille bars were employed, this year surrounded by a stainless “heart.” Additional body-side trim provided a break line for two-tone paint schemes, a $10 option on two- and four-door sedans only-interiors now featured two-tone upholstery.
Front and rear fenders again had the speed line differing in the addition of three smaller speed lines embossed at the trailing edge of each fender. Nineteen forty-one marked the first use of stainless-steel fender beading between fenders and body. There was also a separate braking system.
A front opening, alligator-type hood replaced the butterfly type of years past, and at long last the battery was moved underneath the hood from its position under the driver's seat. A counter-balanced deck lid was a much-appreciated change.
Nineteen forty-one would mark the last year for the 201-cubic-inch six-cylinder engine. Backing this motor is a three-speed manual transmission with Amola Steel for smoother, quieter shifting; semi-automatic and automatic shifting was still years away, though PowerMatic vacuum-assisted shifting was optional.
To the casual observer, the '41 was a mildly restyled '40 “with a chrome-plated bib.” Underneath, there was also little mechanical difference except for a re-geared transmission. The only major change was adoption of safety rim wheels, designed to hold the tire on the rim in case of flat or blowout. Without proper tools, the tires were miserable to get off the rim (a special tire tool was shipped with each car), but it was a major safety upgrade that it would take some in the industry decades to catch up to. Buyers could also get 18-inch high-clearance wheels (two inches less diameter than previous years).
Inside, the two-tone green interior also has a lot of tan broadcloth – the front bench seat, the headliner and the inner door panels. Plymouth called them its fashion-tone interior. The front and rear seats are in good order, as are the inner door panels and headliner. The front passenger seat folds forward for access to the rear seat. A three-spoke steering wheel is ready for a new adventure. The car has an optional clock, an AM radio and Comfort Master under-dash heater that was another option. There's a full array of gauges between some wood on the dash with matching panels on the inner doors. Wipers work slowly, fog lights are inop. Cracks in some of the windows, see photos please.
Competition to this Plymouth in 1941 included Chevrolet's Special Deluxe, Ford's Supe DeLuxe, Hudson's Super Six, Pontiac's De Luxe Torpedo Six and Willys' Americar, among many others.
Engine Identification Number: P12 318536
Car Serial Number: 20130981
This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 74,756 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.