march - april, 2011 307 volume 52 number 3 1949 · pdf filemarch - april, 2011 307 volume 52...

March - April, 2011 307 Volume 52 Number 3

Jim BenJaminson Photo

Nineteen-time Old Cars Weekly Golden Quill Award winnerFounded 1957

Founded 1957

Richard Wahrendorff’s 1949 Special Deluxe convertibleformerly owned by Dan Kilpatrick

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1949 convertibles

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Plymouth® Owners Club, Inc.®Plymouth is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC and is used by special permission.

MEMBERSHIPThe PLYMOUTH BULLETIN is published bi-monthly by the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc.,PO Box 416, Cavalier, North Dakota 58220. Periodicals postage paid at Grafton, ND.Membership is open to all persons genuinely interested in Plymouth or Fargo vehicles.Ownership of a club recognized vehicle is not a prerequisite for club membership. Clubdues entitle members to receive all BULLETIN issues published within the 12 month peri-od following establishment or renewal of membership. Membership in the PlymouthOwners Club is a prerequisite for membership in one of its regions.

DUESDues for first-time members are $32 per year payable in US funds. Renewals are $30per year payable in US funds. Payment can be made by VISA or MasterCard. No per-sonal checks outside of USA please. Overseas members may get airmail delivery for $45per year.

MEETSNational meets are sponsored by the Plymouth Owners Club. Such meets are held on arotating basis with location of the meets determined by local regions upon application tothe Officers and Board of Directors. Notice of the dates and locations of such meets willbe announced in the PLYMOUTH BULLETIN. At least one meet will be held east of theMississippi River and one meet west of the Mississippi with meets held in the Spring,Summer and/or Fall. On years ending in "8" a single Grand National Meet is held in theDetroit area in honor of Plymouth's 1928 beginning.

AWARDS &TROPHIESMAYFLOWER AWARD is awarded to the highest scoring 4dr sedan not winning Best ofShow at each national meet.EDITOR’S AWARDS are presented annually by the Editor for outstanding contributions bythe members to the PLYMOUTH BULLETIN.

JUDGING CLASSES Class 8 -- 1960-61 full size; 1965-77 C-bodyClass 1 -- 1928-1932 Class 9 -- 1964-1974 BarracudaClass 2 -- 1933-1939 Class 10 - Commercial (pickup, sdn del, stn wgn)Class 3 -- 1940-1948 Class 11 - 1976-80 F-, 78-89 M-, ‘80-81 R-bodiesClass 4 -- 1949-1954 Class 12 - 1978-2001 FWDClass 5 -- 1955-1959 Class 13 - 1997-2001 ProwlerClass 6 -- 1960-76 Val. Class 14 - 1971-1994 importsClass 7 -- 1962-78 B-body Senior -- Best of Show cars since1996

JUDGING GROUPS: Group I: 1928-39 / Group II: 1940-59 / Group III:1960-89 RWD /Group IV:1971-2001 FWD & imports

MEMBERSHIP ROSTERA complete listings of all current members along with their address and Plymouth and/orFargo vehicles roster can be downloaded at any time via e-mail or member can obtain adisc with the information. Contact Membership Secretary Jim Benjaminson.

ADDRESS CHANGESThe PLYMOUTH BULLETIN is mailed by periodicals postage. The postal service WILLNOT FORWARD YOUR COPIES IF YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS. If you planto move, use the postal address change form on the cover and send it to the MembershipSecretary BEFORE you move. The Plymouth Owners Club WILL NOT replace issuesnot received because of an address change.NON-DELIVERY OF THE BULLETINIf you have any questions or problems, direct your inquiries to the MembershipSecretary.BULLETIN DEADLINE DATES for ads, articles, photographs, etc.

Jan-Feb -- Dec. 10 Jul-Aug -- Jun. 10Mar-Apr -- Feb. 10 Spt-Oct -- Aug. 10May-Jun -- Apr. 10 Nov-Dec -- Oct. 10

Articles, etc., submitted to the BULLETIN CANNOT be returned to the author for reviewprior to publication. ALL submissions are subject to editing.RETURN OF PHOTOS AND ARTICLESAll items sent to the BULLETIN will be returned if requested with a SASE (please DONOT affix US stamps to the return envelope--as it will be mailed from Canada--butenclose within envelope).MAIL DATEThe BULLETIN is to be mailed by the last week of the even numbered month of the coverdate (i.e. the Jan-Feb issue is to be mailed in February, etc.).ADVERTISING POLICYPlease refer to the complete advertising policy printed in the Marketplace section.TECHNICAL ADVICETechnical questions may be submitted to the individual advisor for each model.Technical questions should be brief and specific. A SASE should be included with yourenquiry (please do not affix stamps if mailed out-of-country but enclose within envelope).

1928 QEarl Buton, Jr.(see address above)(845) [email protected] UJeff C. Buton275 Dutchtown RoadSaugerties, NY 12477(845) [email protected] 30U - 1931 PARobert McMulkinBox 40Lemon Springs, NC [email protected] PBBruce E. Buton2366 Glasco Tnpk.Woodstock, NY12498-1076(845) [email protected] Davis1870 Eldon Rd, RR1Woodville, ON KOM 2T0CANADA (705) [email protected] R. Peterson32 Crane RoadWalpole, MA 02081plymouth34@hotmail1935 - 1936Wayne Brandon5715 Forest Green Dr.Perry, MI 48872-9197(517) [email protected] L. Semichy18220 Daves Ave.Monte Sereno, CA 95030(408) 395-49681938John Sbardella11 Heritage PathMillis, MA [email protected] G. Kidwell;9 St. Andrews Garth;Severna Park, MD 21146(410) [email protected] BenjaminsonBox 345Walhalla, ND 58282-03451941Larry W. JenkinsRt. 1, Box 127Belleville, WV [email protected] Leonhardt10100 Fletcher Ave.Lincoln, NE 68527-9735(402) 467-22221946-49 P15Frank J. Marescalco2610 D StreetOmaha, NE 68107-1622(402) [email protected]

1950 P19, P20David PollockBox 196Shawnigan Lake, BCVOR 2W0 [email protected] Riddle20303 8th Ave NW,Shoreline,WA [email protected] Davis100 Tech DriveSanford, FL 32771(407) 330-9100, [email protected] Rogers123 Carterwoods DriveWarner Robins, GA 31088(478) [email protected] Suminski27090 Jean RdWarren, MI 48093(586) 933-7404, [email protected] FuryTom VanBeek3006 Emerald StreetWestBend, WI 53095(262) [email protected] Breer66 Stanway BayMitchell, MB R5G 1H5CANADA [email protected] Hinds1292 Daventry CourtBirmingham, AL [email protected] Sav/Belv/FuryRandy WilsonPO Box 647Maxwell, CA 95955(430) 438-23761960-76 A-bodyBruce Pine1458 Nunneley RoadParadise, CA 95969(530) [email protected] Sav/Belv/FuryJohn Thurman Wiggins677 Winklers RoadRed Boiling Springs, TN37150 (615) [email protected] B-BodyGerald Klinger1027 N.W. 1stGresham, OR 97030(503) [email protected] B-BodyDarrell Davis (see 1954)1964-65 B-BodyRob Elliott307 - 30 Ave. NECalgary, AB T2E 2E2CANADA [email protected]

1965-66 C-BodyWilliam D. Coble, Jr.331 N. Roosevelt St.Shawnee, OK 74801(405) 275-40041966-67 B-BodyArt Schlachter2056 Cardinal Dr.Danville, KY40422-9732(859) [email protected] C-BodyBill Gallop, Jr.201 Park St.New Bedford, MA 02740(508) 993-06191968 C-BodyMark E. Olson707 4th StreetProctor, MN 55810-1722(218) [email protected] B-BodyClif Nelson7038 117th Ave. NEAdams,ND [email protected] C-BodyEdwin C. Hill412 West Temple St.Lenox, IA [email protected] 4-cylinder; FWDChris Suminski (see 1955-56)1971-72 B-BodyEdward F. Weingart334 Creekview DrHampstead, NC [email protected] C-bodyWally Breer (see 1957-58)1975-78 B-bodyEd Lanfer6201 Wade AvenueSt. Louis, MO [email protected] F-bodyWayne & Karen Fowler6902 Ruckles RoadMt. Airy, MD 21771(301) [email protected] M-bodyMichael Bonadonna455 North Cherry Pop DriveInverness, FL 34453-7975(352) [email protected] R-bodyChris Suminski (see 1955-56)Plymouth CommercialBob Manke6037 E. Canal Rd.Lockport NY 14094(716) [email protected] CommercialCam D. ClaytonBox 725, Kaslo, BCV0G1M0 [email protected]

Advisors wanted: 1949; 1970-74 E-body; 1972-73 C-body; 1973-74 B-body

GROUP IEarl Buton, Jr.2366 Glasco Trnpk.Woodstock, NY12498-1013

GROUP IIDave Geise417 Tennessee Tr.Browns Mills, NJ08015-5664

GROUP IIIMerrill Berkheimer36640 Hawk Rd.Hazard, NE68844

GROUP IVChris Suminski27090 Jean RdWarren, MI48093

TECHNICAL ADVISORS

TECHNICAL SUPERVISORS

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VHS format video cassettes are availableto club members on a rental basis.

Rental fees: Plymouth Club regional meet-ings: no charge / Individual member for per-sonal viewing: $5 / Member or non-memberfor group showing to car clubs, fraternalorganizations, schools, etc: $10.

Only one cassette will be mailed at onetime. You must make advance reservationrequests (at least three weeks in advance).Cassettes must be returned via 1st Class mailwithin 24 hours following showdate.

Cassettes cannot be mailed outside theU.S.

CANADIAN ORDERS can be placed with:Rita Green, [email protected];(250) 383-2034. Rental: $8, plus $7 postage,Cdn funds. Renter responsible for returnpostage.

Detailed descriptions of each cassette arelisted in BULLETIN No. 187 and 1994 Roster.

Please order by number:R1 - Pan-American Hwy Expedition,1940-41R2 - Dodge Power WagonR3 - The AirflowR4 - Plymouth: The Early YearsR5 - 1935-36 PlymouthsR6 - Chrysler's Turbine-powered carsR7 - 1937-38 PlymouthsR8 - 1939-41 PlymouthsR9 - Dodge: The Early YearsR10- Sales Comparison:

1937,'38 Plymouth, Ford, ChevroletR11- JeepR12- 1955-56 Plymouths

R13- Performance Comparisons:1962,'63,'64 Plymouth, Ford, Chevrolet

R14- Land Speed attempts, 1960R15- Thrill Shows & Hell DrivingR16- Ford Motor CompanyR17- Pierce-Arrow & StudebakerR18- Miscellaneous MarquesR19- Armand Denis Expedition, #1R20- Armand Denis Expedition, #2R21- Armand Denis Expedition, #3R22- Dodge: The FortiesR23- Dodge TrucksR24- 1937-38 DodgeR25- 1994 rebuild of 1894 Springfield DuryeaNational Meet Videos: '85 Moberly Spring; '85Hershey Fall; '86 Hershey Fall; '87 Newark Fall;'88 Detroit Grand National; '89 DesMoines Spring;'89 Sturbridge Summer; '90 Calgary Spring; '90Newark Fall; '91 Hastings Spring; '92 DenverSpring; '92 Indy Summer; '92 Newark Fall; '93Kansas City Spring; '93 Plymouth, MA, Summer;'94 Ellis Chrysler Home parade; '94 Newark Fall.

Plymouth Owners Club Plymouth Owners Club

VV ii dd ee oo LL ii bb rr aa rr yyLarry Nuesch,

77 Meadowbrook LaneChalfont, PA 18914-2822

(215) [email protected]

PLYMOUTH BULLETIN back issues:102 - Jan/Feb '77 Spotlight Sketches, 1928-35111 - Jul/Aug '78 50th Anniversary Plymouth Meet113 - Nov/Dec '78 1978 Fall Meet116 - May/Jun '79 Old Cars Price Guide; 1953-54 ads117 - Jul/Aug '79 Retail sales bulletins119 - Nov/Dec '79 1979 Fall Meet142 - Sep/Oct ‘83 Life of Walter P. Chrysler146 - May/Jun '84 Plymouth in Australia147 -Jul/Aug ‘84 Fargo commercial vehicles149 - Nov/Dec '84 Plymouth in Norway, Sweden, Denmark151 - Mar/Apr '85 Plymouth-bodied Dodges, DeSotos158 - Mar/Apr ‘86 Turbine cars163 - Mar/Apr '87 1962 Plymouths; Chrysler Engineering Bldg.187 - Mar/Apr ‘91 1958 Plymouth192 - Jan/Feb '92 1960 Plymouth 194 - May/Jun '92 1938 Plymouth195 - Jul/Aug '92 1932 PB Plymouth; '92 Denver Spring Meet196 - Sep/Oct '92 1967 Plymouths; '92 Indy Summer Meet197 - Nov/Dec '92 1942 Plymouth; Richard Petty tribute201 - Jul/Aug '93 1961 Plymouth; '93 Kansas City Spring Meet202 - Sep/Oct '93 1968 Plym.; '93 Plymouth (MA) Summer Meet204 - Jan/Feb '94 1928-30 Plymouth Models Q & U205 - Mar/Apr '94 Plymouth miscellany207 - Jul/Aug '94 Maxwell history; Ellis (KS) meet208 - Sep/Oct '94 1930-31 30U Plym.; '94 Faribault Spring Meet209 - Nov/Dec '94 1994 Newark (DE) Fall Meet210 - Jan/Feb '95 1969 Plymouths211 - Mar/Apr ‘95 1949 Plymouths212 - May/Jun '95 Mayflower mascots; Petty '49214 - Sep/Oct '95 1955 Plymouth; '95 Frederick (MD) Summer Mt.215 - Nov/Dec'95 1995 Nebr. City Fall Meet216 - Jan/Feb '96 WWII Plymouths217 - Mar/Apr '96 Plymouth dealerships218 - May/Jun '96 Plymouth miscellany219 - Jul/Aug ‘96 1954 Plymouth220 - Sep/Oct '96 Des Moines Spring Meet; '54 Plymouth221- Nov/Dec '96 Newark Fall Meet; '54 accessories222 - Jan/Feb '97 1970-71-72 Plymouths223 - Mar/Apr '97 1957-63 Australian Chrysler Royals224 - May/Jun '97 1970 Superbird225 - Jul/Aug '97 1997 Kansas City Spring Meet226 - Sep/Oct '97 1997 Annapolis Fall Meet227- Nov/Dec '97 40th Anniversary issue229 - Mar/Apr ‘98 First Valiants; Mayflower winners231 - Jul/Aug '98 1973 Plymouths232 - Sep/Oct '98 1998 Grand National Meet233 - Nov/Dec '98 1998 Great Race ‘32 PB; GN Meet revisited234 - Jan/Feb ‘99 1946-49 P15 50th Anniversary235 - Mar/Apr ‘99 1960-74 Plymouth A-, B-, C-bodies236 - May/Jun ‘99 1974 Plymouths237 - Jul/Aug ‘99 1999 Springfield (IL) Spring Meet238 - Sep/Oct ‘99 1999 Hancock (MA) Summer Meet239 - Nov/Dec ‘99 1949 P17/18 50th Anniversary241 - Mar/Apr ‘00 1999 Doylestown (PA) Fall Meet242 - May/Jun ‘00 1966 Valiants; 74-81 Trail Duster

243 - Jul/Aug ‘00 1956 Plymouths244 - Sep/Oct ‘00 2000 Rapid City (SD) Spring Meet, ‘56 Ply, cont245 - Nov/Dec ‘00 1950 P19/20 50th Anniversary247 - Mar/Apr ‘01 Plymouth at races; ‘75 Ply; ‘74-83 Voyager248 - May/Jun ‘01 Ply Down Under, ‘56 Miniatures, ‘32 PB sequels249 - Jul/Aug ‘01 2001 Reedsburg (WI) Spring Meet252 - Jan/Feb ‘02 2001 Newark (DE) Fall Meet253 - Mar/Apr ‘02 Plymouth voyages; Arrow pickup; ‘51 sequels254 - May/Jun ‘02 1960-61 Plymouths; Stretched Plymouths255 - Jul/Aug‘02 1976-77 Plymouths (Volaré)256 - Sep/Oct‘02 2002 Hollywood (MD) Spring Meet257 - Nov/Dec 02 2002 Grand Rapids (MN) Summer Meet;‘52 50th258 - Jan/Feb 03 Touring with Plymouths; ‘83 Scamp pickup259 - Mar/Apr‘03 1928-29: Plymouth’s first years262 - Sept/Oct ‘03 1953 Plymouth 50th Anniversary264 - Jan/Feb ‘04 Most Significant Plymouths266 - May/Jun ‘04 1954 Plymouth 50th Anniversary267 - Jul/Aug ‘04 1964-74 Barracuda Anniversary; Ont. 4cyl. meet268 - Sept/Oct ‘04 Plymouths at Iola ‘04; Maxwell Centennial Tour269 - Nov/Dec ‘04 2004 Battle Creek Summer Meet; ME 4 cyl meet270 - Jan/Feb ‘05 Plymouth Travels with P10 cnv; P15 wgn271- Mar/Apr ‘05 Finding Mrs. Miller, ower of milestone Plys.272- May/Jun ‘05 Valiant history; Yellow Rose ‘40; Swedish ‘49273 - Jul/Aug ‘05 ‘55 Plymouth 50th Anniversary274 - Sep/Oct ‘05 2005 Peoria Spring Meet; Woodies275 - Nov/Dec ‘05 2005 Vermont Summer Meet; 4cyl, Ont/Ohio276 - Jan/Feb ‘06 Plymouths in Alaska, Hawaii; Fargo tanker277 - Mar/Apr ‘06 Plymouth Belmont; Valiant convertibles280-Sep/Oct ‘06 2006 Indy Spring Meeet; Ont. 4cyl Meet282-Jan/Feb ‘07 Club history-1; ‘29-31 Fargo trucks283-Mar/Apr ‘07 Club history-2; Fargo at Work, northern roads286-Sep/Oct ‘07 Club history-5; ‘07 Tulsarama; ‘57 Plymouths287-Nov/Dec ‘07 Club history-6; ‘07 Carolina Nat Fall Meet288-Jan/Feb ‘08 Ply deuces:‘32,‘42,‘52,‘62,‘72; Econ Run Plys289-Mar-Apr ‘08 Ply Memories: long-term owners; Econ Run Plys290- May/Jun ‘08 Ply Memories: Petty; Aust. utes; Econ Run Plys291-Jul-Aug ‘08 ‘57 Again; Ont 4cyl meet; Dempster Hwy294-Jan/Feb ‘09 50th of the ‘58s295-Mar/Apr ‘09 Plymouths of the Southern Hemisphere296-May/Jun ‘09 Plymouth Things, Movies; ‘36, ‘50, ‘63 Plys297-Jul/Aug ‘09 ‘59 50th Anniv; Ont. 4cyl tour298 - Sep/Oct ‘09 2009 Wisconsin Summer Meet; ‘66 Sport Fury299 - Nov/Dec ‘09 2009 Maryland Fall Meet300 - Jan/Feb ‘10 Reprise: Tüscher; Plainsman; Berkheimer301 - Mar/Apr ‘10 Memorials; Italian ‘28-9; ‘71 police Fury302 - May/Jun ‘10 Ply weddings; ‘31 PA travels; NZ Plys303 - Jul/Aug ‘10 ‘60 Plymouth 50th anniversary304 - Sep/Oct ‘10 2010 Portland Summer Meet; oldest Ply305 - Nov/Dec ‘10 4 cyl tour Vermont; Tüscher PJ; driving P15s306 - Jan/Feb ‘11 Peking to Paris ‘32; ‘31, ‘54, ‘60 PlysAll back issues: $3 ea. Postage: to USA,1 BULLETIN $2; 2-3 $4.95; 4 or more$8; to Canada: $2.50/BULLETIN; Overseas: $4/BULLETIN Please make allchecks payable to the Plymouth Owners Club, Inc. Payment may be made byVISA or Master Card. Please list second choices as many issues are in shortsupply. Plymouth Club Store is in the process of being reor-ganized; please await annoucement of reopening.

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PPllyymmoouutthhPPllyymmoouutthh®

OOwwnneerrss CClluubbOOwwnneerrss CClluubbBox 416

Cavalier, ND 58220-0416

Phone: (701) 549-3746Fax: (701) 549-3744

e-mail: [email protected]

FOUNDER-DIRECTORJay M. Fisher

Acken Drive 4-BClark, NJ 07066-2902

(732) 388-6442

TECHNICAL DIRECTOREarl Buton, Jr.

2366 Glasco TurnpikeWoodstock, NY 12498-1076

(845) 679-6185 [email protected]

OFFICERS 2010-1OFFICERS 2010-111PRESIDENT

Nick DeSimone1423 Pecan Grove Dr.

Diamond Bar, CA 91765-2536 (909) 861-4950 [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENTBobbi Berkheimer36640 Hawk RoadHazard, NE 68844


MEMBERSHIPSECRETARY-TREASURER

Jim BenjaminsonBox 345

Walhalla, ND 58282-0345(701) 549-3746 [email protected]

CORRESPONDING SEC.Tom Nachand

5215 NW Cavalier Ave.Lincoln City, OR 97367


BULLETIN EDITORLanny D. Knutson

288 Strathmillan RoadWinnipeg MB R3J 2V5 CANADA


DIRECTOR 2006-11Carl D. Wegner

19600 Cardinal DriveGrand Rapids, MN 55744-6189(218) 326-5965 [email protected]

DIRECTOR 2008-13 (Judging)Joe Suminski

68226 Winchester CourtWashington, MI 48095-1244


DIRECTOR 2010-15Robert S. Kerico4640 Boardwalk

Smithton , IL 62285-3662(618) 444-6966

[email protected]

TThhee PPllyymmoouutthh BBuulllleettiinnTThhee PPllyymmoouutthh BBuulllleettiinnNo. 307 March-April, 2011

LANNY D. KNUTSON, editor (204) 889-8008288 Strathmillan Road, Winnipeg, MB R3J 2V5 CANADA

[email protected] or [email protected]

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1949 convertibles1949 convertibles

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307-FULL ISSUE 4/19/11 4:12 PM Page 1

TThis BULLETIN’s theme didn’’tdevelop in the usual way. Therewas no long-range plan to

devote an issue soley to convertiblesfrom 1949. Nobody suggested, “Hey,let’s do an issue on ‘49 ragtops.”

Of all things, this issue’s themebegan with an ad, a rather persistent ad,at that. Some of you may have beenaware of the recurring ad in the CARS

WANTED section, placed by one DallasWiese of Toledo, Iowa, for a driveable‘49 convertible, preferably blue likethe one he had when he and hiswife, Joyce, were married (now,60 years ago). I figured thatthere had to be a story in thisand so I inquired. Sureenough, there is… and thisissue has it.

I then checked through mycomputer files and found a cou-ple ‘49 convertible stories I hadsaved from regional newsletters,namely Larry Stanton’s and TomMulligan’s. Not much later, Ireceived Bob Drown’s account ofmeeting Richard Wahrendorff and his‘49 convertible. Checking further, Idiscovered that Richard had recentlypurchased his car from fellow memberDan Kilpatrick and that when it was inDan’s possession, the convertible hadbeen the subject of a HemmingsClassic Car article. Not only that, butTom Mulligan’s ‘49 “droptop” had alsobeen featured in an HCC article twoyears earlier. Contacting Jim Donnellyof HCC, I was able to receive permis-sion to reprint the two articles and tocontact the photographers for their pic-tures and permission to use them.Thus, this issue took shape.

What I did not do was contact all

of the 40-some ‘49 convertible ownerson our roster, requesting their contribu-tions. With longer-range planning,that would have been possible, butthere was little long-range planningwith this particular issue. It simplybegan with material available, an ideaand it went from there.

For this issue’s logo, I went to mycigar box full of dash plaques andpulled out the one from the meetwhich I was involved in hosting, the1990 Spring Meet in Calgary.

For that logo, I had “commis-sioned” a good friend, Ray Yauk, anerstwhile newspaper sports cartoonist,who had become a Lutheran minister,who was then working amongst thedown-and-out street people in one ofCanada’s richest cities.

Ray wasn’t really a car guy. Forhim cars were, at best, a necessity forgetting from Point A to Point B, buthe was very much a people-guy, as thepeople on the fringes of downtownCalgary would attest. In that, and as afriend, he was interested in my life too,including my car life, and was happyto do some cartooning work for ourupcoming meet. He took the ‘49 con-vertible from a Plymouth ad and put afriendly guy behind the wheel, waving

his cowboy hat. We had our logo,thanks to Ray. Sadly, Ray died

in 1997.

THE NEXT BULLETIN is tak-ing shape much the way thisone has. Beginning withsome ‘56 Fury materialmailed to me and what I’vehad on file, I’ve contactedowners for their stories on

Plymouth’s first Fury. It willbe a celebration, of sorts, mark-

ing the car’s 55th anniversary.Plans are in the works for a 50th

anniversary celebration, this time ofthe 1961 models. Owners of ‘61s, Ihope to be hearing from you.

I’ve also been planning to doissues on the first Valiants (1960-62)and E-body Barracudas (1970-74), but Ihaven’t yet received enough material toproceed. I’m still hoping to hear fromowners of these Plymouths.

But now for some open air, ‘49style.

– L a n n y K n u t s o n– L a n n y K n u t s o n

The Plymouth BulletinThe Plymouth BulletinNo. 307 Mar-Apr 2 0 11

LANNY D. KNUTSON, editorLEEANN LUCAS, asst . editor

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From the EditorFrom the Editor

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Members have begunreceiving the Great

Roster Update card with theirdues renewal notices. Thefirst members getting the cardare those with an April 30,2011, renewal date. RosterUpdate cards will be includedwith each mailing of renewalnotices. The project will takean entire year to complete, asthe cards will be includedwith renewal notices for June30, August 31, October 31,December 31 and February2012. Members who do notreturn the card with theirrenewal will be asked a sec-ond time for their updatedinformation. Please: Do notwrite “same as before” on thecards. List your cars, address,phone number and emailaddress on the card. Cardsreturned, to date, indicatethere have been manychanges!

One last cautionary note:PLEASE DO NOT RENEWAHEAD OF TIME! Pleasewait until you receive yourrenewal notice envelope tosend in your dues. Renewingahead of time only helps toscrew up the system. If you

are going to be away duringthe time period of yourrenewal, drop me a note withyour renewal so I can special-handle it. If you are uncer-tain as to your renewal date,simply look at your mailinglabel: 22811 means yourmembership expires February28, 2011; 43011 means yourmembership expires April 30,2011, and so on.

Please notice a change onthe renewal envelopes.Directly above your mailinglabel are two messages: onereading “Yes, please send mea new membership card” andthe other reading “No, do notsend me a new membershipcard.”

If you wish to receive anew card, check the “yes”box. If you do not want anew card, check the “no” box.If neither box is checked, Iwill assume you do not wishto receive a membership cardand your cancelled check willact a proof of payment foryour dues.Thank you for your coopera-tion!

– Jim Benjaminson,Membership Secretary

Plymouth PressCLUB NEWS Plymouth Owners Club No. 307

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Stuart Riddell, Williamstown, Vermont, died on December15, 2011, at age 62. An owner of a 1932 PB sport roadster, hehad been a member since 1981. He is survived by his wife,Linda.

Walter T. Trittipoe, Shady Side, Maryland, died on January12, 2011. The owner of a 1947 P15 Special Deluxe businesscoupe, he had been a member since 1993. He is survived by hiswife, Janette.

Opal Crowe, Minden, Ontario, died on March 19, 2011, atthe age of 70. She and her husband of 51 years, Don, attendednearly all four-cylinder tours with their ‘31 PAs, a coupe and asport roadster.

Phi l Volpe, New Castle, Delaware, died on March 31, 2011,at the age of 66. The former national president of the POC(2002-03) also served three terms as vice-president and fiveyears as a director. He was the owner of two ‘67s, a BelvedereII sedan and a Satellite convertible, and a ‘69 Fury II two-door.

The Great Roster Update is on!

Members Remembered

The Plymouth Bulletin (ISSN 0032-1737) is published bi-monthly. Subscriptionthrough annual dues: $32 new; $30 renewal. Published by the PlymouthOwners Club, PO Box 345, 603 Central Ave, Walhalla, ND 58282-0345.Periodical postage paid at Grafton, ND 58237. POSTMASTER: Send address

Speed limits postedTod Fitch, of California and the Golden State Region has

added a speed limit chart to his “Plymouth – The FirstDecade” website http://ply33.com/Misc/speed based onthe contents of Benj’s Page in BULLETIN 306.

With the waning of VHStechnology and the ris-

ing costs of postage, thePOC Video Library has falleninto disuse.

The videos have beenkept in two libraries: one,maintained by Larry Nueschin New Jersey and a second,managed by Rita Green ofVictoria, BC, for Canadianmembers. The videos wereloaned to members who paida rental fee and postage costs.

Larry Nuesch reports thathe has sent out only one orso videos this past year. HisCanadian counterpart reportsshe hasn’t sent out a video toa Canadian member for sever-al years.

Membership secretaryJim Benjaminson will gatherthe remaining videos andstore them until a decision ismade as to what to do withthem.

Some or all videos couldbe copied onto DVD disksand kept for posterity, depend-ing on the costs of doing soand the quality of reproduc-tion. Copies could then bemade, on demand, for mem-bers wishing to purchase adisk.

The videos could also besimply disposed of. Contacta board member if you havesuggestions concerning thevideos listed on the insideback cover of each BULLETIN.

Club Video Library to be shut down


I asked my wife to put on her thinkingcap and write the president's message

for Issue 307.

MyMyappreciation of carsbegan when I wasyoung, growing up in

the fifties. My older brother and Iwould sit in our front window and watchthe cars passing by. He would teach methe names of the cars and give specificdetails about each that would help meremember. When I gave an incorrectanswer, he responded with a smack atthe back of my head. And so I learnedthe names and years of many of themodels of the 1950s.

Unfortunately, I never learned aboutanything under the hood. But my lovefor the cars of those years, when I was apreteen, has stayed with me. At carshows, those are the ones I still gravi-tate toward.

When I met my husband hehad a ‘31 Model A. Hedrove the Model Awhen we got mar-ried, and webrought our firstchild homefrom the hospi-tal in it. Thenurse was hesi-tant to release usat curbside to“that noisy old car.”And my appreciationof old cars grew.

A few yearslater, we movedand were unable

to take the Model A, so it was sold to afriend. My husband, however, did notlose his yearning for another “old car.”He maintained his love for fixing bydoing the maintenance on the cars we

did have. As our childrengrew, he shared that love

and skill with theboys. Car shows

became an inte-gral part of ourlives, as did theawareness ofthe many clas-sic “old timers”

we enjoyed inour daily travels.

Today wehave several grandchil-

dren. A coupleof them havebeen going to

car shows since shortly after beingborn. They show a wonderful enthusi-asm and appreciation for old cars.They have learned car show etiquette -DO NOT TOUCH. But Papa’s garageis another thing. They are allowed tosit in Papa’s old cars, and pretend theyare going on trips to the store oranother car show. They also help Papaby handing him tools, asking ques-tions, and holding the flashlight. It ismy hope that this love and care ofwhat is old will stay with them and

that they will be fixing up their own oldcars, someday.

My thing is sewing. I noticed thatwhen my children were little they want-ed to do what I was doing. They wantedto sew. Instead of getting them toysewing machines, they learned on thereal thing. They learned to thread, sew,clean and maintain the machine. To thisday they have an appreciation of themachine, what it can do and the joy ofthe results. Not all of them sew any-more, but they are giving their childrenopportunities to learn.

It is my belief that when a child isgiven hands-on experiences with the realthing, they learn respect as well as lovefor it. It becomes a real part of them,and through this deep-seeded love andrespect, they naturally want to pass iton to future generations.

From the President’From the President’s wifes wife

-- Charmaine DeSimone-- Charmaine DeSimone

-4-

TTeach them whileeach them whilethey’re youngthey’re young

On Papa’On Papa’s running board:s running board: three DeSimone grandchildren Justin, Gianna and ChristianGrant.

Changing oil:Changing oil: “In the red shirt is Christian, age 10,in the brown shirt is Justin, age 8, and the old man is‘ageless.’ Directly behind us is my 1940 P10 coupe.”


Column: Column: “When Plymouth was the car to beat” by Clif Nelson, Issue 294 “The Lesser ‘Bees’ ” by Clif Nelson, Issue 295 “Atomic Plymouth Found!” by Jim Benjaminson, Issue 299 “Cuda man” by Clif Nelson, Issue 299

Feature Feature Article:Article:“Plymouth of the Southern Hemisphere” – Various authors:

Phil Gander, John Goldsmith, Lanny Knutson, Brenton andNorma Hamilton, John and Carmel Kelly, Nelson Lipinski, Lars Sorensen, Adrian Stern, and Roberto Marenzi And thanks to all the photographers, Issue 295

“21st Annual 4-cylinder Plymouth Tour” by George and Sylvia Bahro, Issue 297

“Plymouths Cover the World” by Ed Wilkinson, Issue 298 “First Restoration” by Les and Marie Bennett, Issue 298 “Warning: fuel pumps for six-cylinder engines” by Cam Clayton,

Issue 298 “Plymouths Shine in ‘09” by David B. Young and Dianne E.

Taylor, Meet Coordinators, with photos by Mike Perlberg, Paul Connolly, and Tom Kenney, Issue 299

Historical Feature: Historical Feature: “An encore in refinement” by Lanny Knutson, Issue 294 “Mid-year trim changes & series addition: 1958 Plymouth”

by Jeffrey I Godshall, Issue 294 “Plymouth body plates” by Jim Benjaminson, Issue 295 “The Little Owner’s Manual” by Andy Weimann, Issue 296 “Plymouth by name” by Larry LaBrack, Issue 296 “Chrysler Factory Employee Badges” by Rob Elliott, Issue 296 “Another Diesel Plymouth” by Jim Benjaminson – Photos

by Michael Noe, Issue 297

Letter / Photo:Letter / Photo:“And another” by John Robertson, Issue 294

Letter to the Editor: Letter to the Editor: “Today is 24th December” by Gary Thorpe, Issue 294

Photo: Photo: Plymouth Wagon, page 35, Issue 297 ‘Plymouth-Dodge’ Harley-Davidson at the Harley-Davidson

Museum, by Paul Curtis, Issue 298

Photography of Minis:Photography of Minis:“A Collector’s Collection” by Wally Breer, Issue 294 – Photos

by Larry Schau

Personal Car Stories: Personal Car Stories: “Confessions of a Fury nut” by Wally Breer, Issue 294 “50 years of ownership” by Dave Burkart, Issue 294 “My Granddad’s Plymouth” – a parable by Kan Norton as

written by Harold Norton, Issue 296 “Error in Judgment” by Greg Rager – Photos by Brad Bowling,

Issue 297 “A very special wedding anniversary with Jay Leno”

by Mark Olson, Issue 298

Plymouth Movies: Plymouth Movies: “The Book” / “The movie” / “The car” / “Driving Christine”

by Michael Morelli, Issue 294 “Christine the car” by Martin Sanchez, Issue 294 “Our PJ’s Movie Adventure” by Ed Hovorka, Issue 296 “Member in the Movies” by Paul Horch, Issue 296

Road Road TTrip Feature:rip Feature:“Good Company” by Lanny Knutson, Issue 298

Series: Series: “Swedish 1935 Plymouth Memphis Bound” by Thorsten Larsson, Issue 295

Short Feature: Short Feature: “Member assists Jay Len’s purchase of a Chrysler Turbine”

by Mark Olson, Issue 296

TTechnical echnical Article: Article: “Earl’s parts bag” and “Sparkplug study” by Earl Buton, Issue 294 “Setting the timing on your flathead engine” by Ken Bartz,

Issue 297

2009 Best 2009 Best BB ULLETINULLETIN Cover Cover Photo by Mike Perlberg of David Steed’s

original 1928 Q Sedan, Issue 299

Not awarNot awards ds but special thanks… but special thanks… for all the great tributes for the many that

passed away in 2009. My special thanks to Lanny Knutson, Boband Judy Kerico (Issue 295) and Bob Van Buskirk (Issue 298) fortheir tributes to Stan Peel. All loved ones are missed even after allthis time, as that’s the way Plymouth people are. – Jan Peel– Jan Peel

2009 PLYMOUTH BULLETIN Awards Selected by Jan Peel and Bob Van Buskirk

-5-


WWhen I joined the PlymouthClub in February of 1967,the member closest to me

was in Fergus Falls, Minnesota –Marlin Aagenes, who later became agood friend.

In 1968 my folks and I took a tripto the west coast to visit relatives inArizona and California. We planned itso we could coordinate with the HarrahSwap Meet in Reno, Nevada. Whilewalking the swap meet grounds withDad, I spotted a ‘33 Plymouth flyinglady radiator cap on the ground at a ven-dors stand. As I reached down for it,someone else reached in and grabbed the‘32 flying lady that was alongside it.The two of us almost knocked eachother over. The “someone else” turnedout to be Dwight Cervin. He was thefirst club member I ever met in person.He was after the ‘32 PA-PB radiator cap(I don’t remember if it was for a friendor for his touring car). I wanted the ‘33cap for the car my dad used to have, a‘33 PD business coupe, from which Istill have the body.

In later years, Dwight and hiswife came and visited us in NorthDakota and looked at our cars. Theywere driving his ‘54 Imperial at thetime. Dwight and I kept in touchover the years and he shared WWIIphotos he had taken of some of thecars he had seen while in India:Indian versions of U.S. makes, allGM models.

Dad was service manager for thelocal Chevrolet dealership, and in1957 the boss’ son took delivery of a‘57 Bel Air convertible with the 283-horsepower, 283 cubic-inch fuel-

injected V8. The 283-horse version wasa very rare car (if we had only known itthen!). But the thing never ran right.Dad took the car to the GM TrainingCenter in Golden Valley, Minnesota, tosee if the GM techs could fix it (theycouldn’t).

On the trip down, two things hap-pened: Dad came across a 1931 PAPlymouth touring car puttsing down theroad. Dad said he followed it for milesjust to look at it, until it finally turnedoff onto a side road. That had to havebeen Dwight’s car before he had pur-

chased it from the original owner. Theother part of the story dealt with twoyoung lads in a shoe-box Ford sedanwho kept harassing him on the road,catching up to him, then passing, thenslowing down so he would have to passthem. I suppose they couldn’t figureout what that “old man” (Dad was 46 atthe time) was doing driving such a hotrod as a ‘57 Bel Air convertible withfuel injection. Anyway, after several

passes, Dad said he simply pulled intothe passing lane, waved “bye-bye” to theboys and floored the Chevy, never to seethe Ford again.

And Dad did later find a cure for themiss in the fuel-injected engine… byaccident. He was leaning under thehood working on the thing when a cus-tomer came by and asked him a ques-tion. Rather than pull himself out fromunder the hood completely, Dad balancedhimself by placing his hand on theplenum chamber and turned around to

talk to the guy. The car suddenly ranperfectly. Realizing the change, Dadpulled his hand away and it started torun rough again. He placed his handback on the same spot and it settledright down. The plenum chamberhad a naked-to-the-eye flaw in it thatallowed air to enter the chamberwhere it wasn't supposed to… prob-lem solved after many miles and tri-als. I still have Dad’s service manualfor that fuel injection system.

- - J im Ben jaminson- - J im Ben jaminson

Benji's PageBenji's Page

-6-

Dwight Cervin with his ‘28 Plymouth Q.Dwight Cervin with his ‘28 Plymouth Q. Photo taken at the Motion Picture CountryHome, June 1988; first place trophy

Hurrah Swap Meet, 1968:Hurrah Swap Meet, 1968: Sig Benjaminson, JimBenjaminson (wearing that “goofy Harrah's straw

hat!”), Dwight Cervin

Dwight CervinDwight Cervin


The rThe rest of the est of the honeymoon storhoneymoon storyyHERE’S THE REST of thestory from “A New Life forthe Honeymoon Car” in theBULLETIN 305. We sent acopy to Mike, and he wasmore than happy to give usan update. He is still doinga major renovation and says“I have pictures of theprogress so far. I will getthem sent to you soon.Ginnie and I are planning onbeing married in Hawaii inJune. The honeymoon willtake place another day. Weare looking at taking all kidsand their spouses and justhaving a grand time on theislands. More coming as wetie up the details.”

As for our Plym 2, it isrunning very well and attend-ed our Lone Star Regionmeeting in Austin the end ofJanuary.

Richard RobertsonAustin, Texas

Coupe’Coupe’s coops coopGREETINGS FROM UTAH!We participated in Autoramathis year with “Boop’sCoupe” (the car) and “Boop’sCoop” (the trailer). The oldPlymouth got a best-in-classaward and the trailer got anoutstanding-in-class award.It was quite a show with

some fantastic cars from allover the country. Thereweren’t many oldies, though,that weren’t all tricked outand rodded. It’s surprisinghow much traffic that trailergets. If you’ve seen photosof the trailer before, note thatit now has diamond platetrim around the frame and‘32 Ford pickup fenders.Can’t wait for cruising andcamping season.

Here’s a photo of Bettyand me at the show – we’restill kickin’.

Betty and Bill WardSandy, Utah

WWood wouldn’t ood wouldn’t REGARDING AndyWeimann’s column itemabout the recalled issue ofthe Plymouth SalesPromoter magazine with thead about cars with woodenframework in the body: theydidn’t all get recalled; I havea copy of it! I hadn’t heard

that story before, but I amfamiliar with Chevrolet’scounte- advertising. GMcountered the claims of thesuperior safety of the “all-steel body” with a simpletest: take a round, metal tube(like a straw) and try to bendit. No problem. Put a pieceof wood (like a dowel) insideof it and then try to bend it.Impossible. Therefore awood framed body is saferthat an an steel body! (Theyclaimed.) If you think theaccident photos of the all-steel Plymouths I provided inBULLETIN 306 look bad, youought to see the ones I haveof wood-framed Chevrolets!

Jim BenjaminsonWalhalla, North Dakota

FurFury surprisey surpriseWE JUST RECEIVED

PLYMOUTH BULLETIN 306.What a pleasant surprise tosee our 1967 Fury III on theback cover. Thank you forthe recognition.

Looking forward to see-ing you in Rochester,Minnesota, this summer.

Dean and Ardith SkinnerEureka, Illinois

Speed limitsSpeed limitsI’VE LOOKED FOR YEARS

for references for speed limits

“back in the day” and hadonly gotten information forOhio and California. Thankyou (Jim Benjaminson) somuch for your article in theJanuary-February issue of thePLYMOUTH BULLETIN. Onequestion: Maryland appearsto be missing from the list.Do you have the 1941 speedlimit for that state?

Tod FitchSunnyvale, California

Hi Tod: Maryland 50 - duallane highways 55.I was really surprised at thespeeds in relation to thetypes of cars still on the roadback then and as for the con-dition of the roads there wasnot that much pavement -- atleast in this part of the coun-try (North Dakota)! – JB

TToyland video oyland video As mentioned in BULLETIN

306, a video of the SoukupToyland & Museum wasmade last fall but not by themyantique.com website asstated but by theiantique.com website whereit is available for viewing. Ifound the site and joined, inorder to watch the videowhich is titled “toy muse-um.” It is about 1 1/4 hourlong and contains a lot ofdetail about what is in themuseum. A lot of MOPARsalong with other stuff is rep-resented. I especially enjoyedseeing a toy garage whichHarold had found. It wasmade in 1938 or 1939 andhas a poster on the sidewhich is a copy of the full-sized Chrysler dealershipposter which we have.

Terry HoemanColumbus, Nebraska

LettersLetters

FrFrom the Cervin familyom the Cervin familyGRANDPA (DWIGHT CERVIN) would have felt so honoredhaving such a large article printed about him. These maga-zines (copies of BULLETIN 306) will be treasured by the fam-ily members that I will sending them out to. On behalf ofall of us, the Cervin family, we want to thank you forremembering our father, grandfather and brother.

John and Jean Cervin - son and daughter-in-lawChristy Cervin - daughter

Kristina Cervin - granddaughterNicole Cervin Tuttle - granddaughter

Mrs.Melba Cervin Smith - Dwight's 93-year-old sister

-7-

The direct link to the Soukup Toyland video is: http://www.iantique.com/vid.php?user=News&video_id=356


‘60 supplement‘60 supplementMAY I SUPPLEMENT RudyKraut’s nice article,“Plymouth ‘60: On the trackand in the classroom”(BULLETIN 306)?

The article speaks ofsome 1/64th-scale ‘60 minia-tures of Petty Plymouths.While I don’t have the1/64th-scale Number 42 ofLee Petty, I do have the 43of Richard. It was producedby Racing Champions:www.racingchampions.com

I also have a ToolboxTreasures 1/24th-scaleNumber 42, autographed byRichard. The “model” forthis model may be the ‘60Plymouth restored by KimHaynes of Gastonia, North

Carolina, that is pictured anddescribed in a book entitledClassic Stock Cars. TheHaynes car very likely is notRichard’s actual 1960 racer,as it appears to be a “Sky-Hi” rear-window Fury.Every photo Ihave seen ofNos. 42 and43 in actionback in 1960shows them tobe low-rear-windowBelvedere two-door hardtops.Still, it is aneat model andI like it notonly for itsautograph butalso because of

its resemblance to my Big-Tailed Beast, with its interiorbeing remarkably similar.

A company by the nameof Sun Star may release aconvertible in 1/18th-scalethis year, along about

October or so. I have beenable to supply some informa-tion to a representative of thefirm about the SonoRamicCommando engine, so Iassume it will have that millunder the hood. I just hope

Coil polarity?Coil polarity?I READ WITH INTEREST Donald Russell’sarticle on proper connection of ignition coils.Of course, I immediately ran out to check myown two ‘39 Plymouths and found that bothcoils have only one low-voltage terminal,which is connected to the distributor in theengine compartment. Of course, Chryslercoils of that vintage extend through the fire-wall, and I found the other terminal at theother end in the passenger compartment, mak-ing incorrect connection impossible.Someone once told me that Chrysler adoptedthis configuration to make their cars moredifficult to hot-wire. Thanks for the tip,though!

Bob BrownTallahassee, Florida

I JUST GOT OFF THE PHONE with DennisCutshall. He read the article about ignition coils by DonaldRussell, in the BULLETIN 306. He said the sketch showingthe correct way to connect them up is inaccurate, and he evenfound some documentation in his service manuals. He waswondering if you had any other feedback on this. He’s justafraid people will be hooking these coils up wrong.

Lee LapePapillion, Nebraska

TODAY I RECEIVED the latest PLYMOUTH BULLETIN. It’sanother great issue. I have briefly checked it out and I wasglad to find the article on the ignition coil. Who knew that allthese years I've been connecting those things backward? Ineed to check out the ignition system on my ‘52 Ford truck

and also on my friend's ‘46 Dodge D25. I'm sure they areboth connected wrong. I'll see if it makes a difference.

LATER, AFTER BEING TOLD OF THE DISCREPANCY: I was out in the garage yesterday and checked the replacementcoil on my Ford truck. I had it wired with the + side to thebattery. It has been running great that way. I checked myfriend's '46 Dodge and I had the coil with the - connected tothe ignition. It has always been hard to start. I reversed thewiring and it fired up almost instantly. NOW I don't knowwhat to think. I'd like to find out more about the coil thing.Right now I'm happy with the + going to the battery.

Paul HorchWinnipeg, Manitoba

The wiring diagram from the Plymouth Service Manual, 1946-1954, showsthe coil wiring to be opposite of that shown in BULLETIN 306.

Valiant domination: The NASCAR 1960 Compact Race-8-


it doesn’t have wire wheelswhich, while very popularwith restorers of ‘60Plymouths today, were virtu-ally unknown on them backin the early 1960s. At anyrate, I am looking forward toseeing what will come out.

It is interesting that the‘60 Plymouths with their325-horse 383s fared betteron the tracks than did the‘'61s with the 350/413s.However, those “flipped-on-their-side” fins lead meto suspect that this fea-ture tended to generate anaerodynamic lift over therear, thus reducing trac-tion, especially on turns.And both Richard and Leehad terrible crashes com-ing out of turns withtheir ‘61s. On the otherhand, the “stabilizers”(Plymouth's official namefor them… honest!) sup-posedly improved their sta-bility.

Incidentally, as a prelimi-nary to the 1960 Daytona500, NASCAR introduced a“small-car race” for the com-pact cars (Corvair, Falcon,and Valiant) that were newfor that model year. Thiswas televised on CBS’s“Sports Spectacular,” and itwas dominated by theValiants (and I do mean dom-inated, because there wereseven of them in the race andthey finished 1 through 7!).These cars had the “dealer-installed” 148-horsepowerHyper-Pac engines with afour-barrel carburetor, head-ers, high-lift cam, specialdistributor, and a largercapacity radiator. One advan-tage to being an old fudd likeme is that I can rememberwatching Marvin Panch, thefirst-place finisher, and theothers show their heels tothe rest of the field. SinceBill France was somewhatanti-Chrysler, he canceledcompact car races after the

1961 race was won by LeePetty’s Valiant. It was atrick similar to the one hepulled in 1965 whenNASCAR banned the 426Hemi after the ‘64s blewaway their competition.

Joe GodecColorado Springs,

Colorado

AnotherAnother PlySignPlySignON A RECENT TRIP toAtlanta, my wife and I werepassing through a smalltown in North Carolinacalled Hayesville. I noticedthe Chrysler dealership’s signstill bore the Plymouthname. They were remodel-ing and are planning toreplace the dealership sign.The new one won’t include“Plymouth.” Not allchanges are for the good!

Woody PoorValsese, North Carolina

Captive imporCaptive importstsMY NAME is Sam Fioraniand I write for AutomotiveTraveler magazine. My edi-tor and I were discussingpossible articles for futureissues, and one of my jokeson the subject was takenseriously. Now my joke hasrequired me to do theresearch.

For this article, I'mlooking for captive imports,

preferably older ones. I washoping that your club couldhelp find some of these mod-els. Among the Plymouthsthat I’d like to feature are theArrow, Champ, Saporro,Conquest, Vista and Cricket.Knowing how car fans are,perhaps some of your mem-bers would know where tofind any of these or a rear-drive Dodge or any pre-1980captive import.

Because we're looking tophotograph the cars inPhiladelphia, I’d prefer tofind cars owned in thatregion (eastern Pennsylvania,southern New Jersey,Delaware, northeasternMaryland), but we’ll workwith any owner.

Sam [email protected](484) 410-4132

automotivetraveler.com

‘40 coupe meets ‘49 conver‘40 coupe meets ‘49 convertibletibleTHE HEATER S TARTED LEAKING in my 1940 P10 businesscoupe, so I took the heater out, and sure enough the corewas bad.

I posted on both the POC forum and P15-D24 forumabout my quest for another serviceable MOPAR heater. I hadreplies from both sites, but since Richard Wahrendorff of theHudson Valley Region lives about 50 miles from me andsaid that he had one he would sell, I bought the one he had.

I drove my Plymouth, or“Wayback Machine” as I like to call

her, to Kerhonkson, New York,about 24 miles northeast ofNeversink, to meet Richard andpay for and pick up my new-to-me heater. Richard drove his

1949 Plymouth convertible aboutthe same distance to

meet me as I droveto meet him. We had a nice visitover a cup of coffee and a bagel,I took some photos, paid himfor the heater and we both leftfor home.

I want to publicly thank Richfor the heater, the visit, and himshowing me his beautiful Plymouthconvertible.

Old Plymouth owners are the best – yes they are!Bob Drown

Neversink, New York

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Brake and speed limitsBrake and speed limitsCONCERNING THE RECENT ARTICLE, “P15 DrivingImpressions,” I should like to enter the following comments.

First, I feel highly honored to receive such genuinely pos-itive comments from two very distinguished persons: FrankMarescalco, our P15 Technical Advisor, and Jim Benjaminson,our membership secretary and columnist, and in two differentissues. For the most part, both acknowledged my impres-sions as being much as their own would be; perhaps in mysenior years my thoughts are not too far out of whack.

Yet, I still feel that I must respond to both. First, in ref-erence to Frank’s note about the brakes of the Plymouth beingbetter than the other two in the low-priced field: they are. Myimpressions are drawn from my own vehicle, and I do feel thatthese brakes do work quite well – even though I’ve not had touse them very harshly! And, I did not properly state thatitem. All of my comments were prefaced by the advice thatone should not do anything fast! I am writing about a vintagevehicle and definitely not a vehicle of the last thirty years.This means that one cannot drive these vehicles in the samemanner as one would the newer cars (with ABS, let alone anti-skid control). It is unfortunate that I don’t have a copy of theroad test done by Tom McCahill for Mechanix Illustrated, as Imight have been able to relate the brakes directly to the “othertwo.”

And to the comments of Jim as to the speed limits ofsome seventy years past, the following might be considered. Itwas interesting to read of the various speed limits throughoutthe United States in 1941. Please note that, in most cases,the cars of 1946 to 1948 were very much warmed-over 1942models! My comments noted specifically that the prior ownerof my car told me that in a majority of the areas the speedlimit was only 35 MPH. [This was my typographical error asit should have read, “45 MPH.”] I noted that he was with theMaryland State Police back then; I did not give a maximumspeed limit for any state. But the column from Jim matchedup with quite a few of our eastern states; they did not changemuch till the 1950s. Part of our conversation was of themany rural roads that were built during the 1930s: narrow,two-lane roads that were not capable of much higher speeds,safely, due to design and construction. The maximum speedlimit was not the point in my article. This was indirectlypointed out by Jim’s three pictures, captioned, “SpeedLimits?”

However, most of the roads after WWII were in ruralareas, and many had been built in the 1930s under the CCCand the WPA (tune in to PBS.) There were no expressways,nor Interstates, nor turnpikes in 1948, as they were a develop-ment of the Eisenhower era in the mid-1950s. (Okay, therewere some four-lane roads in, around and near cities.) If onewanted to drive from Detroit to Miami, one would take US25, with most of the trip on a two-lane road (with a berm),and even though the speed limit may have been 50 to 60 MPH,there wasn’t that much opportunity to travel that fast; other,slower, traffic resulted in rear-end collisions (see pictures notedabove). In fact, Interstate 75 (replacing US 25) was not fullycompleted until 1969 or even 1970. (I know, as I lived just

south of Knoxville and would travel to my parents’ and in-laws’ homes in Toledo quite often.) For my early days ofdriving in Ohio in the mid-1950s, I seem to recall that thespeed limit was 55 day and 50 night. Today, April 2011,most of the roads in Ohio are still rural, where the postedspeed limit is 55 mph; on the expressways and the Interstates,it varies from 55 to 65 MPH. And it was just last weekendthat the speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike was raised to 70MPH!

And while speaking of ‘speed limits,’ it may be worthwhile to open another can of worms. I believe that many sen-ior members will remember certain motoring comments madeby their fathers, be it back in the 1940s, 1950s, or the 1960s.I can remember my father saying many times that a person’scar was either being junked way too soon or had to have anexpensive engine job (valves and/or rings) because the driverhad been consistently driving too fast! Yes, lubricants havesince improved, but so have the engineering tolerances of cur-rent engines. He’d say to just slow down a bit, have regularservice and oil changes, and “add Bardahl Top Oil!” And hejust loved his big Buick (ooops, sorry) until I obtained a new1969 Chrysler for him (while I was working for Chrysler);my grandparents drove Dodge Brothers and Dodges.

The other item about the speed (or cruising ability) of theolder cars is that of the options of overdrive and rear axle gearratio. Overdrive would allow one to drive at a higher speedwhile keeping the engine speed (RPM) lower. One could alsoorder/install a different rear-axle gear ratio (the ring and piniongear) to permit this. I am at a loss right now as to where Iread it – either in a WPC News article, which, by the way,was co-authored by our Tech Adviser a few years ago, or inthe Technical Service Manual or Parts Manual – and I cannotnow find the article. I seem to remember that the three gearratios for the P15 were 3.9, 4.0 and 4.1. I do not know theratio in my P15, but per the tachometer (Westach ofCalifornia), at 2,000 RPM the speed is about 40-41 MPH. So,if the maximum horsepower (95) is developed at 3,600 RPM,then it should top out at around 75 miles per hour! It wassurprising to see (in the above-mentioned WPC article) thaton the P15 there was another option, which I think wouldhave had very few takers, being a device that limited the maxi-mum speed to 45 MPH – and one had to pay for that! LowerRPM and lower gear ratios would help in achieving better gasmileage in many cases, provided that the foot was not other-wise too heavy. (What is the price of “regular” gas in yourarea? On March 31st, it went to $3.79.9/gallon! Shades ofthat $4/gallon of just a few years ago, eh? And our economyis no better today.)

Okay, folks, I am still pleased to have had my articlesaccepted, and highly honored for the positive comments fromFrank and Jim. As they said before, it would be nice if a fewother P15 owners would contribute. One member read myarticles, then drove over 200 miles to meet me and to see the“Maroon Balloon.” THANKS, “Blue Goose.” As a wise oldbird said once, “When you’re in a hole, quit diggin’!” ThinkI’m in deep enough. Thank you for the patience required inreading this letter. Nicholas Essinger

Troy, Ohio

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Model Plymouth kit coversModel Plymouth kit coversAS FAR A S I CAN JUDGE, the article on the 1960 models in BULLETIN 303 has unleashed quite some enthusiasm! I was verypleased as well.

Yesterday I received the BULLETIN 306, and its cover made me do today what was long overdue: to send you copies of coversof Plymouth model car kits.

As a kid I bought a 1/32-scale model of the ‘32 roadster. The model I built didn’t survive (only a few pieces remain) but apart of the box did, as I would always save the front or side of a box. Maybe it is a well-known kit, but I haven’t seen onesince I was about 10, and that’s about 40 years ago now.

Here are the details of the covers I sent you:1932 Plymouth roadster Life-Like 1/32 Collector’s Series, no. C-3361960 Plymouth Fury wagon Jo-Han 1/25, no. C-45601960 Plymouth emergency wagon Jo-Han 1/25, no. C-5100 – this should be a “Belvedere”1962 Plymouth Fury hardtop Jo-Han 1/25, no number – one of the pictures as found on the side of model kit boxes

to make you aware of other kits1963 Plymouth Fury hardtop Jo-Han 1/25, no. C-5263 – this kit could be built in two versions: stock or custom.

The box has a picture of the stock model on its side. 1968 Plymouth Fury police Jo-Han 1/25, no. GC-1300 – three police versions could be build; a very fine kit 1977 Plymouth Fury Yodel 1/24, no. YPM-7-1000 – I bought this actual Fury kit in Germany in the

mid-eighties on a car show but I never could lay my hands on another one. For the purists: I converted my kit to a “plain Jane” stock Fury, as this is what most Furys were.

1977-78 Plymouth Fury / Dodge Monaco Yodel 1/24 – The Japanese company Yodel had the “American Police Series,” a range of kits in scale 1/24, whereby one could build this model either as a Plymouth Fury or a Dodge Monaco (only the grille and rear lights would make the difference). These kits were not for the demanding modeller but merely meant as toys (electric motor included). Still, with a bit of love, a reasonable car model could be the result.

Best regards from the Netherlands,Ewald Stein

Oosterhout, The Netherlands

-11-


IIhad just gotten my issue of theBULLETIN, and couldn’t have beenhappier with my first Odd Ball col-

umn. I’m looking forward to stayingwith two pages. The Oddball will workout of the box as far as theme stories go;I won’t have duplications that way.Look for more pictures than text. Lastissue’s picture of “Variations...” shows a“dealer only” complete packet of a mail-er. My bad for not labeling each shotbetter.

I started on my next article whenthe above-mentioned issue arrived.Looking at page three of Issue 305 withJack Smith holding on to the RoadRunner by the neck, I knew that thePlymouth Road Runner needed to be my

next story. That showroom item is thequintessential Road Runner collectibleitem. The Road Runner was introducedin 1968. One of the first items that wasgiven to the customer was the “Catch a

GREAT! Plymouth,” with the RoadRunner in front of the “Win you over”heart.

For the purist, I will addressChrysler Corporation’s Road Runnerpromotional stuff, but will also include afew pictures of some of the myriad funcollectibles. This is the tip of the ice-berg: hopefully enough to have youlooking for more.

So until next issue, keep looking forthe “Oddball.”

– Andy [email protected]

The OddballThe Oddball

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1. 1. Bumper sticker, holographic card and lapel pin

3.3. Non-Chrysler Corporation stuffed toys, mugs, banks, Christmas items, pens, baby bottlesand jam and mustard containers to name a few

22. The same holographic card and the twodealer postcards

Road RunnerRoad Runner


4, 5.4, 5. 1969 dealer promo items

111. 1. Dealer model promos which were sold to the dealers to give awayto the “kids” (the dealer cost was about $2.00 each)

6, 7.6, 7. ChryslerCorporation

Times Vol. 8 #3March 1968:

Petty and RoadRunner article

8. 8. 1971 RapidTransit System

color catalog

9.9. 1973 dealerproof ad sheetfor magazines

10. 10. Non-Chrysler Corporation model kits

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Carolina RegionGREETINGS from Winston-Salem! Ihope all members and their families arehealthy and are getting ready for spring.

On February 26, we held our secondmeeting of the year, this time atPunchy’s Diner in Concord, NC, oneof the club’s favorite places to meetand eat. Seventeen members came outto participate in the meeting and sharetheir ideas. Of course, we discussed theofficer elections and the Charlotte AutoFair, but we also continued to planahead for other future club activities.We reviewed the club’s 2011 calendarof activities and agreed on having a falltour in October. -- Greg Errett

PUNCHY’S is a very good 50s/60s-

style diner. The decor is true to thetime period with a 1970 DodgeChallenger T/A, and a mid-1950s FordF100 in the show area along with manypedal cars and other time-period items.They have the best ‘Bang For YourBuck’ food! This place really knowshow to fix a plate! If you leave hungry,it's your own fault! The service is good,the food great, and the price excellent!

-- Dean Yates

Cascade Pacific RegionAT OUR FEBRUARY MEETING, MikeBade, president, presided with 37 peoplein attendance.

Following reports, Mike welcomednew members Gerry Peterson and hisfiancée Kena Jacobs. He also recognized

Jim Philips who has been a member forthree years. Visitors from Milwaukie,Tom and Bonnie Short, were introduced.

Upcoming activities and tours wereannounced, including “Allure of theAuto,” an event at the art museum. Agroup is planning to retrace the routetaken by the Golden State Region ontheir way north to the 2010 NationalMeet in Portland, this time going southto attend the 2011 National Meet inPacific Grove, California.

– Donna Bade

THE TECH COMMITTEE MET at GaryRusher’s shop to help him put some ofhis ‘30 coupe back together. But, asthings would have it, they found them-selves lacking some parts. The headwas not back from being boiled out and

Regional ReportRegional Report

BUCKEYE REGIONRon Thomann

8001 Schott Rd.Westerville, OH 43081 (614) 895-2319

[email protected]

CAROLINA REGIONGreg Errett

PO Box 2511Winston-Salem, NC 27102


CASCADE PACIFIC REGIONMike Bade

15149 SE Pebble Beach DriveHappy Valley, OR 97086


COLONIAL REGIONBetty Kibbe

456 Holyoke St.Ludlow, MA 01056


DAIRYLAND REGIONTom Wagner

4913 Foxwood Blvd.Lakeland, FL 33810 (Dec 1-May 1)(920) 285-2660, cell [email protected]

DELAWARE VALLEY REGIONBill Tropia

52 Breece Dr.Yardley, PA 19067-1513

[email protected]

DETROIT REGIONJoseph B. Lewis, editor

9145 HazeltonRedford, MI 48239

Russ Nardi, pres: (586) 566-5838 [email protected]

FLORIDA SUNSHINE REGIONMichael Bonadonna

455 North Cherry Pop Drive Inverness, FL 34453-7975


GOLDEN STATE REGIONKenneth Wilson

312 Bagshaw Court San Jose, CA 95123


GRAND CANYON REGIONTony Tricoci

10206 South 43rd CourtPhoenix, AZ 85044 (480) 893-8687

[email protected]

HEART OF AMERICA REGIONMike Schaefer

12221 NE 136thKearney, MO 64060


HOOSIER REGIONKevin Reeves, President

5268 W. 500 S.Westpoint, IN 47992 / (765) [email protected]

Jan Peel, Editor, [email protected]

HUDSON VALLEY REGIONRichard Wahrendorff

1471 Rt. 213Ulster Park, NY 12487


LINCOLN LAND REGIONEd Lanfer

6201 Wade AvenueSt. Louis, MO 63139 (314) 704-5608

[email protected]

LONE STAR REGIONVan Massirer

124 Canaan Church Rd. Crawford, TX 76638

(254) 486?2366 [email protected]

LONG ISLAND REGIONPeter Marks

47 Flintlock DriveShirley, NY 11967


MID-ATLANTIC REGIONDianne E. Taylor

407 E. Nicodemus Rd.Westminster, MD 21157


MID-IOWA REGIONJim Dooley

29341 US Hwy 69Huxley, IA 50124


MISSOURI "Show Me” REGIONTommy G. Pike1602 East Dale

Springfield, MO [email protected]

[email protected] (Loyd Groshong)

PA OIL VALLEY REGIONJim Stoudt

1290 Bankson Rd.Oil City, PA 16301 (814) 676-6678

[email protected]

PRAIRIE REGIONFrank Shemek

11901 South 34th St.Bellevue, NE 68123


R O C K Y MOUNTAIN REGIONWayne Kreps

8911 Ithaca WayWestminster, CO 80031


TA L L PINES REGIONRichard Tetzlaff

23383 Malanie Trail NorthScandia, MN 55073-9745

(612) 759 2103 [email protected]: R.Ramberg [email protected]

TULSA REGIONJerry Burch

1111 South Florence Ave.Tulsa, OK 74104-4104

[email protected]

UNITED KINGDOM REGIONBarry Reece

“The Meadows” Cookley Halesworth,Suffolk IP19 0LU, ENGLAND.

tel/fax: [email protected]

WESTERN CANADARob Elliot

307 - 30th Avenue NECalgary, AB T2E 2E2 CANADA


NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT (responsible for regions)Bobbi Berkheimer


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resurfaced and the water pump’s rebuildwas not finished.

There was a lot of discussion aboutthe things that could be checked outwhile the engine was partially down.Pat Brost suggested that we check thevalves while they were visible. Theyall checked out to be good. TimMcCarthy helped time the engine whilea dial indicator could be used on top of apiston.

A good part of the day was spenttrying to alleviate headlight concernsthat Tim had regarding his recently pur-chased ‘36 coupe and the problemsMarlo Edmon was having in getting thelenses to fit into the headlight bucketson his pickup. (We won’t mention thebrand, as it is other than a Chryslerproduct.)

All-in-all, it was a very helpful andinformative day. – Gary Rusher

Colonial RegionWHAT IS THE LONGEST WORD in thedictionary?

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Or, is it even in the dictionary? That isthe best word I can use to describe ourdinner meeting at the Oliver WightTavern in Sturbridge, Massachusetts,attended by 20 members. Every possi-ble food item was available on theSunday brunch menu, and there was noway anyone went home hungry! Wewere each greeted with a mimosa drinkand a table with coffee, a vast tea selec-tion and hot chocolate that was set up inour private dining room. Oh yes, did Imention the roaring fire in the huge fire-place that made us all feel warm andtoasty? Our February dinner meeting isproving to be one of our most popularevents of the Plymouth season.

We are off to a great Plymouth startfor the season. We tossed around someideas for tours and meetings. Now thatthe weather is cooperating and thehumongous piles of snirt (a combo ofsnow and dirt) are starting to recede, wecan get moving on our activities.

– Betty Kibbe

Dairyland RegionWINTER IN THE DAIRYLAND REGION

is our slow time. Our last meeting ofthe year is the November Banquet withthe next get-together in February. The

weather in Wisconsin and northernIllinois is often iffy at best with theusual mix of snow, sleet, rain and ofcourse, the “Dark of Night.” Also, wehave several members who, as snow-birds, begin to head south after theNovember meeting. All combine tomake it better for us to wait untilFebruary to begin our new year.

A change in the way we have ourmeetings was introduced at our 2010banquet. It was decided to limit ourbusiness meetings to three per year andmake all others social meetings withwhatever activity or trip the host wantsto set up. The thought behind this istwofold: one, the amount of actual busi-ness conducted at each meeting is usual-ly small and, as such, can be done in afew real business meetings per year;two, the hope that more actual fun timewill improve the quality of our get-togethers.

With this in mind, our first meetingthis year was held at members Rob andKris Borman’s house in rural Elizabeth,Illinois (near Galena). Going to theBormans’ house must be what a trip waslike for many of our old Plymouthswhen they were new. A lot of two-laneroads with the last few miles throughsomewhat hilly country near their homealmost makes you think that you shouldbe in a 1930s Plymouth. This was asocial meeting which had a greatpotluck (sadly, circumstances did notallow for Rob’s excellent homemadepizza to put in its usual appearance, butthere is always next year). We had avery good turnout of members (15 inattendance), great for that time of year.Lots of good times and conversationsensued as we caught up on the last cou-ple of months. We hope to do it againnext year.

OUR MARCH MEETING was held atRon and Shari Leibley’s home inOconocmowoc, Wisconsin. A St.Patrick’s day lunch was prepared byShari, with the able assistance of othermembers with their delicious dishes.After the lunch was consumed, theladies decided to visit a large BenFranklin Craft store in town while themenfolk proceeded to discuss many top-ics of great interest to all of them, espe-cially Plymouths. Sixteen membersattended.

Dairyland has several activitiesplanned for the coming months includ-ing a possible Dairyland Reunion inJuly for all members of Dairyland pastand present. Ken and Vickie Bartz areworking on this, and we hope it is agreat success. It would be great to seesome of the past members again.

Dairyland also welcomes two newmembers: Bob and Cris Haddad. Theyare from Freeport, Illinois, and have twoPlymouths: a 1949 P-18 four-door sedanand a 1949 P18 convertible.

– Jeff Tarwood

Delaware Valley RegionBILL TROPIA BROUGHT our Januarymeeting to order with seven memberspresent.

Business as usual included planningfor our May 14 show at Mt. EphraimDodge and our annual spring banquetscheduled for April 10.

We were informed that fellow mem-bers Ed Ober and Fred Brown had under-gone surgeries, Ed on his lung and Fred,a quadruple by-pass heart surgery. Wewish them well.

For Tech Talk, Bill Barrett expressedconcern about the alcohol content ingasoline. He distributed brochures fromStar Tron, a company that sells a fueltreatment designed to prevent ethanolproblems. startron.com

OUR FEBRUARY MEETING was can-celled due to a snow warning (and theforecasters were right). Warren Nelsonhad a knee-replacement in January and ismending well. – Hank DeMayo

Detroit RegionWELL, OLD MAN WINTER refused torelease his grip on the Midwest in gen-eral and the Detroit metropolitan area inparticular. We had so much snow thatwe cancelled our February meeting.

THE WEATHER, HOWEVER, did notdeter Gwen and me from taking a week-end train trip to the Chicago AutoShow. We met a couple friends therewho took us to the show. I have toadmit that the Chicago show is muchlarger than the one in Detroit.We had a very enjoyable train ride bothways, although several delays pushedour return to Dearborn back three and a

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half hours. To our surprise, as westepped off the train, we saw six toseven inches of snow on the ground.Thank goodness for our Dodge Nitro’sfour-wheel-drive, which enabled us totraverse through the snow with no prob-lem. -- Joe Lewis

PRESIDENT RU S S NARDI called ourMarch meeting to order at the home ofRon and Jan Irvin. Ten members werepresent, including new member TomNeil.

President Nardi distributed theresults of the survey regarding a pro-posed national meet which show amajority being in favor of hosting ameet. He then reported on a conversa-tion with a national director regardingour decision to host the 2013 meet.The national club needs a decision soon,as there is interest in having a coast-to-coast tour in 2013. Our membershipagreed to move the regional meet to2014.

Paul Curtis reported on the status ofDave Cleavinger’s remaining five cars.Paul has been in contact with Dave’sbrother and sister-in-law, who are help-ing with the sale of the estate. Anyoneinterested in one of the cars should callMel or Sylvia at 517-882-5881.

Dennis Oleksiak reported that he andVicki had visited Woody at St Joes inPontiac. Woody is recovering from thesurgery he had earlier this year but stillhas a long way to go in therapy.

During Tech Time, Tom Neil askedfor information on steering wheel inter-change. – Paul Curtis

Grand Canyon RegionS IX MEMBERS AND ONE GUEST gath-ered for our February meeting. After asumptuous meal at My Big Fat GreekRestaurant, Harold and Kay Norton ledour group through a portion of SaguaroNational Park and on to the Arizona -Sonora Desert Museum. This museumis a world-renowned zoo, natural historymuseum and botanical garden, all in oneplace. Unfortunately, the weather wason the cool and breezy side and eventual-ly turned to a light rain. While a show-er is a generally welcome event in thisdesert region, much of the museum isoutdoors, so the precipitation caused usto cut our visit short.

Our primary discussion during themeeting concerned our regional bannerbeing created by Bob Bickel.

OUR MARCH MEETING was a potluckBBQ held at the home of Bob andDonna Bickle in San Tan ValleyArizona, with ten members attending.

After the meeting Bob showed aDVD of the unearthing of Ms Belvedere,the 1957 Plymouth buried in 1957 andunearthed in 2007 along with a timecapsule from the period.

The meeting was called to order byTony Tricoci. Following some discus-sion, we decided to purchase a bannerten feet long with grommet holes and awhite background with fairly large let-ters.

Tech Time: Frank Johnston talkedabout how vehicles that have beenstored for long periods of time some-times smoke badly when started, butthat doesn’t necessarily mean theengines is in need of a rebuild, so don’tpanic. Frank recently purchased an oldMOPAR and it was smoking quite badlywhen it was first started but he decidedto drive it home “as is.” The smokinggradually decreased and when he got toabout 70 MPH the smoke quit complete-ly as the rings loosened up in theirgrooves and became reseated!

-- Donna Bickel

Heart of America RegionIT WA S COLD IN KANSAS CITY thisJanuary. The Chiefs being in the play-offs helped heat us up…briefly. We had22 members and one guest at ourJanuary meeting. We talked about theChristmas party which had been held atthe Eden Heights Church and wasattended by 29 of our members with twoguests. We arranged to have our 2011Christmas party committee providesome options so we could lock in aplace early for our party. We also agreed

to have a silent auction at our Februarymeeting. Members were to bring anyparts, books, gifts or food items for theauction. The last time we had an auc-tion we took in a great deal of moneyfor the club.

January’s cruise was at the CornerCafé in Riverside with 19 members andone guest attending. The lunch wasgreat in spite of the mountains of snowoutside.

In January, we mourned the loss ofDon Wood, who died in his sleep onJanuary 1, 2011, four days short of his54th wedding anniversary to his wifeGeraldine. Don was one of the foundingmembers of the Heart of AmericaRegion Plymouth Club, known andadmired by many in both regional andnational clubs. He will be missed.

Bill Krenzer won the 2010 PointsCompetition which consists of earningthe most points for attending meetings,cruises, tours, car shows and any otheractivities that benefit the club.

AT OUR FEBRUARY MEETING we had27 members and one guest attending.Our silent auction was held after ourregular meeting, garnering over $300 forour club. During our February meetingwe usually begin to plan for the year’sswap meets, cruises, tours and carshows. Lots of suggestions were made,many by Jerry Elwood, and plans arebeginning to form. Our Christmascommittee began providing suggestionsfor locations and we had a good discus-sion and even more suggestions. At ourMarch meeting, we hope to choose alocation and lock in a date and time.

Every March we have a potlucklunch and meeting at the Eden HeightsChurch. Plans are coming together forthis March.

Finally, Mike Welsh wrote a storyabout his experiences with a 1976Lincoln Continental. Mike, who hadacquired this car from the family of a

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Grand Canyon Region’Grand Canyon Region’s new banners new banner


friend who had passed away, wrote abouthis experience getting it ready for anddriving on a 2000-mile tour. Quiteexciting. – Gene Bellet

Hoosier RegionOUR MARCH MEETING at Murphy’sSteak House was well attended with 22members present. While receiving ourusual good service of excellent foodthere was a lot of both serious and funchattering going on. (I should have hadmy recorder. [Or the Unknown Mouse inyour pocket – asst. ed.])

Kristen Reeves made an apology foran error that was made in her secretaryreport for the February meeting: She reported that the 1942Plymouth had a similar style to the new300. It was actually a 1942 Chrysler.Her apologies to Chrysler.

President Kevin Reeves thenbrought the meeting to order. He hadbrought the 1956 Plymouth model carsto the meeting and six were sold. Theseare to be sold for $8.00 each. If mem-bers of other Plymouth Owner Clubswant to purchase, the shipping costwould have to be added to the price.

Tours were then discussed with twopossibilities being offered and severalothers announced. No one mentionedgoing to the Golden State Region’sNational Summer Meet in PacificGrove, California. Eight are planningon going to the Tour with the Tall Pinesin Rochester, Minnesota,

Jan Peel reminded members that sheis starting the Member Profile in thenewsletter and that Bob Van Buskirkhad agreed to be first. – Jan Peel

Lone Star RegionWE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT of 15members for our March meeting held inconjunction with the car show inHamilton, Texas. The folks atHamilton put on a good show andeven reserved a space with a tableunder the trees for our business meet-ing. They handed out lots of doorprizes and had a good feed at noon.

Well over 200 cars were entered inthis year’s show. One of the partici-pants at Hamilton wasour own Chris Brandon, who drovehis 1974 Valiant Brougham four-door

sedan) to the show. Chris is stationedat nearby Ft. Hood but will soondepart for an assignment in Iraq.Please keep him and his family, andindeed all of our military people, inyour thoughts and prayers as theyserve our country in hostile areas.

– Van Massirer

Mid-Atlantic RegionOUR JANUARY MEETING was held atthe Golden Corral Restaurant inFrederick, Maryland, with 20 memberspresent. Discussion, led by PresidentDianne Taylor, included setting goals for2011, reviewing our bylaws andannouncements of upcoming events.

WE HELD OUR FEBRUARY MEETING

at Ledo’s Pizza, Severna Park,Maryland, with 24 members attending.

Following dinner, President DianneTaylor called the meeting to order.Following reports, David Young spoketo the members regarding the possibilityof distributing the Mayflower electroni-cally to those with email capabilities.

Roy Kidwell said that there is pro-posed legislation for Maryland to go toa single tag on all cars. This wouldenable members to have other type tags,e.g., POC tags, on the fronts of theirvehicles. Sandy Resch reported thatClayton Miller had recently been hospi-talized but was at home and doing okay.Discussion on other items followed.

Following the meeting, the mem-bers were entertained by the Mid-Atlantic Crooner, Al Herold, with anappropriate Valentine’s Day song, Roseare Red, My Love.

WE HELD OUR MARCH MEETING atSalernos in Eldersburg, Maryland, with

25 members present. Discussion includ-ed distributing our Mid-AtlanticMayflower newsletter as a pdf file andour club website. A review of our clubby-laws also took place.

– Karen Fowler

Prairie RegionOUR ANNUAL YORK GET-AWAY week-end was held on February 10, with 28people attending.

Introductions where given by every-one present and all of us got a littlemore information on one another: ourfavorite car, hobbies, where or how wemet their significant others, all kinds ofgood stuff.

Frank Shemek then brought themeeting to order, and reports were givenand the thank-yous we received for ouryearly donations were read and noted.

It was noted that pioneer memberArdene Bartlett was in the hospital. Shehad surgery on her frontal artery whichwas 99% blocked. They ballooned itand put in a stint. She is now going toa nursing home to get physical therapy,and everyone is hoping she continues toget better and will be able to comehome.

Frank stated that the web site wasdone and up and running. Everyonecommented on how well it looks. Thewebsite address:

prairieregionplymouthclub.club.officelive.com

OUR MARCH 6TH MEETING at theLincoln Swap Meet, attended by tenmembers, was called to order by Vice-president, Denny Cutshall. Our presidentFrank Shemek was absent, due to thedeath of his mother.. Discussion tookplace regarding our annual swap meetand future meetings, trips and events.

– Pam Fleming

Rocky Mountain RegionWE HELD OUR ANNUAL New Year’slunch at Johnson’s Corner Restaurant onJanuary 15. We had a great turnout dueto our remarkable white elephant giftexchange.

Welcomed were new members Peteand Renee Haldiman and returningregional members Greg and RitaBerkheimer who were attending withtheir daughter Darchanna and her littledaughter Kiahna.

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Hamilton show:Hamilton show: Judy Honey sits betweenher and Marc’s ‘50 coupe and Van and Mary

Massirer’s ‘56 Fury.


After an enjoyable meal with lots ofconversation, Wayne Kreps conductedour meeting and then dismissed us sowe could get started on the real fun.

Bill Sullivan picked a large gift thatturned out to be a LARGE coffee tablebook on muscle cars--so cool that some-one offered to buy it from him. SandraHicks picked a really neat music boxwith a little car that comes out of itsgarage and makes its rounds. Therewere other great gifts and some not-so-great, but everyone had fun, and that’sthe point, after all.

IN FEBRUARY, we met at theGuadalajara Restaurant in Windsor,Colorado.

Dan and MIllie Leopard were ourguests. Dan, who does auto upholster-ing, brought lots of samples and somepictures of his work. We had a time ofquestions and answers. Member ChuckPutnam brought a set for Dan to workover.

Stan and Sandra Hicks, our hosts,brought some tools and a miniature rosebush for door prizes.

Our meetings can be very profitable,as we make wonderful friends, shareinformation and ideas, enjoy good foodand win an occasional 50/50 drawing ordoor/old car prize. It just pays to cometo meetings! -- Sandra Hicks

Tall Pines RegionWE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING of theyear on January 30th at the home of

Jack and Virginia Schultz near Medford,Minnesota. We had a nice turnout of 24,considering it was a chilly, mid-winterday. At the beginning of our event, theladies met in the house, while the menmet in Jack’s garage. In the garage, near-ing completion and a trip to the uphol-sterer, was the 1937 P4 sedan thatbelongs to members John & LeslieWatschke. It will be a very sharp vehiclewhen finished.

After some time for visiting andinspecting Jack’s car collection, wejoined the ladies in the house. Since weare planning the 2011 Fall NationalTouring Meet to be hosted by ourregion, we thought it best to gather andmeet where everyone could hear and par-ticipate. In the absence of our president,Rich Tetzlaff, our vice-president, JeffJuneau, conducted the meeting. Lengthydiscussion, mostly concerning thenational meet, followed.

We then enjoyed our usual late-after-noon potluck dinner. Thanks to Jack andVirginia for hosting our meeting.

OUR MARCH MEETING was held at thehome of Howard and Cookie Cassidynear Forest Lake, Minnesota. We had anice turnout of 18 members. No oldPlymouths yet, but it was warming up;maybe next month. We had a good timevisiting and sharing pictures and storiesuntil it was time for our business meet-ing. Our vice-president, Jeff Juneau,called the meeting to order. Business,again, primarily concerned planning forour Fall National Meet.

After some more time for visiting,we enjoyed our customary potluck after-noon dinner. Most people left for homenot long after that, but a few stayedaround to see the progress made onHoward’s 1936 Terraplane four-door, andto take a tour of his transportation mini-museum in the barn behind his house.Thanks to Howard & Cookie for host-ing our meeting.

– Happy Plymouthing,Rog & Jean Ramberg

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TTulsa DVD ulsa DVD viewed by the Grand CanyonRegion. It is available for $25 at:

http://www.tulsaramastore.com/servlet/StoreFront

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Please use the pdf from the last issue (306)

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Please Join us in…

GRAND BEND, ONTARIO, CANADAMAY 26, 27, 28, & 29 2011

23rd Annual4-Cylinder Plymouth Registry1928-1932 FOUR CYLINDER

PLYMOUTHMEET and DRIVING TOURThurs. May 26 Check-in, Dinner on Own & Short Driving TourFri. May 27 Morning Driving Tours, Lunch, Afternoon Tour, Dinner & Running Board Flea MarketSat. May 28 ~ Schedule & all the fun stuff will be finalized in the springSun. May 29 Breakfast & Tour to Large Antique Flea Market

*If not staying over to Monday, check-out of motel & depart at your leisureMon. May 30 Memorial Day USA

No planned events but lots to do and see in this popular Lakeside Resort AreaREGISTRATION FORM

Name______________________________________________________ Spouse&/Or Guest _____________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________ City________________________ Postal/Zip Code___________

E-Mail__________________________________________________________________ Phone ( )______________________________

Plymouth: Year___________ Model __________________________ Body__________________________

Fee: $25.00 Send Registration Form & Cheque to: PeterWarnerP.O. Box 1089Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0Canada

E-Mail: [email protected] Telephone: (519) 238-2473

ACCOMMODATION (Book on your own)It is very important to book prior to March 31, 2011 to guarantee space. This is a popular Vacation Area and this is a holiday weekend.We have the entire motel blocked until this date ~ Don’t miss out! After March 31, 2011 rooms will not be held exclusively for our group!

HOST MOTEL: Bluewater Motel (519) 238-2014 RV PARKING: Townsite RV Park (519) 238-5625Rates from: $92.00 Full Service Sites—Reserve Earlywww.grandbend.com/bluewatermotel/ *Primitive (no service) sites ~ No charge at our farm*Mention Plymouth Car Tour

FEATURES• All paved roads • No Judging…just fun!• Long Distance award • Food and Admission…you pay at establishment• First 25 cars registered receive dash plaque • Border Crossing is E-Z• Running Board Flea Market…bring those surplus Plymouth items ~Passport or enhanced drivers license is all that

is required! Canada welcomes tourists!

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2012011 National Summer1 National Summer Meet Meet hosted by the Golden State Region

Pacific Grove, California - July 13 through July 16, 2011

Pacific Grove, offering anunparalleled quality of life, shares itsborders with the Monterey Bay, the

City of Monterey, the Pacific Oceanand the Del Monte Forest with breathtaking views.

The host hotel is the Sea Breeze Inn & Lodge, 1100 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA. 93950(800) 575-1805 / Fax: (831) 643-0235

Arrival Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2011 Departure Date: Sunday, July 17, 2011Room Block: Variety of 1 & 2 beds – modifying counts is contingent upon specific guest bookings. 20 rooms for Wednesday 7/13; 25 rooms for Thursday 7/14; 40 rooms for Friday & Saturday 7/15 & 7/16Rates: Standard 1- Queen Room = $89.95 + tax 7/13&14 and $109.95 + Tax 7/15&16

Standard 2- Queen Room = $95.95 + Tax 7/13&14 and $119.95 + Tax 7/15&16Reservation Procedure : Guests to call individually to reserve, mention the Plymouth Owners Club for preferred rates and avail-ability. B i l l i n g : On own, all charges. Cancellation Policy: Guests will be held to a 30-day cancellation policy and a 2-night min-imum. Cut-off Dates: Guests will be able to reserve at preferred rates until April 20, 2011; afterwards standard hotel rates will apply.Inclusive: AM Coffee & Muffin Social, use of onsite amenities, wireless Internet, local calling.

The Pacific Grove/Monterey area is very popular in July. Please call the Seabreeze Inn and book your room as soon as possible.

SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES Tour information, signup sheets and maps will be available in the Hospitality Room Thursday, July 14th: Driving tour to Big Sur – Tour Guide Tod Fitch. Depart the meet hotel at 10:30 AM for an hour long36 mile drive along scenic California Hwy 1 over to the Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur. www.nepenthebigsur.com Along theway we will stop for photographs at the famous and photogenic Bixby Creek Bridge. The restaurant has fabulous views downthe rugged coastline. After lunch we will return along the same route. The group size limit is 40 guests so make your decisionas soon as possible.Friday, July 15th: Driving tour to several wineries – Tour Guide Tod Fitch. There is a $12 fee per person to cover the win-ery tour. Depart the meet hotel at 10:00 AM for a short drive to the Chateau Julien Winery where we will tour the facilities withan explanation of the wine making process and an opportunity to taste some of the vineyard’s wines. Then we will continue onto the village of Carmel Valley for lunch and visit several wine tasting rooms or, for those who prefer, visit some shops andgalleries. The return route to the meet hotel will show off some quintessential California landscape. We should be back at themeet hotel by 3:00 PM. (Note: This tour was changed from an all-day trip to San Juan Bautista Mission to allow time for par-ticipants to wash and prepare their cars for Saturday’s judged show.)Saturday, July 16th: Ladies/spouse bus tour for lunch and shopping in Carmel – Tour Guides, Leslie Fitch and Kim Hunt.

SELF-GUIDED TOURS At your leisure, these tours are available every day.Wine Tro l l e y Tours of Montere y – $59 per Pepson (Includes 5-hour guided tour & wine tasting at one venue). A box lunch ($15.00)and additional wine tasting ($7.50 each) can be purchase while enroute. A Plymouth Owners Club special $89.00 per person,includes the box lunch and wine tasting at all 6 wineries.To make reservations/purchase tickets, please call 831-624-1700.Experience an unforgettable journey wine tasting in the aesthetic beauty of Carmel Valley aboard “Hattie the Magnificent Trolley.” Formore details: www.toursmonterey.comMonterey Movie Tour – Daily boarding near Fisherman's Wharf (Monterey, CA) at 1:00 PM. Cost $55 per person, seniors $50, chil-dren 15 years and under $35. To make reservation/purchase tickets, please call 800-343-6437. Winding through Monterey, PacificGrove and Carmel, this scenic tour also stops along the stunning 17-MILE DRIVE® in Pebble Beach. The three-hour adventure takesplace aboard the multimedia Theater-On-Wheels®, a customized luxury motor coach with high-back seats, overhead video screens andpersonal headsets. As you glide past sites made famous on the big screen, you’ll hear behind-the-scenes stories of Hollywood glamour.For more details: www.montereymovietours.com/index.htmSummer and Fall Whale Watch: Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Dolphins, Killer Whales Reservations can be made by calling(831) 375-4658 with a credit card to hold your spot. Departure is from Monterey Bay Whale Watch Center located on Fisherman’s Wharf.For more details: www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/trips.htm Morning trips: 4 to 5-hour trips every day, departing at 9:00 AM andreturning between 1:00 and 2:00 PM. Cost for morning trips: Adults $45, children 12 and under $35, children 3 and under freeAfternoon trips: 3 to 4-hour afternoon trips every day Trips depart at 2:00 PM and return between 5:00 and 6:00 PM. Cost for after-noon trips: Adults $36, children 12 and under $25, children 3 and under free Monterey Bay Aquarium, located in Monterey at the west end of historic Cannery Row. Tickets can be ordered by phone (866) 963-9645 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Mon. through Fri. Tickets prices: Adults, $29.95, Child (3 thru 12) $19.95, Student $27.95, Seniors(65+) $27.95. For more details: www.montereybayaquarium.org /John Steinbeck's Pacific Grove - Driving Tour: This is a self-guided driving tour of John Steinbeck's Pacific Grove. It featureslocal sites relating to the lives and work of John Steinbeck and Edward F. Ricketts. There are 20 places to visit on the tour. For moredetails: www.93950.com/steinbeck/

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REGISTRATION: $ 1 5 per person or $ 2 5 per couple by June 1st; After June 1st $ 2 0 per person or $ 3 0 per couple(Includes: name tags, meet program, goody bag, hospitality room, Thursday complimentary dinner) $______________

Participant’s Name _________________________________ Spouse/Passenger _____________________________________

Address __________________________________________City _______________________________Zip ______________

Phone (h) ________________________ (c) ________________________ Email __________________________________

I’ll be a Judge ___________ Which Category or Class or Year _____________

VEHICLE REGISTRATION: POC Region______________________________Car to be Judged: ______ number of cars @ $ 25.00 by June 1st or @ $ 30.00 after June 1st $______________

Year _______ Model __________________ Body Style ________________________

Car, Non-judged: ______ number of cars @ $ 25.00 by June 1st or @ $ 30.00 after June 1st $______________

Year ________ Model _____________________ Body Style _________________________

SELF-GUIDED TOURS Available all days – Pay as you go Wine Trolley Tours of Monterey; Monterey Movie Tour;Monterey Summer and Fall Whale Watch; Monterey Bay Aquarium; John Steinbeck's Pacific Grove - Driving Tour SCHEDULED ACTIVITIES (See Activity Descriptions on accompanying page) Thursday , July 14: Guided tour down the Big Sur coastline to a lunch at Nepenthe Restaurant. Tour Guide Tod Fitch.Note: Limited to 40 people so register early. Number ______ Pay as you go Friday, July 15: Guided tour to several wineries; lunch at Carmel Valley Tour Guide Tod Fitch Number ______ Pay as you go Saturday, July 16: GSR POC Ladies Lunch & Shopping in Carmel – Transportation provided Tour Guides, Leslie Fitch and Kim Hunt Number ______ Pay as you go6:00 PM Awards Banquet & Awards Program Buffet Menu make your selection Grilled Chicken Alfredo_____ / Grilled Carmel Style Tri-Tip_____ / Carved Ham_____ / Vegetarian Pasta Dish _____

Total Banquet Number ________ @ $ 40.00 $______________

T-Shirt Order: S____ / M____ / L____ / XL____ @ $15 / XXL____@ $17 / XXXL____ @ $18 Total $______________

Make checks payable to: Golden State Region, POC 2011 National Meet MEET TOTAL $______________

Mail completed registration to: 2 0 11Summer National Meet, c/o Nick DeSimone, 1423 Pecan GroveDrive, Diamond Bar, C A 91765-2536 For additional Meet Information, call or email: home phone (909) 861-4950 or cell phone (714) 864-0658Email: [email protected]

July 13-16,July 13-16,20120111

Pacific GrPacific Grove,ove,CaliforniaCalifornia

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TTour with the Tour with the Tall Pinesall PinesPlymouth Owners Club Inc.

2012011 National Fall 1 National Fall TTouring Meetouring MeetAugust 31, SeptemberAugust 31, September 1-3, Rochester1-3, Rochester, Minnesota, Minnesota

Tall Pines Region, hostsTour OverviewBeginning on Wednesday, August 31, there will be organized daily driving tours throughout beautiful Southeastern Minnesota’s bluffcountry and the Mississippi River, Lake Pepin area, from the host hotel: LaQuinta Inn and Suites, 1625 So. Broadway, Rochester MN.55902. Special room rates of $75 can be reserved by calling 507-281-2211 and asking for the Plymouth Owners Club rate which endsAugust 10th, 2011. Includes free hot breakfast buffet, wireless internet, indoor pool, onsite restaurant, fridge and microwave. All toursleaving Rochester will be approximately 120 miles round-trip, and because of limited parking we will be offering a bus tour on Friday.We strongly encourage the use of GPS devices, cell phones and handheld walkie talkies so people can complete the tours with minimalconfusion. We will be providing complete addresses and phone numbers for each tour stop. We are urging early registration as some tourand events are limited. We will attempt to tour on rural, less-traveled roads where possible.

Wednesday, August 31: The plan for Wednesday is to tour to Harmony, Minnesota, where participants will board smaller vans and begin an Old Order Amishtour. Guides will explain Amish culture and history stopping at 5 - 6 working farms. Most stops offer retail opportunities to purchaseAmish quilts and crafts. Driving back toward Rochester, we will visit Historic Lanesboro, the Bed and Breakfast Capital of Minnesota.Lunch is on your own and a tour of Lanesboro will provide viewing of the beautifully restored homes and mansions or visits of the manyunique shops. This is a fun town, especially for the ladies.

Thursday, September 1 s t :Thursday will be a driving tour to the National Eagle Center located on the banks of the Mississippi River.The center has many exhibits providing insight into the life of the eagle. We hope to be participants in aninteractive program where we can see eagles feeding and bathing and learn about the eagles’ significance in

the environment and their importance in Native American culture. Hopefully, we willbe able to view wild birds from the observation deck, and learn about injured eagles and how they can be returnedinto the environment. Lunch is on your own, but we have arranged for box lunches to be available at Nelson’sCheese Factory, Nelson,Wisconsin. Nelson’s is known for their super ice cream cones. Following lunch we will bevisiting one of the largest private Franklin automobile collections in existence, and it has a Plymouth also.Heading back to Rochester, we will stop and visit Lark Toys. Lark Toys is one of the largest independent toy storesin the United States. It has a huge hand carved wooden carousel and for a buck you get a ride. There’s an old time toymuseum and toy exhibits. If you need a souvenir of the trip for the grandkids this is the place to get it. The eveningbegins with a Tall Pines Region build-it-yourself Burger Buffet at the hotel. Be sure to check this on the registra-tion form. If you’re still not tired, drive to downtown Rochester for the Street Fair with shopping and music.

Friday, September 2nd:On Friday we will offer a bus tour. We will tour into Western Wisconsin and visit Elmer’s Auto and Toy

Museum. The museum includes antique, classic and muscle cars along with motor-cycles, bicycles, over 200 pedal tractors and over 600 pedal cars on display. Inaddition there are 1000s of auto-related toys. This is a fascinating museum andincludes one of the most beautiful views of the Mississippi River valley. Also wewill visit The Pickwick Mill. Built in the 1850s, it is one of the oldest water-powered gristmills in Southeastern Minn. It was built with locally quarried lime-stone with a timber frame that was so closely fit that nails were not used. Thiswill be an extremely educational and interesting stop.

Saturday September 3rd:Saturday will be a day for touring around the Rochester area. We will be visiting the Mayowood Mansion.The Mayowood estate was created between 1910 and 1938 by Dr. Charles Mayo, co-founder of the inter-nationally known Mayo Clinic. The centerpiece of the 3000-acre estate is the 38-room MayowoodMansion and gardens. The Olmstead County Historical Center is another interesting stop with numerousexhibits including five historic buildings on the grounds. Following lunch on your own, we recommenda tour to Assisi Heights and home of the Sisters of Saint Francis. There will be a one-hour tour of thebuildings and grounds. The view of Rochester is very picturesque from Assisi Heights. On the way backto the hotel we will stop at the Plummer House, the former residence of Dr. Henry Plummer, a Mayo Clinic partner and founder. ThePlummer House is located on Pill Hill as it became known because of all the doctors’ residences located there. Again there will be spec-tacular views of Rochester. The day will conclude with the banquet, membership meeting and awards at the host hotel.

Sunday, September 4 t h : breakfast and farewells Contact: Carl Wegner [email protected]

EE lmerlmer’’ss

MayowoodMayowood

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TTour with the Tour with the Tall Pinesall PinesPlymouth Owners Club Inc.

2012011 National Fall 1 National Fall TTouring Meetouring MeetAugust 31, SeptemberAugust 31, September 1-3, Rochester1-3, Rochester, Minnesota, Minnesota

Tall Pines Region, hosts

Member’s name__________________________________ Spouse / Passenger_____________________

Address_____________________________________ City_____________________ Zip____________

Phones (home)_____________________(cell)___________________ Email_______________________

VVehic le Reg i s trat ion: eh ic le Reg i s trat ion: Year _________ Model_____________________ Body style__________________

(We strongly recommend the use of GPS tools, cell phones and walkie talkies for all tours)

---- Registration desk opens, beginning Tuesday August 30th, at 5:00 PM -----

Registration:Registration: $20.00 per vehicle/member before August 10th –– $25.00 after August 10th $_____________

Activity RegistrationActivity Registration ( See descriptions of activities on the accompanying page.)Wednesday August 31, 2011 Driving tour to Harmony, MN. There, experience Old Order Amish culture, with a 2 hr.guided van tour, visiting working farms. (Limit 70) Number @ $25_____ $______________

Visit Historic Lanesboro, lunch on your own and shop before returning to Rochester.

Thursday, September 1st , 2011 Driving tour to the National Eagle Center, Wabasha MN. (Admission) Box lunch available at Nelson’s Cheese factory. Nelson WI. (Lunch on your own) Visit one of the largest collections ofFranklin automobiles in the country, then on to Lark Toys.

Thursday evening, Special “Burger Buffet” dinner. Number @ $ 11_____ $______________

Evening Street fair, Downtown Rochester, food, shopping and music.

Friday, September 2nd, 2011 Because of limited parking, today we offer an all day bus tour. We will be visiting the his-toric Pickwick Mill, Pickwick, MN, and Elmer‘s Auto and Toy Museum, Alma, WI. Cost will include the Bus ride and alladmissions. Lunch on your own. Number @ $ 25_____ $______________

Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 Participation pictures. Visit the Olmstead County Historical Center and Mayowood Mansion. Number @ $ 10_____ $______________Tour to Assisi Heights, Sisters of St. Francis and historic Plummer House. (Admission)

Evening dinner buffet, membership meeting and awards. Number @ $24_____ $______________

T Shirt Order: S_____ M_____ L_____ XL_____ XXL_____ XXXL_____

(All T shirts have pockets) Total T Shirts @ $15.00 ea. ______ $______________

Registration Total Make checks payable to: Tall Pines Region POCGrand Total $______________

Mail completed registration to: Don Rohweder, 261 1s t Ave SE, New Brighton, MN 5511 2

Fall Meet Information: Richard Tetzlaff 651-433-2707 or cell 612-759-2103, [email protected] / Carl Wegner [email protected] / Don Rohweder 651-636-2506,cell 612-817-6135 [email protected]

Meet Hotel: LaQuinta Inns and Suites, 1625 S. Broadway, Rochester, MN 55902 507-281-2211

Information on alternative self-guided tours for people with other interests available at the registration desk.

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Plymouth Owners Club sponsors ...

1st Western New York (Niagara) Tour1928 - 1932 4 Cylinder Plymouths

September 15 - 17 2011

Thursday, September 15th: Registration 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Holiday Inn Lockport , 515 Transit Rd. (Rt 78), Lockport, NY 14904

For reservations call 716-434-6151 or 1-800-HOLIDAY or www.holidayinn.comRoom rate is $91.00 plus tax (mention Plymouth Owners Club)Reservations must be made before August 15, 2011. Includes Continental BreakfastTrailer and motor home parking on premises

• 5:30 pm There will be a short tour and stop for dinner (pay on your own)Friday, September 16th: Tour 8:30 am

• To the Historic Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Boat CruiseIncludes 2 hour cruise on the Erie Canal through 2 locks cost: $13.00 each• After a stop for lunch we will tour to the Niagara Power Project to see how water is turned into electricity (free of charge)• Then we will tour to the Herschel Carousel Factory and Museum and enjoy a ride on a restored carousel (cost: $3.00 each)• Return to hotel

Saturday, September 17th: Tour 8:30 am• Buffalo Waterfront, Naval and Servicemen’s Park (cost: $5.00 each)• Pierce Arrow Car Museum (cost $7.00 each)• Then lunch at the Anchor Bar, Original Home of the Buffalo Chicken Wing • Return to hotel• 6:30 pm Banquet at Holiday Inn

If you are interested in seeing Niagara Falls, come a day early. I will arrange a tour on Wednesday, September 14, 2011. Call for details.

Registration

Name __________________________________________ Spouse/Guests _______________________

Address __________________________________________ City ______________________________

State/Province_______________ ZIP/Code _________ Phone ________________________

Your Plymouth Year __________ Model _________________

Registration $18.00 per car ________Dinner $25.00 x _______ ________Total ________

Mail to: Robert Manke, 6037 E Canal Rd, Lockport, NY 14094Phone: 716-925-4048 e-mail: [email protected]

Dash Plaques Running Board Flea Market Tour 50 - 70 miles per day

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Use pdf


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by Rob ElliottCalgary, Alberta

AtAtthe age of 27, Horace Dodgeinvented a four-point dirt-proof adjustable ball-bearing

race for use in bicycles. A patentapplication was made on July 20,1895, and the bearing was first used inMaple Leaf bicycles manufactured inWindsor, Ontario, Canada.

In 1897 John and Horace Dodge were involved inthe manufacture of “Evans and Dodge” bicycles inWindsor. Sources of information vary on the dates,mergers and sales events that followed. Evans-Dodge was purchased by National Cycle ofHamilton Ontario in 1899. National Cycle andfour other bicycle manufactures were purchased in1900 to form Canada Cycle and Motor Company.The Dodge brothers sold their shares for $7500and moved Dodge Cycles and Machine back toDetroit.

Bicycle manufacturing in Syracuse, New York,was booming in 1896. Over 40 different manufactur-ers were producing bicycles there, including one firmcalled Dodge Cycles. I cannot find any ties to theDodge Brothers. I believe this headset badge andpin are from the Syracuse plant.

Canada Cycle and Motor Company (CCM) pro-duced bicycles in Canada until declaring bankruptcyin 1983. Procycle of Quebec bought the assets.

Some sources indicate that the Dodge brothersbrought their asset value in machinery to Detroitfrom the Windsor plant. Ransom Olds approachedthe Dodges in 1901 with a request to produce 2000engines. Henry Ford followed with a need of produc-tion parts for his cars. The Dodges were contractedand the Dodge dynasty began.

This Plymouth headsetbadge is another mys-

tery. The badge isstamped on verythin copper andthen enameled. Ihave found limitedinformation on the

Plymouth CycleCompany. The

Wheelman webpage lists Plymouth Cycle inPlymouth, Indiana, 1895 to 1896, and Plymouth

Cycle by Lindsay Brothers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin,also during 1895 to 1896. 1 bicycle production began

in 1895.

…and our brothers …and our brothers JJohn and ohn and HHoraceorace DDodgeodgeTThings hings PPlymouthlymouth

Evans and Dodge bicycleEvans and Dodge bicycle owned by the Detroit HistoricalMuseum (supposedly John Dodge’s own bike) and deposited

in the Chrysler archives PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES HYDE

Evans and Dodge Evans and Dodge headset badge PHOTO COURTESY OF CHARLES HYDE

Dodge Cycle Dodge Cycle headset badgePlymouth Cycle Company Plymouth Cycle Company headset badge

“Our Defender” Dodge Bicycle “Our Defender” Dodge Bicycle badge also has asailing ship theme

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CCALGARALGARYY has 550 kilome-tres of paved pathwaysand 260 kilometres of on-street bicycle routes withinthe city.

As an avid cyclist, Ihave purchased a fewPlymouth cycling jerseysonline. At one time Ifound myself biddingagainst a fellow PlymouthOwners Club memberfrom California whoshares the same interests.His cycling and vintage carseason would be longerthan mine here in Canada.

Plymouth ReebookPlymouth Reebook cycling jerseys – two styles – front and back, probably from a British team.

Plymouth cycling jerseyPlymouth cycling jersey worn by Rob Elliott on a tour through Calgary’s Edworthy Park

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by Lee LapePapillion, Nebraska

InInFebruary, my daughter and son-in-law asked if Iwould be interested in helping my grandson Loganbuild his Pinewood Derby car for Cub Scouts. My

son-in-law is a partner in his CPA firm and was in tax mode,working long hours seven days a week. And you should alsoknow Logan broke his thumb by having it between the legsof a folding chair when he was folding it up. So he had acast from his elbow to the tips of his fingers on his righthand.

I said, “Sure, I’d be glad to work with him,” and beganthinking about how to build it. I looked at Pinewood Derbycars on Google and found hints to make them faster, etc. ButI kept thinking how cool would it be to make it look like my‘58 Belvedere convertible. So, the next time they were overfor Sunday dinner, they brought the kit and I bounced my ideaoff him. He thought it sounded great. During the course of

the next week, I studied pictures of my carand my Franklin Mint model of it (BULLETIN

279), and I marked up the block of woodwith a pencil on how it should look.The following Saturday, we jumped in thecar and drove over to my shop inSpringfield, Nebraska, and I cut out theshape on the bandsaw. Once we got home,I worked with him using the coping saw tocut out the trunk between the fins, and wedid a lot of sanding. Between Saturday andSunday, we applied the sanding sealer, didmore sanding, then clear coat and final sand-ing.While that was drying, I chucked up theaxles (actually nails) in my cordless drill andused some emery cloth to smooth them out.I read in my Google searches that some peo-ple use polish on those axles, so I broke outthe Simi-Chrome and polished them. Hecame over on Tuesday, and we then sprayedon the black paint. I suggested “wide

whites,” so we painted the outside of the wheels. And all thewhile, I was thinking about how to add the trim.

I kind of remembered some shiny duct tape I once had, soI searched the basement and came up with it. Next I cut apattern out of some construction paper and made the two sidepieces. And then I thought, why not make shiny bumpersand a windshield? So I cut out those pieces as well.

Thursday night Logan was back over again, so we appliedthe “chrome” pieces and installed the wheels. We dosed theaxles with liberal amounts of powered graphite. Logan waslooking through the craft supplies grandma always hasaround, and we found the head and tail lights. We were readyfor Saturday, and “race day.” Oh, and Logan got his cast offon Tuesday.

The races were held Saturday night after the scouts’ Blueand Gold Banquet. The car was weighed, and found to belight (just over 3.5 ounces). The car can weigh no more than5 ounces. Another parent had some weights and a hot gluegun, so some weight was added to the bottom to bring the carup to 5 ounces.

Now the track is a lot different than when Iwas in scouts 50+ years ago. The track isall-aluminum and each of the four lanes ison a timer. My dad built a track out ofwood that our pack used when I was inscouts. We had a scoutmaster at the end ofthe track to determine which car was first,second, etc. The winners were raced againstthe other winners, until, through the processof elimination, you had the fastest cars. InLogan’s case, four cars were put on the trackand raced and the times were recorded. Thiswas repeated four times, once for each of thefour lanes. Then the times were averaged.It didn’t take too long to figure out who thewinners were.

Logan won third place in the Tiger

PPine ine WWoodood(Plymouth Wood)(Plymouth Wood)

DDerbyerby

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Cubs class (his first year in scouts). I wasn’t sure how fast itwas going to be, but I was hoping he at least would getsomething for originality – best design, something like that.I was as thrilled as he was that he actually placed!

My grandson David has his Pinewood Derby race comingup in a couple of months. I’m thinking of my ‘41 coupe forthis one. Stay tuned! P BP B

Polishing an axle

Applying sealer

Race!

Applying paint

Racing license

Trophy, car and Grandpa!-29-


by Dallas WieseToledo, Iowa

TThis story starts more than 60years ago when my dad presentedmy older brother and me with a

1930 Model A Ford. I was a junior inhigh school in the little town ofMontour, Iowa; population 353.

My first contact with a girlfriendwas going for a ride in the Model Aafter a basketball game with a cute cheerleader. I was just 15years old. The older guys in town had filled me in on howthings should go. I parked the Model A down by the school-house, just a block from where my girlfriend lived. When Idecided to check things out (according to the older boys direc-tions), she slapped me and jumped out of my Model A and ranhome – very confusing for me at the time.

Fast forward to the summer of 1949: I was working formy father, who was doing roadside erosion work for the DOT.Dad sent me from Davenport, Iowa, to our home town ofMontour with a truckand instructions to bringback a cultipacker whichwas used in the seed bedpreparation.

I happened to stop atthe local Chrysler-Plymouth dealer, ownedby Bill Devins and aman named Clark. Thereon the showroom floorsat a new blue 1949Plymouth convertible.Since one of the jobsmy dad had me doingwas being the timekeeperand handling the payroll, I was permitted to write checks onhis account. I decided to make out a check for around $2300for that blue convertible.

In order to get the truck and cultipacker back toDavenport, I needed a driver. Our neighbor, only 15 and bigfor his age, was recruited. I knew Dad would hire him, so Irecruited him to be the driver of the one-ton pickup with a flatbed that was loaded with the cultipacker. I followed with thenew convertible. We had gone about ten miles from homewhen the pickup driver came upon a sharp curve and rolled thepickup and cultipacker, parts flying in every direction.Needless to say the pickup and cultipacker were totaled, but

the driver was not hurt.Now I was faced with the task of showing up in

Davenport, less truck and cultipacker, but with a new convert-ible. Next came the explosion (my dad). However, he let mekeep the convertible and make weekly payments.

During 1950 I lived at home in Montour and worked innearby Marshalltown. Two young gals rode back and forth towork with me, one happening to be the cheerleader namedJoyce from the Model A experience. By New Year’s Eve I hadconvinced her I was now a gentleman, and we celebrated New

Year’s Eve together.From there on we datedsteadily. She began toslide over closer andcloser to my side of thecar so I felt it was timeto pop the question. Wewere engaged in Marchand were married onApril 6, 1951.

We rented a two-room apartment, wherean older lady lived,which we later boughtfor $1200. It was quiteprimitive, with an out-

house and no running water, etc. We carried water in a bucketfrom the town pump. One day when I was up by the pumpwashing my convertible, my brother and his pals drove by,throwing a cherry bomb in my bucket. So much for thatbucket!

By late 1951, I sold the convertible to my brother, as Iwas trying to raise money to start a farm machinery business.My dad was a silent partner (brave man). A couple of yearslater my brother decided to sell the convertible and asked formy help. In those years I did not have very good judgment indriving and drove like a wild man. In demonstrating the ‘49to the buyer, I performed by taking the guy for a ride through

AAnniversary nniversary PPlymouthlymouth

OO


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"Dead Man's Curve" at 80 MPH, slipping a littleas we went through the bridge. All survived, andI’m still alive – a little smarter, though. Now,being age 83, I find it pretty hard to believe whata fool I was.

Fast forwarding through the years: I spent 35years as a diesel engineer at the power plantwhile my dear wife and I ran a grocerystore/restaurant, raised four children, bought andmoved to an 80-acre farm (and did the farming),and ran a Yamaha motorcycle shop for eighteenyears. My wife took the day shift and I took theevening shift.

Sometime in the ‘80s I began a search for a‘49 Plymouth convertible (blue preferably).Having saved the registration of the original, Ihad it traced and discovered it went to salvage andwas crushed. Over the years I have looked at‘49s but failed to find one in good shape and fair-ly priced. One of the saddest things happeningduring my search was calling a man nearMilwaukee, Wisconsin, who had a red ‘49.I called from Madison, Wisconsin, to seeif he still had the car. The next day, Imade the 100-mile trip to see the car,only to find he had sold it the yearbefore. I have never figured that oneout.

One of the near misses I had inmy hunt was a blue ‘49 that wassold at auction in Chicago inOctober 2001. This car was previ-ously owned by Mickey Mantle, thefamous baseball player. I learned ofthe sale just three days after the auctiontook place. Checking with the auctionhouse, I found that the car only brought$12,000. I finally bought a yellow 49 whichneeded a lot of work. I have had new floors put

in it and done some other work but am unableto complete it.

Joyce and I elebrated our 60th wed-ding anniversary on April 23, 2011, in

Toledo, Iowa. I extended an invitationto any club member who would careto attend our celebration and offeredto give a $100 reward to anyone whoshowed up at our celebration drivinga 1949 Plymouth convertible.

P BP B

April 6, 1951April 6, 1951

Bill Devins, from whom I purchased the‘49, later moved to California andbecame famous for building sport cars.

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Feature article from Hemmings Classic Car, July, 2005 by Jim DonnellyPHOTOS © BY DON SPIRO PHOTOGRAPHY

TThe shooting was over, the green-glowing mushroomclouds had finally dissipated and, at least in America,society was eager for a return to optimism and normal-

cy after being mired in economic collapse, and then globalwar, for two consecutive decades. The auto manufacturers –most of them – were well into rolling out their 1949 modelson the 20th anniversary of the day when the Wall Street bub-ble popped with the concussive force of Zeus’s thunderclap.

After the long period of stagnation in the consumer mar-ketplace, the great race of acquisition was on in earnest.Where the Hempstead Plains stretched out of sight on LongIsland, a community of little homes called Levittown sprangup, and veterans streamed east from New York City to buildtheir families there. The world was still a tumultuous, disor-derly place, with the Communists forcing the Nationalistsinto offshore exile in China, the Berlin airlift circumventingthe Soviet blockade of that city, the partitioning of Germanyand the unsettling revelation that the comrades in Moscownow had the bomb, too. Regardless, war-weary Americanswere ready to rock. Broadcast television was in its infancy,but you could catch Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on EdSullivan’s Toast of the Town. Film-goers were stunned bythe Oscar-sweeping All the King's Men, inspired by the dema-gogic Louisiana populist Huey Long, and they cowered whenJames Cagney, as the demonic Cody Jarrett, raised his face toa flaming sky and shrieked, “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!”in Raoul Walsh's riveting White Heat.

Above all, however, Americans craved new cars, and theauto industry was only too happy to accommodate them.Kaiser-Frazer, Studebaker and Hudson were actually the firstinto the marketplace with “new” post-war cars as early as1947. But by 1949, the biggies had finally reverted fromwartime production and had caught up with the independents,and then some. In years to come, 1949 would be noteworthyfor advances in technology and style that occurred across theboard.

The biggest came from Ford, which radically redesignedvirtually its entire lineup, including both Lincoln andMercury, producing more than 1.2 million cars in all.General Motors unleashed a broad array of changes, includingnew high-compression OHV V8 engines for both Cadillac andOldsmobile, and extensive restyling that gave all its divisions

SSpecial pecial DDeluxe eluxe DDrroptopoptop

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distinct appearances and personalities, acase in point being the dramatic CadillacCoupe de Ville and Buick RoadmasterRiviera, both novel hardtops. This taskforce of new products propelled GM tosell more than 2.7 million vehicles in1949. And then there was Chrysler.

In 1949, the captain of Chrysler wasboard chairman Kaufman Thuma Keller.Mr. Keller had enjoyed a remarkable risethrough the industry’s ranks, starting outas a clerk before eventually becoming amaster mechanic at Buick, led at the timeby Walter P. Chrysler. After Chryslerreorganized doddering Maxwell-Chalmersas the Chrysler Corporation in 1925,Keller accepted a personal invitation tojoin the firm as vice president of manufac-turing. He was particularly instrumentalin integrating Dodge into the com-pany’s lineup of brands, afterChrysler purchased it in 1928 fromNew York investment bankersDillon, Reed, which had in turnbought out the company three yearsearlier. Keller was namedChrysler’s president in 1935, andwas elevated to chairman afterWalter P. Chrysler died in 1940.

In drag racing parlance,Chrysler got gate-jobbed, leftsnoozing at the starting line. It“introduced” its 1949 models in late 1948, but because the1948s had been selling strongly, they were simply issued reg-istration numbers re-identifying them as 1949 cars – there waslittle corporate urgency to get the “real” 1949s out in a hurry,

and Chrysler wanted no launch-relatedglitches. The genuine new 1949 modelsdidn’t first appear until March 1949, andthe production start of some body stylesdidn’t commence until July. AtPlymouth, the changeover meant that, forthe first time since 1934, Plymouthswould be built on two distinct wheelbas-es. The shorter model, dubbed P17, meas-ured 111 inches between the wheel centersand was used by the likes of a businesscoupe and new, all-steel Suburban wagon.The P18’s wheelbase was 118.5 inches,and it could be ordered as a Deluxe clubcoupe or four-door sedan, or for a fewextra dollars, as a Special Deluxe with abroader body variety: Club coupe, sedan,Suburban, or as Plymouth’s sole convert-ible model. Regardless of wheelbase,

Plymouth’s sole engine was its217.8-CU.IN. L-head straight-six. Acompression nudge to 7.0 from1948’s ratio of 6.6:1 yielded a cor-responding horsepower increase to97 for 1949, over the previousyear’s 95 HP.Under Keller’s tutelage, Chryslerproduct philosophy favored copiousinterior space – indeed, the 1949Plymouths had more interior roomby every dimension than the carsthey replaced – and that meant the

new designs approved by Keller were generally taller and boxi-er than the more aggressively styled offerings from most ofthe competition. Critics chastised this sort of conservatism,but the combination of fresh sheetmetal and Plymouth’s well-

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established reputation of durability and affordability resonatedforcefully with the buying public. Despite the late arrival ofthe “real” 1949 cars, hurrahed as “The Great New Plymouth”in national advertising, Plymouth produced 574,734 cars thatyear, of which some 508,000 were actual 1949 models builtfrom March forward. That represented a sales increase of morethan 47 percent over 1948’s total.

Included in the output quantities were 15,240 SpecialDeluxe convertibles, including this restored, award-winningPlymouth Cream example owned and driven by TomMulligan of Tucson, Arizona. Perhaps better than any otherbodystyle that Plymouth built in 1949, the Special Deluxeconvertible presents the styling changes that were so long ingestation. It’s blocky, to be sure, though markedly moresvelte than the 1948’s coats of steel. Plymouth kept the hori-zontal-bar grille treatment, but the bars used in 1949 weremore delicately proportioned. Contrastingly, the brightworkspears running rearward along the front fenders and quarterpanel look comparatively more aggressive; they’re significant-ly longer than the 1948 pieces.

As Plymouth’s premium model range, the Special Deluxeseries was treated to hearty cosmetic burnishing, including achrome windshield frame and trim moldings, mahogany-toneddashboard graining with matching garnish moldings, rear fend-er stone guards and SPECIAL DELUXE front-fender scripts. Theconvertible added a standard power top with boot and fullleather upholstery. Tom’s car adds more still – by searchingthrough Hemmings Motor News, swap meets and websites,he has located and installed every available dealer-installedaccessory offered for the 1949 Plymouths. A partial listincludes a trunk-mounted MOPAR spare-tire inflator that helocated with its original box, full wheel covers, a completetool kit, bumper guards, an exhaust extension, and auxiliaryinterior lamps, such as a parking brake warning lamp.

“I guess I’ve just got a thing for accessories,” he said.“Go grab the MOPAR accessory book from that year, and if it’sin there, I’ve got it. I’d have to say that the grille guardswere probably the toughest pieces to find.”

This is Tom’s second encounter with a 1949 Plymouthconvertible. The first began in high school and lasted foryears until he sold the car. Eventually becoming wistful, heset out on a hunt for another convertible, and enlisted the helpof a local Plymouth buff in the search. More than four yearsago, he learned that a professionally restored 1949 Special

Base price: $1,982Options on this car: Various dealer-installed; owner-installed overdrive

EngineEngineType: L-head, straight-six, cast-ironDisplacement: 217.8 cubic inchesBore x Stroke: 3.250 x 4.375 inchesCompression ratio: 7.0:1Horsepower @ RPM: 97 @ 3,600Torque @ RPM: 175-lbs.ft. @ 1,200Valvetrain: Solid valve liftersMain bearings: 4Fuel system: Single Carter BBD6H1 1-bbl. carburetor, cast-ironintake manifold, mechanical pump Lubrication system: Pressure,mechanical pumpElectrical system: 6-voltExhaust system: Single exhaust

TransmissionTransmissionType: Three-speed manual, columnshift, synchronized 2nd and 3rdgears; 28 percent electrical over-driveRatios: 1st 2.57:1; 2nd: 1.83:1; 3rd:1.00:1; Reverse: 3.48:1

DifferentialDifferentialType: Hypoid, semi-floating axlesRatio: 3.90:1

SteeringSteeringType: Worm and rollerRatio: 18.2:1Turns, lock-to-lock: 4.25Turning circle: 40.0 feet

BrakesBrakesType: Four-wheel hydraulic,manualFront: 10-inch drumRear: 10-inch drum

Chassis & BodyChassis & BodyConstruction: All-steel body onbox-section steel frameBody style: Two-door, five-passen-ger convertibleLayout: Front engine, rear-wheeldrive

SuspensionSuspensionFront: Independent, coil springs,tubular hydraulic shocksRear: Live axle, longitudinal leafsprings, tubular hydraulic shocks

Wheels & TiresWheels & TiresWheels: Pressed steel discsFront: 15 x 4.5 inchesRear: 15 x 4.5 inchesTires: Goodyear Power Cushionbias-plyFront: 6.70 x 15 inchesRear: 6.70 x 15 inches

Weights & MeasuresWeights & MeasuresWheelbase: 118.5 inchesOverall length: 191.5 inchesOverall width: 72.0 inchesOverall height: 64.0 inchesFront track: 55.0 inchesRear track: 56.0 inchesShipping weight: 3,323 pounds

CapacitiesCapacitiesCrankcase: 5 quarts w/o filterCooling system: 15 quartsFuel tank: 17 gallons

Calculated DataCalculated DataBHP per CID: 0.44Weight per BHP: 34.25 poundsWeight per CID: 15.25 pounds

ProductionProductionSpecial Deluxe convs.: 15,240Total 1949 Plymouths: 508,600

SpecificationsSpecifications1949 P18 Special Deluxe convertible coupe1949 P18 Special Deluxe convertible coupe

Optional spare tire inflatorOptional spare tire inflator has a hose that connects an externalvalve (shown below the taillight in the left photo) to the spare tire

valve. Also shown, above, is the electrical hydraulic power convert-ible top pump.

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Deluxe convertible might be offered for sale to the rightbuyer. Tom contacted the owner, based in Huntington Beach,California, and decided to make the long westbound run acrossInterstate 10 to check it out.

“Normally, before I decide to buy a car, I go check it outat least four or five times, ask to drive it for awhile,” he said.“This time, the guy pulled it out of his garage, I walkedaround it once, looked at the interior for a minute, and wrote acheck. And I've never regretted it.”

Small wonder: This 1949 Special Deluxe convertible hadwon Best in Show for two straight years at the national meetof the Plymouth Owners Club. With a near-concours exam-ple now in hand, Tom started out on his hunt for MOPAR

accessories. One of them was a MOPAR factory heater, in thiscase out of another 1949 Plymouth, which Tom had powder-coated, re-cored and then bolted in place himself. Given thevast expanses of southern Arizona, he made one decidedlynon-stock modification to the Special Deluxe: He went outand bought a 1952 Plymouth parts car, for one specific rea-son: To extract its MOPAR overdrive unit, which was a newoption that year and was priced at $102. As Tom put it, “Itbolts right into the 1949 transmission with no modificationsat all; you only have to drop the transmission to install it.You don’t have to cut the driveshaft down or anything. It’selectrically operated off a solenoid and relay with a push-pull(dashboard) cable, and it overdrives (the 1949 three-speed man-ual transmission’s top gear) at 28 percent. I just bolted it in,and it works perfectly.”

The add-on overdrive is justified by the fact that whileTom drives the Plymouth only about 750 miles annually onweekends, he drives it, with a capital “D,” including freewayand mountain motoring. The Arizona speed limit on inter-states is 75 MPH, and Tom knew immediately that the stockpowertrain was inadequate. Explaining why, he said, “Whenthese cars were new, most highway speed limits were set at50 MPH. As it was, the Plymouth was perfectly competent at50, but today, especially on the freeways, if you’re just put-tering along in your little ‘49 Plymouth, everybody else isjust going to run right over you. Now, with the overdrive, ifI’m doing 70, I’m right around 2,000 RPM.”

Unlike many collector-car owners, Tom has opted to staywith bias-ply tires for authenticity instead of switching toradials; in his case, they’re Goodyear Power Cushions. Non-radials notwithstanding, he assures that, “Plymouths had areally strong chassis that year, with new shocks (dubbed “Sea-Leg” by the manufacturer), and even at 70 MPH, on bias tires,it really handles well. I’d say the brakes are excellent. In1949, Plymouth went with two wheel cylinders on the frontdrum brakes instead of the industry’s standard of one, and the

brake linings were bonded to the shoes, not riveted.”Not a few MOPAR fans also appreciated Fords, and Tom is

no exception: For years, he was a regional officer with theEarly Ford V8 Club of America, and he freely acknowledgesthat even though Plymouth convertibles typically sell for sig-nificantly less than comparable Fords, they can hold their ownagainst them in practically every driving element.

“I really like Fords, but if you live out here where insummer it’s hotter than the hinges of hell, the Fords are proneto overheating,” he said. “The Plymouths aren’t intimidatedat all when it’s really hot. Horsepower-wise, they’re about thesame, and the Plymouths are cheaper to buy up front. Itdoesn’t make sense to me to pay $18,000 or so for a 1940Ford that’s going to need another $20,000 or $25,000 worthof work to get it where I want it.”

Owner’s ViewOwner’s ViewRetiredTucsonpolice ser-geant TomMulligan isa captain ofsecurity inthat city’sschool dis-trict, buthis recre-ational hours are consumed with promoting the virtues ofpost-war Plymouths. He’s adamant that it’s a smart, affordableway to get into the hobby.

“Being that I’ve also got Fords, I think a lot of theirappeal comes from brand loyalty. A lot of people think thePlymouths are tough to do, but they’re really not. There area lot of suppliers out there. Look, I just bought an NOSfront grille guard for $80. For a 1940 Ford, you can only geta reproduction, and its going to cost you $250, probably.

‘Remember that Lee Petty ran a 1949 Plymouth coupe inNASCAR's first season, and finished second in the seasonchampionship. These were the Little Cars that Could.They'd didn’t out-speed everyone, but they sure outlastedthem.”

REPRINT COURTESY OF HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR MAGAZINE, A PUBLICATION FROM HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS

PHOTOS, COPYRIGHT DON SPIRO PHOTOGRAPHY

ProsPros• • Lots cheaper than similar Fords/Mercurys• • Less frequently seen than similar Fords/Mercurys• • Like cockroaches, L-head straight-six is tough to kill

ConsCons• • Parts-hunting requires a little effort• • Lacks macho panache to some onlookers• • Without O/D, it’s weak in today’s traffic

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This article was written when the car was owned by DanKilpatrick. He has since sold it to fellow POC member

Richard Wahrendorff.

Feature article from Hemmings Classic Car, September, 2007 by Mark J. McCourtPHOTOS BY MARK J. MCCOURT

RRomantic types point out that cars like this eye-catch-ing 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe convertible coupeconjure up images of innocence, gingham dresses and

picnic baskets. Few would argue that there is somethingoptimistic and prosperous about a late 1940s American con-vertible, especially one from the “Low-Priced Three,” whichwas new in a time when the country held big possibilities foreveryone, and everybody feltthey had the opportunity tomove up in the world.

The pull towards owning aPlymouth convertible wasstrong for retired IBMer andRhinebeck, New York, residentDan Kilpatrick. “I shared a 1948Plymouth five-passenger coupewith my brother – it was myfirst car,” he reminisces.“Going back to my childhood,my family always had Chryslerproducts. The first car I remem-

ber was my dad’s 1941 DeSoto. MOPAR history is in myblood.”

The second-series Plymouths have maintained their appealto Dan for more than fifty years: “I remember when the 1949models came out – I always liked the Plymouth convertible’srippled bumpers, exposed chrome trunk lid hinges, the greatdashboard and raised taillamps. Now I’m lucky enough toown one.”

Dan found our featured long-wheelbase P18 SpecialDeluxe for sale at a car show in Chatham, New York, back in2000. “The car’s restoration was completed just before theshow where I first saw it,” he recalls. “The restorer was a fel-low from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and he sells all the cars herestores. He put a lot of money into it, and he’s told me thatthis is the one car he’s sorry that he sold.”

When he took delivery ofthe convertible, Dan received astack of receipts for the restora-tion parts, as well as photo-graphs of the car before it wasrestored. “It was a basket case,in an odd shade of green. Thebody was surprisingly solid andcomplete, though, and he indi-cated that the car had come froman estate sale around LakeGeorge, New York. The onlyrust he repaired was a bit in thefloor pan and trunk pan. He re-

SSpecial pecial SSouvenirouvenir

AA 50-year-long love af50-year-long love affair fair with Plymouth's 1949 Special Deluxe convertible coupewith Plymouth's 1949 Special Deluxe convertible coupe

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plated all of the chrome, and polished thestainless steel trim; whoever rebuilt theengine did an outstanding job, as it runsand drives beautifully.”

A big part of this convertible coupe’senduring appeal is its handsome tan-over-Salvador Blue color scheme. “I don'tthink I would have picked this exteriorcolor, had I restored the car myself,” headmits. “Looking at the color chip, itdoesn’t look appropriate for a convertible,and I might have done a maroon. Now,in my opinion, when you see it with thetan top up, it’s the best.”

The optional combination BedfordCord cloth and vinyl bolster upholstery isanother special touch on this Plymouth,as it replaced the standard leather seatingand brings welcome coolness for the dri-ver's legs after a top-down afternoon in thehot summer sun.

A die-hard convertible aficionado, Danfinds that his 1949 Plymouth provides aninteresting contrast to his handsome navyblue 1940 Plymouth convertible coupeand the perfectly restored 1940 Ford con-vertible that he used to own. “The col-umn shifter in the ‘49 shifts a bit easier,with a high clutch, and it’s so torquey andwell-geared that it will easily pull from 20MPH in third. The 97 HP from the 217.8-CU IN L-head straight-six is very compara-ble to the power of the Ford’s flathead V8,and it easily cruises along at comfortablehighway speeds of 50 to 55 MPH.

“My Plymouth has bias ply tires, andas with all old cars on bias plies, it has atendency to wander a bit going down theroad, but nothing like my Ford… that car

required constantsteering cor-rections.ThePlymouth’stube shocksoffer anextremelycomfortable ridecompared to knee-actionshocks, and the brakes – big 10-inchdrums with dual wheel cylinders – are sur-prisingly good. The 1949’s chair-heightseats are so comfortable that I’ve drivenmore than 200 miles to a meet inKillington, Vermont, and have gotten outof the car feeling like I’d just started out.

“I don't think that MOPARS, andPlymouths in particular, are comparablein quality to equivalent Fords and Chevys– notice the way this car's doors close,their sound, the way the expensive-look-ing dashboard is put together,” Danopines. “You'll see that, all over, theengineering is superior.”

He’s justifiably proud of his late-model ‘49 Plymouth, and it attracts acrowd everywhere he takes it. “I haveshown the car many times and it alwayswins a first or second place. It’s alsowon a National Plymouth Owners Clubfirst place award; I’m planning to take itto the AACA show in Binghamton, NewYork, for judging this summer.”

If our hunch is correct, he’ll bringhome another trophy.

REPRINT COURTESY OF

HEMMINGS CLASSIC CAR MAGAZINE, A PUBLICATION FROM HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS

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by Pat StantonFt. Calhoun, Nebraska

WWhen Larry Stanton from the Prairie Region joinedthe Plymouth Owners Club in 1976, he didn’t owna Plymouth, so he began looking for a project car.

In 1980, he found what he was looking for, a 1949 P18convertible that he bought from fellow Prairie Region mem-ber, Wayne Page. The car came with all its parts.

At that time,Larry didn’t own abuilding to store thecar, so he spentabout a yearreassembling it inthe family driveway.He repainted it tothe original colorcalled Mexico Redand had it ready toenter in the

Plymouth Spring Nationalmeet held in Owatonna,Minnesota, in 1981.

The six-cylinder enginepurred quietly and was able topull the family pop-up camperthrough the Rocky Mountainsto the Plymouth National Meetheld in Golden, Colorado.

Since the car is a red con-vertible, it was requested totransport the Nebraska PorkQueen through the SewardFourth of July parade. It alsocarried the 1993 Fort CalhounHigh School homecoming kingand queen to the football game.

The ‘49 is now retired tothe back of the barn while otherprojects get all the attention,but it is still all together andready for a come back… justwaiting for a king or queenwho needs a ride. P BP B

JJust ust WWaiting for a aiting for a QQueenueen

Daughter RachelDaughter Rachel waits while Daddy works on the car.

Ready to go:Ready to go: car, camper and family departing for the 1987 Spring Meet in Colorado

The Nebraska Pork QueenThe Nebraska Pork Queen rides in Larry and Pat’s convertiblethrough the Seward 4th of July Parade.

AA 1959 Sport Fury1959 Sport Fury,Larry’s current driver,as pictured at the 2000National Spring Meet inRapid City, SouthDakota. He is presentlyworking on a 1963Sport Fury convertibleand a 1970 GTX clone.

At the 1989 Spring MeetAt the 1989 Spring Meet in Des Moines, Iowa

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by Richard WahrendorffUlster Park, New York

LLast November I bought my ‘49Plymouth P18 convertible fromfellow club member Dan

Kilpatrick. The first time I rode in it was on

our last tour to Olana, New York, in2009. Unlike today’s cars, it is com-fortable and roomy, and the ride issmooth and quiet. The car was meticu-lously restored and looks brand new, insideand out. It was an experience that I wouldnever forget.

There was no rust anywhere, and the engine compartmentwas just as clean. During the summer, Dan decided to sellthe ‘49 convertible. After some thought, I told him I wantedto buy it. I told him I wanted something to drive while myPJ Deluxe touring sedan was being restored.

Since it was late in the year I only got to drive it twiceafter I bought it. The first was on the day I brought it homeand the second was on the day I made a trip to Hoffman’sBarn in Redhook (about 10 miles from my home). The restof the year was devoted to getting the car in better runningcondition and finding other things that might need attention.I noticed that the engine had some fuel/choke issues. So I

had the carbu-retor rebuiltand reset theSisson choke.That made adramaticimprovement.After makinga few otheradjustments, I

was ready for the road, but snow had come and I had to put offdriving the Plymouth until spring.

When I purchased the car, the former owner gave me acopy of the car’s original build sheet from the ChryslerHistorical Collection. The car was built in Detroit on June2, 1949, and shipped June 3, 1949, to Syracuse, New York,and delivered to H. L. Johnson Sales, Inc., in Troy, NewYork. The car was painted Salvador Blue and had a BedfordCord and Blue Leathercloth interior. The car also came withan eight-tube radio and an All Weather Comfort SystemModel 550 heater, both of which still work very well. Thecar still has the original engine.

Other Plymouth accessories were added later by the previ-ous owners. These include fender skirts, a clock, a door mir-

ror, a trunk light, fog lights, door handle guards and anexhaust deflector. Directional signals were also added at somepoint. The car has had a meticulous restoration and has wonseveral awards in the past. The car and the previous ownerDan Kilpatrick were in a featured story in the September 2007issue of Hemmings Classic Car magazine.

One day while I was viewing one of the POC Forum adsI saw that a fellow club regional member, Bob Drown, waslooking for a heater for his 1940 Plymouth coupe. I emailedhim and said that I had one, and we decided to meet at theRainbow Diner in Kerhonkson, New York. On March 15 theweather was nice, the snow was melted, and I decided to drivethe Plymouth for the first time this year. The car started rightup and soon settled to a quiet idle. The diner is about 20miles away. Most of the roads driven were back roads, andthe traffic was light. My average cruising speed was between45 and 55 MPH. When I arrived at the diner, Bob met me inthe parking lot.

After I sold him my heater, we went inside and had coffeeand talked a bit. Afterwards, we departed, and I arrived backhome about a half-hour later. The car ran very well the wholetime.

I'm looking forward to my next outing with thePlymouth. P BP B

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The second The second in a serin a series ies

about a Plabout a Plymoutymouthhand a fand a familamilyy

by Phil HallRoseburg, Oregon

Sometime ago, Mike Bade, presi-dent of the Cascade PacificRegion of the Plymouth OwnersClub, encouraged me to write thestory of our 1954 Plymouth. Mikesaid that the story of our car was– at least somewhat – the story ofour family, and that club memberscould get to know a little some-thing of us through the story ofour car. So, Mike, thank you forthe invitation and encouragement towrite this story.

4. Mo4. Moving wving wesesttInIn1976 I had graduated with a degree in forestry, and in

the fall I landed a job as a forester with theBureau of Land Management in Medford,Oregon. Rose Ann and I had never beenout west before and we looked forwardto the new adventure. We hooked thePlymouth to the back of a U-Haultruck, drove to Delaware to saygood-bye to family and headedwest.

We kept our Irish Setter inthe Plymouth during the move,and one night he got bored andtore down (and ate most of) theheadliner. To this day, the car doesnot have a headliner. Arriving inMedford, we unhitched the Plymouth andstarted our search for a house to begin ournew life in Oregon.

I drove the Plymouth to workmy first day on the new job andwould drive it to work thirty yearslater on the day of my retirement.

Although I was starting a pro-fessional job, the entry salary wasquite modest, and we found our-selves eating more than our shareof peanut butter sandwiches and pancakes. Once again, weoccasionally found ourselves short of fuel oil money. Onceagain, we would take the rear seat out of the Plymouth and,

with a five-dollar permit, head to the mountains to cut fire-wood with our hand bow saw. As before, we would load thePlymouth with as much wood as we could possibly cram intoit.

I have mentioned that the Hy-Drive system on thePlymouth enabled it to go almost anywhere without getting

stuck. One weekend I took the family for a drive wayup in the mountains where I worked during the

week to show them the beautiful forests andthe great looking country. We took the

Plymouth up an unsurfaced roller-coast-er, an up-and-down jeep road whichwas quite steep in many places. Wehad a lovely outing, and thePlymouth took us safely home.

Later, at work I took atwo-wheel-drive pickup truck onthat same jeep road and got stuck in

a saddle. There was a steep pitchinto the saddle and a steep pitch out of

it. Once into the saddle, the truck wasunable to go forward up the steep grade

out of the saddle and unable to get back upthe steep grade into the saddle. Ittook me about four hours to slowlyjack that truck out of its predica-ment. I had simply assumed thatthe modern two-wheel-drive truckshould traverse the jeep road sinceour 1954 Plymouth had driven itwith no problem. Silly me. In February 1978, with me at the

wheel, the Plymouth took Rose Ann to the hospital inAshland for the birth of our third child. I can be taught;while taking Rose Ann to the hospital, it was not necessary

The 1The 195954 4 PPllymouthymouth

of Phil and Rof Phil and Rose Ann Hallose Ann Hall

-40-

This is in 1976 as we arrive in eastern OregonThis is in 1976 as we arrive in eastern Oregon on ourway to accept a job as a forester and begin our new life.

Because I know he is there, I can see our Irish Setter in theback seat. Quite an adventure for a new family. How manypeople would have just sold the Plymouth and left it behind

rather than take a $150 used car across country. Never aregret in that department.


for me to be reminded to drive at a speed appropriate tothe urgency of the situation. Later the Plymouth carriedtwo proud parents and a fine baby boy, Nathaniel, safelyhome.

5. Second r5. Second rebuildebuildOOne more story of the Plymouth and jeep roads: I had been

shown, by the archeologist at work, an old Shasta Indianencampment way down the Klamath River Canyon. It is awonderful site, with shelter depressions on a high ridge over-looking the river hundreds of feet below. The site is in themiddle of nowhere, many miles down a very difficult jeeproad. At that time I was serving as a Scoutmaster, as I wouldfor many years. I would load thePlymouth full of young Scouts withpacks in the trunk and packs piledhigh on an old detachable roof rackwhich we had inherited from RoseAnn’s dad. Once a month, thePlymouth would take the boyscamping.

On one occasion, I thought itwould be fun to take the boys camp-ing at the site of the old Indiancamp. The jeep road into the sitewas extremely rough, with big gul-lies and large boulders. On severaloccasions, I had to have the boys getout so that the Plymouth would gain

enough clear-ance to getover obsta-

cles. This par-ticular trip was

quite tough on thePlymouth. The

exhaust system gotruined going over the boul-

ders and gullies on the jeep road.Then, on the way home, while the Plymouth was on theMedford viaduct, the thermostat froze up and the car immedi-ately and seriously overheated. There was no place to pullover for some miles. By the time I was able to stop, theengine and radiator were making fearsome noises. I tried toadd water, but the engine stalled. When I tried to restart it, I

found the engine was so hot that ithad locked up. I waited a while andafter the engine cooled, it freed upand started. Although the enginewas badly damaged with the temperhaving been taken out of the pistonrings, the Plymouth took us safelyhome. The engine at this point hadgone 70,000 miles since I hadrebuilt it in North Carolina. Onceagain, we decided to put money intothe Plymouth.

This time we had enough money todo all that was necessary to make theengine right in every respect. As aresult of scoring and the overheating,two of the cylinders required sleeves.

Rose Rose Ann and VAnn and Vince on a 1977 visitince on a 1977 visit to Crater LakeNational Park, which is about two hours east of where we

lived in Medford, Oregon.

One of our many camping trips:One of our many camping trips: Note that thedetachable roof rack is still being used. This is about

1980 and the old tent had just about had it by thispoint, and we retired it not long after, as it was falling

apart.

On one of our annual tripsOn one of our annual trips to the mountains to get a Christmastree: Vince, Christina and Rose Ann, pregnant with our son

Nathaniel, who would be born in February1978.

TTo the left,o the left, our sonNathaniel, bundled up

in a blanket, isbeing held by Rose

Ann. The year is1978 at Crater

Lake.

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Because it took a while for the shop work to get done, thePlymouth was down for about two or three weeks. By then,we had purchased our first home, and it had a garage in whichI was able to disassemble and re-assemble the engine. Thatwas the good news. The bad news was that there were nolarge trees to use for pulling the engine, so I had to rent acherry picker. Our young children, Vince, Christina andNathaniel, along with their neighborhood friends, gatheredaround the Plymouth as I prepared to start the car for the firsttime. They had been closely supervising my work through-out the entire process. When the Plymouth fired up, the chil-dren were jumping up and down, running around shouting, “Itworks! It works! It works!” They were entirely too cute forme to find their lack of faith disturbing.

The Plymouth has rolled about 120,000 miles since thatevent. Although it suffered a burned valve once about 50,000miles ago, it runs and sounds as good as it did the day back in1981 when the children celebrated it being restored to life.

After one particular little vacation to the Redwoods in theearly ‘80s, we were returning home late at night on Highway199, which is very crooked and windy along the steep SmithRiver Canyon. The children were asleep in the back whileRose Ann and I were talking quietly up front. Rounding abend, we were all of a sudden confronted with a large rock thathad rolled off the mountain into the middle of our lane. Therewas no way to avoid the rock, and so we took it head on.The rock went under the car, banging, crashing and bouncingthe car up and down. What an event! The children didn’twake up but Rose Ann and I were certainly wide awake afterthat. To this day, the cross member for the transmission andplaces on the frame are bent where the Plymouth rolled overthat rock. The front end, oil pan, aluminum bell housing,transmission, brake lines and rear end all somehow survived.The Plymouth brought our family safely home.

5. A ne5. A new homew homeInIn1984, we transferred to Roseburg, where we still live.

The house we bought in Roseburg did not have agarage, a lack which I finally remedied in 2000 by building afully insulated and finished four-car garage. Although it nowresides in that garage, most of our Plymouth’s life has beenspent in the elements.

Not long ago I was thinking out loud that I would like totake a drive in the Plymouth, but that it was raining.Hearing this, Rose Ann laughed and asked what was I think-ing, since the car had sat out for years and had always beendriven in any kind of weather. Meekly and somewhat defen-sively, I replied that the car was clean and that I hated to get itdirty and have to clean it up again. Rose Ann was right,however. After all the years of constantly being exposed tothe elements and being in constant tough and dirty duty, what,indeed was I thinking? The weather has never had much of aneffect on the Plymouth. The Plymouth has always started andrun fine regardless of the weather. It even started that winterhere in Roseburg when it got down below zero. It has drivenus through the occasional snow storms here in the valley. Ithas run errands, taken kids to school, taken us to church,

taken us up to the mountains to play in the snow, taken usup to the mountains to get Christmas trees, taken us up anddown the full length of the Oregon coast, the Redwoods andnorthern California, Crater Lake, central Oregon, MountHood, Columbia Gorge, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington,Chelan, Mount Rainier and that list also goes on. Back eastit had taken us to Skyline Drive, Great Smokey Mountains,Kitty Hawk, Atlantic beaches, and the list goes on. It hashauled firewood, lumber, engine blocks, concrete, bricks,trash, groceries continues the list. During these years, the caralso continued to carry Boy Scouts on camping trips. ThePlymouth was one of the cars in which our children learned todrive. Teenagers are tough duty for any car, but the Plymouthalways brought them safely home.

6. Sno6. Snow advw adventurenturee

MyMyoldest son, Vince, and I drove the Plymouth toMount Rainier National Park for a backpacking

trip. It was September, and the weather was grand. At leastit started out as such. On one of our multiple backpackingtrips, we were a two-day hike into the back country off thenorth flank of the mountain when we were hit by an unpre-dicted and fierce snowstorm. Vince and I got up about anhour before sunup to hike out before the storm closed us in.We hiked the distance out in about eight hours or so. Thetemperature was frigid, at times the wind was fierce and thesnow piled up very quickly. What had been bare ground andsunny skies two days previously were now whiteout condi-tions with drifts of waist-deep snow. Vince and I were bothwell-prepared with gear and we were both strong hikers.When we had left the Plymouth to do the hike, there weresigns warning hikers that in the event of a storm the build-ings and roads would be closed without warning. The parkpersonnel were true to their word, so when we got back wefound the place deserted and all of the buildings boarded up.At first we did not see the Plymouth and feared it had beentowed away. We soon found the car, however. It looked likea large mound of snow. Vince and I were tired and cold, butwe quickly uncovered the car, pulling the snow off with ourhands. The park service rangers had left us a note under oneof the wiper blades telling us that they were aware of us andin the event we made it out they provided us the combination

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to the lock on the gate located at the bottom of the mountainroad. We got in and hoped the car would start. I was afraidthe snow had blown under the hood and had wet the ignitionwires. The old six-volt cranked slowly in the cold, but afterjust a little hesitation the Plymouth fired up. The snow wasabout two feet deep in the parking lot but it was fairly lightand fluffy. That was the good news. The bad news was thatalthough we were very well-prepared for backpacking, I didnot have tire chains in the car. I put the Plymouth in gear,but at first the engine was not warmed up enough to pushthrough the snow. Once we got moving we headed down themountain. The road down was steep and winding. AlthoughI was coming down in low gear, the Plymouth would pick upenough speed that I would have to touch the brakes from timeto time. On two different occasions, as the Plymouthapproached extremely steep precipices with ninety degree turnsin the road with no guard rail, I touched the brakes, and couldfeel the tires break traction and the car begin to slide. I turnedthe wheel as we entered the curve, but the car did not respond;it just kept going straight ahead, when, at the last moment,the tires bit the road and the Plymouth safely swung throughthe curve. It was a white knuckle ride all the way down andone in which I think both Vince and I forgot how cold andtired we were. As we descended the mountain, the snowbecame less and less, until finally at the bottom it was allrain. The Plymouth brought us safely home. Plymouthtruly did build great cars.

There are so many little stories I could tell that illustratethe ruggedness of our Plymouth. Another such story is fromthe time Rose Ann was attending Umpqua CommunityCollege about seven miles from where we live. One day shecalled me from school to tell me the car was not generating.I drove out to the college, removed the generator and took ithome for repair. About an hour or two later, Rose Ann cameup the drive way in the Plymouth. She had assumed that Ihad come out to the school and had fixed the car. At the timethe temperature gauge was not working. (The engine did notget extremely hot, as in the incident with the Boy Scouts; inthis case the thermostat was open, and some cooling tookplace though a thermo-siphon effect, which is possible

because of the high position of the radiator in relation to theengine. Model T Fords, having been designed without waterpumps, rely entirely on thermo-siphon.) After the Plymouthhad cooled off and I had reinstalled the generator, it fired upwith no apparent ill effects from its seven-mile drive withouta fan belt. The Plymouth had brought Rose Ann safelyhome.

77. S. Sttaaying in shapeying in shapeWWe’ve always spent whatever money was required to keep

the Plymouth in good mechanical shape. Because ithas been in good and reliable mechanical shape, we’ve alwaysfelt we could get in the Plymouth and go anywhere, and wehave. Cosmetics, or making the Plymouth presentable, how-ever, was never able to make it to the list of family financialpriorities. By the late 1990s the Plymouth looked the part ofa car that had been ridden hard for many years.

You don’t drive a car for so many years and for so manymiles while doing all the repairs and maintenance yourself –without becoming very familiar with just about everything onthe car. You know how things go on, how they come off,how they are taken apart, how they are put together, youknow what is in good shape and you know what is not ingood shape. I have enjoyed working on the Plymouth tokeep it on the road. I can remember so many little jobs overthe years on the Plymouth, such as putting bushings andbrushes in the starter, adjusting the voltage regulator, puttingI don’t know how many sets of brushes in the generator,relining the brakes, rebuilding the master cylinder and wheelcylinders, adjusting valves, replacing water pumps, points,plugs, condenser, rebuilding the carburetor, replacing wheelbearings, fixing worn-out wiring, and the list goes on.

I have enlisted Rose Ann, Vince, Christina and Nathanielto provide assistance on many different tasks on many differ-ent occasions. I already have told of Vince helping at an earlyage. I remember putting Christina under the hood, and sittingher, at about 5 years of age, on the engine to have her use thetool to spin the valves on their seats to lap them in withvalve grinding compound. Over the years, every member ofthe family has, at some time or another, helped me bleed thebrakes. Christina tells me that she thinks she was abouteleven or twelve years old when she was old enough to reachthe brake pedal and help with brake bleeding. If the familywas not in there getting greasy and dirty along with me, theywere nevertheless always available as spectators and ready toprovide moral support.

There are not all that many things on the Plymouth that Ihave not worked on at some time or another. Some thingson the Plymouth seem remarkable because I have not had todo anything with them. The transmission and differential aretwo big examples. One small example I thought of the otherday, when under the hood, is the directional light flasherwhich was on the car in 1973 and is still working after somuch use.

I have said that the Plymouth has always started andalways brought us safely home. This is not to say that a1954 automobile with such constant rugged use would bewithout the need of occasional work.

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DifDifferent snowferent snow, dif, different time:ferent time: These pictures were taken eitherin late October or early November 1976 in the Southern Oregon

Cascade Mountains.

TTTToo bbee ccoonnttiinnuueedd iinn ttoo bbee ccoonnttiinnuueedd iinn tthhee nneehhee nneexxtt iissssuuee……xxtt iissssuuee……


IIt’s time to pound out another storyfrom the yester-yore of Plymouthland, somewhere out beyond the

Land of Oz.We had lots of fun at Bill’s (see the

last issue) for years, but all good thingscome to an end. He moved and we triedthe same things out at his lake place.Well, we really didn’t; he was afraid theneighbors would complain. Not manylake people are car guys, you know.Bill, being a true car guy, does not liveby the lake anymore for that reason.Elaine thought they’d live out there hap-pily, but car guys “gotta let loose” oncein a while, don’t they?

It turns out that Bill and our buddyGeorge, who loves Dodge Challengersand AAR ‘Cudas, decided to go drag rac-ing on a big scale. George has had anumber of drag racing cars from 12-sec-ond cars up to an 8-second Challengerdrag car, which is still a door-slammer,not a fliptop. I know Challengers arenot Plymouths, but a close cousin toBarracudas, right?

Bill fielded a brand new DodgeStratus with a Ray Barton Hemi engineuntil the urge for drag racing left him.He is still into Plymouths, owning aPlymouth Prowler in a yellow color, Ibelieve. He may still have the twoRoad Runner convertibles too; I surehope so. No Plymouth guy who is trueblue could ever let those two go. I’mhoping he still has the Vitamin COrange six-pack Runner that I also men-tioned in the last article. I will check.

Yes, I know I promised I’d writemore about Plymouth C-bodies and willdo that in the next issue. There is a1970 Fury III four-door hardtop, a 1972Fury II two-door hardtop and a 1968

Fury VIP two-door hardtop on my June11th auction sale if you’d like one ofthese for a project. The 1972 is an easyrestoration, very complete; the 1970 isnot too bad either, but the VIP has mostof the glass out of it. It is great forparts or an ambitious restoration.

Getting back to Bill’s and our fun inthose days. We had everything from ‘68Hemi Road Runners and 1970 ‘CudaHemi cars with elastomeric bumpers tobasic Plymouths like a 1967 Satellite318 hardtop doing those burnouts andhaving fun. I’m wishing I had some ofthe pictures from those days, but theyare prints and not digital. If I live longenough, I will get some scanned andpublish them in a future PLYMOUTH

BULLETIN.Speaking of the BULLETIN, our

buddy Jim Benjaminson in my homestate here of North Dakota tells me of aguy from Australia who is looking for aPlymouth Scamp or Dodge Rampage. Ihave an ‘83 Plymouth Scamp (only yearthey built the Plymouth version) inwhite with a topper and two DodgeRampages to pick from. One is an

automatic and the other a five-speedmodel that I drove for over a year, afterpurchasing it. It has tranny trouble nowbut it still runs well.

There is another auction of interestfor Plymouth lovers coming up besidesmy own on June 11th. YvetteVanDerBrink tells me that the ‘73 340Cuda in the Soukup auction is reallycherry. I would love to have it, but, asyou all know, I am cutting back on mycollection.

My fiancée would love to have mekeep my 1928 Dodge coupe. Maybeshe will buy it, you never know. At thevery least, since she loves it so much Iwill try, sometime before the sale, totake her for a ride in it. It will be soneat, the two of us driving down thetwo-lane in a 1928 Dodge. I just had awild thought. We are getting married onApril 20th. Maybe I can bring the carhere to Mandan and we could drive the1928 from the church to the receptionand dinner. MAYBE!

My auction has those three ‘28Dodges and a set of ‘29 Dodge fendersplus a 1948 Dodge coupe minus thefront clip. That’s about it for ‘20sthrough the ‘40s MOPARS. There’s notmuch in the ‘50s either, except a 1955Dodge four-door project car and a 1957Plaza four-door for lots of good parts.Once you get into 1960 and beyond,there are oodles of Plymouth and Dodgeparts and cars. Hope to see you thereon June 11th at Adams, North Dakota.There is a little something for everyone!

That should be quite a sale inNebraska, too; mostly Plymouth itemsthere. Yvette VanDerBrink is doing theSoukup sale, too; same as mine.

If you have questions about my saleor items there, look it up on vanderbrinkauctions.com or you can callme at 701-944-2729, home at Adams;701-331-9092, cell; our Bismarck homenumber is 701-258-2142.

Thank you and best of motoring toyou! It is April 2nd as I write this andthere’s talk of another winter storm herethis weekend. Yuk!

- - C L I F- - C L I F N E L S O NN E L S O [email protected]

ClifClif ’’s Notess Notes

Something Something for everyonefor everyone

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WWhat would you think if, out ofthe blue, I just up and calledyou on the phone? You'd

probably first check the incoming num-ber on your machine and, not recognizingit, hesitate prior to answering. It couldbe a crank call or someone wanting tosell you something you don’t want. Icouldn’t blame you for not picking upthe receiver. I'd likely do the same.Now, what might happen if you knewbeforehand that it was me, yourPLYMOUTH BULLETIN columnist?Although most Plymouth owners doenjoy a chance to “talk Plymouth,” onlyfew of you might recognize my name(nor would I expect you to).

What if, however, I firsttold you that I was calling youon an honest-to-goodness“Plymouth” calling card.That’s right, a phone card pay-ing homage to one of ourown, in this case a 1947 P15Plymouth, just like the oneyou see in the picture attachedto this article. My guesswould be: instant connection.

This calling card wasissued in the early ‘90s by aBrazilian telephone companycalled Telemar, and was validfor 60 minutes of chat time(obviously not limited to“Plymouth-speak”). According to thelicense plate on the Plymouth, it is a ‘47model and the car was originally fromthe city of Sao Paulo. The card furtherstates (in Portuguese) that this vehicle iscurrently on display in the Antique CarMuseum in the State of Ceara, which isin the northeast of Brazil. The streetlocation of the museum is AvenidaManuel Sales de Andrade in the capitalcity of Fortaleza, in case you are in thearea or planning a trip to Brazil andmight want to visit. But you mightwant to call first. By the way, callingcards (not ones featuring Plymouths!)were popularly used in Brazil prior to thecell phone era and at a time when fixed-line phone communications were costlyand still somewhat unreliable.

Okay, so now I’ve picqued yourinterest and you’re ready and willing topick up the phone. How about if Isweeten my little offer of calling you ona Plymouth-decorated phone card andinvite you to a beach where you areassured of seeing a Plymouth or two?Sound to good to pass up? Probablydoes, especially if you live in the north-ern climes and are fed up with snow andcold right about now. Take a long, slowlook at the beach scene in the postcard(attached as a picture) and it won't be dif-ficult for you to envision standing by thephone or reaching for your cell with thehope that it doesn’t take long for my callto come through.

The very inviting beach that you seeis called Castanheiras (broadly translatedto “Nut Tree Beach”) and is located in themunicipality of Guarapari, a seaside townin the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo.From the writing on the reverse side ofthis card, one can establish that it wasmailed in 1976. I suspect, however, thatthe senders used a postcard printed in anearlier time. My guess is that the post-card scene is of a mid-‘60s vintage, judg-ing from the lineup of automobiles thatappear to be overlooking the calm oceanwaters and thoroughly enjoying thescene.

While I am in the process of phon-ing to invite you for an afternoon at thebeach, what really interests most of us,aside from the sunshine, blue skies and

placid sea, are the cars that brought thesunbathers to this destination. Like you,I first glanced at the antique vehicles(which is really why I bought this post-card in the first place) and only afterwardsat the beach and its occupants. The thirdcar from the right, and without doubt theone we most want to set our sights on,is a medium-blue ‘51 PlymouthCranbrook sedan with matching interiorand whitewall tires. A closer view of thewheels tells me that this Plymouth wearsthe smaller, dog dish hubcaps and not the

full wheel covers. OurPlymouth is also the oldestvehicle among those at thebeach this day. It strikes meas being very well-maintainedand preserved for the already15-or-so-year-old vehicle itwas when the picture wasshot. In contrast, I can seequite a bit of rust on the rearquarter panels of the WillysRural Wagon to the right ofour rust-free and dent-freePlymouth.

Under the shade trees tothe right of the scene are

numerous of other vehicles, but it isimpossible to make out which brandsmight be present. It wouldn't surpriseme a bit, though, to find anotherPlymouth or two at this beach outing.In case you are as curious as I am, I can-not fail to mention the other vintagevehicles that are keeping our ‘51Plymouth company on this gorgeousday. Starting from the left: a whiteDKW sedan (these little German com-pacts were actually manufactured inBrazil for awhile in the ‘60s), two WillysRural Wagons (also made in Brazil) sand-wiching our Cranbrook, a VW Beetle, aRenault Dauphine and, lastly, the onlyother American car representative I can make out, a ‘59 or ‘60 Pontiac or Olds,painted red with a white roof and also

Plymouth callingPlymouth calling

-45-

Plymouth MiniaturesPlymouth Miniatures


sporting whitewalls with small hubcaps. Ifyou think about it for a minute, this groupwould not fail to cause a buzz at any cruise-inor car show held nowadays, even if not assem-bled on a tropical beach.

As I hang up the phone on this littlePlymouth adventure, I am not suggesting thatyou cease filtering all your incoming callsbefore picking up the receiver or pushing thegreen button on your cell phone, but youmight want to give second thoughts to thathabit of not picking up or answering the tele-phone. There just might be an honest-to-goodness Plymouth calling card on the otherend and you might be receiving an invitationto a beach party with a bunch of vintage cars.

By the way, if you really aren’t homewhen your phone does ring, or if you droppedyour cell in the tub by mistake and it won’tpower up, I hope that you were at the leastout and about scouting for old postcards andother Plymouth memorabilia to bring along tothe beach to show us the next time around.

Pssssst… is that your phone? I hear ringingonce again!

- - B i l l Br i sbane- - B i l l Br i [email protected]

-46-

Plymouth Fireball 500 factory show car.(see page 13, #7)

JIM BENJAMINSON PHOTO

Use pdf


-46-

Directions: From Grafton, N.D.- Follow Hwy 17, Approx. 45 miles, past Adams, ND to North on 117th Ave. NE to auction site. Follow signs!

VanDerBrink Auctions is pleased to bring you this assortment of Collector Vehicles from Original Drivers to for project and parts along with HUNDREDS of MOPAR COLLECTOR PARTS and even vintage snowmobiles. Clif Nelson has been collecting cars for over 30 years and has decided to start a new chapter of his life and will offer his collection at No Reserve at auction to the highest bidder. There is something for everyone from Corvettes, 1970 Roadrunner, 1966 Plymouth Drag Car to man, many MOPAR parts and more. You won’t want to miss this auction!HUNDREDS OF COLLECTOR CAR PARTS! 90% MOPAR-CHALLENGER, CHARGER & MORE!Many late 1950’s to 60’s and MANY,MANY, Used MOPAR 1962-1974 parts! Chrome, Hubcaps, Rims, Speedo clusters, Clean Fenders, doors, hoods, deck lids, Many Seats, taillights, headlights, steering columns, some NOS small parts, Engines including 440 V-8’s, 383 V-8’s, and 318’s. 6 PACK #’s Correct for Coronet, and MANY MORE!!!SERVICE MANUALS FOR MOPAR, SOME SNOWMOBILE, AND OTHER ADVERTISING, 2-OLD GAS PUMPS! …COLLECTOR VEHICLES:CHEVROLET- Fabulous 1963 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible, 283, AT, Fully Restored Driver! Wow- Original 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Edition, L48 350 V-8, At, Low Miles! Shows-27,500 miles. Excellent Original 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Silver Anniversary Indy Pace Car, L48 350 V-8 engine, AT, Low Miles, Shows- 18,000 miles, new tires, Eye Catcher! 1956 Chevrolet 4dr Sedan, Copper/Cream, 6cyl, 3spd, Clean Driver, Cool! 1953 Chevrolet 210 4dr Sedan, Black, Nice, 1978 Chevrolet Wrecker, Rebuilt 350 V-8 & Tranny- CHEVROLET FOR PROJECT-PARTS-ROD:1936 CHEVROLET 2DR SHELL, 1936 Chevrolet 2dr Sedan, 1947 Chevrolet 4dr Sedan, 1949 Chevrolet 4dr Sedan, 1952 Chevrolet 2dr Sedan, and others for parts, some project, rod..FORD- PROJECT, PARTS OR ROD:1946 Ford 2dr Sedan, parts, 2-1949 FORD F-1 Pickups,1950 Ford Custom 2dr Shell,1951 ford 2dr Black, parts, 2-1953 Ford Sedans, parts, 3-1957 Ford Fairlanes, parts, 1958 Mercury 4dr Sedan, 383 V-8 , 3spd, project or parts, 1968 Ford LTD-DERBY!, 1952 Mercury 4dr, parts, 1976 Mustang II Fast Back, parts or project, and other for mostly parts…1950 Desoto 4dr Sedan, 1954 Olds 4dr, Complete Project or Parts, There is also a variety of other late 1980’s to early 1990’s Vehicles for parts, some Drivers including 1997 Sebring JXI Convertible, 1998 Chrysler Sebring JXI Special Edition Convertible- Bad Motor, 1983 Chrysler New Yorker, Bad Tranny, and Many Horizon Compact Cars..PLYMOUTH:WOW! 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner, working air Grabber Hood, 383, at, blue, originally sublime green w/white top! Nice Driver! 1966 Plymouth Belvedere II Drag Car! Roll Bars set up for racing, 380hp 360 CU V-8 Engines. 12:5 ¼ Mile! Coool! Ready To Rock! 1951 Plymouth 2dr Coupe, Rolling Project, 1953 Plymouth 2dr ht, Project, 1957 Plymouth Plaza 4dr, V-8, Manual, Project, more Plymouths for Projects or Parts- DODGE:Restored 1928 Dodge Coupe, cream/brown, Beautiful!, 1976 Dodge Charger, 440 Magnum V-8, at, Nice Driver, Dodge for Project-parts: 1928 Dodge 4dr Sedan, 1928 Dodge 4dr Sedan, Rough For Parts, 1948 Dodge Coupe, 1955 Dodge Custom 4dr Sedan, V8, Manual,

1963 Dodge 4dr Sedan, 1965 Dodge Coronet 4dr Sedan, 1966 Dodge Coronet 2dr Ht, Rolled, 1967 Dodge Coronet 500 4dr Sedan,2- 1968 Dodge Coronet 2dr Ht Shell, 2- 1967 Dodge Dart (1)gt 2dr ht, Parts, 1971 Dodge Demon 2dr Fastback, 1972 Dodge Dart 2dr Ht, 2-1970 Dodge Chargers, Shell and for Parts, and More… VINTAGE SNOWMOBILES-ORIGINALS & PROJECTS:1972 Artic Cat Puma 340, 1977 Scorpion Sting 440, 1972 Scorpion Super Stinger III 440, 1973 Scorpion Stinger 340, 1975 Scorpion Whip 400, 1976 Scorpion Whip 440..Terms: Cash, Good Check/Letter of Available Funds preferred Credit Card w/limit. Payment in full Day of Sale. Removal Day of Sale or within 10 days. Titles for CASH, others mailed certified. All items Sold AS IS NO WARRANTY and ALL SALES ARE FINAL. ON-Line bidding available at www.proxibid.com and separate on-line terms apply. Driver’s License needed to get bidding number. NO BUYER’s PREMIUM for on-site bidders. Loading available.

VanDerBrink Auctions, LLC Yvette VanDerBrink-Auctioneer ND #833“The Lil’Nordstrom’s Gal”

507-673-2517 or 605-201-7005

Can’t come to the auction Bid ON-Line www.proxibid.comFor Pictures, Hotels, Trucking, Inventory, and More Auctions:

WWW.VANDERBRINKAUCTIONS.COM

Dale Pavlis - Auctioneer ND #896 • Aaron Williams - Auctioneer ND #903

NO

RESERVEBidOn-line

www.proxibid.com

Clif Nelson

Owner

AT T E N T I O N C O L L E C T O R S ! ! ! !Collector Vehicles, Parts, Vintage

Snowmobiles At Auction!The Clif Nelson Collection Saturday - June 11th, 2011 At 10:00am

7038 117th Ave. NE, Adams, North Dakota 58210

March - April, 2011 307 Volume 52 Number 3

Jim BenJaminson Photo

Nineteen-time Old Cars Weekly Golden Quill Award winnerFounded 1957

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