Vintage shots from days gone by!

Looks like Skagway, Alaska.
Although I didn't see it from that side of the river...

 

French elegance

 

I've since found pictures of the talking Plymouth in the NYPL's world's fair collection and it was an ordinary looking four door sedan...



Patents only credit Ray Deitrich with the 1937 Chrysler range. Robert Cadwallader became chief stylist in 1938 and is credited with everything after that and Ray was gone by 1940.



These gals look to be impressed with the power top too...



Jimi regarding your comments on the 1938 sales "revolt" it should be noted sales for all cars plummeted that year and it was only natural for manufacturers to look hard at their products and marketing and respond to feedback.
It was really a pretty dull year for Detroit styling across the board.

Although the 1940 Plymouth got a fresh body the front was very much a reworked 39 (the centre trim pieces are near identical and often confused) and not such big change in appearance as the facelifted 39s

 

Jimi, I guess it's all subjective about styling. I personally prefer the 1939 Plymouth over the 1938, 1940, 1941 & 1942 models. I just sort of like the little dinky-looking squarish headlights on the 39. I also like the styling of most sedans of that period, whether Plymouth or other makes. With that being said, I still like all Plymouths that were made up through the mid/late 1960s.

 

I'm at a loss to why you'd take issue with the word which seems quite apt.
1938 saw new car sales halved for one year only to bounce right back after a period of steady growth, not a resurgence in 1937. The only time sales fell so sharply before was 1932.

 

1940 and the chicks are still impressed (note control has moved to passenger side)

 

Fair enough. I'll look up '37 and '38 Plymouth sales figures. (Though, I'm wondering if we're talking apples and oranges). Let's start with actualy sales & go from there.

 

Isn't that where new cars go after they become used cars?


50 Tuckers were built in 1948. 46 of them still exist. A couple others have been built from parts. One more is currently being built.

This photo was taken in June of 1954. The car was priced around $2,500 which would buy you a real nice brand new car in those days. It sold a couple years later for $1,500

 

I wonder how many folks knew Tucker Automobiles would become the "Collectables " that are so lovingly sought after today ????? scrubba

 

Okey-dokey, checked. Plymouth sales dropped by half from the '37 to '38 sales years. Have to agree, "plummet" isn't an inappropriate term.

So, then, I guess you were saying is that the economy -- not valid customer/dealer complaints about sodden style -- was the major factor. Alright, I'll buy that, but I think I've acknowledged the '38 mini-recession. And, I don't know that I claimed in my post this morning that sales drop was as a direct result of customer/dealer dissatisfaction. Probably more the other way around, at least in part (a la Edsel, later). I think my original post was noting something that I'd read on the internet a few years back, talking about the dissatisfaction with the grille, headlight positioning, etc. As I understand, the dissatisfaction was from the get-go (maybe, fall '37?), rather than later in the sales season, as per the Plymouth loyal and Plymouth dealers.

On the other hand, I can't say off the top of my head just when the mini-recession of '38 started (maybe late '37?). I just don't know. So, I do not know if there was a correlation between the dissatisfaction in the original post, to the recession usually pegged to 1938.

But if the issue had been sales, '37 vs '38, then "plummet" is, indeed, apt, ehDubya! Kinda fun to kick it around. Several interesting aspects there, as for events of '38. I guess that's why we are "car guys," eh?

 

Dog427435 I love your picks

 

she was beautiful, don't think i've ever seen a bad picture of her

 

I knew why the Tucker was on that lot, I just went with the caption from the site that I found the picture on, to see what kind of responses came up.
It was there to draw people in. The public knew how rare, and famous they were, because of the publicity that surrounded them. But who would buy one? Where would you get it serviced? Where would you get parts? What insurance company would insure it, and at how much?

 

Great picks

 

<a href="http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/k490/hotrodcomic/vintage%20hot%20rod%20comic%20images/?action=view&amp;current=lip.jpg" target="_blank"></a>

 

Go'n for the Sweet Spot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRW0GHvJRaA

 

Vern, Ron, and Harold Tiburzi had lots of cool stuff while living on Buckingham in Dearborn. Lets see&#8230;we have a very nice &#8217;49 Chevy custom. In 1958, Ron purchased this hammered and channeled &#8217;34 Dodge
5-window coupe off a used car lot. The car features a Ford flat motor with two Strombergs. A 354 inch Oldsmobile provides the power for the &#8217;37 Ford Tudor. It saw drag racing duty at Detroit Dragway. The &#8217;54 Chevy 210 sedan has a 370 inch overbored 348 with dual quads tucked away in its engine room and was Harold's ride while a member of Dearborn's Royal Coachmen car club.
via: thehotrodsofdearborn