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Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by VALVE FLOAT, Apr 7, 2026.

  1. VALVE FLOAT
    Joined: Nov 19, 2024
    Posts: 48

    VALVE FLOAT
    Member

    I love my Model A and '35 Pickup, and obviously Fords are the kings of early rods, Model A's and deuce roadsters everywhere, but where are all of the "outsiders"? We all know that GM products upto '36 were termite bait, but I get quite excited seeing something like a 1931 Chevrolet coupe out in the wild. Different, but close enough to fit in a line of early Fords. And the Chryslers were mainly steel cars, but you never see them around.

    Here is my '33 Plymouth. Look past all the jank, its a work in progress, still have to rip it apart and fix all the previous owners "repairs"
    20260309_182153.jpg
     
  2. bschwoeble
    Joined: Oct 20, 2008
    Posts: 1,157

    bschwoeble
    Member

    I understand what you are saying. My "32" Plymouth coupe is a good car. It even has a "340" Mopar motor. But I would trade it in a heartbeat for a Ford.
     
  3. RodStRace
    Joined: Dec 7, 2007
    Posts: 9,858

    RodStRace
    Member

    You even have a SBM in there, good going.
    One member has the signature "I want to be different, just like everyone else".
    If you enjoy the offbeat, you just have to dig a bit deeper.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2026
  4. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 10,901

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I like the early Mopars for a number of reasons. Minimal wood. Very stout construction. Different but not stupid. And damn good reason to have a 440/A833/D60 drivetrain. And maybe a couple other components unique to Mopar. Or just unique.

    My '31 Plymouth.
    I wouldn't trade it for a Model A.
    In fact, considering that as a young man I just knew I was going to have a Deuce Ford 3W someday, it makes me laugh that I ended up with this Plymouth. And that I'm actually happy about it.

    1107241619_HDR.jpg

    0126210049.jpg

    0202241136~2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Apr 7, 2026
  5. VALVE FLOAT
    Joined: Nov 19, 2024
    Posts: 48

    VALVE FLOAT
    Member

    Love it, I am putting together a 1959 361ci and A833 combo for my car, I love the valve covers and intake.
     
  6. Jmountainjr
    Joined: Dec 29, 2006
    Posts: 1,938

    Jmountainjr
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I think the Mopars have a lot of potential. I have always liked the wavy front axle. Helped a friend convert one to a cross spring for one of his Ford projects!
     
  7. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 6,297

    bchctybob
    Member

    Certain early Mopar body styles (like yours) certainly have that hot rod vibe hidden inside. It’s just that some of the other attributes, like the beefy frame rails, parallel leaf front ends, and thick appearing grille shells and fenders that made them good cars in their day also make it harder to get the svelte, hot rod look that the Fords have when stripped down. In the right hands they can be very cool.
    Many times, at shows, I’ve admired a car and the fact that someone used a 413-426 to power their hot rod only to look up and see that it’s in an early Mopar. To me, a well dressed Poly motor is an absolute show stopper.
     
  8. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 10,901

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    No formula for non-Fords.
    You can't just ask somebody...
    "Btw, what's the part# on that Timken bearing when changing to later brakes on the Model A axle?"

    Good thing I'm a genius penius.

    Seriously, I've had to do lotsa research.
     
  9. 48stude
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 1,399

    48stude
    Member

    Hey Bill, A kid I went to high school with had a 32 Plymouth coupe highboy ,it was blue metalflake with no clear (couldn't afford the clear) ,but it was a pretty cool hot rod for a teenager. So every time I see your coupe it takes me back to my youth. If your coupe were mine I wouldn't trade it for anything.
     
  10. gene-koning
    Joined: Oct 28, 2016
    Posts: 6,353

    gene-koning
    Member

    I don't think I would go as far as saying "ANYTHING but then a Ford", but "not a Ford" would be a good starting point for me. :D

    Fords were the easy starting point back in the early days. There were a lot of them available because they were cheap cars to begin with. They were cheap as they aged because there was a lot of them around to begin with, and they were easy to improve upon because they were cheap cars, innovation was not a highlight. Teenagers usually buy cheap cars.
     
  11. mohr hp
    Joined: Nov 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,738

    mohr hp
    Member
    from Georgia

    Paging Brian Kohlman!

    hasn't been said yet but,
    HEMI!
     
  12. bschwoeble
    Joined: Oct 20, 2008
    Posts: 1,157

    bschwoeble
    Member

    Thanks Bill. I respect your opinion.
     
    chryslerfan55 and Tow Truck Tom like this.
  13. Just for information, mopar wasn’t an en***y until 1938. In the shed is a 35 plymouth slant back coach, consequently in my early hamb days I enjoyed the craftsmanship of skoty chops, expressed through this 35 plymouth coupe. It is finished and sold, mine is still in the shed… CDD7970F-8229-4DF7-985E-AD90C37BC8FB.jpeg
     
  14. PXL_20240712_174040811.jpg
    I saw this at Lowe's and found out it belonged to one of the employees but I hunted high and low for the owner to talk to her but no such luck. This was taken in July 2024.

    Larry
     
  15. 48stude
    Joined: Jul 31, 2004
    Posts: 1,399

    48stude
    Member

    Pretty cool car !! P1020617.JPG
     
  16. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 6,297

    bchctybob
    Member

    Good point, but for us innocent bystanders it’s much easier to type Mopar than Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge or even Chrysler Corporation. Lol
     
  17. oxenenergyy
    Joined: Nov 19, 2025
    Posts: 10

    oxenenergyy
    Member

    I know what you mean—you hardly ever see the non-Fords out there. Makes it way more interesting when one does show up though. I think a lot of guys just stick with Fords because of parts availability and how easy they are to build, but the Chevys and Chryslers definitely deserve more love.
     
  18. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 10,901

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    @Hemi Joel 's '31 Plymouth Coupe is a good'n'.
    Has the very rare 8x2 Edelbrock Hemi intake. One of 20, I think?
    Has a similar look to what I'm planning for my car. I'll have to shoot high.

    hemi coupe on road cropped.jpg
     
  19. Ducbsa
    Joined: Jan 1, 2009
    Posts: 111

    Ducbsa
    Member
    from Virginia

    A local guy built a '32 or so Pontiac rod with a 389 and it is pretty cool.
     
    GuyW, chryslerfan55, Stogy and 3 others like this.
  20. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 5,220

    deathrowdave
    Member
    from NKy

    I needs Rams Head !!
     
    chryslerfan55 and Tow Truck Tom like this.
  21. rust&patina
    Joined: Jan 21, 2007
    Posts: 839

    rust&patina
    Member

  22. rust&patina
    Joined: Jan 21, 2007
    Posts: 839

    rust&patina
    Member

  23. bschwoeble
    Joined: Oct 20, 2008
    Posts: 1,157

    bschwoeble
    Member

    Thanks Bill. I almost p***ed on getting this car. When it was advertised on Craigslist, I hadn't noticed that someone put sunroof in it. When I saw it in person, I wanted to throw up. But the guy made me such a deal I couldn't p*** it up.
     
  24. RMR&C
    Joined: Dec 26, 2009
    Posts: 5,144

    RMR&C
    Member
    from NW Montana

    The early Ford cars are okay, but the early Mopars are what trips my trigger. I have 2....my avatar coupe is a 31 Plymouth I've had forever, and the latest is my '34 Plymouth sedan

    [​IMG]
     
  25. AND! No belly ****on engine!!:D

    Ben
     
  26. AHotRod
    Joined: Jul 27, 2001
    Posts: 12,427

    AHotRod
    Member

  27. bchctybob
    Joined: Sep 18, 2011
    Posts: 6,297

    bchctybob
    Member

  28. 1biggun
    Joined: Nov 13, 2019
    Posts: 1,030

    1biggun

    1919 Paige maybe ? 20220419_170312.jpg 20220419_170321.jpg

    Keep thinking it should be made into something.
     
  29. rust&patina
    Joined: Jan 21, 2007
    Posts: 839

    rust&patina
    Member

    32 Chevy, 302 GMC/6 *DONE*
    copy this into search.. there's a build thread on it..
    PICT0639.jpg PICT0640.jpg
     
  30. Tow Truck Tom
    Joined: Jul 3, 2018
    Posts: 3,614

    Tow Truck Tom
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Clayton DE

    There was a time, the description for that was '' that's trippin' ''
    Now I want one
     

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