A friend just found this for next to nothing - can't seem to identify it. Apologies for the photos, they're all I have right now. Hopefully we'll go fetch it tomorrow. Owner says it's a 36, but was also pretty sure it's a Dodge - anyone here know? Apparently the mechanicals are all still good (flathead 6) and it was driven until a few years back. Been converted to 12v. Also still has a current licence. Anyone know what he's got here? Many thanks Barry
Thanks guys - the Plymouth part we got, more than that we're not sure. It's been sliced off just behind the doors and a homemade bed fitted. None of the pictures I've found searching look exactly right (37 seem similar....?) Barry
Sometimes export vehicles were not quite like the normal US version....and things get changed around after 70 years..... Might see if you can find the serial number on it, here is some help for that http://www.ply33.com/Misc/vin
I think I heard somewhere that Plymouth only made the pickups '36-'38. Nice score. I know a retired mechanic here in Salem that built a trad-styled one with a baby Hemi in it. I love it!
<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Looks like a 36 or 37 Plymouth pick-up to me. Rags </TD></TR><TR UNSELECTABLE="on" hb_tag="1"><TD style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height=1 UNSELECTABLE="on"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
to repeat a story, during WW2 when gas was rationed, pickups and working vehicles got priority ration cards. many an older sedan was cut up and made into a "pickup" This one looks like a converted sedan rather than a pickup
Thanks for the replies. I'll get a better idea when I actually see it, and will put up a better pic. From the door length I'm guessing it was a four door - we also got a lot less two doors of anything over here. Maybe I'll see remains of body mounts etc? I'll also lookout for any serial no. tags - thanks for that Squirrel!! Tinman, I have heard of some models (50's GM pickups come to mind) where we seem to have got versions over here that had bits from two different years - maybe that's the case here too.... Probably doesn't really matter what it was - as long as my buddy does something cool with it. It's nice to have some idea though. Thanks again Barry
Definitely a Plymouth. On some of the old Plymouths, the serial number is on a plate on the p***enger side (right side) door jamb. There might be a different "body number" on a tag on the firewall, but the one on the door jamb is the serial number for the car.
Speaking in terms of USA made cars, I own a '37 plymouth, and there is nothing about that vehicle that says '37. The body style was completely changed for '37. It's a '36 sedan converted into a truck. Even if it were to come up as being a "37" (by South African standards), for parts, you would want to look for 35-36 (if looking for parts in the USA)
Yeah, we have a couple of '37s - one even cut off like a truck - and they don't look like that. I kinda think that may be an export-specific grille, though, none of the ones I've looked at look exactly like that. And let's not forget South Africa is the home of 50s pickups that were badged as DeSotos, Chrysler played lots of different games over the years with it's export models. My Chrysler book has some notes on cars and in 33-34 they sold in England a rebadged Plymouth with a small engine, and in '34 it notes a rebaged DeSoto also sold as a Chrysler. That may well be what this is. If you get a chance to post the serial number I can see what range it falls under in this book, if any, that may be the best bet. Should be a tag on the cowl that has some info on it, too, under the hood.
My Tad Burness book has it as a '36 Plymouth. You can even see the holes for the side trim on the hood. 3 narrow pieces. The one thing that bothers me is the fact that there are a lot fewer grille bars than the photos in the book. This car has 9 bars per side. The '36 in my book has 13 per side??? After seeing all the differences in Aussie cars with US names. The export grille would seem pretty likely. Neat find at twice the price!
Just an update: Seems my buddy took some flak for buying another project, while he was supposed to be on a family holiday Anyway, he's grounded....and will arrange a flatbed to collect the car for him - I'll only get to see it next week. Happy New Year! Barry
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