Came across a 42 plymouth business coupe today body solid no front spindles or interior.Motor and ****** missing but body is very solid like 80% rust free .Chrome and stainless not bad no reggy .Now i have always liked the 40 and 41 bodys never realy looked at these too much before i have to say i like the side view and the back just not sure on the front end some look ok others look not too good anyone got some pics?I know if your questioning it dont buy it right but sometimes we need some feed back so give it to me fellows.
As typical of most 1942 cars, the Plymouth is unique. It greatly resembles the 46-48 models, but virtually nothing will interchange in terms of body and trim. You can find parts for a 42 on ebay. Here are a couple pix of 42s from carnut.com.......... Here's a 47 Plymouth coupe...
not quite as good looking as the 41 or 47 but if you do something with the front bumper/grille it could be a pretty cool looking car
Where most of us would drop in a different power train anyway, not a biggie. Most likely 40-48 spindles are the same so that shouldn't be a problem. Probably won't see another '42 Plym @ any show you go to!
42s are somewhat rare because they were short production and as the last new cars before WWII they got run right into the ground.
Personally, I like the '42 models. In part because they are unique, I would not "change the bumper and grille"..........if you don't care for the '42 s styling, I have no quarrel with that at all, but if that is the case, I would recommend you do not buy it. As for no other year body parts fitting it, that is not the case.....for "body" parts. The body itself, i.e. cowl, roof, doors, quarter panels, deck lid, etc. will interchange with '41 in some cases, and with the '46/'48 in other cases. It depends on whether the body is the short roof business coupe or the longer roof 5 p***enger coupe. It is the fenders, grille, bumpers that are '42 only. The '42 pics posted by 47PLYM illustrate body coupe body types. Pretty much the same as Ford coupe bodies in that regard. Ray
Stylistically, the lower front pan alone is worth the price of admission (given you already like the profile). It is very close to the pan that Plymouth reprised in '59, which became the basis for many a rolled pan or were used in pairs for custom grille shells, both front and back (as were '53 Stude's). I find this a unique and very attractive feature.
most 42's have had the under bumper scoop long ago removed as results of rocks parking bumpers and backing out of or driving into steep drive ways. To find oe that is intact is pretty rare on an olready rare car. A lot of them became gray, blue or OD staff cars. Mecahincally they are Identical to the 46-48 with the possible exception of the 218 engine oer the 41's 201. But any Plymouth /Dodge 23.5 inch long engine will bolt right in, but it will not accept a Dodge engine with a fluid drive bell housing.
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