Projects My new 41 Plymouth Coupe

I posted a thread here a few year’s ago with questions about 41 Plymouth coupes, I was looking for one at the time but stopped due to moving and some remodeling of the new place. I currently have a 54 Chevy PU and a 57 Chrysler NYer 2drht. The other two vehicles I want are a 41 Plymouth coupe and a 59 Impala 2drht.
A really solid looking 59 popped up at the Colorado auction on 10/15, I bid to my pre-determined limit of $37k, and the car sold for $37.5k. Disappointed but relieved at the same time as I had not seen the car in person and avoided the possibility of finding cancer in places not shown in the photos after spending a huge chunk of dough.
As luck would have it, a few days later I found this 41 coupe online, located in central Oregon. Looked solid and the owner did a FaceTime video with me showing whatever I asked. The seller agreed to hold it until I arrived so I borrowed my son’s car hauler and me and the wife headed to Oregon from southern CA early the next day.
We arrived and my inspection revealed zero cancer except a very small spot in the back corner of the trunk pan, just as the seller had stated. Loaded it up and on the way home stopped at Springfield Auto Recycling in Oregon and the next day at Big M Automotive in Williams CA.

 

The car is currently not running, the seller stated that it will but needs a new starter relay and possibly a starter rebuild. I ordered a relay and while manually engaging the bendix briefly touched the negative battery cable to the starter post and she turned over just fine. (Positive ground system). I’m confident I’ll have it running soon after the relay arrives.
The car is like a time capsule, the engine is original as the block number matches the registration. Nothing original seems to be missing. The rear floor mat and spare tire curtain are still in place. The cardboard kick panels and trunk panels are still there, although in poor condition.
For at least the short term I plan to keep it simple, get it running, clean it up, inspect and renew the brakes, fix the transmission and differential leaks, treat and paint the surface rust, lower it a couple inches, paint the original wheels red, stock hubcaps, wide whites, and repair and paint the body panels one at a time, satin black.

 

Nice car, subscribed.

 

Your plan is great!

the present exterior has a lot of charm. if it’s mostly original just clean it up some. otherwise except for the headliner issues … your interior is serviceable for a little while (until it’s absolute shreds.) and wide whites… I love the idea. however if the narrow skinny white walls are still serviceable I would drive them and wear them out. THEN do the wide whites. for present… focus on getting it running good.

 

Nice!!! Always liked those coupes!!!

 

Nice car! I have always had a soft spot for the 37-41 Mopar coupes. They have a great front suspension, ride well, and the flat 6 has good power.

 

Sweet! They are not easy to find, especially in that condition with all the trim pieces, etc in place. Be very wary of the wiring. It is cloth covered and really old. It will literally fall off if you just touch it in some places! I was going to drive mine "as is" for a while but electrical issues finally convinced me to go ahead and do the whole build. Thread is here on the HAMB.

 

Nice, very nice.

 

Congrats.

 

Nice car! Really wanted to get a 1940-41 Plymouth Couple myself, but settle for a '47. Good plan also wish I would have done that with my first project. Subscribed!

 

Sweet coupe & those engines sound SO GOOD with a split & duals. My dad had a 41 convert, wish I had that today! Be blessed & enjoy that neat little Mopar.

 

Good going. The Plymouth has quite the sharp look, in that era.
As a joke after you've gone and done all you need to maybe add on an extra horn to go meep-meep

 

Great car to hot rod or just enjoy as-is. I posted one I had in the early '70's before. Did a sbc
and tilt front end. Neat looking style and you don't see many of them around. Good score!

 

Nice condition to start at.Way better than mine was.Have fun with it.Great cars.

 

I know I'm not you, but...

Even if money was no object...
I'd pick a nice old coupe over a $37,000 '59 Impala every single time.

So, congratulations!

 

Nice canvas to start with! A small block Mopar looks good in those.

 

A previous owner did a quick and dirty spray can paint job on the exterior complete with runs and paint on the trim, otherwise I would leave it.
The existing tires are dry rotted and cracked between the treads, I’ll probably use portawalls for the short term because I won’t be driving it for a while, other than around the block.

 

Agreed on the wiring, I’ll add that to my list. I enjoyed reading your thread a couple year’s ago and will be reading it again as I improve this one.

 

Congrats on the 41 bud, I`d love to have one some day too.

 

So, that is what the original floors looked like? I don't believe I've ever seen original floors in a 40s Plymouth or Dodge car before.

What a great starting point for which ever direction you choose to go!

 

Love that model! Congrats

 

Nice car, and a great shape starting point for a nice cruiser. I agree that some cleanup and fixing or rebuilding what is needed keeping it mostly original. For sure some lowering will look good. Have fun with it, without getting into a major project.

 

Nice find! Not that familiar with the Mopar flatheads, but the Fords are known to have a valve or two stick after sitting. May want to check out the motions through tappet cover before starting it.

 

Thanks, I’ve been patient and lucky getting old cars, my 57 Chrysler is solid and needed no patches, despite those cars being notorious for being rusty.

 

The seller stated that the car was a daily driver not very long ago. I got it turning over normally today, but no spark, I’ll fix that tomorrow.

 

I had a '40 for a little while. I really like the look of these cars and they're a screamin' deal compared to the prices of other stuff from the era. I like your plans for it, too.

 

Very Nice. I'm kinda partial to 41's.

 

I got the engine started over the weekend and ran it for about 30 seconds. runs a little rough (as expected), lifters are ticking and it needs a carburetor rebuild. Compression check showed about 105 psi in all cylinders, that’s good news. There is no oil filter, although there is evidence that there was one previously. So I’m going to change the oil, add a filter canister and a little marvel mystery oil, and rebuild the carb before starting it again.

 

Typical when Mopar 6 sits for a while...valves stick in the guides....maybe a little marvel mystery oil added to fuel might loosen them up .

 

Nice ! Was looking around at 16yrs old on my little Yamaha back in the 70's and stopped to look at one of these at a car lot. It ran and the guy would trade even for my motorbike - my dad nixed it because it had fresh oil in it....go figure.