(Updated 2/26/2026) CC Cohort robadr has found a wonderful living fossil in Mexico City; now this is how I like my CC’s. And there’s a bit of mystery too, as it has a 1950 Dodge grille, but Dodge didn’t sell the swb 2-door wagon, at least not in the US. That was strictly a Plymouth brand item, and a very popular one; the first all-steel wagon to sell in big numbers.
That raises the question: were these sold as Dodges in Mexico? It certainly wouldn’t surprise me, and if so, we have here a genuine Mexican Plodge.
The tail lights are different than the US Plymouth version too. Quite possibly these were assembled in Mexico from CKD kits.
That looks like DODG letters on the the middle of the dash. More evidence that this is a Plodge.
Nice exposed hinges.
Except for the bigger wheels and tires, it appears to be quite original.
In case you’re wondering how big this wagon was, it’s virtually identical in most dimensions to the previous generation of Toyota RAV4. We compared the two at great length here.
That dash is a mystery. The basic panel is from the Plymouth – the ridge above the instruments on the Dodge dash went straight to the door, rather than angling down towards the floor at each end like the Plymouth panel did. This was the same on both the big Dodge and the small Wayfarer. The Dodges also used square instruments.
However, the Plymouth had a big chrome speaker grille in the middle and woodgrain on the sides. I can’t find a Plymouth with a chrome panel around the instruments.
My guess is that this chrome plated panel surrounding the instruments was a local change to the Plymouth panel for use in a Dodge, lending support to your MexiPlodge theory.
When I see ” Plodge ” I think of the hybrids produced in Canada . Suspect this car is one as production in Mexico didn’t start untl this car was 18 years young..,,
I saw this picture of a 1953 2-door Dodge wagon on Oldcarbrochure who’s a “Plodge”. https://www.oldcarbrochures.org/Canada/Chrysler-Canada/Dodge/1953-Dodge-Brochure-/slides/1953_Dodge_Full_Line_Cdn-04-05.html
In some exports markets before 1960, some Plymouth models was sold in export markets as DeSotos like the DeSoto Diplomat aka “Plysoto” (in 1960, the DeSoto Diplomat was a renamed Dodge Dart). Could be possible then some “Plysotos” was sold in Mexico?
Those taillights are wild, but they seem to fit. Agree with JPC on the dashboard.
Semi-related: Vintage.es has some nice street pix from Montreal in the ’50s. Lots of Meteors, a couple Plodges, only one Cheviac that I can identify.
https://www.vintag.es/2020/02/montreal-1950s.html
If only the living fossil could talk ….. probablamente, en Español
Excellent info ….
Just what I look for in Curbside Classic.
Yes we have some Plodges and Deplotos that dont fit with what you got too Paul, it tyakes a little unravelling as US models landed here too sometimes new sometimes lightly used, lately restored, it does make things interesting. I like it!
We were taking an Uber back to the AirBnB and passed by this creature a few blocks from home. It had been a long day at the pyramids, and I debated whether to walk back to take some pictures.
But aside from really liking the look of it (it’s my age, after all) I suspected that this would get Paul’s attention. (Either this or the Mitsubishi camper conversion in Zipolite! 😁)
These were branded as “Dodge Kingsway”. Made in Canada and exported everywhere. In my hometown (Southern Brazil) there was an assembly plant for CKD units..
I hope it gets saved .
-Nate
Great old 2 door wagon, tough restorations these days.
Second time around. The “Deploto” also known as “DeSoto Diplomat”. Another Canadian contraption that was assembled down here in Brazil. Quite popular around the early ’50s.