Text by Patrick Bell.
The 1950’s was a decade of change in the automobile industry, especially in the styling department. Plymouth was one of the more extreme reinventions, going from the conservative cars early in the decade to the flamboyant Forward Look at the end. Today, we will take a look at Plymouth’s progression through the 1950’s.
Shown here in the city of Detroit was a close to new 1959 Sport Fury hardtop, a new top of the line model that was also available as a convertible. It disappeared for two years, returned in 1962, and remained through the 1971 model year. The “Fury V-800” 318 cubic inch V8 was standard equipment, along with Swivel Front Seats. The one above had a 1959 Michigan license plate issued in Oakland County, where the largest city is Troy.
This was the entry level Plymouth in 1950, a De Luxe Three-Passenger Coupe. The basic list price was $1371, and the only engine available for any Plymouth that year was a 217 ci L-head 6. It also had a 1950 Illinois license plate, and the lady was doing something with her ice skates on a nice, warm day. To the right was a 1947 or 1948 Kaiser.
Now we have a 1952 model that could have been either the Cambridge or Cranbrook series. It looked like a 2 or 4 door sedan, and had a sun visor, an extra wide rear view mirror attachment, and a 1957 New York license plate.
This gentleman was installing new 1960 Illinois license plates on a clean 1953 Cranbrook 4 door sedan. The 1953 models were restyled and downsized with a 4.5 inch shorter wheelbase. They carried over the same 217 ci six cylinder that was first introduced in 1942, with a slight increase in horsepower.
A traveling lady was taking a rest in a 1954 Savoy 4 door sedan, the best selling model of the year. 1954 brought new series names that were based on popular hotels. The line up began with the Plaza, the Savoy was the middle, and the Belvedere was the top of the line. This one had full wheel covers and looked at least a year or two old.
This may have been a promotional photo for the new “Forward Look”, as they were modeling two brand new restyled 1955’s. They were both 4 door sedans; a red Belvedere with the new Hy-Fire V8, and a tan Plaza with the PowerFlo 6 that had grown to 230 ci. Also new for the year was Plymouth’s first fully automatic transmission, the Powerflite. Both were also equipped with a radio, outside mirror, and full wheel covers. The license plates are a mystery to me, perhaps they were buyer’s tags.
And a 1955 Belvedere 2 door Club Sedan that had the PowerFlo 6 for power. The options list included two tone paint, radio, full wheel covers, and whitewalls. Plus a California license plate that was first issued in 1956.
The 1956 models brought a style update, where the most notable change was taller tail fins. The one above was a 1956 Savoy 2 door Club Sedan, and was equipped with the PowerFlo 6, two tone paint, radio, full wheel covers, and an Iowa license plate with a 1957 tab and registered in Clinton County.
Introduced in mid 1956, the Fury was a 2 door hardtop only, top of the line, entry that was marketed as a high performance car. The only engine available was an exclusive 303 ci V8 with 240 hp. The only color choice was eggshell white with a gold aluminum side molding. Other features were a tachometer and special full wheel covers. Just under 4500 were produced in the first year.
I had an opportunity to buy one of these in about 1973. I don’t recall the price, but it was under $1000. Whatever the price, it was too much for me at the time.
Sales wise, 1957 was Plymouth’s best year of the 1950’s as both the “Flight-Sweep Styling” and the “Suddenly, it’s 1960” advertising campaign arrived. Shown above was a sharp 1957 Belvedere 2 door Club Sedan from Ohio. It had V8 power, two tone paint, and whitewalls to set off the full wheel covers.
And another 1957 Belvedere, this one a convertible. It was similarly equipped with a V8, full wheel covers, whitewalls, radio, and Chrome Bumper Wing Guards. 9,866 of these convertibles were produced for the year. To the right was a two tone 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria.
Here we see the updated front end style for 1958, which now included four headlamps with the park lamps moved up between them. The one above looks like a 1958 Savoy 4 door sedan, with V8 power and a radio. Parked behind it was a 1957 Oldsmobile, and that may have been the photographer’s tricycle in the road.
Fury became a full line in 1959, and the Sport Fury was introduced as the performance model, as seen in the first image. It had a moderate style refresh to close out the decade. This was a 1959 Fury 4 door sedan with two tone paint, radio, full wheel covers, whitewalls, and an aftermarket fender mounted mirror.
Thanks for joining us and have a great day!
My dad had a 1957 Plymouth, probably with 303 V-8. Dad wasn’t terribly mechanically inclined and always referred as a flathead, which of course is impossible. It was bought used in 1958 and it replaced a 1952 Chevrolet. Dad always went on that it was the fastest car he had ever owned. Coming from a Stovebolt to a V-8 must have been like driving a rocket ship.
Dad drove the living daylights out of that car and managed to blow up the motor. It was traded on a 1961 Chevrolet Biscayne, his first new car.
I was 3 yrs. old in Sept., 1956, when a trip to Alexanders Dept. Store in the Bronx revealed a red, swoopy, fantasmagorical 1957 Plymouth *convertible* displayed among the back-to-school clothes. (altho I was not yet in school).
My mouth dropped and i caught my breath.
What a change from the ’49 Star Chief sedan that brought us there on a shopping trip. A day I’ll never forget !
When I was a young boy, our neighbor on the other side of the backyard fence owned a 1956 Fury. He kept it in good shape usually in his garage. Those times when he would be washing it on his driveway gave me opportunities to check it out.
My grandparents bought a ’59 Belvedere sedan new. Red with the straight-6, manual transmission and RHD. Huge and uncommon car on New Zealand roads at the time, and would have been quite the contrast to their previous car, a Standard Vanguard Phase I. It served as the family car through the 60s until being sold to my Uncle and replaced by a Renault 16TS. My Uncle trade it on an MGB convertible in 1972, just before I was born – highly annoying timing as I’d have loved to buy it lol! Even now, 67 years after purchase, ‘The Plymouth’ and its sheer size (in NZ at the time) is a regular topic of discussion at family gatherings.
Side note: the 1957-59 Plymouths must surely rank among the best-designed cars of the era. I like the ’59 best – the simple and low taillights are a wonderful piece of design.
The second dark green 1950 Plymouth on the list brought back memories of the car my aunt had..I was 6 or 7 living in Westchester county, NY..1957..my aunt would drive up from Larchmont and pick me up for a weekend stay.i remember the car had velour light green seats, and the dash seemed so ritzy and fancy..it must have been a luxury car for that time.
The first picture appears to have been taken on the rooftop parking deck at Cobo Hall (now called Huntington Place). The photo below shows the same buildings in the background as the vintage shot. Cobo Hall opened in 1960, so the building must have been close to new when the photo was taken.
Yes, definitely the Cobo roof. Based on the license plate and the construction of the Michigan Consolidated Gas building in the right background I would guess that it is 1961.
I have always wanted to love the 55-56 Plymouth, but have never quite been able to get there. The cars have a stubbiness to them which makes them look a little awkward. The 56 Fury was the best of the lot, though, in its near perfect trim detailing. Also, today was the first time I have noticed how, from the sides, the front fenders thrust forward so strongly, a feature that was further developed with the 1957 model.
Y first car, 50 Plymouth 2 Dr. 3 on the tree,6 volt system,6 cylinder, drove 2 yrs daily very comfortable and solid car,only thing I didn’t like, vacuum wipers, have a good day 😊
My dad had 1957 and 1958 Belvederes. The’57 was totaled when he was t-boned by a light runner. I don’t really recall that one (I was one year old), but he had the ’58 until 1961 and I loved it, especially the fins.
Interesting thing on the ’57. Dad had parked on the street in front of his office. Another doctor parked in front of his car, and when getting his bag out of the trunk he heard a loud bang, like a gunshot. He turned around and Dad’s car had dropped low on one side. Then another bang and the whole front end was a low rider.
The torsion bars had snapped. Dad told me this was the first year for them (I can’t confirm that) and there were teething problems. He drove very slowly to the dealer and felt every pebble on the road.
I love these cars ! . IMO better driver’s than contemporary GMs or Fords .
The ’57 on were terribly assembled and had endless rattles, squeaks and water ingress issues .
If you got a good one they were fantastic .
My old Plaza stripper two door nearly became fodder for the movie “Christine”. glad it didn’t, being an arrow straight body they’d have crushed it to use in the many “self repair” scenes .
-Nate