Reborn Plymouth

Sedan epitomizes 1940s family car

• By: Larry D'Argis
• Updated: November 25, 2011

Following the Second World War, civilian automobile production resumed to meet the growing demand of new car-buyers.

Chrysler's Plymouth line was still based on the pre-war 1942 models, but was restyled and given mechanical refinements along with safety glass and run-flat safety rims. Available in 10 models in both Deluxe and Special Deluxe trim, the Plymouth was a solid car that offered buyers real value.

The post-war Plymouth first caught Burt Barkman's eye in 1952. At 16, he was working his first job at J.R. Friesen & Son in Steinbach, servicing cars and pumping gasoline at 26.9cents a gallon.

"Mr. Peters, the local barber, had a 1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe sedan that he used to have serviced at the dealership, and I said I'd like to own the car when he wanted to sell it," Barkman recalled.

The car was never driven in the winter and Peters had the car serviced every month during the summer. "I remember one month it had only been driven 77 miles since the previous month's service, but Peters insisted it receive a lube, oil and filter change."

Peters wondered how Barkman could ever be able to afford an $1,100 automobile on a gas jockey's salary. Earning only 35 cents an hour at the time -- and even with a 10-cent raise on the horizon -- it did seem like an impossible feat, but Barkman was adamant about his offer to purchase the car.

The light-grey sedan was nicely equipped with a 230-cubic-inch L-Head six cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission and several dealer-installed extras like deluxe push-button AM radio, clock, heater, Mopar fog lamps, spotlight, dual rear-view mirrors, Fulton external sunshade visor, cigarette lighter, traffic-light viewer, curb feelers and electric fuel-tank cap.

As the years went by, Barkman moved on and Peters retired and later passed away, leaving the Plymouth sitting idle in the garage. "In 1985, 33 years later, the family called and asked if I still wanted the car," Barkman said.

Never winter-driven and always stored in the garage, the Plymouth only had 53,000 miles on the odometer and was really in terrific shape. The original, untouched powertrain ran flawlessly and the cloth interior upholstery needed only a good cleaning.

After going through the brakes, exhaust, steering and suspension systems, Barkman stripped the car of its chrome and stainless-steel mouldings. It was then entrusted to Irwin Remple, who repainted the Plymouth in a new Dove-grey finish which was fairly close to the original colour.

The stainless mouldings were polished by The House of Silver and the chrome bumpers and grill were re-chromed by North Star/Fairmant Plating. Tires were upgraded to new 15-inch-wide whitewalls from Denman Tire in Pennsylvania and capped off with a set of chrome spoke wheelcovers. Also added was an aftermarket signal light kit from Auto Supply.

In just over three weeks, Barkman had the Plymouth back on the road and looking like a new ride.

Today, the Plymouth continues to be a summer driver with a scant 61,000 miles on it and still running like a top, said Barkman, a member of the Manitoba Classic & Antique Automobile Club and the Manitoba Mopar Association.

"It's a nice-riding car. It goes down the road straight and level."

Barkman's Plymouth is a real piece of automotive history. Neither posh nor plain, it's a true representation of what the average family car was like in the late 1940s. Simple and reliable transportation was the order of the day, and it provided that with efficiency and roominess.

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