The Plymouth De Luxe and Special De Luxe were full-sized cars produced by Plymouth for the 1933–1942 and 1946–1950 model years. For most of that time the De Luxe was the marque’s principal model, with the Special De Luxe as its best-equipped version.
Plymouth De Luxe at a glance
| Maker | Plymouth (Chrysler Corporation) |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1933–1942 and 1946–1950 |
| First model | Deluxe Model PD, 1933 |
| Wheelbase | 112 in (2,845 mm) |
| Predecessor | Plymouth Six Model PC, 107 in wheelbase |
| Lower models | Plymouth Six, Business Six, Roadking |
| Trims from 1941 | De Luxe and Special De Luxe |
| Engine, 1946 | 217.8 cu in (3.6 L) straight six, 95 bhp |
| Engine, 1949 | 217.8 cu in straight six, 97 bhp |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the De Luxe, which is short.
History of the Plymouth De Luxe
The Plymouth Deluxe Model PD appeared in 1933, shortly after the Plymouth Six Model PC, the company’s first six-cylinder car. Where the PC rode on a 107-inch wheelbase, the De Luxe had 112 inches, and it was sold as the upscale alternative to the Plymouth Six of 1933–1934, the Business Six of 1935–1938 and the Roadking of 1938–1940.
The hierarchy changed at the start of the 1940s. In 1941 the Roadking name was dropped for the low-trim Plymouths, which were referred to as P11 and not renewed for 1942, which left the De Luxe as the entry-level Plymouth. From 1941 to 1950 the car was offered in two trim levels, the De Luxe and the top-of-the-line Special De Luxe.
The engine in 1946 was Plymouth’s 217.8 cu in straight six developing 95 bhp, and in 1949 it was upgraded to 97 bhp. Production stopped for the war years and resumed for 1946, and the line continued until 1950, after which Plymouth renamed its range again, with the Cranbrook and Cambridge taking over for 1951.
Design and features
- Six-cylinder motoring: the De Luxe was built around Plymouth’s flathead straight six.
- Longer wheelbase: 112 inches against the 107 of the first Plymouth Six.
- Two trims: from 1941 buyers could choose the De Luxe or the better-equipped Special De Luxe.
- Range mainstay: once the Roadking was dropped, the De Luxe became Plymouth’s entry model.
Plymouth De Luxe versions
- Deluxe Model PD (1933): the first De Luxe, on the longer 112-inch chassis.
- De Luxe (1941–1950): the standard trim of the two-level range.
- Special De Luxe (1941–1950): the top trim level, with the best equipment.
- P11 low-trim cars (1941): the last of the cheap Plymouths before the De Luxe took that role.
The De Luxe gave way to the Cranbrook and Cambridge in 1951, and it sat above the Roadking in the late 1930s. More cars are in the Plymouth collection.
Video: 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe Business Coupe – Jay Leno’s Garage
Video by Jay Leno’s Garage on YouTube.
Sources
- Plymouth De Luxe, English Wikipedia: model years, wheelbases, trims, engines
