The Plymouth Plaza was produced by Plymouth from the 1954 through 1958 model years. It was Plymouth’s entry-level car in those years, priced under the Plymouth Savoy and known as the marque’s “price leader”.
Plymouth Plaza at a glance
| Maker | Plymouth (Chrysler Corporation) |
|---|---|
| Model years | 1954–1958 |
| Position | entry-level model, below the Savoy |
| Bodies | sedan, coupe and station wagon |
| Trim | minimal, with plain cloth-and-vinyl upholstery |
| Main buyers | fleets such as police departments, and budget private buyers |
| 1958 range | widest choice of options to date |
| 1958 Business Coupe | 1,472 built, rear seat optional |
| 1958 production | 94,728 cars |
| Replaced by | Savoy, which moved down to entry level for 1959 |
History of the Plymouth Plaza
The Plaza filled the bottom of Plymouth’s range for five model years, below the Savoy and the Belvedere. It came as a sedan, a coupe and a wagon, and its minimal trim, plain cloth-and-vinyl upholstery and limited option list made it attractive mainly to fleet buyers such as police departments, where luxury and comfort were not priorities. Private customers on a budget could still order a full-size Plymouth with a V8 engine and automatic transmission.
In 1958 the Plaza offered buyers the widest choice of options to date, with equipment previously reserved for the more expensive lines available on the Plaza for the first time. The Business Coupe was the least produced Plymouth of that year at 1,472 units and differed from the regular two-door Club Sedan in that its rear seat was an optional extra.
The Silver Special
Plymouth also added a special edition to the Plaza range in 1958. Based on the Plaza Club Sedan, the Silver Special had silver paint on the roof and in the Sportone inserts, a short stainless steel spear that accented the front wings and ran part-way into the front doors, and “Forward Look” emblems on the rear fins instead of the usual Plaza scripts. It is not known how many of the 94,728 Plazas built in 1958 carried the Silver Special package, but they are believed to be very rare.
For 1959 Plymouth discontinued the Plaza and moved the Savoy name down to its entry-level model.
Design and features
- Price leader: the cheapest way into a new Plymouth, with plain trim and few options.
- Full-size body: the same room as the more expensive Plymouths, with a V8 and automatic available to order.
- Fleet appeal: widely bought by police departments and other fleets.
- Silver Special: a 1958 appearance package with silver roof and Forward Look emblems.
Plymouth Plaza versions
- Plaza sedan (1954–1958): the main four-door body.
- Plaza coupe and Club Sedan: two-door models, including the stripped Business Coupe.
- Plaza wagon (1954–1958): the estate version of the entry-level line.
- Silver Special (1958): the special-edition Club Sedan with silver paint and Forward Look emblems.
The Plaza sat below the Savoy and the Belvedere, and it was replaced by the Savoy in 1959. More cars are in the Plymouth collection.
Video: 1955 PLYMOUTH PLAZA, ORIGINAL SURVIVOR 4- DOOR
Video by 55lincoln on YouTube.
Sources
- Plymouth Plaza, English Wikipedia: model years, bodies, 1958 options, Silver Special
