California's love story with the Hot Rod began in the 1930s, on Mojave Desert Dry Lake beds, where mass-produced, hopped-up Fords (and the occasional Olds, Chevy, or Buick) competed for top speed honors. After WWII, young men modified scores of cars to race on dirt oval tracks, on the salt, the lakes and--later--on abandoned air strips, where the quarter mile drags as we know them today were born. None of these kids could afford a Duesenberg or even a Cadillac; instead, they tinkered with plain-jane factory Roadsters. If you wanted to run a Coupe at the Lakes, you had to join the Russetta Timing Association.
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Sixty years later, hot rodding has turned into a billion-Dollar industry, with plastic replicas of the most popular body styles churned out by the thousands. A certain backlash to these belly-button replica Rods--usually painted in bright easter-egg colors and sporting the ubiquitous "350/350" engine/trans combo--exists among "traditionalists" building so-called "Rat Rods" resembling the rough-hewn, low-buck jalopies from the early days of the hobby.
"Avoid the Boyd!"
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Every once in a while, a true, old-time Hot Rod emerges from an extended period of slumber in someone's barn or garage, giving us a glimpse into the world of those early rodders. The all steel '33 Plymouth 5-window Coupe featured here is such a rare example. Completed in the late 1950s, the car apparently was first campaigned on the track, a quarter mile at a time, and later driven on the street, until it was put into long-term storage after its owner was drafted to join the U.S. forces in Vietnam.
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When I learned of the hibernating '33 Plymouth Coupe being for sale, I knew I had to have it. Negotiations ensued, a deal was quickly struck and pronto, the dusty car arrived in my driveway.
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It's a rare 1933 Plymouth PD DeLuxe Rumble Seat Coupe, one of 20,821 built, 74 years ago! It's currently licensed to the original, unrestored, black-and-orange 1933 Y.O.M. plates seen in the picture above, which will stay with the car, should it remain in California.
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After a thorough cleaning, the suicide-door Coupe looks very nice, indeed! Its all-steel body never suffered from serious rust cancer, doors and hoods fit beautifully, and original steel fenders still grace the car. The antique white paint is very smooth, with some age-induced imperfections and touch-ups, notably the rear valance. Overall, the Plymouth displays a wonderfully patinated look. Its finish could be polished to a fine luster, however, I chose to leave it "as found."
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All of the lettering had been applied manually by a talented sign painter and shows a few signs of age; in some places, it's been polished thin.
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On the mechanical side, it was necessary to invest some serious time and money. Six weeks of dawn-to-dusk labor and $8,000.00 later, she runs and drives better than new! The early-1960s Oldsmobile Rocket V-8 engine and GM Hydramatic transmission were in excellent condition, just the completely gummed-up carburetor and fuel pump had to be replaced (I chose an EDELBROCK 625 cfm electric choke model, which works perfectly), the sloppy shift linkage had to be rebuilt, and a new alternator and battery were installed.
Brakes and suspension were a different story. Wanting my car to drive and stop as good as possible, while retaining its original design, I started by reversing the front spring shackles. One thing lead to another, and soon the archaic steering gear--apparently installed by a blacksmith more familiar with horse-drawn carriages--had been replaced completely, including the center link, drag link, pitman arm, king pins, column joints, and steering box. With new tubular shocks all around and an added steering dampener, this original tube-axle car tracks as straight and true as a late model. The Chevy S-10 manual gearbox truly gives the feel of power steering. Amazing!
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I insisted on keeping the original drum brakes all around for that "trad" look. For optimum stopping power, everything was meticulously rebuilt, including new pads, wheel cylinders, brake hoses, and lines. The puny single master was replaced by a power-assisted dual circuit master cylinder; a MoPar brake proportioning valve was added. This '33 not only looks right, it also stops on a dime!
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Unblemished, 1966-vintage, gleaming CRAGAR chrome 5-spokes are pit free. Fronts wear brand new SEMPERIT Sprint Classic rubber of the size 165 HR 15, rears show off a pair of original 275/60-15 PRO TRAC 60 Racing Profile tires, straight from Coolsville.
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Dual air conditioning: opening front and rear windows for optimum ventilation. Low factory roof gives Plymouth a "chopped" appearance. Chrome windshield frame and black top insert are in terrific condition. Windshield wiper works.
Let's take a look inside now!
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Rolls and pleats are everywhere, even on dash and sun visors, stitched with a black-and-white thread that has not been available in decades. Original instrument cluster with oil pressure, ammeter, fuel, and temp gauges is fully functional; the speedometer quit last week @ 33,006 miles. Even the dash lights work!
Cylindrical, under-dash heater was removed, but it's included, along with a spare unit I purchased on eBay.
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White interior, created almost 50 years ago, remains in a superb state of preservation.
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Check out the custom Tuck 'n Roll door panels and headliner! There are no rips or tears anywhere.
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Rumble seat features matching upholstery. Locking deck lid handle still works perfectly.
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Rear view reveals ancient, rudimentary "wheelie bars" that are spring-loaded, as well as a hand-made aluminum push bumper. Priceless!
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While we're down and low already, let's check out the undercarriage.
What you see is 74 year-old steel, virginal, unmolested, free of rust, undercoating, and any kind of spray can artistry. Mind boggling? It sure is!
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Built during the reign of cars like Don Montgomery's and Mooneyham & Sharp's Fuel Coupes, before the advent of the 1960s Willys and Anglia gassers, this Plymouth is an utterly streetable Hot Rod today. I've driven it regularly from my home in Santa Barbara to work in Ventura this summer, a 75-mile round trip; the car has been fast, safe, and 100% trouble-free.
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Column-shifter for the automatic tranny adds leg room, the bullet tach looks as good as it works. All lights and turn signals are functional, too. This Rod starts, idles, runs, steers, handles, and stops with the best of 'em. Apart from an occasional drip from the rear transmission seal, there are no leaks. Even during the California summer, the car never overheated.
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Subtle early touches abound, such as the 1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan taillights. Most casual observers seem to mistake this Hot Rod for a Ford, by the way. To those I say: "Dare to be different" -- an Olds-powered Plymouth 5-window definitely creates quite a stir, wherever you take it.
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The all-steel Plymouth presented here certainly is one of the most original, period Hot Rods in existence. At the 2006 Barrett-Jackson auction, Don Tognotti's sympathetically restored Ford "Avenger," another early Sixties Hot Rod, sold for $216,000.00. You may be able to build another Rod of this caliber if you spend a ton of money, however, you will never be able to duplicate the authenticity of vehicles like the Avenger or the FoMoCo Freighter we've sold in 2006. These unique, historically significant automobiles are finally receiving the recognition they deserve, being proudly displayed in their own class at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
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Addendum:
This 1933 Plymouth sold in November 2007 to a car enthusiast in Phoenix, Arizona.