Plymouth Cranbrook

The Plymouth Cranbrook was produced from 1951 through 1953. It served as a replacement for the Special Deluxe, and in 1954, it was succeeded by the Plymouth Belvedere.

The Cranbrook was similar to the Concord and the Cambridge but with a higher trim level. It was named after a city in British Columbia or possibly after Cranbrook Drive in Detroit (a street that intersected with Cambridge Avenue).

From 1951 through 1952, the wheelbase size measured 118.5 inches. In 1953, the size shrunk to 114 inches. Power the engine was a six-cylinder 3.6-liter unit that produced nearly 100 horsepower. The exterior styling was conservative and practical, with enough room from the driver to sit upright while wearing a hat. In 1953, the styling was updated with sleeker and more modern styling. The windshield became a one-piece unit, and the door handles pulled out instead of twisting. The gas cap was moved to under the trunk lid.

During its first year of production, the Cranbrook proved to be a popular model, accounting for 586,547 sales. The majority of those came from the Sedan and Club coupe models. Other body styles available at the time included a hardtop coupe and a convertible. The Convertible, which sold for $2,225, was an exclusive body style in the Cranbrook level trim.

In 1954, the Plymouth names were switched to those of upscale hotels. The Cranbrook became the Belvedere.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2010