1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe

The 217.8 cubic-inch inline-6 cylinder engine powering the 1947 Plymouth automobiles resided in a chassis with a 117-inch wheelbase and measured 196.75-inches long (the station wagons were slightly larger than 195 inches). Two models were offered, the lower-priced Deluxe Six offered as a coupe, club coupe, and two- and four-door sedan, and the slightly more expensive Deluxe Six offered in a broader range of body styles. Both the Deluxe and Special Deluxe were nearly identical except the ladder received slightly more standard accouterments and exterior trim. The Special Deluxe also had a convertible and station wagon body style.

The world was divided during the second world war, but it shared a common quest to construct military supplies and machinery in support of those efforts. When peacetime resumed, America and its returning G.I.'s were eager to return to the road behind the wheel of an all-new automobile. What they found when entering dealerships were mildly updated versions of the pre-war models. Civilian automobile production had ceased in the U.S. in 1942, and when it resumed after the war, manufacturers frantically worked to meet the pent-up demand. Transforming their factories and training their labor force to produce road-going vehicles took time, and material shortages caused even more delays. Thus, the public was eager to accept anything that rolled off the factory floor.

Like others, the Plymouth vehicles of 1946 were refined versions of their 1942 products, with slight updates to their chassis, interior, and new fenders and grille. The Deluxe Six and Special Deluxe Six would remain in production through 1948 (they continued into the early part of 1949 but were carry-over models and identical to the 1948s), with all-new products arriving in March of 1949, again wearing the Deluxe Six and Special Deluxe Six nomenclature.

The 1947 Plymouth automobiles were priced in the low-$1,000 range. They had attractive styling, a 95 horsepower engine, and well-equipped with All-Weather ventilation, sealed beam headlights, air-cooled soft action clutch, calibrated knock-free igntion, Hotchkiss drive, Oilite gas filter, and rubber-mounted steering gear. They had a 'Mayflower' emblem with light-up plastic lens on the rear deck, and the 'Plymouth Deluxe' nameplate ('Special Deluxe' nameplate on the Special Deluxe) on the hood below the beltline trim.

The Special Deluxe was priced approximately $70 higher than Deluxe and added bright metal moldings around the windshield instead of the black rubber windshield frame. They had sun visors, glovebox lock, rear window vents on the sedans, dual windshield wipers, and rear bumper fender guards. Upholstery options included pencil stripe broadcloth or soft pile fabrics. The convertibles had genuine leather seats and the station wagons received leather-like upholstery. White ash wood framing and dark maple paneling were used on the exterior of the station wagon.

The pricing for the 1947 Plymouth Special Deluxes was $1,205 for the coupe, $1,265 for the club coupe, $1,240 for the two-door sedan, and $1,290 for the four-door sedan. The convertible was priced at $1,565 and the station wagon at $1,770. The station wagon was available only as an eight-passenger vehicle with three rows of seating, however, the second and third row could be removed to create a large cargo area.

Plymouth production rose by approximately 45% in 1947, from 242,534 units in the shortened 1946 model year (the 1946 Plymouths were introduced in February) to 350,327 units in 1947.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2012