1929 Plymouth Model U

The Plymouth, officially called the Chrysler-Plymouth, was introduced to the world on July 7th of 1928 at Madison Square Garden, with Amelia Earhart driving the first car into the arena. 66,097 examples were produced and nearly 60,000 examples were sold that year, increasing to 108,345 examples produced the following year, earning it 10th place in national sales. Despite its youth, a Plymouth Model U broke the world's endurance record after being driven nonstop for 632 hours and 36 minutes before being voluntarily stopped. During the time, the car covered 11,419 miles and received service during operation.

Plymouth shared the Chrysler/DeSoto production facilities at the Highland Park assembly plant in Michigan while it waited for a new factory to be constructed. The popularity of Plymouth automobiles meant the construction of the Lynch Road plant in Detroit was given top priority, with work continuing through the harsh winter conditions. While being built, assembly line workers built new cars in the partially completed structure, as it was literally built around them.

Plymouth's first model, the Model Q, was replaced in 1929 by the Model U. It was similar to its predecessor but was devoid of the 'Chrysler' prefix (1928 Plymouths were called Chrysler-Plymouth). The engine continued to be a four-cylinder unit, although the 170.3 CID displacement in the Model Q was increased 175.4 CID in the model U, however, horsepower remained at 45 hp at 2,800 RPM. It used three main bearings, solid valve lifters, and a Carter carburetor. The distributor was relocated to a vertical position and the exhaust pipe was moved to the forward side of the engine. The transmission was a three-speed manual sliding gear unit with floor shift controls, spur gears, and a single plate, dry disc clutch. Hydraulic brakes were on all four wheels.

Body styles included a rumble seat roadster, tourer, two- and four-door sedan, Deluxe sedan, Deluxe rumble seat coupe, and a business coupe. Prices decreased slightly from 1928, now ranging from $655 to $745. Both the Model Q and the Model U had the same wheelbase size of 109.75-inches and a length of 169-inches.

The Plymouth Model U wore the 'Plymouth' name on the radiator medallion, had mushroom-shaped hubcaps, two-piece rounded bumpers, and Twilite headlamps.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020