Plymouth Special Deluxe

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By the mid 1920s, Chrysler were worried that they were missing a trick by not having a competitor in the budget, mass-volume end of the market.

The solution was to introduce a completely new brand of their own, which they did in 1928 with the Plymouth. Priced slightly above Ford’s new ‘A’ and Chevrolet’s Superior, they were a bit more sophisticated than the cheaper opposition so didn’t have to fight for market share on price alone.

The new 1946 Deluxe came in four-door and coupe bodystyles, while the better equipped Special Deluxe also came as an attractive ‘woodie’ or convertible.

We are indebted to the owner for supplying the following description of how he and his wife acquired their 1949 Special Deluxe four-door saloon and how it was brought back to Herefordshire:

"Istanbul was home to many American classic cars, used both personally for status symbols and as shared taxis given their wide seats – ‘dolmus’ taxis. My wife and I spent some years working in Istanbul and conveniently for the purchase my wife was a Turkish national. After a lengthy search, I found this car in an old car workshop and my wife purchased it, for the sole intention of driving it back to the UK. It was acquired not for investment but to satisfy the desire for a romantic road trip across some of the more scenic parts of Europe and to prove that Turkey was indeed closer to Europe than conceived, being in drivable reach.

It was used by the Head of the Sariyer Municipality in Istanbul who drove around in it with a flag on the front. The banner and mini-mast are still with the car. The worry-beads wrapped around the mascot are there for good luck, like a St Christopher, and a wise buyer will not separate them from the car, just in case!

After cutting the considerable amount of red tape in Turkey, including the car registration department, the Ministry of Antiquities and Customs, we set off from the centre of Istanbul in mid June 1999. Around 12 days later we arrived in Herefordshire, in one piece and with no faults along the way. The car looked after us and we are eternally grateful - no doubt the worry beads played their part.

It took many months to prepare the route which had to avoid the Balkans which were still unstable due to the final stages of its civil war. From Istanbul we headed across Trakya to the heavily guarded Greek border at Ipsala. Thereafter we headed to the very remote but beautiful Kastoria, close to the Albanian border and then across some treacherous mountains to the equally beautiful Ioannia. Then up the Eastern side of Italy, to Sienna, and onto to Portofino.

Some French friends chaperoned us across the Alps into France and down the Durance valley to the Rhone. At Clermont-Ferrand we picnicked at a lake where I had proposed to my wife 3 years earlier. Thereafter through Le Mans to Cherbourg. We felt rather deflated once we hit the English motorways as the romance of the Continent was behind us. A joyful celebration took place on arrival in Herefordshire."

Since the summer of 1999, this fantastic car has been resting in various barns and will require some recommissioning work before it can start its next adventure. Although never registered in the UK, the correct paperwork is present which should allow the new owner to apply for a NOVA form and subsequent UK registration number. Bid with sufficient vigour and you too could inject some romance into your life!