SOUTHERN BARN-FIND, COLLECTOR OWNED, ALL-STOCK, RUNS/DRIVES GREAT, ENTRY-LEVEL $

This sturdy little 1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe four door sedan is a recent barn find that's still stylish, reliable, and practical. With obvious patina, it's an affordable, fun way to get started in the greatest hobby on earth. There just aren't many solid, running, driving old cars that are cheaper than this.Finished in basic black, this upright little sedan has an old fashioned '40s look and just the right amount of patina to make it care-free. It hasn't been restored, obviously, but the finish is clinging to the bodywork well enough that if you like the patina you can safely leave it alone. Formal styling was par for the course at conservative Plymouth, and it's fun to realize that this was basic transportation for millions of people back in the day. It retains all its original chrome and trim, most of which is stainless steel so it can be buffed and polished to a high shine without an expensive trip to the chrome shop. The parts that are chrome, including the bumpers and sleek bullet-shaped hood ornament, show some light pitting but are in good enough shape to just leave them alone. It's not a show car, but the way it looks is appealing just the same and you'll never have to fret about bugs, rain, or dirt while having fun behind the wheel.The interior has newer seat covers on the seats that's in good condition, but it appears that the rest is completely original. Traditional patterns were used but nothing is over-done, keeping to the Plymouth's everyman theme. There's a surprisingly amount of room inside and the no-nonsense vibe is appealing today. Original carpets are showing their age, but replacements are cheap and easy to install, and the same might go for the headliner as well. Note that all the original garnish moldings and door hardware has been retained and while there's some flaking, it looks honest. The dash is full of dials with individual round housings for the various instruments, and this car carries accessories like an AM radio and under-dash heater/defroster, which were actually a big deal in the mid-40s. The trunk is lined in a piece of cast-off carpet and carries a full-sized spare, just in case.Plymouth's 95 horsepower 217 cubic inch inline-six is a big overachiever, delivering peppy performance around town thanks to a set of steep gears in back (back then there were no interstate highways and cars rarely saw more than 50 MPH). The engine bay is tidy and quite authentic, showing original parts like the oil bath air cleaner and 6-volt generator. Wearing proper silver paint, the engine runs beautifully with a wonderful mechanical sound that's sadly absent from our cars today. A big part of these cars' appeal lies in the way the machinery does its work, and enjoying one as it was built is a true pleasure. It's also surprisingly thrifty, and Plymouth advertisements of the day suggested that it was among the most economical new cars to operate. It fires up easily and idles with a nice six-cylinder grumble from the single exhaust. As a barn find, it was serviced, the brakes and suspension have new components throughout, and the 3-speed manual transmission shifts cleanly. These are really nice cars to drive! Finally, it's finished with fresh Goodyear radials on the original wheels, so get ready to hit the road.If your interests run to early Mopars, this Plymouth makes a fantastic starter collectable. Parts are still easy to find, it's easy to drive, and there are enthusiasts everywhere. This is a lot of car for not a lot of money. Call today!