Best 54 in 73

[greg g]

A laughing Mrs. Edith Hild practices the time-honored tradition of testing tires as she kicks the front tire of her 1954 Plymouth Savoy parked at Steven Motor Company, Chrysler and Plymouth dealers, located on South Tacoma Way. The low-mileage sedan was originally purchased from Steven Motor and faithfully maintained there. Mrs. Hild, a retired schoolteacher, was the national winner for the owner of the best 1954 Plymouth. Her Savoy would be given to singer Johnny Cash in exchange for the keys to a 1973 Plymouth. Cash had always admired the '54 Savoy model, a car that he and his brother had owned at the start of Cash's singing career.

[fstfish66]

did the car burn up when cash,s house burned down???

[thrashingcows]

Just wondering where you are getting all these pics Greg??

Very cool pics though and appreciate you taking the time to post them and share with the rest of us.

[greg g]

Tacoma Washington Public Library photo archive. there are hundreds of thousands of them in a searchable data base.

[Niel Hoback]

I was just thinking again, I know, thats dangerous, but I've had 50's Plymouths and 70's Plymouths. I'm not sure Mrs. Hild got the better deal there Personally, I'd rather have the '54.

I wonder what she thinks of the trade now.

[Young Ed]

I was thinking the same thing Niel. Wonder what model she got in 73? If she got a fullsize I'd say she did ok but otherwise probably not so good. I'm pretty sure the Johnny Cash movie got this wrong and showed them driving all over in a 53.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I believe she got a Sebring..

[Young Ed]

Fury Gran coupe. http://www.allpar.com/history/plymouth/johnny-cash.html

[Plymouthy Adams]

thanks Ed..had been so long ago I read that story..

[P-12 Tommy]

Cool story! Thanks guys!

Tom

[Niel Hoback]

That kind of bothered me from the start, the movie does show them in a 53. Yeah, I'm going with my original thought, I'd keep the 54.

[BobT-47P15]

did the car burn up when cash,s house burned down???

No......the house was empty and being worked on at the time of the fire.

It had been purchased after the deaths of Johnnie and June by Barry

Gibb of the BeeGees. Remodeling and preservation work was in progress

and some of the material being used caused the fire. Per an article on

the net.

Link to a story about how the Plymouth gift to Cash began and more.......http://wnws.com/newstalk/?p=2283

Was a nice looking car.......

Edited February 22, 2010 by BobT-47P15

[1940plymouth]

Greg,

Thanks for posting where you have found these photos, I have spent the last hour and a half going thru them, still haven't seen the bulk of them.

Bob