Looking at a 48 business coupe

[Ian r hall]

Hello from the Uk

Always liked the look of Plymouth coupes, a business coupe has come up quite near to me. I haven't seen the car in person only pics so far. It's a business coupe so has no back seat, this is an issue for me, could I fit a rear seat?

Has 218 motor, 3 speed with o/d. What are these like in modern traffic, over here on the motorway(sorry freeway) everyone is doing 70-80mph, think that might be asking a bit much!

What about period tuning parts, what's worth doing.

Any links to pics of nice subtle restorod cars

Thanks

Ian

[BobT-47P15]

Hello Ian...........welcome. 

You would have to either make a rear seat, or find something from another vehicle that would fit. 

Not impossible, but you have to go to a little effort to accomplish.

 

Tune-up parts, and other things are available - some thru your local auto parts store, some thru e-Bay, and

some thru certain old MoPar vendors.

 

There are some members here from the U K with Plymouth P15s who will hopefully chime in and give you some further information.

 

carnut.com has some pictures of street rod type Plymouths.  Link to the index.....http://carnut.com/photo/list/list.html

Edited January 22, 2013 by BobT-47P15

[greg g]

might suggest you contact forum member Robin who lives near London ad has a P15 Convertible.  He is knowagable on the vehicles and the hop up parts and suitability in your traffic.  Depending on the distances involved you may talk him into a trip to inspect the vehicle with you.  I have a 46 Bussiness Coupe, and there is room behind the back seat, about 15 inches depending on where the front seat is positioned, and the boot bulkhead.  Earlier series cars had what was called an ASC option.  As in Auxilliary seat.  These folded down from the sides and provided jump seat space for an occasional adult and maybe a kid or two.  I have seen a couple bodged jobs hear where folks have hacked up the bulkhead fabed another on further back and added a minivan seat or similar.  My opinion is that they always look wierd despite the workmanship involved.  Perhaps if the car was given a street rod treatment and a completely new interior was designed in and integrated it may work.   The club coupe has a longer roof line and a designed rear seat, if that design bettter suits your needs you would probably be setter served to find one of those.  However if the old car bug has you, just grab this one to satify your urge while you look for a club coupe.   As fars as suitability I have driven my car with stock trans ( non OD) and 4.1 to 1 rear end on many trips to distant locations.  I usually stay off the Motorway unless it the only way around, and keep at an indicated 65 or 70 which is actually a bit slower by GP reading.  Brakes are more the concern than get up and go. Diics brake convercions are availbel for the fronts. There are a couple of approaches to making highe cruising speeds more comfortable for the drive train.  Lower rear gears through a swaped in more modern rear end, adding a 5speed OD transmission, ar as simple as taller tires.  The OD transimission will actuall serve you well and does well on the open highway. 

 

Welcome to the forum, keep us posted on what transpires.

[randroid]

Ian,

 

Welcome!  In answer to your first question, the OD gives a 1:1.3 decrease in engine RPM so the flathead sixes have no trouble maintaining 70 mph.  With a 318 (depending on the rear end ratio) you should be able to make any cop either very happy or very angry.

 

-Randy

[cornwall classics]

Hi Ian, i am in cornwall and have a 1948 dodge club coupe that i am thinking of selling if you are interested ?

[cornwall classics]

Ian my email is grahamcook@live.co.uk if you are interested in the dodge, i will send you some pics as i cant seem to load them on this reply.