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P 15 vs later models


pflaming

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pflaming, on 20 Dec 2014 - 11:10 AM, said:

As a casual observation it seems the pre '49 model cars are the favored years. Are they considered to be somewhat better built or is it the look? I prefer the 51 - 54's.

As this is the P-15, D-24 forum it does not surprise me that they are the favored cars here. If the early 50's cars are your favorite the old Plymouth forum favors the 49-52 cars and can be found at the following link

 

http://www.oldplymouths.com/forums/index.php?showforum=3

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The big difference between P15's and the years that follow to me are the separate choke and throttle vs the automatic choke, and the starter button vs turning the key to start. In the P15 you sit up a little higher and your seat is more like a living room couch. I also like the lighted hood ornament and the changing color on the speedometer as you reach more dangerous speeds. The P15 can do a u-turn on a 2 lane road. I like the newer cars too, but I like the P15's more.

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I believe they built a lot more P15's than any subsequent model. It ran over 3 years with no material changes. After that it was model changes every year, so fewer of any model produced. At least in the 50's.

 

I like the P15 because the parts are so available. They made a lot of spare parts because it ran so long in production. It's the kind of antique car a young engineer with a family could hope to keep running as a daily driver, because of that fact. Mine went over 65,ooo miles, and it had 170,000 total miles when I parked it.

 

Later 6 volt Plymouths were more aerodynamic looking, but not more reliable. Fortunately for those owners many of the P15 parts will still work on their cars too.

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A P-15 is a beautiful full figured woman.....anything after that is slab sided to me, 32 to 1st series 49 are my years....49 2nd series up to 58 yuck. 59 to 65 subjective by model.

66 thru 74, muscle or granny cars I love those ill fitted rust buckets with a passion!

Nothing that Chrysler has made after 1975 does a thing for me with the only exception being D-150 and W-300 pickups.

 

Sorry I expanded your parameter PP...

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Frank, no need to be sorry. my interest in cars is very recent so I have little clue of the details.  I grew up in the '50s so have experiences there and I grew up on a farm so I know basic mechanicals so detail now is becoming much more interesting. Old timers will have to put up with me, I like it here and I'm staying, questions, fires, little paint and all. 

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I like the P15's because the street rodders do.

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Frank, no need to be sorry. my interest in cars is very recent so I have little clue of the details.  I grew up in the '50s so have experiences there and I grew up on a farm so I know basic mechanicals so detail now is becoming much more interesting. Old timers will have to put up with me, I like it here and I'm staying, questions, fires, little paint and all. 

I'm glad you are staying Paul......Merry Christmas and happy New Year!

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Paul, you've been bitten by the mopar bug, and while owning a convertible will go far to ease the stigma of late-model ownership, in time you'll come to the same realization as those in-the-know.

 

P15's are the best   :cool:  and while all the other Plymouths are still wonderful cars by the mere fact of their evolution from and association with the P15, you must be prepared to withstand some earnest sympathy from P15 owners in general.

 

Also you may be asked to park a bit closer to the Port-A-San.  :rolleyes:

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I own a 1948 Dodge D25 Club coupe (same as a P15 but with Dodge trim) and a 1953 Plymouth. I love them both. Similar mechanicallly but different body wise. The 1953/54 Plymouths are looked down on by many but they really are very nice cars with a better ride than a P15. I am presently working on a 1951 Dodge D39 business coupe (same as a Plymouth) and am really looking forward to having it on the road. Each is unique in its own way and I love them all.

 

DSCN7445.jpg

 

1953Plymouth.jpg

 

DSCN8478.jpg

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R thse girls n th wl a Nadian? The cars are good looking too.

ps: I read an artilcle which showed that we only need a few letters in a word to recognize it. I tried that on the first previous sentence.

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I prefer the P15 design over the 2nd series 49's & up at least till the 57's thru the 61's or 62's.  After that (with a few exceptions) none of them do anything for me.  I also like the P15 over the D24 because of the older look.  (The front fender lines on the Dodge ease back into the doors, where as the Plymouth's front fenders keep their shape completely ahead of the doors.)  

 

As far as the ride quality between the postwar vehicles and the early 50's is concerned, what could create any difference, unless the center of gravity is a bit lower on the later models?  I have the front suspension out of a 53 Cranbrook under my 49 P15, and I'm pretty sure there is no difference at all.  I was going to put the rear end out of the Cranbrook under it, too, but the saddles were at a different place.  I'm pretty sure that the track is the same, but I might be wrong on that.

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there are those that argue that the 114 WB introduced with the P24 actually is a better riding chassis as compared to the 118 of the previous years...with exception to the 111 WB as they also seem to drive a tad better...the 114 is a good balance between the two earlier WB's available..

 

with that aside..the preference is mainly one of personal attraction only....I love the looks of the 62 Dodge Dart/Polara..but many hate them..and toher like the larger 62 Chryslers wehre I do not care for them at all..

 

it is only an anrguement when one pits his choice over that over than of another owners choice..what is the point...you like what you like..they like what they like...get over it ...just learn to hate Chevies and the world is better place..

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LIke Greg, of the 40's the 41 Dodge and the P15's are the rage..the huge fender roll into the door of the D24 is a detracting feature in my eyes...and yes I own a D24...of the 60's I tried my best to locate a 64 Dodge...I always loved that rear lighting...the upper class trim line...but could not find one.  While helping another person with a Roadrunner I came across a  65 Dodge Coronet 500...big block, console and buckets,,,factory...that I bought...but it took me over a year to convince the guy to sell..in my opinion the Dodge line up always had a better dress (rear panel and grille) on them than the Plymouth..but we could argue this stuff all day..

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 . . . unless the center of gravity is a bit lower on the later models? . . .

 

The mantra up through the early 70's was "longer, lower, & wider".

 

Every year car were generally getting longer, lower, & wider.

 

Shorter & often wider wheels were a real factor in that.

 

I have some 12" Valiant wheels somewhere. That'll bring the CG down. ;)

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...in my opinion the Dodge line up always had a better dress (rear panel and grille) on them than the Plymouth..but we could argue this stuff all day..

 

The one thing I've never loved about my P15 is the grille.

 

When I disassembled it I looked all over for "Tonka" logos. It's a wart on a lovely design,and not because of it's basic artistic design, but because the manufacture is so obviously cheap.

 

Then I took a good look at the grille of every other typical '47 car. Only two look better to me, & that's DeSoto & Cadillac.

I thought I'd like the Canadian grille on mine (Plydo style ;) ) but I really like it less than the P15 grille, if from an asthetic point.

 

From a practical standpoint it's probably much sturdier and a better grille, as is the US style Dodge grille.

 

Anyhow I've always thought the stamped tin look of the P15 grille was designed to look cheap on purpose, just to make status-conscious people buy a more expensive Dodge. It's the only thing I've truly and honestly disliked about a car that, in nearly stock form, repeatedly earned my respect as a well built and well engineered car.

 

That grille is the main thing I wish to customize on Edith d' Plymouth, rather than merely mend. But evidently it's a difficult feat to pull off. I've never seen a custom P15 grille that I really liked so far.

Edited by Ulu
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Argh...cross posting....

 

To me one of the best features of a P-15 is the grill.

 

I like the shape just fine.

 

But it looks like tin when you get close. Thin and flimsy

 

Also the fascia panel behind it is a flimsy bit of swiss cheese.

 

Without the trim to stiffen it, it'd flap in the wind.   :lol:

Edited by Ulu
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To me one of the best features of a P-15 is the grill.

 

For me it's the fenders and the ogee bodywork. Really every bit of the body except the grille and & I thing the styling on the club coupe greenhouse is a masterpiece.

 

<Edit: Is there some way to delete a post here without the admin? I got crossed up a bit.>

Edited by Ulu
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Ulu, on 22 Dec 2014 - 6:39 PM, said:

I think I said that.

And you also said this.....T

 

that grille is the main thing I wish to customize on Edith d' Plymouth, rather than merely mend. But evidently it's a difficult feat to pull off. I've never seen a custom P15 grille that I really liked so far

 

By your very words, you just not have gotten around to making the change....so that means you have the desire to make a grille mod...only thing else it says is that you have not found one to copy yet...

 

As for flimsy...I can only assume your metal grille shell is rusted out..maybe the lower ends of the fenders rotted...if they are not I cannot seen the flimsy attribute you refer to...

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