New here, 1951 Cranbrook

[dpollo]

[casper50]

nice

[Ken_B]

Put some more miles on it yesterday, seems to drive better every time I take it out! Definitely just need to be driven and used, it did a lot of sitting with the previous owner and what fun it that? Plus it got the seal of approval from the old lady, she likes it much better than my old Valiant.

 

Also, very sharp looking car there dpollo!

Edited March 19, 2016 by Ken_B

[dpollo]

Thank you for the kind words.  My convertible  was a basket case when I bought it back in the 70's.  I have , since restoration, driven it over 50 000 miles through BC Alberta, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon and have never tired of it.  The recent  re restoration corrected some amateurish work and  now the car is really superb   There is something about this era  that goes to the heart of what I hold dear.

 

A President Truman kind of car.   " Here I am, here's what I will do, the buck stops here."

[Niel Hoback]

   I feel my Plymouth has an attitude also. "Get in, I'll take you where you want to go and bring you back home, no problem, that's what I'm made to do."  Doing what you're supposed to do is very "Truman" like. 

[dpollo]

I explored the Truman era a little more in an article featuring the 51 Plymouth in the November/December 01 issue of the Plymouth Bulletin.  HST was a fan of Chrysler's products and owned a number of them both before and after his presidency. His 53 New Yorker was recently found but at last report was not for sale. Two 41s, a coupe and a sedan, both grey, are in the Presidential Library museum in Independence MO. 

It surprises me how this thread has generated  so many responses. Thanks Ken for starting it.  Perhaps you will venture up the peninsula and cross to Victoria where I would be pleased to give you a garage tour.  

[Ken_B]

Time for a little update. I have really been enjoying driving this car and tinkering with it! In my spare time lately I built a new mount for the alternator so it actually fits well and has proper adjustment, I dialed in the carburetor and adjusted the timing, adjusted the clutch, installed new universal joints(thanks for the info about what type to get!), and have been putting more miles on it! My Grandfather was in town yesterday so he finally got a chance to see the car and take it out for a drive. He was all smiles and really enjoyed the car. It really took him back to his younger days, he felt right at home in it and I have to say was more smooth than I am behind the wheel. I had to grab a couple pictures of that so here they are. Please ignore my messy garage in the background haha.

 

 

[Niel Hoback]

He does look at home there, but Mopars have a way of making people feel at home.

[dpollo]

He is a Natural behind that big steering wheel.   dp

[newwife]

Link to engine number list

 

I would check the engine number stamped on the side of the engine.  I know nothing about the Canadian engines but if it starts with D, dodge, T dodge truck, P Plymouth

 

I had a 1952 Cranbrook for 2 years while I was rebuilding a 1956 Chevy. I also have a 1948 Dodge Power Wagon.  The Cranbrook was a clean, although non original restoration. When I first got it, it had an exhaust leak. When I was removing the carb to get to removing the manifolds, I discovered that the carb was not bolted down tight. It lifted up off the intake manifold slightly. Talk about a vacuum but it still ran great. I drove it from San Jose to Monterey for a Plymouth club drive then on to Big Sur.  Car ran great. I sold it one I bought the power wagon and another guy above San Francisco is enjoying it.

 

Cranbrook photo link    http://imageevent.com/scott56/1952plymouthcranbrook?n=0