Hemmings 1950 Plymouth

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, in the recent issue of Hemmings Classic car magazine there is an article on a 1950 Plymouth 2 door sedan.

Nice car and all, but they write that cruising speed is good up to 45 mph, then it gets nasty sounding. This car is equipped with a 3spd trans and 3.73 rearend, powered by a 218 Flattie. What is up with the 45 mph thing, is this common for the 50s Plymouth...........Fred

[Young Ed]

Not hardly. I have that exact setup in my 48. 45 is about time to shift to third

[55 Fargo]

Well thats what I figured , but in this article, they write that at 45 mph is a good top cruising speed, that that what people drove like in 1950, and the engine is humming good after 45 mph.

I asked my Dad what kind of speeds he drove on the highways in the late 40s and early 50s, he said he generally drove 55 to 60 mph, with cars built in the late 40s and early 50s.

I can remember my Dads brand new 1968 Olds Vista Cruiser with a 400 Rocket, man that car flew down the highway, he was always cruising at 70 to 75 mph, back then, that car could easily cruise at 80 to 85 mph all day................Fred

[Young Ed]

Fred I may have exaggerated a little but still 45 is by no means my top speed. I usually cruise about 60. I hit 75-80 once for a second.

[55 Fargo]

I have the 3.73 in my 47 Chrysler, will keep here at the 55 to 60 mph, as this engine has miles, do not want to push it too far................Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

My coupe will cruise nicely at 55 MPH and it has the 218 engine and 3.9 rearend in it. I've had it up there a few times without problems.

Was stationed at Granite City Army Depot in 1963 just across the river from St. Louis, MO. I use to drive to Louisville about every two weeks on the weekends in my 1952 Dodge. Thats roughly a 300 mile trip one way, and back then the road was just a two lane highway with speed limit of 55 MPH. I would hit every bit of the speed limit and maybe more each trip. So, I'd say 55 or 60 MPH is a good cruising speed for our cars. By the way, that car had 99,999 miles on it when I traded it in for a 58 Chevy, and it was still running good. Did need a new rear main seal at the time though.

[Shifticus]

right around 60 in my '53 is the medium between really winding up the motor and not being dangerously slow on southern california freeways.

[HalfdollarMayflower]

That doesn't sound quite right...my car has the 4.1 rear and I regularly cruise without much effort at 60. 65 is about my top end. As someone said, at 35-40 it's time to shift to 3rd.

[Normspeed]

I have a 218 and a 4.10. In high gear it loves 45 to 55. In OD, that's another matter.

[BobT-47P15]

On my speedo it looks like I'm going faster than I really am.

Since it's 15 mph off, 70 means about 55 mph.

45 to 55 is a comfortable speed in the ol '47.

[Plymouthy Adams]

good food for thought to people who read magazines and have no idea/experience with the real car...I find it funny..not that it is in error but that the John Q Public eats this up like a hog takes to slop...I truly wish they would rename their mag to; Barn Finds R Us and let the check writing owners bask in the sun amoung themselves....I think in the future radios and heaters whould be covered in great detail..

[Normspeed]

I've never seen an issue. Is it something that you get with a Hemmings Motor News subscription?

[bigred48]

My 48 pegs at a indicated 65 mph. I usually cruise at 50 mph, but at 30 to 40 mph the car just clicks along that is the range that it likes best.

[steveplym]

The 218 I just took out to replace with another 218 would run between 55-65mph easy. Cruise at 60 all day. Only took it out to replace it with a rebuilt engine as this motor would almost burn more oil than gas.