When new in 1947, did they came with blackwall tires as standard equipment?

[central52]

Were original 1947 Plymouths equipped with blackwall tires as standard, and whitewalls, as optional? Or were they all whitewall equipped, or all blackwall?

Since I'm going to buy new tires for my 47 Coupe, I was wondering which way I should go? Ed P.

[vanbuskirk]

My information was that Plymouths came in blackwalls only. You had to buy a Dodge if you wanted whitewalls. Bob

[PatS....]

I think they were a dealer installed option like the heaters or radios. I'm sure they would be "correct" if installed.

[Tim Frank]

I worked at a tire shop in the summers duruing the '70s.

Just pre-radial era.

At that time, blackwall tires were readily available and slightly cheaper....although I was shown that the whitewall was "built-in" already, there was just a final operation that trimmed the covering layer off to reveal it. That accounts for the extra cost of w/w (extra manufacturing operation).

Anyone know if this was the same in the age of our cars?

[BobT-47P15]

I think they all came with blackwall tires. You could order the white metal

trim rings that made them appear to have whites

, like in this ad. Or go to the tire store

direct from the dealership....to have the blacks replaced with whites.

You used to hear the term "new car takeoffs" at the tire shops....they were

always virtually new tires with low mileage, and were a bit cheaper than new

ones. I used to look for those years ago.

[David Maxwell]

...regarding original equipment and dealer options. The standard delivery from the manufacturing plant would be blackwall tires with optional plastic simulated whitewalls (metal ones were after-market). You could, as was mentioned, order the whitewalls from the dealer and they would swap them out for you. A common practice, as it still is today, was for a dealer to order whatever they could from the manufacturer (often they were told what they would get as there was far more demand than supply) and then they would trade cars with other dealers depending upon customer choices. The link below shows cars Plymouth and Dodge cars being shipped form one dealer to another in 1947. Note that the 4-door Plymouth has whitewall tires while the Plymouth Convertible has the simulated plastic whitewalls. The Dodge has whitewalls.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v455/bojeta/40s%2050s%20Photos/?action=view&current=118.jpg

[randroid]

Gents,

I'm amazed that the question ever arose. Some of us, no doubt, sprang full-grown from the mind of God and thereby avoided the trials and tribulations of childhood, but I took the long way around. When a teenager and trying not to get caught committing these tribulations, ergo avoiding the cumbersome trials, I learned that unmarked cops could be spotted by their $#lt-box cars sporting minimal trim, dinky hubcaps, and black wall tires. In most places I've seen since I found the error of my ways (read: never got caught and it suddenly became important for me not to) they are still the same stand-out crappy drives, b\w's included.

Anybody else ever notice this?

-Randy

[Don Coatney]

Gents,

I'm amazed that the question ever arose. Some of us, no doubt, sprang full-grown from the mind of God and thereby avoided the trials and tribulations of childhood, but I took the long way around. When a teenager and trying not to get caught committing these tribulations, ergo avoiding the cumbersome trials, I learned that unmarked cops could be spotted by their $#lt-box cars sporting minimal trim, dinky hubcaps, and black wall tires. In most places I've seen since I found the error of my ways (read: never got caught and it suddenly became important for me not to) they are still the same stand-out crappy drives, b\w's included.

Anybody else ever notice this?

-Randy

Like you I never got caught. Same reasoning. Same observations.

[JIPJOBXX]

I kind of remember that you could tell a cop car at night by the headlights. You could tell it was a cop by the brightness of the headlights because of a heaver duty charging system. Jon

[claybill]

copcars had spotlights and mini hubcaps , one color.

bill

[Niel Hoback]

And that infamous gumball machine on the roof.

[49roadster]

I am a retired cop. We had marked cars, unmarked cars ( same as marked but hidden lights no markings and various colors) and then undercover cars which we bought from Hertz, Avis etc. My last three cars were all Thunderbirds, Two red one white. All with Fancy wheels, stereo air, etc. We also used Cameros, Mustangs, Toyota and what ever you could think of.

The unmarked cars were driven by uniformed officers and had exempt plates like the marked cars. The undercover cars had civilian plates and were only driven by non uniformed personal. By the way if you check DMV for the plates on unmarked car you will get the reply "not on file" and the agency that owns the car will be notified that someone has been checking on the plate. (I didn't pay my parking tickets)

[Plymouthy Adams]

came through a roadblock coming home from Louman's last night..the cops had all these cute little flashing red and blue lighted discs on the side of the road with little siren sounds..best parts is ..they were shaped just like a doughnut..

[Don Coatney]

came through a roadblock coming home from Louman's last night..the cops had all these cute little flashing red and blue lighted discs on the side of the road with little siren sounds..best parts is ..they were shaped just like a doughnut..

Now let me guess. You saw them a half mile away and tossed all your contriband out the winder.