Plymouth Suburban
Encyclopedia
Plymouth Suburban is a Plymouth
station wagon
produced from 1949 to 1978.
Prior to 1949, Plymouth had offered only a 4-door "woodie" station wagon, which was expensive not only to build, but also to buy. In 1949, Plymouth revolutionised the US station wagon market by introducing the industry's first all-steel body station wagon, the Suburban. In addition, for the first time in a low-priced car, automatic "turn-the-key" ignition/starter combination was introduced. The Suburban featured a two-door body (plus tailgate) and seated six. The back row of seating folded flat to allow 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) of flat floor space, and became popular as a commercial wagon.
The Suburban for 1950 was accompanied by a four-door Special Deluxe wagon, the last of the "woodies", for those wanting something a little more traditional. There were two Plymouth wheelbases, with the Suburban riding on the shorter 111 inches (2,819.4 mm) platform (the Special Deluxe was 118.5 inches). Vinyl upholstery was used, as this was more hard-wearing for utilitarian use. Motive power was the Chrysler Corporation's smallest six, a 217.8cid L-head that produced 97bhp @ 3,800rpm. The Suburbans rode on 6.40x15 inch Goodyear tyres, though a 6.70x15 inch "Super Cushion" tyre option with higher gearing was offered, as was a high-clearance 18 inches (457.2 mm) wheel option. A "taxi package" was recommended to owners expecting to carry heavy loads, featuring heavy-duty chassis springs and shock absorbers, a 100amp/hr battery with a heat shield, and even heavier grade springs in seats and seat backs.
The Suburban continued to 1955 with few changes other than annual styling applications (including a new body in 1953 and again in 1955). New for 1953 was the Hydrive push-button automatic transmission, which was really a manual with a torque converter that eliminated shifting between second and third, sharing lubrication between engine and transmission. The 1954 models benefitted from a power upgrade to 117bhp from the ageing L-head six, as well as an optional two-speed "Power-Flite" automatic. In 1955 Plymouth introduced a range of V8 engines, extending the power plant range to a 117bhp 230cid L-head six, a polyspherical-head 157bhp 241cid V8, a 167bhp 260cid V8, and a 177bhp 260cid V8 (with 4bbl carbs), the former two of which were available for the Suburban. All-new Virgil Exner styling and a good year for all manufacturers, contributed to Plymouth's best year ever of 705,455 cars.
The 1956 models came with more V8 power upgrades, up to 180bhp 270cid V8, 187bhp 277cid V8, 200bhp 277cid V8, with a 240bhp 303cid V8 for the Fury. Instead of simply being a part of the standard range of models (the Deluxe in 1950, the Concord in 1951-1952, the Cambridge for 1954 and the Plaza in 1955), the Suburban of 1956 was now offered in both Plaza and Belvedere lines. Tail fins featured for the first time, in what Exner christened the "Forward Look". You can pick a '56 from a '55 Suburban by the grille centre section - fifty-fives had a ribbed centre section, with a chrome V badge on the hood to identify a V8 engine. That V moved down into the grille centre for '56 and block P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H lettering appeared on the hood front. At the rear, the '56 tail lamps were larger.
A radical new body arrived for 1957, again by Exner. Indeed, so modern was the design in comparison to the '56, that Plymouth's ad men proclaimed that "Suddenly it's 1960". Styling on both Suburbans and indeed the whole line, was cleaner, without the hugely ornate grille castings Plymouths had worn for so long. Although the sedans rode on a 118 inches (2,997.2 mm) wheelbase, the wagons were 122 inches (3,098.8 mm). By now the Suburban was a separate model ine in its own right, a move that had come about the previous year.
Suburbans for 1958 were quite similar to those sold in '57, but with detail changes like an under-bumper grille and a V in the grille centre. The P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H lettering was gone agin, replaced by a hood emblem. The rear vision mirror mounted on the dash top moved off-centre over toward the driver's side. The old L-head six was still available (though not for too much longer) and there were now three "Dual Fury" V8s; 225bhp, 250bhp (4bbl) and 290bhp (8bbl), as well as a 350cid "Golden Commando" option.
Although based on the same body, 1959 Plymouth Suburbans featured an 'egg-crate' grille and side trim changes, while the front bumper lost its raised centre section and larger tail lamps set the '58s apart from the rear.
Unitary construction was the song being sung of the 1960 Plymouth range. Styling changes included a flat hood from fender to fender, and more pronounced tail fins tacked on the rear. The P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H lettering was back again, along the front of the hood, and a short side flash (for two-toning purposes) finished just after the front wheel arches. A 225cid "Slant Six" replaced the old L-head six - this came from development of the new Valiant V-200 series 'compact' cars.
In 1961, a year "most beholders would agreee...it was hit with the ugly stick", it was available in six models: one two-door and five four-doors, selling at between US$2,604 for the base two-door (style number 255) and US$3,136 for the top four-door (style number 377). It ran on a 122 in (3,098.8 mm) wheelbase
, measured 215 in (546.1 cm) long, 80 in (203.2 cm) wide, and 55.4 in (140.7 cm) high, with standard 7.5 by wheels (8 by were optional) and blackwall tires. It had a cargo capacity of 95.8 ft3, with 21 US gal (17 imp gal; 79 l) fuel, and weighed between 3675 lb (1,667 kg) (for the two-door) and 3995 lb (1,812.1 kg) (for the top four-door). It was available with the 225 cid slant 6
or 318 cid Fury (single four-barrel carburetor
), 318 cid Super Fury 318 cid (dual four-barrel carburetors), 361 cid Golden Commando, or 383 cid SonoRamic Commando V8. Either three-speed manual or TorqueFlite
automatic
transmission
were available. It was aimed at the Chevrolet Impala
/Biscayne
, Ford Galaxie
, and up-market AMC Ambassador
.
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
produced from 1949 to 1978.
Prior to 1949, Plymouth had offered only a 4-door "woodie" station wagon, which was expensive not only to build, but also to buy. In 1949, Plymouth revolutionised the US station wagon market by introducing the industry's first all-steel body station wagon, the Suburban. In addition, for the first time in a low-priced car, automatic "turn-the-key" ignition/starter combination was introduced. The Suburban featured a two-door body (plus tailgate) and seated six. The back row of seating folded flat to allow 42 inches (1,066.8 mm) of flat floor space, and became popular as a commercial wagon.
The Suburban for 1950 was accompanied by a four-door Special Deluxe wagon, the last of the "woodies", for those wanting something a little more traditional. There were two Plymouth wheelbases, with the Suburban riding on the shorter 111 inches (2,819.4 mm) platform (the Special Deluxe was 118.5 inches). Vinyl upholstery was used, as this was more hard-wearing for utilitarian use. Motive power was the Chrysler Corporation's smallest six, a 217.8cid L-head that produced 97bhp @ 3,800rpm. The Suburbans rode on 6.40x15 inch Goodyear tyres, though a 6.70x15 inch "Super Cushion" tyre option with higher gearing was offered, as was a high-clearance 18 inches (457.2 mm) wheel option. A "taxi package" was recommended to owners expecting to carry heavy loads, featuring heavy-duty chassis springs and shock absorbers, a 100amp/hr battery with a heat shield, and even heavier grade springs in seats and seat backs.
The Suburban continued to 1955 with few changes other than annual styling applications (including a new body in 1953 and again in 1955). New for 1953 was the Hydrive push-button automatic transmission, which was really a manual with a torque converter that eliminated shifting between second and third, sharing lubrication between engine and transmission. The 1954 models benefitted from a power upgrade to 117bhp from the ageing L-head six, as well as an optional two-speed "Power-Flite" automatic. In 1955 Plymouth introduced a range of V8 engines, extending the power plant range to a 117bhp 230cid L-head six, a polyspherical-head 157bhp 241cid V8, a 167bhp 260cid V8, and a 177bhp 260cid V8 (with 4bbl carbs), the former two of which were available for the Suburban. All-new Virgil Exner styling and a good year for all manufacturers, contributed to Plymouth's best year ever of 705,455 cars.
The 1956 models came with more V8 power upgrades, up to 180bhp 270cid V8, 187bhp 277cid V8, 200bhp 277cid V8, with a 240bhp 303cid V8 for the Fury. Instead of simply being a part of the standard range of models (the Deluxe in 1950, the Concord in 1951-1952, the Cambridge for 1954 and the Plaza in 1955), the Suburban of 1956 was now offered in both Plaza and Belvedere lines. Tail fins featured for the first time, in what Exner christened the "Forward Look". You can pick a '56 from a '55 Suburban by the grille centre section - fifty-fives had a ribbed centre section, with a chrome V badge on the hood to identify a V8 engine. That V moved down into the grille centre for '56 and block P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H lettering appeared on the hood front. At the rear, the '56 tail lamps were larger.
A radical new body arrived for 1957, again by Exner. Indeed, so modern was the design in comparison to the '56, that Plymouth's ad men proclaimed that "Suddenly it's 1960". Styling on both Suburbans and indeed the whole line, was cleaner, without the hugely ornate grille castings Plymouths had worn for so long. Although the sedans rode on a 118 inches (2,997.2 mm) wheelbase, the wagons were 122 inches (3,098.8 mm). By now the Suburban was a separate model ine in its own right, a move that had come about the previous year.
Suburbans for 1958 were quite similar to those sold in '57, but with detail changes like an under-bumper grille and a V in the grille centre. The P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H lettering was gone agin, replaced by a hood emblem. The rear vision mirror mounted on the dash top moved off-centre over toward the driver's side. The old L-head six was still available (though not for too much longer) and there were now three "Dual Fury" V8s; 225bhp, 250bhp (4bbl) and 290bhp (8bbl), as well as a 350cid "Golden Commando" option.
Although based on the same body, 1959 Plymouth Suburbans featured an 'egg-crate' grille and side trim changes, while the front bumper lost its raised centre section and larger tail lamps set the '58s apart from the rear.
Unitary construction was the song being sung of the 1960 Plymouth range. Styling changes included a flat hood from fender to fender, and more pronounced tail fins tacked on the rear. The P-L-Y-M-O-U-T-H lettering was back again, along the front of the hood, and a short side flash (for two-toning purposes) finished just after the front wheel arches. A 225cid "Slant Six" replaced the old L-head six - this came from development of the new Valiant V-200 series 'compact' cars.
In 1961, a year "most beholders would agreee...it was hit with the ugly stick", it was available in six models: one two-door and five four-doors, selling at between US$2,604 for the base two-door (style number 255) and US$3,136 for the top four-door (style number 377). It ran on a 122 in (3,098.8 mm) wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
, measured 215 in (546.1 cm) long, 80 in (203.2 cm) wide, and 55.4 in (140.7 cm) high, with standard 7.5 by wheels (8 by were optional) and blackwall tires. It had a cargo capacity of 95.8 ft3, with 21 US gal (17 imp gal; 79 l) fuel, and weighed between 3675 lb (1,667 kg) (for the two-door) and 3995 lb (1,812.1 kg) (for the top four-door). It was available with the 225 cid slant 6
Slant 6
Slant 6 was an all-female punk rock trio based in Washington, D.C.The group consisted of Christina Billotte , Myra Power , and Marge Marshall ; it formed in July 1992 following the 1991 breakup of Autoclave, in which Billotte had played...
or 318 cid Fury (single four-barrel carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
), 318 cid Super Fury 318 cid (dual four-barrel carburetors), 361 cid Golden Commando, or 383 cid SonoRamic Commando V8. Either three-speed manual or TorqueFlite
TorqueFlite
TorqueFlite is the trademarked name of Chrysler Corporation's automatic transmissions, starting with the three-speed unit introduced late in the 1956 model year as a successor to Chrysler's two-speed PowerFlite...
automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
were available. It was aimed at the Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala
The Chevrolet Impala is a full-size automobile built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors introduced for the 1958 model year. Deriving its name from the southern African antelope, Chevrolet's most expensive passenger model through 1965 had become the best-selling automobile in the United...
/Biscayne
Chevrolet Biscayne
-Biscayne Fleetmaster:In 1960, a lower-priced, sparsely trimmed version of the Biscayne called the Fleetmaster was produced. Aimed primarily at the fleet market, the Fleetmaster included a lower grade of upholstery than the standard Biscayne and deleted routine convenience items such as a cigarette...
, Ford Galaxie
Ford Galaxie
The Ford Galaxie was a full-size car built in the United States by the Ford Motor Company for model years 1959 through 1974. The name was used for the top models in Ford’s full-size range from 1959 until 1961, in a marketing attempt to appeal to the excitement surrounding the Space Race...
, and up-market AMC Ambassador
AMC Ambassador
- 1958 :American Motors planned to produce a stretched a wheelbase version of the Rambler platform for Nash dealers to be the new Nash Ambassador, and another for Hudson dealers...
.
External links
- Members cars, page 3, The WPC Club, Inc.
- "Plymouth Combination Station Wagon And Utility Vehicle" Popular Mechanics, July 1949