Plymouth Success and the Model Q

Walter P. Chrysler founded Plymouth Motor Corporation in 1928. The first car was the Model Q, which sold as a 1929 model. The Model Q was built in the Highland Park Plant, which Chrysler received from the purchase of the Dodge Brothers earlier that year. This Plymouth model was designed to be an entry-level automobile competing primarily with Ford and Chevrolet. Plymouth’s were actually priced a little higher than the competition, but they offered more standard features such as internal expanding hydraulic brakes along with a 4 horsepower 4-cylinder engine. The bodies were also mounted on rubber mounts to create a smoother ride. The competition did not provide these features. Sold exclusively through Chrysler dealerships at first in 1930 they became available to Dodge and Desoto dealers too in the following years. The sales motto of the day was "If you can get someone in the car they will buy it" alluding to the almost vibration free ride.



The premise of the Plymouth nameplate was to cover the lower-end or entry-level marketing niche. Due to its pricing and enhanced standard features during the Great Depression the car helped significantly ensure the survival of the Chrysler Corporation. In a decade when many other car companies failed or were severely struggling the Model Q was a remarkable sales strategy. Plymouth sales were a bright spot during this dismal automotive period, and by 1931 Plymouth rose to the number three spot among all cars.



In 1931, Plymouth introduced "Floating Power" a revolution in driving comfort. This was achieved using flexible rubber mounts, which subdued vibrations from the top-heavy 4-cylinder engine; this method kept passengers from feeling the bumps in the body and frame of the car. Passengers were cocooned in comfort, which produced the slogan, "Smoothness of an Eight, the economy of a Four." A four-cylinder engine was the answer to creating a low priced car. The Model Q with its standard additives became a sensation. But Walter P. Chrysler realized a 6-cylinder engine meant prestige to car buyer so in 1933 he gave them what they wanted. This development put Chrysler in second place for vehicle production for the first time in history, right behind Ford.



Plymouth was the only automaker in 1933 to show a sales increase over the previous year. This 6-cylinder engine was to remain in production from October 1932 until the end of production of the 1959 model year cars. In 1934 the one millionth Plymouth was sold. All the separate corporations (Dodge, Desoto, Plymouth, and Chrysler) became divisions of Chrysler Corporation in 1935. This move allowed Chrysler to streamline production of the various lines and allow for it to sell re-badged Plymouths as other Chrysler products to European markets.



For further information regarding automotive and labor heritage visit: www.motorcities.org



Margery Krevsky is the author of Sirens of Chrome: the enduring allure of auto show models published by Momentum Publishing. Available at amazon.com, www.sirensosfchrome.com and momentum.com