When Chrysler were looking to break into the lower price end of the automobile market Joseph W. Frazer suggested to Walter P. Chrysler that he name the car after Plymouth Binder Twine well known to the farming community and Walter agreed to “give them a name they’re familiar with.”
On launching the new brand in 1928 Chrylser announced “We have named it the Plymouth because this new product of Chrysler engineering and craftsmanship so accurately typifies the endurance and strength, the rugged honesty, the enterprise, the determination of achievement and the freedom from old limitations of that Pilgrim band who were the first American colonists.”
The first Plymouth was the model Q launched in 1928 and it’s appeal led it to rank 15th in the US Automobile sales charts for 1929 Plymouth evolved the Model Q into the Model U featured today.
The Model U was powered by a 2.2 litre / 134 cui Silver Dome motor produced around 45 hp which could propel a Model U up to 60 mph, unlike it’s cheaper rivals from Willy’s and Ford the Model U was equipped with hydraulic brakes.
At $725 with standard 19 inch wooden wheels the Model U came in tenth in the US automotive sales ratings and the models success saw Plymouth production move to the, at the time, worlds largest car manufacturing plant which covered some 23 acres of floor space on at Lynch Road in Detroit.
Thanks for joining me on this “Breaking Into The Top Ten” edition of “Gettin a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now.
