Tag Archives: Red

More Like A Six Cylinder – Plymouth PD

Leave a Reply

In 1932 sales of the Plymouth PB helped Plymouth become the only brand to show an increase in it’s sales volumes over 1931 and edged Chrysler closer to displacing Ford in second place in the corporate sales league, despite this Chrysler was still loosing money.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

For 1933 Walter P Chrysler boldly invested US$9 million in new plant and machinery to make a new six cylinder engine “for the price of a four” which would be fitted to the 107″ wheelbase PC model that was to replace the PB.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

To launch the new Six Cylinder PC which sat on a 109″ wheel base chassis in October 1932 Chrysler booked 90 mins of the ABC radio networks airtime just to talk to it’s dealers and employees across the nation.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Despite all this investment in a brand that was just five years old the PC was not a great success because it sat on a 107″ wheel base it looked like a 4 cylinder car.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

A revised deluxe PD with the same 189.8 cui / 3.1 litre straight six but now on a 112″ chassis was rushed into production in time for the spring sales and the manufacture of the PC was discontinued in March 1933.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The Silver Dome 70 hp and 76hp Red Head variations of the PD remained in production until December 1933, the ’33 PD example seen in these photographs, at last years Summer Classics meeting in Easter Compton, was first registered in the UK on January 1st 1935.

Thanks for this “More Like A Six Cylinder” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l more psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Meica Red 908 – Bertone X1/9

2 Replies

Marcello Gandini working for the Bertone studio is credited with designing the FIAT X1/9 which was based on the futuristic boat inspired Autobianchi A112 Runabout of 1969.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

FIAT launched the X 1/9 in 1972 with Bertone responsible for building the monocoque body at it’s Torino factory and FIAT’s Lingotto factory responsible for the final assembly.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

With 140,500 units produced unto 1982, FIAT handed over the final assembly responsibilities and marketing for the X 1/9 to Bertone in 1982. Bertone continued to develop the X 1/9 applying rust protection and revised seating to accommodate taller driver. 19,500 X 1/9’s were manufactured with Bertone badges.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

The X 1/9 featured a rear mounted 4 cylinder transverse motor and transmission taken from the 1970 European Car of the Year Award wining front wheel drive FIAT 128 featuring and iron block and alloy head with a single overhead camshaft.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

This 1989 example would appear to be painted Meica Red 908 a paint code borrowed form the Volvo colour palate which was used on the rare Volvo 780 Coupé which was also built by Bertone at the same time.

Bertone X 1/9, Race Retro

The longitudinally compact transverse mid engine and transmission layout not only gave the car excellent handling characteristics but also luggage space under the bonnet hood in the front and in the boot / trunk behind the engine.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Meica Red 908’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share