how to identify 30's plymouth?

Posted By: wyldebill

how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 12:43 AM

a buddy called me the other nite. he told me that he came across a 35 plymouth 2 door sedan. body only. i know of the car and thought it was a 38. how do you tell what year it is?

Posted By: earlymopar

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 01:53 AM

Those are both very distinctive years and are not easily confused. A 38' has an oval-shaped grill that is fairly short in height and a little higher in position relative to the bumper. A 35' grill is more wedge-shaped (wider at the top than the bottom) and longer. It's pretty narrow at the bottom.

- EM

Posted By: bigdad

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 01:55 AM

38 Plymouths have headlights attached to the grill area , 35's are on the fender

Posted By: wyldebill

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:12 AM

its a body shell only. no front sheet metal or frame.

Posted By: bigdad

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:14 AM

35's are soft tops

Posted By: wyldebill

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:18 AM

ok. i think that it has a steel roof. I'll be back in Tx this weekend. I'll look for more clues

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:22 AM

Quote:

its a body shell only. no front sheet metal or frame.

I was going to say that the 35 had a soft top but maybe that is just the coupe

heres a 35 and a 38 maybe you can tell from these pics

I see 2 hinges on the 35 and 3 on the 38 and it looks like the upper body line goes past the door and on to the cowl o the 35.
and maybe the windshied shape??? Ron...

heres another 35 and it does have a soft top....

Posted By: bigdad

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:24 AM

Note the body line on the 38 too

35's are my personal favorite

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:30 AM

Quote:

Note the body line on the 38 too

35's are my personal favorite

Bigdad what is difference on the body line on the 38???

I don;t see what you mean

Ron...

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:59 AM

The back of the body line dips down, not flat all around from those pictures.

Posted By: AeroMonte

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 02:59 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Note the body line on the 38 too

35's are my personal favorite

Bigdad what is difference on the body line on the 38???

I don;t see what you mean Ron...

35 body line wraps around the body below the rear window, 38 body line sweeps downward on the quarters.

Posted By: poorboy

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 03:09 AM

The body line on the 35 goes all the way around the roof. The body line on the 38 tapers down towards the rear bumper. Also, the rear panel of a 35 has more of a slope where a 38 is more rounded. 35s could be had without a trunk, imo looks much better without the trunk, (more of a pita to use, but looked better) the trunks looked like someone forgot to design them in and hung them on afterwards. The 38 was designed for a trunk so the transition from the roof onto the trunk lid is more smooth.

Picture is the rear of my 35 trunkless 35.
35s had the cloth top, but many were filled. The full steel top didn't come ount until 36, according to the book I have.
Gene

Attached File

5154762-50Dodge4x4051.bmp (72 downloads)

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 03:15 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Note the body line on the 38 too

35's are my personal favorite

Bigdad what is difference on the body line on the 38???

I don;t see what you mean Ron...

35 body line wraps around the body below the rear window, 38 body line sweeps downward on the quarters.

OK now I see it

heres a rear shot of a 35:

and a 36

heres a rear shot of a 38, big difference:

Posted By: bigdad

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 04:36 PM

38's have split rear windows too

Posted By: Mopar Ron

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 05:27 PM

Quote:

38's have split rear windows too

37 does as well

Posted By: bohmer2

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/10/09 05:51 PM

So does a 39. It also appears based on Ron's photo that 37 was the first year the body line dropped down in the back to curl under the trunk lid. Which seems to have carried through to 39 as well!

$Attached picture 5155704-eric\'s3903.jpg$

Posted By: wyldebill

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/12/09 06:43 AM

if i trade for this thing, how difficult would it be to get a chassis for this car? what other frames could i use?

Posted By: poorboy

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/13/09 03:06 AM

On my 35, I built a new frame from 2x4 tubing, but I ran fenders all the way around. There are several frame manufacturers out there, all you need is a wheel base and a width close to what you want. I suspect nearly any brand in the mid 30s would work, Ford has the most aftermarket support. Its best to figure out what you want the car to look like (final style) before you make a decision on a frame as that can alter the options on the frame chosen. Gene

Posted By: bigdad

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/13/09 04:20 PM

Quote:

if i trade for this thing, how difficult would it be to get a chassis for this car? what other frames could i use?

Not hard, depends what you are wanting to make out of it

AND how much money you have

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/20/09 04:08 AM

Really nice cars, anyone else notice those icky font bumperettes on the white 35?
Wuddup?

Posted By: 4speeds4me

Re: how to identify 30's plymouth? - 04/20/09 04:31 AM

Quote:

Really nice cars, anyone else notice those icky font bumperettes on the white 35?
Wuddup?

Probably the typical 350/350 combo...surprised he doesn't have the "Blue Oval" framing the "Bowtie" for the 9" that's likely out back...