Plymouth
The Pioneer of Performance and Value: From Low-Cost Leader to Muscle Car Legend
Introduction
Plymouth’s story is a dramatic arc from humble beginnings to performance glory and eventual extinction. Founded by Chrysler as a low-priced competitor to Ford and Chevrolet, it was originally the brand of practicality and value. However, in the 1960s, Plymouth transformed into a performance powerhouse, creating some of the most iconic and fearsome muscle cars ever built. Despite this, it could not survive corporate restructuring and was discontinued in 2001, making its high-performance models some of the most collectible cars today
| Detail | Information |
| Founded | 1928 (by Walter P. Chrysler) |
| Status | Defunct (1928-2001) |
| Parent Company | Chrysler Corporation |
| First Car | Plymouth Model Q (1928) |
| Original Mission | Affordable transportation |
| Peak Perfomance | 1960s-early 1970s (Muscle Car Era) |
Iconic Plymouth Engines
- 426 Hemi V8 (1964-1971): The “Elephant Motor.” The most legendary and powerful muscle car engine of all time. It was offered in the Road Runner and ‘Cuda, creating ultimate performance legends.
- 440 Super Commando / Six-Pack V8 (1960s-1970s): Plymouth’s massive big-block V8. The “Six-Barrel” version with three two-barrel carburetors was a tire-shredding powerhouse.
- 383 Commando V8 (1960s-1970s): The reliable and potent workhorse V8 for many mid-level performance Plymouths.
- 225 Slant-6 (1960-1983): The indestructible inline-six. Famous for its incredible durability and torque, it was the economical base engine for millions of Plymouth Valiants and Dusters.
- 340 V8 (1968-1973): A small-block screamer. A high-revving, lightweight V8 that made the Duster 340 and ‘Cuda 340 giant-killers.
Legendary Plymouth Models
- Plymouth Barracuda (1964-1974): The original pony car (beating the Mustang by two weeks). Evolved from a compact Valiant variant into the aggressive, monstrously powerful Hemi ‘Cuda.
- Plymouth Road Runner (1968-1975): The muscle car for the masses. A stripped-down, affordable, and brutally effective muscle car named after the Warner Bros. cartoon bird, complete with a “beep-beep” horn.
- Plymouth Superbird (1970): The ultimate NASCAR homologation special. A Road Runner with an enormous aerodynamic wing and pointed nose cone, built to win races and become an instant legend.
- Plymouth Valiant (1960-1976): The reliable compact. An economical and incredibly durable car that was a sales success for years.
- Plymouth Duster (1970-1976): The Valiant’s sporty cousin. A sleek coupe version that, when equipped with the 340 V8, became a potent and affordable performance sleeper.
- Plymouth Prowler (1997-2002): The modern retro hot rod. A front-engine, rear-wheel-drive sports car with classic hot rod styling, but hampered by an underpowered V6 and an automatic-only transmission.
- Plymouth GTX (1967-1971): The “Gentleman’s Muscle Car.” A more luxurious and well-appointed performance car that still packed massive big-block V8 power.
The Winged Warriors
Plymouth’s most legendary chapter was written on the high banks of NASCAR tracks. To lure Richard Petty back from Ford, Chrysler created the aerodynamic Plymouth Superbird and its sibling, the Dodge Daytona. These ‘Winged Warriors’ with their pointed noses and towering rear wings were so dominant that NASCAR was forced to change the rules to ban them, cementing their status as the most extreme and purpose-built muscle cars ever produced by an American manufacturer.