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Plymouth Cranbrook

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Plymouth Cranbrook
1952 Plymouth Cranbrook Club Coupe
Overview
ManufacturerPlymouth (Chrysler)
Production1951–1953
AssemblyLynch Road Assembly, Highland Park, MI, United States
San Leandro Assembly, San Leandro, California
Adelaide Assembly, South Australia[1]
Body and chassis
ClassFull-size
Body style4-door sedan
2-door coupe
2-door hardtop coupe
2-door convertible
3-door wagon[2]
2-door coupe utility (Australia)
RelatedChrysler Windsor
DeSoto DeLuxe & Custom
Dodge Coronet
Dodge Meadowbrook
Plymouth Cambridge
Plymouth Concord
Powertrain
Engine217.8 cu in (3.6 L) Plymouth Flathead Straight six
Transmission3-speed manual standard(1951-1953),[3][4] "Hy-Drive" semi-automatic[4] Automatic with Overdrive[4]
Dimensions
Wheelbase1951-52: 111 in (2,819 mm)
118.5 in (3,010 mm)
1953: 114 in (2,896 mm)
Length1951-52: 193.875 in (4,924 mm)
1953: 189.125 in (4,804 mm)
Width72.8"[4] (1951), 73.4"[4] (1953)
Curb weight3,200–3,400 lb (1,451–1,542 kg)[5]
Chronology
PredecessorPlymouth Special Deluxe
SuccessorPlymouth Savoy
Plymouth Belvedere (higher trim)

The Plymouth Cranbrook is an automobile which was built by Plymouth for the model years 1951 through 1953. It replaced the Special Deluxe when Plymouth changed its naming scheme and was essentially the same as the Plymouth Concord and Cambridge. In period TV commercials, the cars were all introduced as "the new Plymouth" then followed by the model year, and made no mention of the nameplate, which was used to describe the trim package, standard and optional features that were included. The Cranbrook model name was however featured in contemporary sales brochures.[6][7][8]

Name origin

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See also: Cranbrook

The name Cranbrook may have been taken from a city in British Columbia, but it may also have been taken from Cranbrook Drive in Detroit; this small street intersected with Cambridge Avenue. Both streets are between 7 Mile Road West and 8 Mile Road West, near the Dodge Main plant. Concord Street ran by the plant. This indicates that the cars may have been named after streets near Chrysler Corporation facilities.

Plymouth, Massachusetts, was one of the first European settlements in North America and is a major city in the state. Two of Plymouth's model lines in the 1950s were named after towns in Massachusetts: Cambridge and Concord.[9]

Series P-23

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The Plymouth Cranbrook, as a car, was conservatively styled, designed to fit K.T. Keller's notion that cars be practical and allow drivers to sit upright while wearing a hat; it was sold at a time when competitors favored the low and sleek look. Differences between the 1950 Special Deluxe and the 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook are relatively few in number and scope, with interchangeable glass and doors, but different rubber seals; lack of woodgrain on the instrument panel; plastic brake handle instead of chrome; and other similar changes. More substantial was having what had been the hood release handle function as the overdrive control. Fender lettering and other badging necessarily changed as well. From a distance, the cars were essentially similar.

The Plymouth Cambridge and Plymouth Cranbrook models shared the P-23 Series Number in both 1951 and 1952.[10] The six-cylinder flathead engine produced 97 hp (72 kW).

  • 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook Four Door Sedan
    1951 Plymouth Cranbrook Four Door Sedan
  • 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook Four Door Sedan
    1952 Plymouth Cranbrook Four Door Sedan
  • 1952 Plymouth Cranbrook interior
    1952 Plymouth Cranbrook interior
  • 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook Convertible Club Coupe
    1953 Plymouth Cranbrook Convertible Club Coupe

For 1953, the boxy shape was changed for straighter lines, with sleeker and more modern styling. The windshield went to a modern one-piece unit; and the door handles pulled out instead of twisting. The glove box was moved to the center for easier access by the driver. The gas cap was moved to under the trunk lid, resulting in initial problems with gas spilling out of a full tank into the trunk; this problem was resolved with baffles in mid-1953.

The three-window coupe and fastback sedan were dropped for 1953; the former long and short wheelbase models were consolidated with a common wheelbase of 114 inches (2,900 mm), only one inch shorter than those of Chevrolet and Ford (although considerably less overhang than those competitors gave the Cranbrook a "shorter" look.) Power increased marginally, to 100 hp (75 kW).

The 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook was designated Series P-24-2 and the lower trim level Cambridge was the P-24-1.[11]

In 1954, the Cranbrook name was replaced by the Belvedere, which had been the top trim level of the Cranbrook; all Plymouth names were switched to those of upscale hotels.

Australian production

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The Plymouth P-23 series was also produced in Australia [12] and was marketed under the Cranbrook name.[13] 4,382 examples were built in the years 1951 to 1953.[12]

The Plymouth P-24 series, which was marketed in the U.S. as the 1953 Plymouth,[11] was also assembled in Australia in that year by Chrysler Australia.[14] As in the U.S.,[11] it was sold as the Plymouth Cambridge and Cranbrook.[1]

In 1954 assembly of the P-25 series commenced, with Plymouth Cambridge, Cranbrook, Savoy and Belvedere names used.[15] Australian design input was minimal, although major body panels were locally produced. From 1956 a coupe utility variant was offered in addition to the four door sedan and was available in Cranbrook, Savoy and Belvedere models.[16] Australian production of the P-25 continued through to 1957.[15] The closely related Australian produced Chrysler Royal was built as the replacement for the local market.[17]

  • Australian P-23 Series Plymouth Cranbrook Sedan of 1951
    Australian P-23 Series Plymouth Cranbrook Sedan of 1951
  • Australian P-25 Series Plymouth Cranbrook Sedan
    Australian P-25 Series Plymouth Cranbrook Sedan

References

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  1. ^ a b Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 17
  2. ^ Fold-out sales brochure for the 1953 Plymouth, paintref.com Retrieved on 27 January 2015
  3. ^ "Directory Index: Plymouth/1952_Plymouth/1952_Plymouth_Foldout". Oldcarbrochures.com. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  4. ^ a b c d e Flory Jr., J. "Kelly" (2008). American Cars, 1946-1959 Every Model Every Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  5. ^ Benjaminson, Jim. "The Plymouth Cranbrook, Cambridge, and Concord cars, 1951-1954". Allpar. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  6. ^ 1951 Plymouth Brochure, www.oldcarbrochures.com Retrieved 30 March 2022
  7. ^ 1952 Plymouth Brochure, www.oldcarbrochures.com Retrieved 30 March 2022
  8. ^ 1953 Plymouth Brochure, www.oldcarbrochures.com Retrieved 30 March 2022
  9. ^ Knutson, Lanny. "Plymouth cars of 1949 to 1952". Allpar. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  10. ^ John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Revised 4th Edition, pages 646-649
  11. ^ a b c John Gunnell, Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Revised 4th Edition, page 649
  12. ^ a b Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas In Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, pages 405-406
  13. ^ Statistics of motor cars sold in Australia from 1923 to 1957, Restored Cars (magazine) No 21, page 20
  14. ^ Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 407
  15. ^ a b Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, pages 23 to 25
  16. ^ My UTEs!, www.roadkillontheweb.com Retrieved on 13 February 2013
  17. ^ https://www.allpar.com/world/royal.html | 07Aug2020
  • Gunnell, John (Editor): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Krause Publications Inc., Iola (2002), ISBN 0-87349-461-X
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