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P11 plymouth staff car

ReoRider

Member
165
11
18
Location
Vermont
Found a 1941 Plymouth 4 door years ago and put in the back of the barn to "age". Always wanted a staff car, and finally took a break from the big truck projects to figure out how to do the job. Took about 2 years to get it done but was great fun to bring it to an antique car show this past season and watch the folks trying to figure out what they were seeing! Thought I would share the adventure...

The British were ahead of us in both staff car modifications and use and I found the best examples in the archive pictures from the North Africa theater. There, in the pre-jeep days, the cars were beefed up and used for reconnaissance, and not just for hauling the officers around.
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In the US cars were either ordered from the factory as per military specs, or drafted from the dealer lots and given a standard military treatment. However, in the field the archive pictures showed the US shops doing all kinds of modifications to the cars. Heavy bumpers, military tires, b.o. lighting, external stowage and more. This was the way to go with the restoration and the car saw the light of day and the fun began.
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Weaseled it out, and began the process of disassembly. Quickly discovered that cars are tough to do-mechanically relatively simple but the body work rules. The Plymouth used the familiar 6 cylinder flat head and I went with the 230 cu/in version. Any in the field maintenance work was most likely to draw on the this engine, as it was the common WC Dodge truck version. It has a basic 3 speed on the column, 4.1 rears, and a 6 volt positive ground electrical system(tried not to forget).
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Pulled the body off the frame, then mounted everything on dollies. Sandblasted the frame, followed with POR 15 (requires careful surface prep). Kept after the engine at the same time, with the crank turned and the cylinders bored at a local machine shop, then careful assembly and test running on a home made run in stand. The Plymouth parts TM indicates that no bright work should show both on the outside and inside of the car. All normal chromed parts were required to be painted. Sanded the body, fixed dents and primed and top coated. Did the large body parts separately to avoid the sprayed over look and instead get it IMG_2014.jpg IMG_1526.jpgmore like the factory assembly approach.

to be continued....
 

ReoRider

Member
165
11
18
Location
Vermont
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Plymouth continued..

The inside fabric work is very demanding- was able to draft my better half to apply her considerable patterning and sewing talents to the seat, panels, and floor. That resulted in a good factory look for the interior.
Setting the body on the frame gives a chance to finally think that the job will come together, and you can go ahead with hanging the large parts and trim detail back on the car.
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The bumpers were fabricated as done in the field combining most the features from the archive photos. Added lots of use of external stowage, again from the pictures, for the tools, and canvas. The functional bumpers, and the desert tan paint really set the car apart from the usual staff car version.
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ReoRider

Member
165
11
18
Location
Vermont
Plymouth continued...

The shake down drive discovered the usual glitches and was eventually able to get to both military and antique shows over the summer. Added a roof rack to complete the picture, along with some interesting accessories to tow behind. Just this fall have replaced the original transmission with the overdrive version from the same era that allows for comfortable engine revs at highway speeds.
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There are car projects like this still sitting behind barns and in junk yards. The 4 door models are not as popular with the antique car guys and talking with them can often turn up an abandoned projects to militarize. The experience left me with great respect for the antique car restorers and the amount of effort they expend to do the body and interior in decent fashion.


John
 

ReoRider

Member
165
11
18
Location
Vermont
Thanks guys, the Plymouth was the smallest of the Chrysler line and yet the rear seat allows you to stretch out your legs. Driving in it is a real time warp, with a neat view over the hood. Very smooth ride, and the combination of its age and the military markings/ look get a great response from the public.

Picture of WW11 era Staff Car and Armored Car(M20) together. Shortly later a Command Car showed up completing the "Car" inventory.
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