Thread: First dumb newbie question

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Hi, great forum here! Just browsing the posts, I see lots of great information and helpful people. Well, here goes my first dumb question....What is the difference in bodies between a 33 Plymouth and a 33 Ford? I look at pictures and I can't tell the difference, but also, I don't know if I'm looking at pictures of fiberglass or steel bodied cars.

O/t but I was born in clarion, still have alot of family up that way

My buddies and I used to go through Apollo when we would go down to Keystone dragstrip. Haven't been down there in a long time, though.

The Plymouth has a longer hood and looks chopped as compared to a stock 33 Ford.

Go to Carnut.com, lots of good pics over there.

Plymouth's - to my knowledge - were never re-pro'd so their bodies are steel.

Fords, steel or glass.

Welcome to the forum.............I'm an ex-Pittsburgh guy myself.

You'll find out no one on here considers any question too dumb. Lots of great people who love to help whenever they get the opportunity,

Just like today, where it is hard to tell one car from another, the cars up until about the late '30's had the same problem..........the bodies on many of them looked pretty similar. Every so often someone will post a picture of some old car, or grille shell, and ask what it is, and unless there is something that really grabs you, we all kinda just guess. I just bought a grille shell that was supposed to be a Model T, but I really think it is some other brand....but who knows??

However, even though the Ford and Plymouth you mention look similar, they were not identical, obviously. As mentioned above, the Plymouths of that era seemed to look more "chopped" and sometimes a little more stylish. The word stylish is open to debate though, as the '34 Ford is one of the prettiest ever made, IMO. There are just subtle differences that seperate the two brands.

Don

The REAL difference is that you can find parts for a '34 Ford. Try finding anything for a '34 Plymouth.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

The REAL difference is that you can find parts for a '34 Ford. Try finding anything for a '34 Plymouth.

AMEN TO THAT JACK.I HAD NO PROBLEM IN FINDING ANY PARTS THAT I COULD NOT MAKE MYSELF.EVEN HOME DEPOT HAS PARTS THAT WORK ON 30'S CARS.

ON THE CAR LOOK ALIKE STATEMENT,THE CAR DESIGNERS BACK IN THE 30'S AND 40'S MUST HAVE HAD A CHAT ROOM(LOCAL BAR PROBABLY) AS THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO PROTECT THEIR DESIGNS AS THEY DO TODAY. IMO


Don In Austin

The REAL difference is that you can find parts for a '34 Ford. Try finding anything for a '34 Plymouth.

Not telling me anything new.

Whereas, there are thousands of sources for Ford parts, there are a handful for Mopar parts. Ply-do out of Delbarton WVA is one of the larger suppliers of NOS and repro parts for early Mopars.

As to some of the differences, the bodies for the Mopar's, Fords and Chevys are similar, with the exception of the shape of the rear window and the grill and front valance shape. Mopar's hoods were longer, but wheel base was the same or less than the Fords. The Plymouth PC model was 108" wheel base and the PD was 112. The Ford was 112. Fords had a V8 option, while all Plymouth's were all straight 6's. Body widths was similiar but I don't have exact measurements. In 1933, both Ford and Plymouth had suicide doors.

Not sure about 33 Plymouths, but 34 Plymouths also had a steel strengthened body (Chevys used wood), a partially boxed frame and an independent front suspension (IFS), something the Ford wouldn't have for another 12 -13 years. Mopars also but their body serial numbers on a plate attached to the passenger side B pillar (door frame).

Actually I have found that some small Ford interior parts, like door handles, will work on Plymouths.

Thanks for all of the great input. It's nice to talk to people who share a lot of enthusiasm about cars. I know I am going to learn a lot just by browsing these forums.