1940 Plymouth Deluxe P-10 Woodie For Sale

Vehicle Description:  1940 PLYMOUTH DELUXE (P-10) WOODIE

This car is the only survivor of three wagons purchased new by the Ritz Carlton Hotel in 1940. - ORIGINAL RITZ CARLTON STATION WAGON  - One of 13 known to exist.  When retired of service sometime after the war it remained in the underground parking for decades until the owners son acquired it from his dad during the high point of the California surfing culture around 1963. Stoked about moving to California with his Woodie he settled somewhere on the Southern California coast and raised a family. The car was always garaged when not in use and in 1986 they decided to sell the Woodie to make room for their new Maserati so it was driven to a corner lot in Corona Del Mar with a for sale sign in the window. Shortly after, my friend and fellow classic car collector purchased the wagon.

When I first saw this Woodie I loved it and the great part about it was it's not the usual Ford But instead it was a extremely rare MoPar woodie and soon I was able to strike a deal with my friend to purchase the car .Finally, after three decades of wishing I owned a Woodie, the dream came true. 

I immediately started collecting Woodie toys and Woodie literature and learned all I could on all makes and models and attended practically all the Southern California Woodie events for well over twenty years.

During that time I had the rust free sheet metal professionally re-painted from the drab beige to another 1940 Plymouth color..."Charlotte Ivory" that is a actually a beautiful  butter cream .The wheels were painted deep red, accented with original hand painted cream pinstriping and mounted on a set of Lester wide whitewalls. These upgrades uplifted the car from a somewhat utility looking station wagon to a classic looking Woodie.
   
The original ash frame with maple panels are beautiful with its aged varnish amber color and patina ,and to find any woodie with its original wood still intact is far and few between and this character can not be duplicated with new or over restored wood and is a testament to the care this car has had.
 
The original flathead high torque 215 C.I. six was completely rebuilt in the early 90's and has only approximately 3500 miles on it. The ultra smooth, simple, reliable and quiet running Plymouth 6-cylinder is a joy to drive, especially when you get on the freeway and engage the factory Borg Warner Overdrive. This transmission is a smooth-shifting three-speed on the column with an extra .78 overdrive giving it a highway friendly 4th gear and the ability to split first and second gear ratios for mountain road climbs.
   
Recent upgrades include replacing all the front steering rod ends and suspension bushings.  
   
The Plymouth suspension, consisting of front independent coil springs with twin parallel rear leaf springs and aircraft style tube shocks were way ahead of its competition in both ride and stability . A Four row high density brass radiator , 6 blade fan and full pressure cooling system never overheats even on the hottest days .

The dash still has the original factory Hampton beige paint with nickel trim in amazing condition.  The original gauges and steering wheel complete with a vintage Brody knob.

The running boards still sport their original rubber in great solid shape .

The wiring and gauges are original and have always worked well and the only upgrade to the electrical system is to a modern alternator, high torque starter and deep cycle battery.

Also highlighting this Woodie's beautiful exterior is a pair of extremely rare Auto-Lite "bullseye" sealed beam head lights and at the rear is a rare and unique accessory chrome fold down  tailgate protector.

The interior wood is the original un-restored maple panels and mahogany belt line trim and shows very minor wear true to its originality and care.

The elaborate and un-restored  wooden skeleton headliner with its ash crossbows and dozens of  basswood roof slats is unique in design from the competition and hands down the most beautiful headliner of all the woodies.   Also all of the pre- war  MoPar woodies feature stunning oak floorboards running from behind the front seat all the way to the rear . You will not find any Ford or General Motors woodies with this feature.

The three original oil cloth seats were recently redone in a rich age- mottled brown soft-touch leatherette that looks and feels like leather without the worry of staining,and the seat mountings allow either seat to be quickly interchanged.

This Woodie is solid, rattle free ,mechanically sound and runs like a Swiss watch and is truly a well preserved original and classy looking Woodie that the whole family can have fun in with tons of charm and character showing only minor wear and  patina.

No need to ever worry about somebody approaching with kids, just invite them to climb on the running boards ,feel the wood and take a look inside at the gorgeous wood . 

 As a four time trophy winner including the surf city trophy presented by Dean of Jan and Dean fame ,this old woodie receives lots of thumbs-ups from the crowd whenever you take it to a show or out for a Sunday drive.  Offered for $75,000.00 ~ Reasonable offers considered.

Specifications: 1940 (P-10) Special Deluxe Station Wagon

1. Units produced: 3,126 (plus 80 built for export)
2. Base Price: $790.00
3. Engine: Flathead Straight 6-Cylinder
4. Displacement:  215 C.I.D.
5. Weight: 3144 lbs.
6. Wheelbase: 117 inches      
       Special features
• Optional Borg-warner Overdrive transmission
• Four row high density radiator
• Rare chrome steel accessory folding tail gate protector
• Registered un-restored 1940 plates
• period correct accessory fog lamps
• Period correct brass Pyreen fire extinguisher
• Rare Trico vacuum operated accessory drivers fan