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This 1941 Plymouth De Luxe Rocks a Big-Block Chevy V8 Engine, Chopped Carson Top

Offered from ‘41 to 1942 and again from ‘46 to 1950, the De Luxe line of cars was as luxurious as Plymouths got back then. Offered in no fewer than five body styles, the most lavish option is the two-door convertible.
1941 Plymouth De Luxe restomod 36 photos
Photo: Volo Cars
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When it rolled off the line, the 1941 model in the photo gallery wasn’t exactly powerful or exciting in the corners. But as the headline suggests, this particular car leveled up from a Chrysler straight-six to a big-block Chevrolet engine.

A 454, to be more precise, featuring an aluminum intake, dual carb, HEI ignition, and a 1950s Cadillac air cleaner pinstriped to match the bodywork. The engine compartment where the 7.4-liter leviathan sleeps is also beautified by finned valve covers, and all that suck-squeeze-bang-blow is handled by a Turbo 350.

The General Motors theme continues beyond the powerplant and tranny with the 10-bolt posi out back. RideTech air bags for the front suspension with 3.0-inch drop spindles, four-link suspension at the rear with Shockwave air bags, disc and drum brakes, as well as glass-pack exhaust mufflers are also featured. The fuel system has been upgraded as well, including the electric fuel pump and braided hose.

Chopped five inches according to Volo Cars, the Carson lift-off top “is padded and upholstered in rich black canvas.” A framed rear window, shaved-and-filled suicide doors, a shaved trunk lid, and radial white-wall tires add to the visual drama while the Appleton spotlights are unfortunately not functional. As expected of a cruisin’ restomod, this De Luxe also benefits from a customized dash and cabin.

In addition to the signatures of auto customizers George Barris and Gene Winfield, this build features a Lokar floor shifter, power windows, a Bluetooth stereo hidden in the glovebox, and butter-soft upholstery among many other goodies.

Listed at $29,998 or $459 per month, the restomod “won’t win for condition but it will win popular votes” thanks to the head-turning makeover with world-class attention to detail.

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About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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