Plymouth Cranbrook

1952 Plymouth Cranbrook

Plymouth Cranbrook

1952 Plymouth Cranbrook coupe
Manufacturer	Plymouth
Production	1951-1953
Assembly	United States Australia [1]
Predecessor	Plymouth Special Deluxe
Successor	Plymouth Belvedere
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan 2-door club coupe 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door convertible
Engine	1951-52: 3.6 L I6 (97 bhp) 1953: 3.6 L I6 (100 bhp)
Wheelbase	1951-52: 118.5 in (3,010 mm) 1953: 114 in (2,896 mm)
Length	1951-52: 193.875 in (4,924 mm) 1953: 189.125 in (4,804 mm)
Related	Plymouth Concord Plymouth Cambridge

The Plymouth Cranbrook was built by the Plymouth division of Chrysler from 1951-1953. It replaced the Special Deluxe when Plymouth changed its naming scheme; it was essentially the same as the Concord and Cambridge, but at a higher trim level.

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.

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 1951 Special Deluxe and the 1952 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.

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 (though considerably less overhang than those competitors gave the Cranbrook a "shorter" look.)

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.

References

1. ^ Gavin Farmer, Great Ideas in Motion, A History of Chrysler in Australia, 2010, page 17

• Gunnell, John (Editor): Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Krause Publications Inc., Iola (2002), ISBN 0-87349-461-X

External links

• http://www.allpar.com/history/plymouth/plymouths-1949-1952.html
• http://www.allpar.com/old/plymouth/plymouth-1953-54.html