Classic In Yellow: 1954 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe
Today’s next feature is a Plymouth Belvedere with a flathead inline-6 that still runs like a dream after 68 years on the road, but what really sets this car apart is the transmission – a rare Hy-Drive transmission that was only put in a few 1954 Plymouth Belvederes. The Hy-Drive still kept a clutch pedal for starting from a stop, but the rest of the shifts could be done with the tree mounted gearshifter and a hydraulic torque converter did some magic to make the shifts smooth. I don’t know why this would be better than a regular manual, but the future was weird in 1954. Find this 1954 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe offered for $8,500 in Maryville, TN via craigslist. Tip from Tony.
From the seller:
1954 PLYMOUTH SPORT COUPE
condition: good
cylinders: 6 cylinders
fuel: gas
odometer: 68376
paint color: yellow
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: coupe
1954 PLYMOUTH BELVEDERE SPORT COUPE ( ***very rare car ***
1 YEAR MODEL
RARE 2 DOOR HARDTOP SPORT COUPE
AUTOMATIC/MANUAL TRANSMISSION ( HI-DRIVE Transmission was only put in a few 1954 Plymouth Belvedere
cars in 1954. They were only put in until April of that year when they began installing a newer transmission.)
FLAT HEAD INLINE 6 CYLINDER MOTOR
GREAT CHROME BUMPERS AND TRIM
Rock hit new windshield and cracked it
pitted at lower back fender corners (see pictures )
small place at rear window edge ( see picture )
STARTS, RUNS AND DRIVES WAY BETTER THAN ONE WOULD EXPECT IN A 68 YEAR OLD PLYMOUTHYou will not see one of these at the local car shows. It is a rare car. One year model. Not many built. Very few left.
* CERTAIN TRADES ACCEPTED.*
See a better way to drive yellow? tips@dailyturismo.com
I find the one-year only body style and the rare transmission option both equally enticing and frightening.
I lean towards the rare and unique with cars, but then have to deal with the consequences when no one has the parts or experience when it comes time to repair.
I would assume that some bits of this car are unobtainable outside of some Plymouth freak’s secret stash.
Never seen or heard of Hy-Drive. so, a search string brings up this wikip trivia on the thing.( below) imagine taking this to a conventional shop.
11qts for an oil change!
Hy-Drive was so large it required a complete reengineering of the engine compartment and transmission tunnel.
Hy-Drive transmissions shared the engine’s lubricating oil, requiring 11 quarts (10.4 L) for an oil change.