Seagrave V12 Powaaaaah: 1951 Plymouth Suburban
If anybody ever says to you “my Suburban is a real gas guzzler”, I suggest you buy this car so that you can respond “no…MY Suburban is a real gas guzzler!” This next car isn’t the Suburban you typically think of..this is a ’51 Plymouth Suburban, but the original engine is holding a boat in place somewhere and instead it is “powered” by a Seagrave 7.6 liter V12, which is the descendent of the V12 that powered 1933 Pierce-Arrow. With 462 cubic inches of displacement and twin plugs per cylinder you might expect something more than the 185 gross horsepower…but you won’t get it. Expect a boat load of torques and a fuel bill the size of the GDP of several Latin American nations. Find this 1951 Plymouth Suburban offered for $9,500 in Murrieta, CA via eBay. Tip from Hugh.
From the seller:
Vehicle Details
1951 Plymouth Suburban wagon. Clean Rust Free California car.With a Seagrave V12 cylinder Flattop motor
Custom mount for the manual transmission. new driveshaft with a slip sleeve to extend for the air ride.
340 hours in fabrication
frame, firewall, floor, motor mounts, trans adapter, flywheel, Trans mount. 4 link. Airride.
Motor
1960 Seagrave V12 flattop firetruck / Pierce Arrow engine.
Ran 5 years ago when project was started spins freely. Should be gone through or u can run it as it is.
Suspension
Custom Airbaged suspension lays frame. Rear end and front clip came off a 96 Silverado so it can handle the torque of the motor. 4 wheel disc brakes. Front drop spindles. Rear 4link new Firestone airbags.
2 boxes of parts for the car some side glass
4 boxes of motor parts
I will layout parts and add photos in the next couple days.
Paperwork
Vehicle has Ben inspected and VIN stamped by the CALIFORNIA Highway Payroll. I have all the paperwork from them. Has not gone through the DMV so no fees are due
Pictures and video taken 1-26-22
Walk around video
Who the hell would want that motor in an old, and not necessarily all the collectible Plymouth?
I mean, it would have been SO much cooler to put a Hellephant in it, or, probably what I would do, is a very nice 5.9L 12 valve Cummins in.
This, I just don’t get.
I like this engine here, looked it up and it has a cool sound and looks like a gem and it isn’t going to be like everyone else’s who would put a more modern power plant in it. That said, I’m with you if it’s my project. I wouldn’t want to buy gas by the barrel to feed it and the newer motors have a lot more power and reliability built in.
I think the sequence of events was more along the lines of someone got a hold of a small Seagrave V12 (the big Seagrave V12 is ginormous! ) and built a car around it.
What most people do is make a speedster, but that’s mostly with the bigger engines.
Google ALF speedster or Seagrave speedster to get an idea.
“Vehicle has Ben inspected and VIN stamped by the CALIFORNIA Highway Payroll. I have all the paperwork from them. Has not gone through the DMV so no fees are due”
Well, that’s a relief. As long as Ben at the CALIFORNIA Highway Payroll says it’s OK, who needs the DMV to grant a title?
And…no license plates needed. How cool is that?!?
Badges? We don’ need no stinkin’ badges!
I wonder how much Ben’s payroll cost, to provide all of this amazing paperwork…
-Stan (who still likes pink slips… and license plates…well, just because…)
So there I was….putting a V12 into the shell of the least desirable wagon from the Fifties and I said…”What the hell am I doing?”.So I’m baling.