Before its downfall in the early 2000s, Plymouth was one of the leading brands in American cars. Known during its prime as the maker of some of the U.S.’s most notable cars during the 60s and 70s, it was later recognized as the creator of budget-friendly rentals. Keep reading to learn more about the company’s almost 100-year history and some of its most popular models.
How the Company Got Started
Plymouth made its debut on the automotive market in 1928 at the Madison Square Garden. As a branch of Chrysler, the company was created to differentiate the brand from other larger ones like Ford and Chevy – two of the most popular and recognizable car companies at the time. From the beginning of their sales, they aimed to create affordable vehicles for the average person. Their frugal mindset proved to be successful during the Great Depression, a time when many companies did not survive. Plymouth became the go-to automotive company during the Depression because they offered vehicles that people could afford at a time when the entire country was experiencing scarcity. People were no longer looking for expensive luxury vehicles like they were during the 1920s. The notoriety gained during this time set the stage for the rest of their prime, giving customers the impression that they were a dependable, reliable, and affordable brand – despite what the economy looked like.
As their sales and reputation grew, they began to release some of their most popular models that included safety features like flat dashboards – features that many companies were not creating at the time. The 1960s were a time of excellence for Plymouth, as this was when the company started creating new body styles like the outboard front lights and slantback rooflines. Models like the Fury, Barracuda, and Road Runner are all notable styles that came out during this decade.
The 1970s began the slow decline of Plymouth as an automobile manufacturer. Although it continued to produce high-quality and affordable cars, its sales did not meet expectations. It failed to compete against other, larger popular brands. The last model, the Neon, was released in 2000. Famously in 2021, the last 2001 Neon LX went up for sale by its first and only owner. It only had 68 miles on it and was purchased by the VP for parts and service for DaimlerChrysler the day before all Plymouth factories were shut down for good.
The Logo
The Plymouth logo saw many changes during its history. Plymouth’s original logo had many features that were popular at the time, specifically the crest-like look. It also featured the Mayflower ship, which was part of the inspiration for the creation of the brand. In 1961, the logo was modernized to feature a red, white, and blue color scheme. This would stay until 1994, when the logo was adapted to the black silhouette of the Chrysler pentagram. The last logo went back to its origins, depicting an abstract version of the Mayflower ship.
Sales and Production
Sales and growth percentages fluctuated greatly for Plymouth from 1980 to their closure in 2001. Despite these fluctuations, sales remained high until 1999 when they dropped drastically. The highest year for sales during this period was in 1986, when the company sold 537,151 units (according to CarSalesBase). In their last year, sales were at a lowly 31,547 units.
According to Motor Biscuit, the company’s production history is just as turbulent as its sales history. Early on in its existence, Plymouth was labeled as one of the largest producers among popular car brands. The height of their production was in 1973. Then, they manufactured 973,000 units – one that competes with the types of mass production seen by larger companies.
Many Different Models
Here’s a list of some of the most popular Plymouth models:
Model | Avg Asking Price | Picture | Description |
$57,765 |  | The Road Runner was released in 1968, in the height of the muscle car era. It lacked comfortable amenities, but did have a 6.2 liter V8 engine. | |
$139,000 |  | Another massively popular muscle car, the Belvedere GTX was introduced in 1967. It featured a 7.2 liter V8. | |
$87,624 |  | As one of the most popular cars to be made during the muscle car era, the Barracuda was a favorite vehicle among drivers and major competition to Ford’s Mustang. It featured either a 4.4 or 6.3 liter V8. | |
$32,333 |  | The Fury was produced from 1956-1989 and is considered the company’s first “muscle car.” It featured a 5/0 liter V8 engine. | |
$1,848 |  | Introduced in 1995, the Neon was Plymouth’s budget-friendly vehicle for the average driver. It came in either a 4-door or 2-door option and was considered a compact car. It was one of the last models to be produced by Plymouth before the company closed. |
Geographic Popularity
Plymouth cars were American-made, with the company headquarters located in Auburn HIlls, Michigan. They were primarily marketed to the United States, with little influence or sales on an international scale. All models were sold at Chrysler dealerships, along with DeSoto and Dodge facilities.
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