Plymouth: Chrysler's Hero for the Great Depression

Plymouth is a brand of automobile based in thetogether with Chevrolet and Ford. They were
United States marketed by Chrysler Corporationconsidered the low-priced three. By 1940s
and DaimlerChrysler from 1928 to 2001. ThePlymouth was able to surpass Ford as the second
Plymouth brand was first introduced on July 7,most popular brand of automobiles in the US. Until
1928 and was Chrysler's first entry in the1956 Plymouth vehicles were famous for their
low-priced field which was then dominated bydurability, affordability and engineering. By 1957,
Ford and Chevrolet. The Plymouth vehicles wereChrysler's Forward Look styling theme created
priced a little higher than the competition becausecars that possessed more advanced styling than
of its top-of-the-line Plymouth parts like hydraulicChevrolet and Ford. However, Plymouth's
brakes that the competition doesn't provide.reputation was put in a bad light since the cars
Plymouths were originally sold exclusively bythey made were prone to rust and had sloppy
Chrysler dealerships.assembly. Chrysler started its Forward Look
The first Plymouth can be traced back to theStyling a year before when it introduced its limited
Maxwell automobile which Walter Chryslerproduction Fury line.
inherited as part of taking over thePlymouth's sale started to rapidly decline in the
Maxwell-Chalmers car company on 1920. He madeearly 1960s due to awkwardly styled cars that
use of the company's facilities to create andthey produced. But from 1957 to 1959, Plymouth
launch the Chrysler car in 1924. And in the yearwas considered a styling leader. Another reason
1926 the Maxwell was rebadged and modified asfor Plymouth's demise was when it was made to
a low-end Chrysler model. This model was againcompete with own corporate sister division Dodge
altered but this time it was created back intowhich also launched a low-priced, full-size Dodge
Plymouth.Dart in 1960. Afterwards Plymouth went into
The original purpose of the Plymouth was tofurther decline as Rambler and Pontiac assumed
provide low cost automobiles during the Greatthe number three sales position for the remainder
Depression that happened in 1930. The Plymouthof the decade.
helped the Chrysler Corporation survive a decadePlymouth was able to regain market share with
when many of other car companies failed. Threethe introduction of its 1965 models which included
Chrysler divisions sold Plymouth beginning 1930full-size vehicles with more mainstream styling. By
and these are as follows: Chrysler, DeSoto, and1971 and 1974 Plymouth was able to regain its
Dodge. Plymouths were selling quite well duringnumber three spot in the sales race with its
such grim automotive period and in fact evenValiant and Duster compact models. When
rose to the number three spot among saleableChrysler suffered financial difficulties in the 1970s
cars by 1931.Plymouth's lineup was reduced to the point that it
During its lifetime, the Plymouth brand becamewas no longer a full-line make.
one of America's top selling automobile brands