1928 Plymouth 1937 Plymouth Plymouth: The First Decade

1930 Plymouth
(Engineering Code 30-U)

Unless otherwise noted, price, engine numbers and body type production data is from [Bowman 1988a]. Specifications are from [Chrysler 1975] and serial numbers are from [Chrysler 1973]. Production dates are from [benj 2007]. Weights are from [Kimes 1996]. Paint specifications are from [Chrylser n.d.a].

Highlights and commentary
Production and serial numbers
Specifications
Identifying Trim
Four Door Sedan
Business Coupe
Two Door Sedan
Rumble Seat Coupe
Sports Roadster
Business Roadster
Convertible Coupe
Phaeton
Commercial Two Door Sedan
Chassis


Highlights

Plymouth continues its rising sales, just about the only car to do so during the Great Depression.

While styled nearly identically to the 1929 Model U Plymouth, the 1930 Model 30-U Plymouths had an “all steel” body. Externally the most visible change is to a wide radiator shell much more in keeping with the industry standard.

The fuel gauge is moved from the top of the tank and put on the dash and becomes an electrical instrument. Hydraulic shock absorbers replace the earlier friction type.

There were many running changes during production of the 30-U. Early production had a vacuum tank fuel pump. This changed to a mechanical fuel pump and a water pump was added. There were three different types of wire wheels used with three different bolt patterns. Early wood wheels were de-mountable rims while the later wood wheels were removable.


Production

Model Name Production Plant Serial Number Engine Number
Start End Start End Start End
4 (Finer) April 8, 1930 June 8, 1931 Detroit 1,500,001 1,570,188 U200001 U277000
Windsor 9,300,001 9,305,327

Serial Numbers by Date

1930
Date Serial Number
April 8
April 30
May 15
May 29
June 15
June 30
July 15
July 31
August 15
August 22
September 2
September 15
October 6
October 16
November 3
November 17
December 5
December 17
1,500,001
1,506,475
1,510,673
1,511,814
1,525,608
1,530,244
1,534,224
1,538,837
1,542,333
1,543,646
1,545,994
1,548,567
1,551,478
1,553,202
1,554,927
1,555,870
1,556,657
1,557,363
1931
Date Serial Number
January 1
January 15
February 1
February 15
March 1
March 15
April 1
April 15
May 1
May 15
June 1
June 8
1,557,753
1,558,512
1,559,119
1,559,785
1,560,943
1,562,325
1,564,338
1,566,062
1,568,515
1,570,071
1,570,135
1,570,188

Specifications

Wheel base

Num Cylinders

Bore and Stroke

Cu. In.

Compression

BHP

Torque

109

4

3-5/8 x 4-3/4

196.1

 4.6

48 @ 2800

120 @ 1200

For download speed reasons, Detailed Specifications and Standards of Adjustment are found on a separate page.

Paint Codes

See note about paint and trim.

Code Body Fenders & Sheet Metal Stripe Wheels
         

Trim Codes

See note about paint and trim.
Code Description
   

Identifying Trim

  1930 Plymouth 30-U wire wheel hub cap 1930 Plymouth 30-U wire wheel hub cap  
Radiator Cap Hubcap (for accessory wire wheels) Tail light

Four Door Sedan

Price Number Built Weight
$625 47,152 2595

Body Fenders, Beads and Moulding Stripe
paint chip Crown Maroon
(IM-1129)
Black (LE-30VV) Vermillion
Ambassador Brown
(IM-607)
Thorn Brown (IM-283) Flame Capucine
paint chip Marquette Blue
(IM-103)
Black (LE-30VV) Ivory
Bolling Green
(IM-27)
Black (LE-30VV) Ivory
paint chip Valencia Green #1
(IM-781)
Valencia Green #3 (IM-859) Green
paint chip Thorn Brown
(IM-283)
Black (LE-30VV) Ivory
paint chip Packard Blue
(IM-949)
Black (LE-30VV) Gold Bronze

1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan 
1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan 
1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  Photographs copyright Arlen Payne, used with permission.
1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan  1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Four Door Sedan 
Photographs copyright Tod Fitch, used with permission.

Early production cars had the rectangular rear window used in the Model Q and Model U cars. Late production had the oval rear window used in the 1931 PA models.


Business Coupe

Price Number Built Weight
$590 9,189 2420

This early production 30-U has the square rear window, a vacuum tank fuel pump and no water pump. The carpet on the floor is incorrect and the radiator cap is facing backwards.
Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe 
Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe  Early 1930 Plymouth Model 30-U Business Coupe 
Photographs copyright Dennis Aungst Jr., used with permission.
1930 Plymouth Model PD Convertible Coupe 1930 Plymouth Model PD Convertible Coupe Photographs copyright Tod Fitch, used with permission.


Two Door Sedan

Price Number Built Weight
$565 7,980 2497

Rumble Seat Coupe

Price Number Built Weight
$625 5,850 2510

Sports Roadster

Price Number Built Weight
$610 2,884 2280

Business Roadster

Price Number Built Weight
$535 1,609 2245
[Kimes 1996] lists production at 169 rather than 1609.

Convertible Coupe

Price Number Built Weight
$695 1,272 2450

Phaeton

Price Number Built Weight
$625 632 2340

Commercial Two Door Sedan

Price Number Built Weight
$750 80  

Chassis

Price Number Built Weight
  302