Plymouth: The First Decade
1934 DeLuxe Plymouth
(Engineering Code PE)
Unless otherwise noted, price, engine numbers and body type production data is from
[Bowman 1988b].
Specifications are from [Chrysler 1975] and
serial numbers are from [Chrysler 1973].
Production dates are from [benj 2007].
Weights are from [Kimes 1996].
Highlights and commentary Production and serial numbers Specifications Paint Codes Four Door Sedan Four Door Town Sedan Business Coupe Two Door Sedan Rumble Seat Coupe Convertible Coupe Seven Passenger Sedan Westchester Suburban Touring Roadster Chassis Export Limousine Accessories and tools
Highlights
As 1934 opened, Plymouth replaced the successful PD and PCXX models with a new PE Deluxe model and a new standard PF model.
The PE and PF featured an advanced independent front suspension that used unequal A arms. Power was increased by 10% over the 1933 models by increasing the engine stroke. In other respects the PE and PF were mechanically very similar to the 1933 models.
The radiator cap migrated to under the hood again where it has remained ever since. The hood ornament featured a sailing ship for the first time. The hood sides were a odd mix of louvers in the front and vertically stacked doors at the rear.
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
A unique, one year only, feature on these cars was a front window frame that
had a vent window. When the vent window was closed the whole frame, vent window
included, could be rolled down. When the vent window was open only the main
window glass rolled down.
These are also the first Plymouth model that placed the instrument cluster in front of the driver rather than in the center of the dash.
The body itself was more rounded than the 1933 models but still featured classic early 1930s styling. The combination of classic styling and independent front suspension makes this car unique.
Plymouth learned in 1933 that the public wanted a full sized, full featured car. This was provided in 1934 by the PE and PF models. Unfortunately with items like the independent front suspension and unique window riser mechanism the price point moved up too much. For this reason, a "special" PG stripped of these features was introduced later in the year for those buyers more interested in thrift rather than features.
Production
| Model Name | Production | Serial Number | Engine Number | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Begin | End | Plant | Begin | End | Begin | End | |
| 6 (DeLuxe) | December 19, 1933 | September 28, 1934 | Detroit | 2,188,001 | 2,397,536 | PE1001 | PE230836 |
| Los Angeles | 3,007,701 | 3,019,347 | |||||
| Windsor | 9,321,911 | 9,326,544 | |||||
Specifications
| Wheel base | Num Cylinders | Bore and Stroke | Cu. In. | Compression | BHP | Torque | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Std. | Opt. | Std. | Opt. | Std. | Opt. | ||||
| 114 | 6 | 3-1/8 x 4-3/8 | 201.3 | 5.8 | 6.5 | 77 @ 3600 | 82 @ 3600 | 140 @ 1200 | 150 @ 1200 |
For download speed reasons, Detailed Specifications and Standards of Adjustment are found on a separate page.
Paint Codes
From [Ditzler Undated].| Code | Body | Fenders & Sheet Metal | Stripe | Wheels | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 101, 102, 103, 104 | Black (LE-30 VV) | Black | Gold Bronze | Eng. Coach Vermillon | |
| Black | |||||
| 201, 202, 203, 204 | Fisherman Blue No. 4 (IM-1444) |  |
Black | Packard Ivory | Black |
| Packard Ivory | |||||
| 208, 209, 228 | Clipper Blue No. 4 Poly. (IM-1352) |  |
Clipper Blue No. 4 Poly. | Silver Bronze | Silver Bronze |
| Clipper Blue No. 4 Poly. | |||||
| 504, 505 | Palm Beach Gray No. 3 (IM-1349) |  |
Palm Beach Gray No. 3 | Packard Ivory | Palm Beach Gray No. 3 |
| Packard Ivory | |||||
| 601, 608, 615, 619, 623, 624, 625, 626 | Empire Maroon (IM-429) |  |
Black | Silver Bronze | Black |
| Silver Bronze | |||||
| Empire Maroon | Packard Ivory | Maroon | |||
| Packard Ivory | |||||
| 801, 802 | Gunmetal Light Poly. (IM-1351) |  |
Gunmetal Light Poly. | Silver Bronze | Silver Bronze |
| Gunmetal Light Poly. | |||||
Trim Codes
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
Four Door Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $660 | 108,407 | 2848 |
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
The “form fit” trunk was a $37.50 option on this car.
Photograph copyright Tod Fitch, used with permission.
Four Door Town Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $695 | 7,049 | 2898 |
Photograph copyright Edward R. Peterson, used with permission.
Business Coupe
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $595 | 28,433 | 2668 |
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
Photograph copyright Edward R. Peterson, used with permission.
Two Door Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $610 | 58,535 | 2773 |
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
Photograph copyright Edward R. Peterson, used with permission.
This car is fitted with the extra cost option “form fit” trunk.
Rumble Seat Coupe
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $630 | 15,658 | 2733 |
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
Convertible Coupe
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $685 | 4,482 | 2698 |
Photographs copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
Seven Passenger Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $1075 | 891 | n/a |
Westchester Suburban
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| $820 | 35 |
Roadster
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
Photograph copyright Edward R. Peterson, used with permission.
Holden body built in Australia (roadsters were not built in USA after 1932).
Touring
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
Photograph copyright Edward R. Peterson, used with permission.
Holden body built in Australia only (last tourings in USA were 1932).
Chassis
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | 237 | n/a |
Export Limousine
Photographs copyright Alfons Avotins, used with permission.
In 1919, Carl Spaeter of Koblenz, Germany started importing motor vehicles into Germany. This was successful enough that in 1924 Hanko and Industry Handelsgesellschaft mbH Koblenz was founded. HANKO was derived from combining the names of two cities: Hanover and Koblenz.
In the following years the company focused on importing American made automobiles including Packard, Paige, Nash and Chrysler. However starting in 1933 the German government put restrictions on the import of cars. To get around that the company started importing the parts and assembling and selling cars under their own name. This 1934 HANKO is reputed to be one of two known examples. It is based on the 1934 Plymouth PE but with what appears to be a long wheel base chassis.
Accessories and tools
Tool kit
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
The tool kit bag assembly came in a domestic (part 600471) and export (part
600470) versions. The two were the same except that the tools were oiled on the
export version. The tool kit consisted of the following:
| Part Number | Parts book description | Comments from examination of an original kit |
| 600472 | Screwdriver | 7 3/4" overall length |
| 51827 | Pliers | Marked 25 Drop Forged |
| 12051 | Auto wrench (adjustable) | Marked 9 In Auto |
| 600473 | Hammer | An 802 10" overall length |
| Tool bag (not serviced separately) | The bag measures 6x14" |
Other tools, not part of the “Tool kit bag assembly” were the
wheel wrench, starting crank assembly, auto jack, jack handle, tire pump, and
tire iron.