A Plymouth By Any Other Name: Branding Exported Chryslers, 1932-1972

by Mike Sealey, Bill Watson, and Jim Benjaminson

Photos of the cars mentioned in this page

The Beginning and The Reasons

Chrysler Corporation began the practice of marketing Plymouths in foreign countries under different names during the height of the Depression, in 1932, with the Dodge DM series. Just 1,173 units were made, all in Detroit, Michigan. The Canadian version looked similar to the U. S. Dodge lines in most respects, except for the use of a Plymouth 4-cylinder instead of the Dodge Six. In the first year, the DM used a complete Plymouth PB drivetrain including the engine and chassis, with Dodge bodies riding on top.

As a side note, these were the last 4-cylinder Dodges built in North America until the introduction of the Omni in late 1977; and they were only sold in Canada.

1933 brought Chrysler Canada’s Dodge DQ and DP, which were Plymouths with Dodge nameplates and ornamentation, a practice which would last in the Canadian and many overseas markets until the end of the 1959 model year. The idea was to provide entry-level cars (Plymouths) to dealers who would not otherwise have them; and to sell Plymouths in markets where Dodge, DeSoto, or Chrysler were established, and there was not enough volume to justify introducing Plymouth. In addition, the Plymouths were less expensive; and in nations like Great Britain, where vehicle registration taxes were based on horsepower, a smaller bore engine appeared in certain models. Thus, Dodge (or DeSoto) grilles were fitted to the Plymouth bodies, along with other minor changes.

The DP was built in Detroit, using the Dodge Six; the DQ was a DP with less fancy trim. The parts book shows all body, chassis and engine parts interchangable between DP and DQ, until the DP wheelbase was increased from 111" to 115". At that point, the parts differ as the DQ remained on the 111" wheelbase.

Prewar Plymouth-based Dodges also included a 1939 4-door convertible sedan, which was a Plymouth exclusive in the U. S. At least one of these was sold new in Hawaii, and still exists today.

Dodge-badged Plymouths continued under the "Kingsway" name after World War II in some markets outside North America up to 1959, when they were replaced by the original (full-size) Dodge Dart. 1959 was not the end of the story in Canada, however, where Dodges continued to be marketed with Plymouth dashboards and drivetrains until the 1967 model year.

One exception to the Canadian Dodge using the Plymouth dash was the 1962 Dodge Dart. In 1962, both the Plymouth and the Dodge Dart in Canada used the American-style Dodge Dart dash and interior. A friend had a 1962 Plymouth Belvedere, complete with the "fratzog" on dash and enbossed on the door panels, just like the Dart 330.

The Canadian market offered a similar "Plodge" line with different model names. (See comparison chart at bottom.) These Regents were Dodge versions of the Plymouth Savoy.

Plymouth-based DeSotos

The practice of converting Plymouths into DeSotos began in 1937, and continued through the end of the 1959 model year, followed by two years of full-size Dodge Darts (and, in South Africa, compact Dodge Lancers) marketed as DeSotos overseas.

In its first two years, the DeSoto (or should we call it a PlySoto?) was based solely on the less expensive Roadking chassis. Just prior to World War Two (it came to Europe two years earlier than the U.S.) both U.S. based chassis were converted.

At the time Chrysler maintained final assembly plants in England, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. By September of '39 these were all closed because of the war....

After the war (1949 to be exact) Plymouth converted its cars into three series of cars for both Dodge and DeSoto. The Dodges were the Kingsway, Kingsway Deluxe and Kingsway Custom while the DeSoto was the Diplomat, Diplomat Deluxe and Diplomat Custom. In later years, every body style Plymouth built was offered as either a Dodge or a DeSoto.

There are some oddities, such as the 1939 Dodge Convertible Sedan from Hawaii. Brochures show this model as a DeSoto for '39 as well although it is doubtful that any were built.

By 1959, with DeSoto sales falling like a rock, the export DeSoto finally received a real DeSoto front clip attached to the Plymouth body. All of this nonsense came to a halt with the 1960 model year. Plymouths were no longer disquised as Dodges -- but the new Dodge Dart now became the basis for the DeSoto Diplomat -- with little more disguise than a few pieces of chrome trim and the nameplates and hubcaps. Dodge also provided the basis for the 61 DeSoto Diplomat. How many were built is unknown but its possible it equaled or even exceeded production of the real DeSoto!

The Canadian Lancer was exported mainly to the Commonwealth countries, other than Great Britain. The countries Chrysler mainly shipped to were Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean countries. Canada had Commonwealth preferential trade ties with these countries at that time. I am not sure about South Africa, although after 1960 it is extremely doubtful. That was the year that John Diefenbaker, then Prime Minister of Canada, led a movement to have South Africa drummed out of the Commonwealth for its apartheid policies.

Plymouths sold as Chryslers

Plymouths rebadged as Chryslers are not as well known, but are known to have existed in the Thirties, particularly in England. The first model of the Plymouth sold in England was the Q, sold in 1928. The 1930-31 Plymouth 30-U was a direct descendant of the previous 4-cylinder Chrysler, which was itself a direct descendant of the pre-Chrysler Maxwell. It is possible that what we knew as Plymouths were seen as continuations of the Chrysler Four line under the Chrysler name, but I do not know that for sure. I do not know when this practice ended, but there appear to have been no Chrysler-badged Plymouths after World War II, unless one counts the 1957-64 Australian Chrysler Royal, which was basically a '53-'54 Plymouth with a series of heavy facelifts. Canadian and overseas Chrysler dealers also sold the Dodge truck line under the "Fargo" name from 1936-72 (longer in some markets).

According to information provided me [Jim] by a European researcher/writer, the name Plymouth was not well thought of in England--how accurate that statement is may be open to debate, as other Chrysler models were sold under different names as well as Plymouth.

The English Plymouths were sold as Chryslers--in this case the Chrysler Kew and the Chrysler Wimbledon. (Both suburbs of London by the way). The Kew was fitted with the small bore export engine, while the Wimbledon had the regular U.S. built engine.

Only in 1939 did Plymouth market a car as the "Plymouth"--this an equivalent to the Roadking model in the U.S. It had a floor shift transmission. Next in line was the Kew and then the Wimbledon--available in a 7-passenger body type or as a U.S. based convertible coupe although a Carlton bodied four place convertible victoria was offered.

1939 was the last year for the English built "Chryslers". Incidentally the assembly plant was located on Mortlake Road, in Kew, Surrey, near the world famous Kew Gardens. Even the real Chryslers were renamed--including Richmond--and in one case, the "real" Chrysler Eight was sold as a Dodge!

Plymouth-Based Dodges and DeSotos: Chart

Photos of the cars in this chart!

Plymouth	Dodge (export)	Dodge (Canadian)	DeSoto
DeLuxe (1946-50)	Kingsway DeLuxe	Kingsway	Diplomat DeLuxe
Special DeLuxe (1946-50)	Kingsway Special DeLuxe	Regent	Diplomat Special DeLuxe
Concord (1951-52)	Kingsway	Kingsway	Diplomat
Cambridge	Kingsway DeLuxe (1951-53)	Crusader	Diplomat DeLuxe
Cranbrook	Kingsway Special DeLuxe	Regent (1951-53)	Diplomat Special DeLuxe
Belvedere	Kingsway Custom	Mayfair (1953-58)	Diplomat Custom
Savoy (1954-58)	Kingsway DeLuxe	Regent	Diplomat DeLuxe
Plaza (1954-58)	Kingsway	Crusader	Diplomat
Fury (1959 only)	Kingsway Custom	Viscount	Diplomat Custom
Sport Fury	Kingsway	n/a	Diplomat
Sport Fury (1959)	Lancer	n/a	Diplomat Adventurer
Belvedere (1959)	Kingsway DeLuxe	Mayfair	Diplomat DeLuxe
Savoy (1959)	Kingsway	Regent	Diplomat

(We now have a list of all these vehicles by serial number - click here!)

Dodge in Canada used the Kingsway name in 1940, 1941, 1951 and 1952. The 111" wheelbase 1949-1950 Dodges were DeLuxe, while the 118" models were DeLuxe or Special DeLuxe. The 123" and 137" models were sold in Canada as Custom in 1949 and 1950, the Coronet name not being adopted until 1951. The Wayfarer and Meadowbrook were not sold in Canada in 1949-1952.

Dodge-Based DeSotos

Dodge	DeSoto
Dart Seneca ('60-'61)	Diplomat
Dart Pioneer ('60-'61)	Diplomat DeLuxe
Dart Phoenix ('60-'61)	Diplomat Custom
Dodge Lancer ('61)	Rebel (South Africa only?)

The equivalent model charts cover the basics, but there are some exceptions. For example, Crestline's "The Dodge Story" shows both a 1956 Regent (Savoy) and 1956 Mayfair (Belvedere) with Belvedere Sportone trim installed. I seem to recall the implication that the '56 Regent was equivalent to a Belvedere 6, while the '56 Mayfair was the V-8 version of the same car.

According to Bill Watson, The Dodge Story is incorrect. The D43-3 was the Dodge equivalent of the mid-year Plymouth Belvedere and was not the wagon series. In Canadian newspapers on April 15, 1953, ads for both the Plymouth Belvedere and the Dodge Mayfair appeared - both in sedan and hardtop, and both with the new 228 cid engine, and the new optional Hy-Drive. The D43-3 Mayfair is also listed in Chrysler Canada parts books for 1953.

The 1955 Dodge Regent hardtop was available with Mayfair-style side trim, updated and repeated in 1956.

Dodge-badged cars appear to have used Plymouth front clips with Dodge emblems and grilles until '51, which appears from the illustration to be a Dodge front clip grafted onto a Plymouth body. '51-'54 looks as if it could have been a Dodge front clip, or a Plymouth clip with Dodge emblems and grille; I can't really tell from the illustrations I have. '55-'59 was definitely a Dodge front clip on the Plymouth body.

The bottom-line 1949-'52 Canadian Dodges shared the "Kingsway" name with the overseas models. Other Canadian Dodges had unique names.

More about the Diplomats

Photos by Philippe COURANT (1957 Crown convertible). Click here for more photos!

Diplomats kept the Plymouth front clip with DeSoto grillwork until '57, when the introduction of the Dodge-based DeSoto Firesweep finally created a DeSoto front clip which would fit the Plymouth body. This continued through '59, when the Firesweep got front fenders which looked more like those of the senior DeSotos ('57-'58 Diplomats, like Firesweeps, used Dodge front fenders). 1959 is therefore the only year where Diplomats and senior DeSotos shared the same frontal appearance... in this era, directional headlights were added to the cars sold in France.

Metal-bodied station wagons seem to have used Plymouth nomenclature, with the exception of the bottom-line Diplomat 2-door wagon (and probably the Kingsway as well, though I was unable to find documentation) going by the name "Commercial Utility".

The Plymouth-based (pre-'60) Diplomats apparently differed enough from their siblings by virtue of their DeSoto frontal treatment that derivation from standard Plymouth trim was only necessary when the DeSoto wheelwell differed markedly from the Plymouth, as was the case in '57-'59.

The Dart-based '60-'61 Diplomat appeared identical to the Dodge on which it was based when viewed from the front and the rear, with the obvious exception of nameplates. (The '61 Diplomat Custom may have had an exclusive emblem in the center of a grille, in the manner of the '61 Polara and '62 Custom 880; the pictures I have are B&W copies of original brochure illustrations, and I can't make that part out for sure.) Side treatment was what differentiated the last Diplomats from their Dart cousins. The senior '60 Diplomats had a lower quarter panel moulding not unlike that seen on the '57 DeSoto line. The senior '61s had what appeared to be the '61 Pioneer moulding with an additional "thunderbolt" piece down below, continuing to the back of the car; a strange add-on to what was already in many eyes a strange looking car.

I have never seen a picture of a Rebel, and so I have no idea how much it differed from the '61 Lancer, but I've been assured by a South African MoPar buff that all three compact makes were offered in that market...

Dave Homstad added:

In 1956, Dodge sold a Canadian Dodge Custom Royal based on the US Custom Royal [whose only visible difference was] a 56 Plymouth V8 301 in place of the 56 Dodge 315. This summer I bought a brochure that I thought was for a US Custom Royal, but turned out to be for the Canadian version when I read the engine specs and business address.

Bill Watson wrote: It used the 303 cid V8 engine, which was also used in the Canadian Chrysler Windsor and exported to Detroit for use in the Plymouth Fury.

Phillippe Courant added:

Notes about Diplomat and Kingsway serial number (infos from « le Catalogue des catalogues 1964»):

• DeSoto 53 : model SP 24 (6cyl) : 13 070 001 to 13 505 044
• DeSoto 54 : model SP 25 (6cyl) : 13 506 001 to 13 829 336
• DeSoto 55 : model SP 26 (6 cyl) or SP 27 (V8) see below Dodge 55 (same serial number)
• DeSoto 56 : model SP 28 (6cyl) or SP 29 (V8) see below Dodge 56 (same serial number)
• DeSoto 57 : model SP 30 (6cyl) or SP 31 (V8) see below Dodge 57 (same serial number)
• DeSoto 58 : model LF1 (6 cyl): LF1 0001 to &Mac183; or LF2 (V8) : LF2-0001 to &Mac183;
• DeSoto 59 : model MF1 (6 cyl) : M &Mac183;. or MF2 (V8) : M &Mac183;..
• DeSoto 60 : Diplomat : PF3 L (6 cyl) : 4 102 100 001 to .. / PF4 L (V8) : 5 102 100 001 to &Mac183;.
• DeSoto 60 Diplomat Deluxe: PF3-M (6cyl) : 4 202 100 001 to../ (wagon: 4 602 100 001 to ..) PF4-M (V8) : 5 202 100 001 to../ (wagon : 5 602 100 001 to ..)
• DeSoto 60 Diplomat Custom : PF3 H (6 cyl) : 4 302 100 001 to.. / PF4 H (V8) : 5 302 100 001 to ..
• Dodge 55 : model D54-2 (6cyl.) : 13 835 001 to../ D59-2 : (V8 241 CI): 15 663 001 to &Mac183;
• Dodge 56 : model D60-1-2-3 (6cyl) : 14 120 001 to &Mac183;/ D61-1-2-3 (V8 277 CI) : 15 873 001 to 16 080 450.
• Dodge 57 : model D64-1-2-3 (6cyl) : 14 280 001 to &Mac183;/ D65-1-2-3 (V8 301 CI) : 16 083 001 to &Mac183;.
• Dodge 58 : model LE1 (6 cyl) : LE1 1001 to ../ LE2 (V8 318) : LE2 1001 to &Mac183;
• Dodge 59 : model ME1 (6cyl) : M156 100 001 to ../ ME2 H (V8 318) or P (V8 350): M266 100 001 to &Mac183;

It'll be interesting to verify if the canadian models (Regent, Mayfair, Crusader&Mac183;) have the same serial number.

I have a copy of 59 Dodge Kingsway catalog (french text) : 8 pages which show every body available:

Dodge Kingsway (6 cyl ou V8) : Club sedan (2dr), sedan (4dr), business coupe (2dr, 6 cyl only) , suburban Deluxe (4dr) and commercial utility (2 dr wagon).

Dodge Kingsway Deluxe (8 models) : sedan 4dr, club sedan (2dr), faux cabriolet (= Hard Top model) 2 or 4 dr, station wagon Custom suburban (6 or 9 pass) and commercial utility 2 dr Dodge Kingsway Custom (6 models) : sedan 4dr, faux cabriolet (= Hard Top model) 2 or 4 dr, coupé décapotable Kingsway Lancer (= sport Fury convertible) with swivel seats, wagon sport suburban (6 or 9 pass).

4 engines were available : 6 cyl Powerflow, V8 « Fury V-800 » 318 CI, 2 or 4 barrels and V8 « Golden commando » 350 CI 4 barrels.

Sources

• Jim Benjaminson
• Bill Watson
• The Dodge Story, Thomas MacPherson (Crestline)
• The Plymouth and DeSoto Story , Don Butler (Crestline)
• Plymouth 1946-59, Jim Benjaminson (Motorbooks International.)
• American Cars 1950-59, Piet Olyslager (Grosset & Dunlap?)
• The Heavyweight Book of American Light Trucks 1939-1966, Don Bunn and Tom Brownell (Krause Pubs.)
• The Plymouth Owners Club

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