1928 Plymouth Q Roadster

Description

Launched in 1928 to compete in what was described as the "low-priced" market segment dominated at the time by Chevrolet and Ford, Plymouth Chrysler Corporation’s response. It became the high-volume seller for Chrysler, primarily sold in the United States, before being retired in 2001. Plymouth was introduced at Madison Square Garden (New York) on July 7, 1928, but its origins can be traced back to the Maxwell automobile. When Walter P. Chrysler took over control of the troubled Maxwell-Chalmers car company in the early 1920s, he inherited the Maxwell as part of the package. After he used the company's facilities to help create and launch the six-cylinder Chrysler automobile in 1924, he decided to create a lower-priced companion car, using lessons learned when he was running Buick under William Durant at GM. So, for 1926, the Maxwell was reworked and rebadged as the low-end four-cylinder Chrysler "52" model. In 1928, the "52" was once again redesigned to create the Chrysler-Plymouth Model Q (as here), although print advertisements called it "Plymouth" only. The "Chrysler" portion of the nameplate was dropped with the introduction of the Plymouth Model U in 1929. The Chrysler-Plymouth Model Q was powered by an in-line, four-cylinder engine displacing 170ci delivering 45 horsepower at 2800rpm. It used solid valve lifters, three main bearings, and a Carter carburetor. The engine was backed by a three-speed sliding gear transmission with spur gears and a single plate, dry clutch. Hydraulic brakes on all wheels provided the stopping power. Wood spoke wheels were standard and wire wheels were optional. Body styles included a roadster (with or without a rumble seat), deluxe coupe, two- or four-door sedan, standard coupe, and a tourer.