Not mentioned though is the fact that Chevrolet offered a double-action fuel pump as an option. With that pump, which was standard in all the better cars with vacuum wipers, the vacuum wipers will work OK.
@@jamesbosworth4191 I have them on my 1969 International Scout. They make a retro kit to convert to electric wipers, as the dual fuel pump is difficult to find now.
My '55 Chevy Pickup had vacuum wipers, and oh, what a pain in the rump they were. Any hill, wipers stop where they are. Then you let off the throttle to get a few wipes in, and you've lost so much speed.
HyDrive's transmission shared its fluid (really engine oil) with the engine; it took nine quarts of oil to service the engine and transmission. And to be honest, it was not the fastest of the low-price three. interesting, too, that Edsel use a similar 1/3-2/3 split seat back on some of its 1958 two-door models... Ironically, some pre-production photos of 1953 Chevrolets show four-doors with vent windows (such as were shown on '53 Pontiacs). And the 1953 Chevrolet was in the fifth year of using its 1949 body shell (despite a major reskinning this model year)!
Im mostly a GM guy, but I always had a soft spot for KT Keller engineered Chrysler Corp cars. Small on the outside big on the inside, these Plymouth were solid were solid cars Too bad they had conservative styling with no V8 option, which put them at a disadvantage in the market.
@@scrambler69-xk3kv A modern V8, true, but they had a V8 model in 1917-18. A much bigger car that cost a much as a Buick. There was nothing wrong with it, except that the nameplate read "Chevrolet", and people weren't about to pay Buick prices for a Chevy!
The Cranbrook would be my choice. I like the riding comfort and it’s quality engineered for all around value, reliability and safety. The back seat area is spacious too and that’s the clincher.
I already knew the Plymouth was the BETTER car vs the Chevy, but there is no denying the fact that the Chevy is the better LOOKING car, and, when comparing Chevys with PowerGlide vs Plymouth with HyDrive, which is a torque converter between the clutch and flywheel, combined with a regular manual transmission, Chevy is way ahead, plus, comes with a bigger engine, (with aluminum pistons and full-pressure lubrication with PowerGlide), that Plymouth couldn't match until the next year. Also, the 53 Chevy Bel Air was a new higher-line series for that year. The Plymouth Cranbrook is comparable with the Chevy 210, a mid-series car. If I wanted a car with a stick, I would seriously consider the Plymouth with it's full pressure lubrication, but if I wanted an automatic, I would buy the Chevy without hesitation.
18:19...During the '60s, a neighbor had a 1948 Chevy with vacuum wipers which would slow down to a crawl every time the gas pedal was punched. I'm surprised GM still installed "Bissell wipers" during the mid-50s. We had a '53 Plymouth station wagon from 1961 to 1966. It obviously had electric wipers as they never slowed down.
One can really appreciate the level of depth and detail that went into their marketing for these vehicles back then. You actually become educated on all of the necessary functions and systems (exterior, interior, suspension, brakes, engine, drivetrain) instead of being fed a bunch of nonsense regarding superfluous features ("everything is bluetooth!")
For all of the logical designs of the Plymouth more people cared more about styling over livable practicality. Just 2 years later the stylists were set free
0:13: The hat comment came directly from Chrysler chief K. T. Keller. In reviewing some low-slung prototypes of the era, he remarked, "hell, I want a car I can sit in, not piss over!"
@@autochronicles8667 Not really, they were all easily told apart, and the HyDrive wasn't really an automatic the way Fluid Drive on Chryslers and DeSotos was. With HyDrive, you normally started out in 2nd, (it would easily pull it), but you still had to shift to 3rd. You COULD keep it in 3rd, but with a little 217 cube engine, the car will be ever so slow.
They made a big mistake in refusing to offer a Poly head version of the 241 Dodge HEMI V8 as an option. It would have easily run away with the performance crown.
The ‘53 Plymouth had a new body. Although in no way flashy, the up to date styling with one piece windshield, flat trunk lid and smooth side surfaces was well received. The 1953 model was a big seller, 647,000 that year , their most up to that time. They were roomy, comfortable, easy to drive, economical, reliable and durable, at a very affordable price. Oh! That was what a Plymouth was.
it wasn't a great idea... they should have at least used a parking sprag in the trans... they were always saying "when you get a minor fender bump" the sprags would break... which was true back in the day and it would cause you to have to replace your transmission.
Other than the electric wipers, I voted for Chevy because it had an Automatic Trans available and an Overhead Valve Six with more H/P, not to mention P/S, self-energizing Brakes, and a Parking Brake that Locked the rear wheels, not the drive shaft! You never had to place a Brick or Rock under the tire on a Hill!
The reason Chrysler Corp. had their parking brake on the driveshaft is so the rear wheels did not freeze if you set it when the roads were covered with snow and slush. It would get into the drum brakes and freeze your wheels solid if you set it and left it on overnight. Our 1953 Chrysler had a drum brake on the driveshaft that was the parking brake, and it worked very well. Remember Chrysler's slogan for many years was extra care in engineering. They were indeed well engineered cars.
Plymouth all the way. If only for the electric wipers. Not to mention that the Chevy sedan was getting pretty long in the tooth by then. The Plymouth just seemed like a better overall choice. Of course, Plymouth no longer exists but Chevy is still here .....
The focus on distracting from price probably was due to the then-current Ford vs Chevy price war. Plymouth was the highest-priced of the low-price three. You could get a Chevy for literally a few bucks more than a Henry J. Another Henry, Henry Ford II, started the price war, but Chevy won it. It never happened again. GM ruled the pricing standards.
![[Dealer Film] 1961 Ford Vs Chevy, Ford takes some good shots! Colorized](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/sQ0lRgJaw8M/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Dealer Film] 1961 Ford Vs Chevy, Ford takes some good shots! Colorized](/img/tr.png)
![[Dealer film] 1954 Desoto vs Oldsmobile! Desoto wins!? Colorized](/img/n.gif)
I think the biggest selling point for the Plymouth over the Chevrolet would have to be the electric wipers. Vacuum wipers are annoying as heck.
Electric wipers would win out in the end :)
Not mentioned though is the fact that Chevrolet offered a double-action fuel pump as an option. With that pump, which was standard in all the better cars with vacuum wipers, the vacuum wipers will work OK.
@@jamesbosworth4191 I have them on my 1969 International Scout. They make a retro kit to convert to electric wipers, as the dual fuel pump is difficult to find now.
My '55 Chevy Pickup had vacuum wipers, and oh, what a pain in the rump they were. Any hill, wipers stop where they are. Then you let off the throttle to get a few wipes in, and you've lost so much speed.
@josephgaviota I know exactly what you mean. I live in the North East U.S. Try plowing snow during a storm.
HyDrive's transmission shared its fluid (really engine oil) with the engine; it took nine quarts of oil to service the engine and transmission. And to be honest, it was not the fastest of the low-price three. interesting, too, that Edsel use a similar 1/3-2/3 split seat back on some of its 1958 two-door models... Ironically, some pre-production photos of 1953 Chevrolets show four-doors with vent windows (such as were shown on '53 Pontiacs). And the 1953 Chevrolet was in the fifth year of using its 1949 body shell (despite a major reskinning this model year)!
We had a 54 as a family car. Dad squeezed in a 354 hemi, and a push button torqueflite.
Awesome Dad :)
My father owned a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook.
Im mostly a GM guy, but I always had a soft spot for KT Keller engineered Chrysler Corp cars. Small on the outside big on the inside, these Plymouth were solid were solid cars Too bad they had conservative styling with no V8 option, which put them at a disadvantage in the market.
The 53 Plymouth would have been dynamite with a V8. Sure was a missed opportunity.
@@jamesbosworth4191 Chevrolet did not offer a V8 until 1955 remember.
Yep it's hard to argue with the taxi cab analogy!
@@scrambler69-xk3kv A modern V8, true, but they had a V8 model in 1917-18. A much bigger car that cost a much as a Buick. There was nothing wrong with it, except that the nameplate read "Chevrolet", and people weren't about to pay Buick prices for a Chevy!
The Cranbrook would be my choice. I like the riding comfort and it’s quality engineered for all around value, reliability and safety. The back seat area is spacious too and that’s the clincher.
I already knew the Plymouth was the BETTER car vs the Chevy, but there is no denying the fact that the Chevy is the better LOOKING car, and, when comparing Chevys with PowerGlide vs Plymouth with HyDrive, which is a torque converter between the clutch and flywheel, combined with a regular manual transmission, Chevy is way ahead, plus, comes with a bigger engine, (with aluminum pistons and full-pressure lubrication with PowerGlide), that Plymouth couldn't match until the next year. Also, the 53 Chevy Bel Air was a new higher-line series for that year. The Plymouth Cranbrook is comparable with the Chevy 210, a mid-series car. If I wanted a car with a stick, I would seriously consider the Plymouth with it's full pressure lubrication, but if I wanted an automatic, I would buy the Chevy without hesitation.
Informative--thanks.
I have to agree with @james ... the Chevy _IS_ better looking.
18:19...During the '60s, a neighbor had a 1948 Chevy with vacuum wipers which would slow down to a crawl every time the gas pedal was punched. I'm surprised GM still installed "Bissell wipers" during the mid-50s. We had a '53 Plymouth station wagon from 1961 to 1966. It obviously had electric wipers as they never slowed down.
And GM stayed with vacuum at least until '58!
saving money!
One can really appreciate the level of depth and detail that went into their marketing for these vehicles back then. You actually become educated on all of the necessary functions and systems (exterior, interior, suspension, brakes, engine, drivetrain) instead of being fed a bunch of nonsense regarding superfluous features ("everything is bluetooth!")
Yeah I wonder if they do this kind of training now? I honestly think it would cost a LOT :0
Well, I’m sold. I’m going to head out and buy a new Plymouth Cranbrook today!
"LITERALLY killed two birds with one stone!"
How is your splay mounting and jounce space? :)
@@autochronicles8667 😅😅😅
@@autochronicles8667 What the heck is jounce space?! Did they just make that up?
Ok, I’m sold. I will be going to my local Plymouth dealer tomorrow for a brand new 53 cranbrook.
eh... well... :)
For all of the logical designs of the Plymouth more people cared more about styling over livable practicality. Just 2 years later the stylists were set free
0:13: The hat comment came directly from Chrysler chief K. T. Keller. In reviewing some low-slung prototypes of the era, he remarked, "hell, I want a car I can sit in, not piss over!"
Poor Plymouth.. stodgy and short. Stuck with a flathead 6, and no automatic.
Eh all the 53's all look similar :) and Plymouth had the Hy Drive... you only pushed the clutch in when you first started so it was an automatic...
Ford was still the undisputed raciest of the "low-priced 3" and would be until 1955 when both Chevy and Plymouth got V8 options.
@@autochronicles8667 Not really, they were all easily told apart, and the HyDrive wasn't really an automatic the way Fluid Drive on Chryslers and DeSotos was. With HyDrive, you normally started out in 2nd, (it would easily pull it), but you still had to shift to 3rd. You COULD keep it in 3rd, but with a little 217 cube engine, the car will be ever so slow.
They made a big mistake in refusing to offer a Poly head version of the 241 Dodge HEMI V8 as an option. It would have easily run away with the performance crown.
Semi automatic. @@autochronicles8667
my grampa had a 53 chevy, we used it to pull his farmall out the mud when it was stuck down to the rear axle !
The ‘53 Plymouth had a new body. Although in no way flashy, the up to date styling with one piece windshield, flat trunk lid and smooth side surfaces was well received. The 1953 model was a big seller, 647,000 that year , their most up to that time. They were roomy, comfortable, easy to drive, economical, reliable and durable, at a very affordable price. Oh! That was what a Plymouth was.
Yeah can't say it wasn't a success.... almost as much as 57 was. They had an amazing rep in 53...
We had a 1953 Chrysler Saratoga with a 331 cu. in. Hemi.
That independent parking brake acting on the transmission shaft would not hold the car when one rear wheel was jacked up.
it wasn't a great idea... they should have at least used a parking sprag in the trans... they were always saying "when you get a minor fender bump" the sprags would break... which was true back in the day and it would cause you to have to replace your transmission.
Other than the electric wipers, I voted for Chevy because it had an Automatic Trans available and an Overhead Valve Six with more H/P, not to mention P/S, self-energizing Brakes, and a Parking Brake that Locked the rear wheels, not the drive shaft! You never had to place a Brick or Rock under the tire on a Hill!
The reason Chrysler Corp. had their parking brake on the driveshaft is so the rear wheels did not freeze if you set it when the roads were covered with snow and slush. It would get into the drum brakes and freeze your wheels solid if you set it and left it on overnight. Our 1953 Chrysler had a drum brake on the driveshaft that was the parking brake, and it worked very well. Remember Chrysler's slogan for many years was extra care in engineering. They were indeed well engineered cars.
Plymouth all the way. If only for the electric wipers. Not to mention that the Chevy sedan was getting pretty long in the tooth by then. The Plymouth just seemed like a better overall choice. Of course, Plymouth no longer exists but Chevy is still here .....
can't believe how long people put vacuum wipers in cars...
steve mcqueen drove a cranbrook convertible in the movie the blob.
People bought Chevrolets because it was the thing to do.
The focus on distracting from price probably was due to the then-current Ford vs Chevy price war. Plymouth was the highest-priced of the low-price three. You could get a Chevy for literally a few bucks more than a Henry J. Another Henry, Henry Ford II, started the price war, but Chevy won it. It never happened again. GM ruled the pricing standards.
Soooooo your molding is structural aye? 🤔
Not just the trim, the bend in the stamping makes it stronger... It's actually true...
I enjoy these old filmstrips. So what if the salesman had a shoe fetish?
Upgrade from shoes to automobiles! Just SELL!
To me, in 1953, the only great looking car was the Mercury !
Chevrolet had the .ore powerful engine. But that old flat six was indestructible. Hard choice. If for the wife? I'd go with the simpler powerglide.
Yea. Wear. Is. Plymouth. 2. Day. ?