Overview & Reviews

In its day, Plymouth was one of the best-selling and most beloved brands in the U.S. Owned first by Chrysler and then by DaimlerChrysler, the marque existed for more than 70 years before being discontinued in 2001.

The Plymouth Motor Corporation was born in May of 1928 as a marketing subsidiary of the Chrysler Corporation, with Walter Chrysler as its president. The first Plymouth, the Plymouth 4, followed soon thereafter, cruising into showrooms in 1929. The car was based on a Chrysler model, the Chrysler 4. Its low price and solid quality established Plymouth as the brand to beat for consumers seeking affordable transportation.

The 1930s saw Plymouth investing in the development of a new vehicle; the Plymouth PA was launched in 1931. Featuring then-innovative rubber engine mounts, the car was a hit, and helped Plymouth sail past more established brands like Buick to nab the 3rd-place spot in national car sales, behind Ford and Chevrolet. By 1939, more than 3 million Plymouths had been built, and its name had been officially changed to the Plymouth Division.

In the years following World War II, Plymouth introduced models like the Cambridge, Suburban and Cranbrook. The look of the vehicles was a departure from the prevailing aesthetic of the time. They were chunky and tall whereas the most popular vehicles were long, lean and low. V8 engines and automatic transmissions were also new additions to the Plymouth brand in the '50s. By the time the decade drew to a close, more than 12 million Plymouths had been built.

The '60s saw the birth of the pony car, and Plymouth was at the forefront of the movement with its legendary Barracuda, which was initially based on the Valiant compact when it was introduced in 1964. As the years went on, the Barracuda offered a range of powerful V8 engines and a choice of body styles, including a convertible. The decade also saw the introduction of a pair of muscle cars based on the midsize Belvedere: the bare-bones Road Runner and the more luxurious GTX. The psychedelic era also gave rise to the brand's potent 426 Hemi V8 engine.

The fuel crisis of the mid-1970s spelled trouble for Plymouth, as high fuel prices caused poor sales for its larger models. Plymouth saw some success with its Valiant, Duster and Volare compacts. But the lone shining star on the sales charts was the subcompact Horizon. Otherwise, the company suffered slow sales due to an aged and dwindling lineup. Things didn't get much better for Plymouth during the '80s. In spite of the debut of the popular Voyager minivan and a couple of other new models like the Caravelle and Sundance, the brand continued to struggle.

By the time the '90s rolled around, Plymouth was no longer a full-line make. Chrysler had plans to reinvigorate the brand with the introduction of new models, but all that changed after the company's merger with Daimler at the end of the decade. At the close of the '90s, Plymouth's lineup had been reduced to just five vehicles: the Voyager and Grand Voyager minivans, the Breeze sedan, the Neon compact and the Prowler sports car. DaimlerChrysler soon decided to pull the plug on the long-neglected brand, with the last Plymouths being made in model-year 2001.

User Reviews:

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  Amazingly durable - 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By Cleo - February 2 - 2:00 am

  I have 110,000 miles on mine and it still feels very solid and has most of the original equipment, original brake rotors, struts, shocks, etc. Only design flaw thats caused me trouble is the placement of the drink holders. Drinks can splash up on the temp controls, causing sticking & malfunction.

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  Plymouth Prowler Hot Rod - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
  By Plymouth Prowler - November 19 - 10:00 am

  Ive had the Prowler for 11 years and its still as much fun as any car Ive ever owned. Its a hoot.

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  GRAND VOYAGER - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By E. TAYLOR - July 30 - 10:00 am

  GREAT FAMILY CAR...OVER 100,000 MILES WITH NO MAJOR PROBLEMS

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  Good Value, Reliable - 1999 Plymouth Voyager
  By RidinChrysler - May 6 - 11:16 pm

  My wife and I pursued/researched all the vans selling well at the time we bought new. Weve been very happy. Weve put 120,000 miles on it; weve only had one actual repair needed on this car (last month). Other than that, fluid changes, and Jiffy Lube maintenance. Wed spent a lot less money and still got a fantastically reliable car.

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  Head Turner! - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
  By mopardave - February 24 - 1:43 pm

  This is a factory hot rod. It leaks a little when it rains, it squeaks some, and it rides rough.....I love it!

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  Great Van - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By Kelzer - December 13 - 7:40 am

  This has been an excellent vehicle for our family. We really enjoy driving it. It has be very reliable with minimal upkeep.

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  best car in the world - 2001 Plymouth Prowler
  By mike rotch - November 1 - 10:00 am

  its the best car you can buy

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  GREAT first car! - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By tinytike458 - October 14 - 11:36 am

  I bought this car as a college commuter, and to drive home to work. It had 55,000 miles when bought, and 104,000 miles after it was totalled. I had normal upkeep with this car, never cause a major problem. The driver side door lock wouldnt work from the outside, and no trunk release was annoying. It handled great in the snow belt of Lake Erie, and great on gas. The trunk space was great especially for a constanly moving college student. The stereo system had a great sound. The motor was quiet and it accelerated well. I would reconmend this car to anyone!

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  good car but not very big - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By john w. lange - October 7 - 10:00 am

  good car but being 62" not big for a man my size

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  Turns Heads Everyday! - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
  By aks939699 - June 2 - 2:00 am

  A bargain that gets more attention than the Acura NSX I used to drive. Great low mileage used Prowlers now abound for $20 - $25K - less than a new Miata. Get one. Youll never regret it!