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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  A great little car - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By Lmschwa - August 13 - 10:00 am

  I drive a lot for my job, so I spend a lot of time in my car. First of all, the gas mileage is great (27 mpg on average)! Also, Neons are really inexpensive to begin with, so this is a very thrifty car. Also, it is very visually appealing and doesnt look "cheap." I love this car and hope to have it for many years to come!

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  A true factory hot rod ! - 2001 Plymouth Prowler
  By viper1 - June 25 - 10:00 am

  Outstanding car, excellent handling and feels right. The only problem I have when I take it out for a drive is that I cant park the car because it is like a magnet, always attracting people.

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  A little about my car and a comment on another post. - 2001 Plymouth Neon
  By patrickl79 - April 7 - 8:05 pm

  I purchased my 2001 used from a private seller. It had 120,000 miles and I only paid $500 for it. It was non - running the problem turned out to be bad battery terminals a easy fix for about $4. I love my car, its quick and sporty, handles well and seems to be well built and very reliable requiring only standard maintenance, something that most people simple forget or dont care to do. My only complaint is I wish the center console was bigger.

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  1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager Expresso - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By best vehicle - April 2 - 6:43 am

  Bought the van with 33,000 miles. Was immediately impressed with the ride and how solid it was. Was a jump from our 1995 Grand Caravan, which we really liked. Had it for 6 yrs, no major problems, had to get the hvac reset when replacing the battery, and the cruise vaccum part had to be replaced. The 3.3 provides the best blend of power and economy.20-26. The quad seating was great. The durability of the interior/exterior materials is excellant. No tranny problems, had it serviced couple of times. One of the best vehicles we ever owned.

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  Dependable - 1999 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By tabbiekaye - December 2 - 12:56 pm

  Bought vehicle in 2002 it had 80,000 miles and now has 180,000 miles. It still has all original parts. The only problem is having to change the belt every 3 months.

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  500 - 2000 Plymouth Breeze
  By Jim Rousch - November 26 - 5:33 am

  Who would believe me if I told you that a Plymouth Breeze could go 500 miles on a tank of gas? Ive done it three times. The key is to drive the freeways as much as you can and keep it at 55-just like its 1974 all over again. The car is comfortable and very reliable. The 2.4 liter engine has enough power to get you where you need to punch it, but still sips gas. Its turning radius is insane! A Plymouth Breeze can do a straight U- turn in places where most cars its size cant.

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  dodge makes fun happen - 2001 Plymouth Neon
  By Gralun Poole - November 10 - 10:00 am

  i bought this car as a daily driver and have since turned it in to a street machine i can easily beat cars that cost more and the have a higher hp rateing. it is a fun car and plan to own the new srt-4 also.

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  fast eddies ride - 1999 Plymouth Prowler
  By fast eddie - July 24 - 2:00 am

  It dosent get any better than this. As a roadster it should be rated a 10. It is everything a roadster should be. Dont use it for your weekly shopping, or family trips. It wasnt designed for that.

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  2000 Plymouth Neon - 2000 Plymouth Neon
  By Gary Bader - March 25 - 3:03 pm

  It is a great car. I had very little problems with it. I would buy another one. Great in the snow.

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  1998 Ply Grand Voyager - 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager
  By ecreager - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought this vehicle new in 1998. it has been through 95,000 miles, many long distance trips, hauled kids to college and back, sat in office parking lots hundreds of days, and it is still reliable, relaxing to drive, and pretty. the quad seats in back, the two sliding doors are its most valuable assets, as well as the cargo room. Like it so much I plan to buy another mini van.