This ’34 Plymouth Goes From Forgotten To Fun Traditional Hot Rod

We all know good things take time, and there ain’t no way this car would ever be built in 16 minutes! But, that’s how long this super-cool video by Hot Rod Hoarder himself, Tommy Lee Byrd, takes to tell the story. And what a story to tell! It starts off like so many other tales from the early years of hot rodding. Tommy Lee’s father-in-law started building the car from the money he earned on his paper route, purchasing the ’34 Plymouth shell of a body for $100. A ’40 Ford chassis came next, to which Charles worked out a way to stuff the longer and wider frame under the Plymouth’s floorboards.

Charles built the car in the 60s from the parts he purchased with money from his paper route.

Charles cut off the rear portion of the frame and widened the firewall to keep everything under all the corners. Then he fabbed up his own radius rods out of the remaining bits. Since the Ford already had liquid brakes, he simply used the front axle and replaced the rear with a stronger unit out of a newer Lincoln. With a rolling chassis on-hand, Charles experimented with different engines to find the right “balance” if you will. Originally designed for a small-block Chevy (YES, they did install them into hot rods way back when), Charles got a line on a ’57 Chrysler with a 392. Of course, who wouldn’t want a hemi in their hot rod!

A 392 Chrysler wound up in the car for a while, but it had more power, and weight, than the modified Ford chassis could handle.

Tommy explains that Charles did swap in the first-gen hemi, but, “he said it just drove terribly,” he explains. “I can imagine, ‘cause it really doesn’t drive that great now!” Macpherson struts and rack & pinion steering be damned! What makes these historical hot rods so special isn’t how they contrast today’s offerings, but how they withstand the tests of time and live to tell about it. Many vintage rides have recently come out of hiding. Sometimes, they wither behind a barn, with the words, “someday” slowing ringing their siren song.

The car was completed, but life dictated the car be put away, where it resided for three decades.

The lucky ones bide their time in dark but dry surroundings, protected from the elements. Such is the case with this car. The last time Charles drove the car was back in the 80s. He drove the car from his old house to his new house, where it would sit in silent seclusion. Life poured sand through the hourglass as a family and career filled most of Charles’ days for the next three decades.

That’s when our host of the video, Tommy Lee Byrd, comes in. Who wouldn’t love having a hot rodder for a father-in-law? Likewise, having a son-in-law who knows a fuelie-head from a hemi-head can be a great addition to the family! Long story made somewhat shorter, Tommy Lee marries Charles’ daughter. Over time, Tommy Lee convinces his father-in-law to let him get the car out and get it running again.

The Plymouth Revisited

Bringing back such a cool car doesn’t mean you need to make it better than before and Tommy Lee explains how he kept with the car’s original build and sought only to bring it back to a usable and safe condition, since age and stagnation have taken the biggest toll on this car’s components.

Tommy Lee, Charles, and company roll the Plymouth out of the basement in preparation for getting it back on the road.

Even though the carbs hadn’t sipped a thimble-full of today’s alcohol-infused gasoline, those 450cfm Holleys were touched-up with new innards and gaskets and placed atop a ‘70s-era Weiand tunnel-ram. A Mr. Gasket electric fuel pump was added since ’61 Corvette’s 283 still use a front mount. The engine received a fresh tune-up and aerosol overhaul, but is still the same engine Charles used back in the ‘60s. The Muncie 4-speed transmission is also the same as before.

The brakes were reconditioned, but not upgraded, including the cool Chevrolet/GMC truck, dual-reservior master cylinder that operates both the clutch and brakes!

Technology has improved in so many ways since this car was built and Tommy Lee walked a fine line between upgrading and maintaining a vintage vibe. The dual reservoir GMC master cylinder is a newer unit, but the exact same style as Charles used years ago. The dual-point distributor was upgraded with a Pertronix unit, but it resides under the cap, so no points lost there in our book. The wheels and tires were obviously upgraded, and we think they blend with the car’s build beautifully and bring safety as well!

The 283ci that originally came from a Corvette went back into the Plymouth with the Muncie 4-speed in tow.

While Charles’ Plymouth may not be a famed racer or hot rod from a bygone era, it does serve as a timepiece of how cars were built, not bought, back in the days. When the common man made his ride what it is. They poured their soul into the car, and in this Plymouth’s case, it lives on, thanks to a family of hot rodders who have cared for it since the ‘60s. Check out the video. We’re sure you’ll agree.

About the author

Andy Bolig

Andy has been intrigued by mechanical things all of his life and enjoys tinkering with cars of all makes and ages. Finding value in style points, he can appreciate cars of all power and performance levels. Andy is an avid railfan and gets his “high” by flying radio-controlled model airplanes when time permits. He keeps his feet firmly grounded by working on his two street rods and his supercharged C4 Corvette. Whether planes, trains, motorcycles, or automobiles, Andy has immersed himself in a world driven by internal combustion.
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading