Plymouth: The First Decade
1930 Plymouth
(Engineering Code 30-U)
Unless otherwise noted, price, engine numbers and body type production data is from [Bowman 1988a]. Specifications are from
[Chrysler 1975] and serial numbers
are from [Chrysler 1973].
Production dates are from [benj 2007].
Weights are from [Kimes 1996]. Paint
specifications are from [Chrylser
n.d.a].
Highlights and commentary
Production and serial numbers
Specifications
Identifying Trim
Four Door Sedan
Business Coupe
Two Door Sedan
Rumble Seat Coupe
Sports Roadster
Business Roadster
Convertible Coupe
Phaeton
Commercial Two Door Sedan
Chassis
Highlights
Plymouth continues its rising sales, just about the only car to do so during the Great Depression.
While styled nearly identically to the 1929 Model U Plymouth, the 1930 Model 30-U Plymouths had an “all steel” body. Externally the most visible change is to a wide radiator shell much more in keeping with the industry standard.
The fuel gauge is moved from the top of the tank and put on the dash and becomes an electrical instrument. Hydraulic shock absorbers replace the earlier friction type.
There were many running changes during production of the 30-U. Early production had a vacuum tank fuel pump. This changed to a mechanical fuel pump and a water pump was added. There were three different types of wire wheels used with three different bolt patterns. Early wood wheels were de-mountable rims while the later wood wheels were removable.
Production
| Model Name | Production | Plant | Serial Number | Engine Number | |||
| Start | End | Start | End | Start | End | ||
| 4 (Finer) | April 8, 1930 | June 8, 1931 | Detroit | 1,500,001 | 1,570,188 | U200001 | U277000 |
| Windsor | 9,300,001 | 9,305,327 | |||||
Serial Numbers by Date
| 1930 | |
| Date | Serial Number |
| April 8 April 30 May 15 May 29 June 15 June 30 July 15 July 31 August 15 August 22 September 2 September 15 October 6 October 16 November 3 November 17 December 5 December 17 |
1,500,001 1,506,475 1,510,673 1,511,814 1,525,608 1,530,244 1,534,224 1,538,837 1,542,333 1,543,646 1,545,994 1,548,567 1,551,478 1,553,202 1,554,927 1,555,870 1,556,657 1,557,363 |
| 1931 | |
| Date | Serial Number |
| January 1 January 15 February 1 February 15 March 1 March 15 April 1 April 15 May 1 May 15 June 1 June 8 |
1,557,753 1,558,512 1,559,119 1,559,785 1,560,943 1,562,325 1,564,338 1,566,062 1,568,515 1,570,071 1,570,135 1,570,188 |
Specifications
Wheel base |
Num Cylinders |
Bore and Stroke |
Cu. In. |
Compression |
BHP |
Torque |
109 |
4 |
3-5/8 x 4-3/4 |
196.1 |
4.6 |
48 @ 2800 |
120 @ 1200 |
For download speed reasons, Detailed Specifications and Standards of Adjustment are found on a separate page.
Paint Codes
See note about paint and trim.
| Code | Body | Fenders & Sheet Metal | Stripe | Wheels |
Trim Codes
See note about paint and trim.| Code | Description |
Identifying Trim
|
||
| Radiator Cap | Hubcap (for accessory wire wheels) | Tail light |
|---|
Four Door Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $625 | 47,152 | 2595 |
| Body | Fenders, Beads and Moulding | Stripe |
|---|---|---|
Crown Maroon(IM-1129) |
Black (LE-30VV) | Vermillion |
|
Ambassador Brown (IM-607) |
Thorn Brown (IM-283) | Flame Capucine |
Marquette Blue(IM-103) |
Black (LE-30VV) | Ivory |
|
Bolling Green (IM-27) |
Black (LE-30VV) | Ivory |
Valencia Green #1(IM-781) |
Valencia Green #3 (IM-859) | Green |
Thorn Brown(IM-283) |
Black (LE-30VV) | Ivory |
Packard Blue(IM-949) |
Black (LE-30VV) | Gold Bronze |
Photograph copyright Jim Benjaminson, used with permission.
Photographs copyright Arlen Payne, used with permission.
Photographs copyright Tod Fitch, used with permission.
Early production cars had the rectangular rear window used in the Model Q and Model U cars. Late production had the oval rear window used in the 1931 PA models.
Business Coupe
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $590 | 9,189 | 2420 |
This early production 30-U has the square rear window, a vacuum tank
fuel pump and no water pump. The carpet on the floor is incorrect and
the radiator cap is facing backwards.
Photographs copyright Dennis Aungst Jr., used with permission.
Photographs copyright Tod Fitch, used with permission.
Two Door Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $565 | 7,980 | 2497 |
Rumble Seat Coupe
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $625 | 5,850 | 2510 |
Sports Roadster
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $610 | 2,884 | 2280 |
Business Roadster
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $535 | 1,609 | 2245 |
Convertible Coupe
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $695 | 1,272 | 2450 |
Phaeton
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $625 | 632 | 2340 |
Commercial Two Door Sedan
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| $750 | 80 |
Chassis
| Price | Number Built | Weight |
| 302 |