The best and worst models of Plymouth offer a look at the highs and lows of this historic brand.
Plymouth is an automobile marque that was sold by the Chrysler Corporation through their Plymouth, Dodge, and Jeep-Eagle divisions from 1928 to 2001. It was once one of the four major U.S. automotive companies (along with Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler) almost as big as General Motors in terms of vehicle sales before it merged with growing Chrysler; it had established itself as one of the "Big Three" American auto manufacturers by the 1960s.
As well known for its catchy advertising jingles as for models developed over half a century, this brand has long been viewed with nostalgia by baby boomers and history buffs alike. In this article, we are going to look at the best and worst Plymouth models.
The Plymouth Barracuda is a great old model that was produced between 1966 and 1974. It was the company's first subcompact, but quickly grew into a family of its own; it even offered pony-coupé muscle car versions with plenty of power to back up their aggressive looks - including the 1971 Plymouth GTX. It also offered some models under different names over the years, such as the 'Cuda (1970–1974), Satellite (1971–1977), Road Runner (1968–1985), Duster (1970–1976), Superbird (1970 only).
The most differentiating features of the Plymouth Barracuda were the "razor-edged" styling which gave it a unique look on the road, and the powerful engines available in later years. The car was discontinued after 1974 but has since become a popular classic that can be seen at car shows and events around the country.
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The Plymouth Superbird is a high-performance car that was produced by Plymouth in the U.S. for NASCAR racing. It was first introduced at the end of the 1969 model year as a 1970 model. Designed as an "aero warrior" to compete with Ford's Torino Talladega and Mercury's Cyclone Spoiler II, it featured a radical wing design that produced more downforce than any other car on the track at the time.
Only 1,920 were built before production ended in July 1970 due to NASCAR's ruling that only cars with roofs could race - meaning that the Superbird's tall "nose cone" would have to be removed in order to pass inspection. Nevertheless, it remains an iconic muscle car and is highly sought-after by collectors.
The Plymouth GTX was a high-performance car that was produced by the Plymouth division of Chrysler from 1967 to 1971. It was available as a two-door hardtop, convertible, or four-door sedan. The GTX was positioned between the standard Plymouth Belvedere and the more expensive Plymouth Satellite. The GTX was powered by the 440 cu in (7.2 L) engine with a six-barrel carburetor and was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.5 seconds. A total of 58,881 GTXs were produced before it was replaced by the Plymouth Road Runner for the 1972 model year.
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The Plymouth HEMI Cuda is a muscle car that was produced by the Plymouth division of Chrysler from 1970 to 1974. The "HEMI" in the name referred to the 426 cu in (7.0 L) V8 engine with two four-barrel carburetors, which was optional on all 'Cuda models for 1970. It was capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.5 seconds and had a top speed of 135 mph (217 km/h). The Cuda was discontinued after 1974 but has since become a popular classic that can be seen at car shows and events around the country.
The Plymouth Fury is a full-size car that was produced from 1955 to 1989, with a one-year hiatus in 1981. It was originally part of the Chrysler's well-regarded "Forward Look" styling (in between the tailfins) and later incorporated some innovations such as self-adjusting brakes and electronic ignition. The mid to late 1960s models were particularly well regarded by collectors today for their styling, while the 1970s models have somewhat fallen out of favor due to poor build quality and reliability. That said, sales remained strong until 1979 when gas prices rose sharply; it ended production in 1989 after over 14 million had been built.
The brand has seen something of a revival in recent years, with the release of the Plymouth Prowler in 1997 and the Plymouth Barracuda in 2006. Both were two-door, rear-wheel-drive cars powered by V8 engines. The Prowler was discontinued in 2002, while the Barracuda is currently still in production.
The Plymouth Breeze was a compact car produced by Chrysler from 1995 to 2000. It shared many components with the similar Chrysler Cirrus and Dodge Stratus, as well as the Mitsubishi Eclipse from which it was originally derived. The Breeze is noteworthy because of its poor build quality, excessive wind noise, noticeably outdated cabin design, and lack of fit and finish.
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The Plymouth Neon is a compact car that was sold from 1995 to 2005 in the North American market. The "Neon" name was first used for a concept car created by Chrysler in 1987 as an ode to the original 1963 model; it wasn't until 1994 when the production variant went on sale as a 1995 model year vehicle. In its early years, the Neon was a strong seller for Chrysler, but by the early 2000s, its popularity had begun to decline. The car was criticized for its poor build quality, lack of refinement, and outdated design.
The Plymouth Laser is a sports car that was produced by the Plymouth division of Chrysler from 1989 to 1994. It was based on the Mitsubishi Eclipse, which itself was based on the Galant sedan. The Laser was available as a two-door coupe or convertible, with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. It was powered by a variety of engines throughout its production run, including Mitsubishi's 4G63 turbocharged inline-four engine. The Laser was discontinued after 1994 and was replaced by the Plymouth Neon in 1995.
The Plymouth Turismo was a two-door hatchback coupe that was produced from 1985 to 1989. It shared many components with the Dodge Daytona, including its front fascia and dashboard; both of these models were based on the Chrysler A platform. The Turbo Z variant included a turbocharged 2.2 L I4 engine and 5-speed manual transmission (optional on lesser trims) and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 7.7 seconds; it also had a top speed of 137 mph (220 km/h). Despite the similarities with the Daytona, sales remained low throughout its four years of production due to poor build quality and performance.
In 1976, the Plymouth Volaré and Dodge Aspen F-body cars were introduced mid-year replacing the Valiant and Dart, respectively. Production of the A-body shifted to Saint Louis Assembly while Hamtramck Assembly was dedicated to the new F-body, which did not maintain their predecessors' reputation for quality and durability and in fact reversed it. The change hurt Chrysler's reputation and profitability, contributing to its near-bankruptcy in 1979–80.
The Plymouth Volaré was probably the most memorable Plymouth of the 1970s, but for all the wrong reasons. This was one of the most problem-plagued, recall-ravaged car in history. Volaré is Italian meaning, ‘to fly.’ But within two years of its introduction in 1976, the name came to mean ‘I got stuck with a lemon.’
Plymouth is a brand that has seen its ups and downs over the years. While some of its models have been successful, others have been panned for their poor build quality and outdated design.
The best and worst models of Plymouth offer a look at the highs and lows of this historic brand. As always, car buyers should do their own research before making a purchase to ensure they are getting the best possible value for their money.
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| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Volkswagen |
Germany |
| #2 |  Toyota |
Japan |
| #3 |  Stellantis |
Netherlands |
| #4 |  Mercedes-Benz Group |
Germany |
| #5 |  Ford Motor |
United States |
| Rank | Company | Country |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |  Michelin |
France |
| #2 |  Bridgestone |
Japan |
| #3 |  Continental |
Germany |
| #4 |  Goodyear |
United States |
| #5 |  Sumitomo |
Japan |
