1959 Plymouth Savoy 4-Dr. 4-Door Sedan
2020.0031.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 230 cu. in. (3.8L) Cast-iron block, I-6
Output: 132 HP @ 3,600 RPM
Transmission: Automatic
Wheelbase: 118 in.
Overall Length: 210 in.
Weight: 3,275 lbs.
Top Speed: 88 MPH
No. Produced: 84,274
Original Price: $2,283
Manufacturer: Plymouth
Following the economic gloom of the previous year, 1959 was a better year for car manufacturers. However, Chrysler almost lost its third-place position to Rambler, whose production doubled again in 1959. The Big 3 responded and put their compacts on the market that year, keeping Rambler in check. Plymouth was the laggard of all the Chrysler lines, so it received additional styling changes to boost sales.
The Savoy brand debuted in 1951 as a station wagon, as Chrysler followed the trend of naming vehicles after European hotels. The museum’s namesake is the 1954 Savoy found when preparing the site for construction. In 1959, the Savoy badge graced Plymouth’s entry-level, full-size Plymouth model. Along with the rest of the line, it sported an “egg-crate grill, “double-barrel” front fenders, and the emblematic signature of the times, long outward-canted rear tailfins. The Savoy name meant affordable elegance.