1954 Plymouth Belmont Concept Car

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The Plymouth Belmont was both First Plastic Bodied Plymouth and the First Factory Plymouth with a V8. Plymouth would introduce their first V8 in 1955, as it was well known that Chevrolet would be releasing theirs in 1955. The convertible Belmont and the also plastic bodied Desoto Adventurer were created for the 1954 Chicago Auto Show, as answer to the Chevrolet Corvette sports car released the year prior. Also developed by The Chrysler Corporation’s Advanced Styling Studio were the Plymouth Explorer and 1953 Dodge Storm Z-250.

The chassis was a shared Dodge/Plymouth 114”, the engine a Dodge 242ci Polyspherical producing 157hp (serial number P27-1014), and the transmission the 3-speed Semi-Automatic Hy-Drive. The only changes to the engine was chrome valve covers for show, and a shorter air cleaner to clear the low hood.

The body was designed by Bill Robinson from Briggs Manufacturing under the direction of the Virgil Exner led Advanced Styling Studio. The overall length is 192.5” and the height a very low 32” at the top of door or 49” at top of Plexiglas windshield. While most of Chrysler’s Show car bodies of the period were contracted to Giha, Chrysler had recently purchased Briggs Manufacturing, because of their fiberglass expertise, and gave them the project. Bill Robinson later told a reporter that Chrysler President K. T. Keller had intended the Belmont into Production, with Briggs building the bodies. That obviously never came to happen. Chrysler dropped the thought of competition to the Corvette in 1955, most likely due to the poor Corvette sales in 1953 & 1954.

The car was painted a silvery light blue (Azure Blue) and had no exterior door handles – making it to where doors had to be opened by reaching inside. The taillights were taken from the 1953 Chrysler parts bin, as were the Kelsey Hayes wheels. The headlights were recessed into chrome buckets. Chrysler had recently begun the “Turbine Project”, and styling cues used some from that conceptual direction.

The interior had wide bucket seats in light grey, and the radio was located between them. The soft top roof was hidden behind the seats. The steering wheel was stock Plymouth for 1954.

After the show circuit, Virgil Exner was given the car, and it stayed with the family until 1968. It changed hands a couple of times and Don William’s Blackhawk Collection bought and restored the car - painting it red. It was sold to Ele Cheney of New Jersey in 2001, while at Amelia Island. She claims to regularly drive the Belmont.

In addition to the many car shows, it was featured in at least two moves in 1954. Bundle of Joy with Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds and Mr. Corey with Tony Curtis.

References

Internet

Hemmings https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2013/08/29/plymouths-plastic-fantastic-1954-belmont-concept-car-to-cross-the-block/

Hemmings https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2013/08/30/who-really-designed-the-1954-plymouth-belmont/

Kustomrama http://www.kustomrama.com/index.php?title=1954_Plymouth_Belmont

Second Chance Garage http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public/307.cfm

Allpar https://www.allpar.com/cars/concepts/belmont.html

Conceptcarz http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10073/Plymouth-Belmont-Concept.aspx

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