Plymouth Savoy

The Plymouth Savoy is an automobile which was produced in the 1951 through 1964 model years by Plymouth.

As with Plymouth's Plaza and Belvedere models, the Savoy was named after an upscale hotel, the Savoy Hotel in London.

1951-1953

Plymouth used the name Savoy as a trim package from 1951 to 1953, as an upgrade of the base model Suburban station wagon.

1954

When introduced in 1954, later in the year with 1955 model paint schemes, the Savoy was Plymouth's mid-level car and priced between the base Plaza sedans and the top-line Belvedere models. Midway through the model year (on February 26), the engine's stroke was increased by a quarter inch, increasing displacement from and increasing power from .

In 1954, the Savoy was available as a two-door Club Coupe, four-door sedan, and 2-door Club Sedan.

1955-1956

For 1955 through 1956 The Plymouth Savoy was positioned in between the base Plaza and the high end Belvedere

In 1955, the Savoy was available with new power steering.

In 1956, the line added a hardtop coupe and the Custom Suburban station wagon.

In 1956, seat belts were added for safety. The Highway Hi-Fi record player was also optional.

A promotional video was produced by Chrysler, where the 1955-1956 Plymouth models were built on the assembly line at Lynch Road Assembly.

1957-1959

The Savoy was an upscale trim of the Suburban station wagon in 1957.

For the 1957 and 1958 model years, the line added a four-door hardtop sedan.

In 1959, Plymouth dropped the Plaza and replaced it with the Savoy, making the Savoy the model's entry-level full-size Plymouth. The two hardtop models were dropped, as well as the side trim and interior appointments. Sales were not diminished as the Savoy became vehicles used by taxicab companies, police departments, and other fleet customers. The model was also available to customers who were in the market for a low-cost, economical vehicle with the availability of a V8 engine and automatic transmission, and the roominess of a full-size vehicle. By 1960, a new model, the Plymouth Taxi Special, was spun off from the Savoy. Front leg room was .

1960-1961

Plymouth models were restyled in 1960. The styling for 1961 was a year "most beholders would agree...it was hit with the ugly stick". This was because of the odd chromed "eyelashes" on the front.

1962-1964

New for 1962, the redesigned Savoy lineup started with the 225-cubic inch Economy 6 engine, producing . Three optional V8 engines were available initially: The Fury V-800 and the Sport Fury V-800 both displace 318 cubic inches, with either a two-barrel or a four-barrel carburettor. The Fury produces while the Sport Fury has . The top engine was the 361-cubic inch Golden Commando, producing . Later in the year, Plymouth added an optional 383 V8 with twin, four-barrel carburettors and , followed by the Super Stock "Max Wedge", raised block 413-cubic inch V8. Maximum power is , depending on compression ratio. Only 289 examples were built. Sold with the intent of being a competition car only, the 413 was supplanted by the 426 Wedge engine for 1963 and 1964; power increased to .

Plymouth discontinued the Savoy nameplate at the end of the 1964 model year, except in Canada, where it continued through 1965. In 1965, the entry-level full-size Plymouth model in the U.S. was the Fury I; in Canada, it was called the Savoy while the top-level models were named Fury II and Fury III.

File:1962 Plymouth Savoy (1144340734).jpg, 1962 Plymouth Savoy 4-door Sedan
File:1963 Plymouth Savoy 2-door sedan.jpg, 1963 Plymouth Savoy 2-door Sedan
File:1963 Plymouth Savoy Max Wedge (35147470425).jpg, 1963 Plymouth Savoy 2-door Sedan with Max Wedge engine option.
File:63 Plymouth Savoy (9885200434).jpg, 1963 Plymouth Savoy 4-Door Station Wagon
1964 Plymouth Savoy four-door sedan.jpg, 1964 Plymouth Savoy Four-Door Sedan

Other markets

*The Plymouth Savoy and the Dodge Kingsway were also assembled in India by Premier Automobiles Limited in Kurla, Bombay.
*In Mexico the Savoy was assembly by Automex between 1960 and 1961, rebadged as a Dodge. The plant was located in Lago Alberto, Mexico City.
*Chrysler Australia produced the P25 series Plymouth Savoy from 1954 to 1957. An Australian developed coupe utility variant of the Savoy was produced from 1956 to 1958.
*Todd Industries in Petone, the assembly unit of New Zealand Chrysler franchised importer and distributor Todd Motors, assembled the right hand drive Savoy and its "Plodge" Plymouth/Dodge siblings from CKD kits imported from Canada. Canadian cars were preferred to US-built ones, as a lower, "preferential" import duty rate applied to British Commonwealth products. Cars sold under the three brands were all based on the contemporary, comparable Plymouth models but nose and tail styling varied, as did engine availability. Dashboards were usually RHD Plymouth and typically differed in design from the LHD ones. "Plodge" assembly ended with 1963 model year models, replaced on Todd's large car line by locally built Australian AP5 Chrysler Valiant models. Dodge versions were produced under contract for Wellington-based Dominion Motors which held the retail franchise for the brand (and also for Pontiac, assembled at the nearby General Motors NZ factory).

References

; Inline:

;General:
*
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*''Motor Vehicle Data Book'' Sanford-Evans Communications, various issues 1955-1966

External links

{{Historic Plymouth Timeline

Savoy
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles
Full-size vehicles
Coupés
Sedans
Station wagons
Cars introduced in 1954
1960s cars
Cars discontinued in 1964