1953 Plymouth Cranbrook Base from North America - Comments

Coil, brake pressure switch, points.

For a car that is over a half century old, I would say it rides and drives pretty well.

Plenty of room.

Gas mileage has been pretty decent. I got 30 mpg in the summer.

The engine runs very smooth and has sufficient power for modern day driving, although you aren't gonna win any stoplight drags.

I have been very surprised and pleased with the parts availability. All the mechanical parts are avalible through just about any auto parts store and the prices are very reasonable. Also the car is very easy to work on. Any one can work on this thing.

One thing that went out was the coil, so I changed it to 12 volt. I would not have done it had I known how much of a problem it would be. The 12 volt current burned up some wiring, and the brake switch started on fire one day when I was going to work and burnt up the plastic portion of it, leaving me with no brakes!

I would recommend this car to anyone who wants to get into the old car hobby with a budget. Plymouth Cranbrooks seem to be pretty cheap on the old car market. I picked up mine for 500 bucks and it ran and drove.

Agree that those old Dodges and Plymouths from late 40's to mid-50's still seem to be a fairly cheap way to get into old cars, they just do not seem to be as popular with collectors, especially in the four-door sedan body style. I used to have a '49 Dodge Meadowbrook which was fun to mess around with, though I never used it as daily transportation. Good luck with your Cranbrook. Meadowbrook and Cranbrook: two model names that Chrysler is not likely to ever reuse again...

I love old cars, and fully support your enjoyment of driving this. Although I love Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth, I have to admit I've never heard of the Cranbrook (my favorites are the 1960s and 1970s). I am pretty surprised--okay, let's just say skeptical--of your reported 30 mpg out of this 258 straight six. I had a 1950 Chevy DeLuxe with a straight six, three speed manual, essentially a contemporary of your car. I had that thing running smooth as silk, but no way was it ever close to 30 mpg. Do you have an extreme high-ratio gearing in the differential or something? Even under the most ideal conditions, such as rolling downhill I-80 West from Truckee to Sacramento, I would still have to see it to believe it.

Who cares what kind of gas mileage the guy got. If he said he got 30 let him have 30. Get a life.

Well this is coming from the guy who wrote the review.

My car has a 218 not a 258 inline six. Yeah, I know it is hard to believe, but it is possible. I had a '92 350 Caprice that would average 25 mpg on a nice long stretch of interstate, so I don't think it is too much of a stretch to imagine a motor that is 132 cubic inches smaller to be able to get that kind of mileage. It is all in how your drive your car. You go easy on the throttle it treats you well in the wallet dept. Also I did not have a stock carb on it, it was a carb off a 1975 300 six cylinder. Now that I have the stock carb on it mileage seems to have fallen a bit, say around 6 mpg, could be due also to the fact that now it is breathing through the stock oil bath air filter instead of a paper one before. I also had an 85 Ramcharger 4x4 with a 318 automatic. My friend complained about the horrid mileage, usually around 10 it was, I got 18 when I got it. On a real long trip I could get 20 mpg. He couldn't believe it, it is all in how you take off and maintain your speed. Plus I had it tuned up real well, it had dual exhaust with headers, and finally I put one of those Tornado fuel saver things in it. I have heard that older chevy six cylinders were kinda hard on fuel from several people. Most people I know with early fifties mopars usually get 18-20 mpg which is better than the 12-15 I hear from most people with an earlier fifties Belair. Also the Cranbrook is a much smaller car than the Bel-Air. It would be like comparing a Neon with say a Dodge Intrepid. Also I have found that in an older car gas with ethanol in it tends to burn up a lot quicker than the regular stuff.

I remember the Cranbrook vividly. As a boy in the 1950's, my uncle had a 1952 two door sedan, emerald green in color, a six cylinder. I remember riding with him one day, he didn't get above 40 mph on the highway. He traded it and a 1948 Dodge truck for a 1961 Chevrolet Apache 10 truck. The dealer gave him $ 350 for both.

My Dad really wanted that car as a second car. It barely had 50K. But you know how relatives are. My Dad drove a 59 Biscayne at the time. He moved up to an 8 cylinder Polara in 1972. He thought that Dodge was the best car he ever owned.

DPC.

Hi guys.

I drive a '53 cranbrook four door as second car for 4 years. I'm currently installing a 318 auto from a 1978 lebaron in it cause the Hi drive was out of order and I wanted something hotter in it. In order to turn it into a more reliable car, I want to switch the electrical stuffs to 12 volts. Which parts should I replace to have a secure system? What are your advices?

Thanks a lot for helping me.

Matt.

Okay, this is a new one on me. Where does the name "Cranbrook" come from? Is it a racing circuit (like cars named Lemans) or a wealthy enclave (like cars named Malibu, Seville, Tahoe)?

It just seems so unusual since Chrysler, not to mention other auto manufacturers, have never resurrected the name as they have with others.

I've talked to several people about this name. I myself own a 53 plymouth club coupe and all I could dig up is it's a town in canada. maybe theres some connection between an executive and the town. for instance, the dodge meadowbrook was named after the estate of a chrysler executive and the ford fairlane got its name from henry fords estate. just something to chew on I guess.

Don't look further, Plymouth is a town on the seaside of the United Kingdom and cranbrook is a part of this town. As simple as that!

Anybody for helping me with the 12v convertion??

Matt.

Type "6 volt to 12 volt conversion" (ya need to spell it correctly) on google or any other search engine and you can find out all you need to know.

I also own a Cranbrook that has served me well. It's interior and exterior styling still looks very fresh and modern, and my friends can't believe it is not a contemporary vehicle, rather than being 53 years old!

Cranbrook is also the name of the homestead of George Booth (founder of the Detroit News), in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Bloomfield Hills was the location of many summer homes for Detroit auto barons in the early days of the automobile. Booth founded Cranbrook Educational Community. Cranbrook Academy of Art is world-renowned. James Scripps designed a car in the early 1900's called the Scripps-Booth.

I just bought a 53 4 dr cranbrook and it has some major brake problems, but other than that the car is sweet, before I had even saw the car I had never heard about it, but I am glad I got because I have been looking for something for me and my son to work on together and for the price of parts and the price of the car $1500 I think I found my diamond in the rough anyone got any suggestions or have experience shoot me an email at jfkingz@yahoo.com.

It is most interesting to read about the Plymouth Cranbrook. I've had 2 of them, both 1951 versions. I believe that name was on the 1951 to 1953 models and then changed to Belvedere for that model line in 1954.

As for the gas mileage, they might well get 30 M.P.H. As it was said, they would never accelerate the fastest, but they were a simple and fun car to drive. My parents had a Canadian 1951 Dodge Regent, essentially a Plymouth Cranbrook with Dodge emblems and body script. I bought my first 1951 Cranbrook as a daily driver at age 19 and parked it 2 years later due to due to the engine needing a valve, piston and ring job and not enough money to pay for it. In the end I gave it away.

The second Plymouth I bought 3 years ago for heritage status from the original owner who had to give up her car and home. They as you say are fairly cheap cars to come by, simple to work on and a joy to drive. I'm glad that others share the same enthusiasm with them too.

Bruce Pettinger.

Dear Plymouth Fans;

I am 49 years old, and have owned a 1953 Plymouth since the age of 9!

Presently, I am the PROUD Owner of that same Plymouth, as well as the following:

1946 Dodge Custom. "Fluid Drive";

1949 Dodge Coronet; "Fluid Drive;

1950 Plymouth Deluxe;

1951 DeSoto Custom; "Fluid Drive";

1952 Plymouth Cambridge;

1954 Plymouth Savoy,2 door;

1954 Plymouth Savoy 4door;

1955 Plymouth Belvedere;

1956 Plymouth Savoy;

1956 Chrysler New Yorker; (354 Hemi.) ;

1960 Plymouth Savoy 2door;

1960 Dodge Dart Pioneer; v8;

1968 Plymouth Signet Valiant.

The 1953 Plymouth was a great improvement over the previous models, and received rather unfair treatment which time has helped reverse!!

It is my sincere hope that this new "Changing of the Guard" at Chrysler will help it return to its' proper roots, and also quickly bring back "PLYMOUTH"; the GREAT Car of distinction, and Muscle History!!

Sincerely;

Frankie "MoPar" Marchese

Retired President, Granite State Antique Auto Club (Founded.1964)