Few people remember the original Savoy, but that’s not a surprise. Plymouth produced the car for just ten years (between 1954 and 1964) and continued to tweak the lineup until all these changes made little sense.
For example, the company used the 1957 overhaul to introduce a four-door hardtop. The decision wasn’t surprising, as hardtops started getting traction towards the end of the decade, and the popularity of the Bel Air (and later of the Impala) proved this body style was here to stay. Two years later, Plymouth killed off the hardtops, sticking with the coupe, the sedan, and the station wagon.
The 1957 Savoy marked the debut of a short-lived third generation. It was produced until 1959, sporting an updated engine lineup, beginning with the 230 (3.8-liter) straight-six and ending with the more powerful 318 (5.2-liter) V8. Plymouth produced the last third-generation Savoy in 1959 before giving birth to a new series (also sporting updated styling) in 1960.
Plymouth Savoy wasn’t a famous nameplate, so finding a project in good condition today is difficult. The 1957 example posted on eBay by seller jnandin is one of the few units still around today, with a restorable condition and a working engine.
The last registration dates back to 1983, so it’s been off the road for nearly four decades. The engine under the hood starts and runs, but the owner emphasizes that we shouldn’t consider the car roadworthy. Indeed, the provided images reveal occasional rust issues. But at a quick inspection, the metal damage didn’t get past the surface, as I couldn’t spot any holes in the floors or the trunk. The current condition suggests the owner parked the Savoy in good conditions, as otherwise, the rust would have turned the car into a genuine rust bucket.
The listing leaves several critical questions without an answer, so it’s impossible to tell if the car is still original and whether any significant parts are missing. The working engine is a major surprise, so it’d be interesting to find out if the car received at least a partial restoration or if someone had already rebuilt it. Either way, the Savoy is worth checking out and based on the auction’s success, many netizens think the same.