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2026 Mazda CX-30 ReviewThe 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook is an Overlooked Classic
The Plymouth Cranbrook might not ring a bell, but it was one of the most popular cars of the early 1950s and for good reason.
Plymouth Cranbrook
The 1950s gave us more than their share of classic cars: consider the ’59 Cadillac, Ford Thunderbird, and the Chevy Corvette, to name but a few. Even workaday commuter cars featured memorable styling in the era of chrome and fins. So, while the Plymouth Cranbrook might not carry the same cachet as a ’57 Bel Air among today’s collectors, it was inarguably significant at the time of its release.
The Cranbrook sold over 550,000 units the year of its debut as Plymouth’s full-size car offering for 1951. That’s a lot of cars. Because Plymouth died out over twenty years ago, concluding its storied run with less than spectacular cars like the Neon and the Prowler, it may be tough to recall that the brand was once a major force in American motoring, easily vying with Ford and Chevy as one of the country’s top-selling marques in the 1940s and ‘50s.
This leads us to our featured listing a 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook convertible in light yellow with a black and yellow interior. With classic ‘50s styling and showroom condition, this Cranbrook is a perfect entry-point for those looking to get into vintage cars.
Cranbrook’s Brief Time at the Top
Plymouth’s balance of quality and affordability set it up for success during the post-WWII automotive boom. The Cranbrook was offered in numerous body styles including a four-door sedan, two-door club coupe, hardtop, convertible, or station wagon. Choices were more limited when it came to the powertrain as Plymouth gave every Cranbrook the same 97-horsepower 217 cu.-in. (3.6L) flathead straight-six and three-speed manual. Features on the Cranbrook included a trunk light, cigar lighter, fog lights and a search light, and heater.
The 1952 model Cranbrook was a continuation of the prior year’s design, with numbers curtailed by Chrysler’s production efforts for the Korean War (totaling 368,000 units). The 1953 model was given numerous updates to compensate. The original split window design was swapped for a single paned windshield, a new more elaborate grille arrived along with higher front fenders and straighter lines overall. The modern design was finished with a sailing ship hood ornament. Also new for 1953 was the column-mounted three-speed Hy-Drive semiautomatic transmission with no-clutch shifting (replaced a year later by the more advanced TorqueFlite transmission).
A new two-door sedan body style was added, as was a business coupe (sans back seats), and the Savoy Suburban station wagon. The two-door hardtop version of the Cranbrook, the Belvedere, was given its own model the following year, serving as the replacement model for the outgoing top-of-the-line Cranbrook. In its final year of 1953, the Plymouth Cranbrook sold roughly 400,000 units.
This 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook
Our featured 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook comes to us in an understated light-yellow finish, which looks almost cream in certain lights, with matching yellow and black interior. The condition of the convertible top, chrome work, wire wheels, and white wall tires are all spectacular. The interior retains its bench seats, gauges, and overall vintage styling. The car carries a modest 76,270 miles on the odometer. Like all Cranbrook, this example is powered by the 217 cu.-in. straight six sending power to a three-speed manual.
Priced at just $31,900, this 1953 Plymouth Cranbrook convertible is the perfect entry-point for anyone looking to get into classic cars.
