Where did Plymouth get it's name.....? NOT the ROCK!

​How it began.........

Walter CHRYSLER wanted to bring out the car of his dreams after taking over the bankrupt MAXWELL company in 1923. He put a Chrysler radiator on the Maxwell and rechristened it the Chrysler 58. But he still needed the perfect car with the perfect name to break into the low-priced field that was dominated by other car companies.  Henry Ford warned Chrysler that he would "go broke" if he began production of a new car. But Chrysler assembled his board and asked them to find a new name that was recognizable and trusted.

It was Joe FRAZER, future president of Graham Motors, who suggested Plymouth. Many objections  were raised but Frazer persisted that Plymouth would be recognized and trusted. WHY?

"Ever hear of PLMOUTH BINDER TWINE?" asked Frazer. Chrysler realized that every American farmer heard of it and would recognize Plymouth and associate it with reliability.

On January 11, 1928 the first Plymouth was produced , leaving the line with the Mayflower sailing on its emblem and the official slogan referencing pilgrims. Walter Chrysler introduced his new affordable car at the perfect time. The Model A was just beginning production, the Six was a year way, the Essex was declining , the Whippet had just peaked, and the stock market crash of 1929 was a year away.

The consumer reacted well to the new Plymouth. It reached No. 3 in production by 1931, a short three years after it was introduced and  through the great depression. In fact the Plymouth gained sales through the great depression, which was nearly an unheard of feat.

It seams that Henry Ford got it wrong. Walter Chrysler would be far from "broke" when he introduced Plymouth, a car line named from binder twine!

The story in picture form......After the long journey the "Frazer" Mayflower ship is ready to dock at the "Maxwell" boat landing at the edge of the island with the "Chrysler" light house overlooking the ocean.

The workers thresh the wheat and bundle it together with the "Farmers most reliable Plymouth binder twine"(which is in the wooden wagon) hurrying before the storm arrives.

See the first 4 pictures to the right of this story in picture form on this 34 Plymouth.