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Founded in 1928, Plymouth was a sub-brand of American manufacturer Chrysler. The purpose of the new brand, Plymouth, was to compete in the market of budget cars. During this time, the market was monopolized by other American marques including Ford and Chevrolet. The brand is a namesake of the Massachusetts town Plymouth. Its logo portrayed a picture of the English ship Mayflower, which, according to tradition, landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts in the 17th century. Chrysler would continue to produce Plymouth cars until the brand’s demise in 2001.

With Plymouth, Chrysler offered consumers a pocket-friendly alternative to its more exclusive Chrysler cars. Though Plymouths would be sold at a price above that of the competition, it did offer features that other cars did not. For instance, Plymouth cars came installed with hydraulic brakes that expanded internally. The combination of price and features attracted customers, resulting in the brand gaining popularity in its early years. Notably, during the Great Depression, Plymouth cars helped Chrysler stay afloat.

Among Plymouth’s initial cars was the 1933 Plymouth PC. The car was installed with an advanced, six cylinder engine to help it compete against Ford and Chevrolet. However, due to a range of issues, the car would fail to achieve popularity. Its successor, the PB, would fare better. Still, the 1933 Plymouth PC was exported to many countries, including Scandinavia and Australia. It was also sold in the UK, where it was locally manufactured in a town called Kew. Towards the 1940s, Plymouth sales rocketed as it offered major competition to its rivals. In fact, it almost surpassed Ford’s sales.

Over the years, however, Plymouth lost its charm. In the coming decades, Plymouth’s sales declined dramatically, partly due to a lack of innovation. It failed to overcome competition offered by rival car manufacturers, including Dodge, who sold technically superior cars in the same price range. This would lead to Chrysler finally discontinuing the brand in 2001.