Imperial Valley press., 1931-07-25
new PLYM0UTHS
MADE TO STAND
HARDEST TESTS

Not content with relying ON lab
oratory experiments to test The re-
liability, sturdinesS and general eX-
cellenee of the new Plymouth
floating power and free wheeling
Chrysler engineers in charge Of this
remarkable new low-cost car proved
these points by submitting them tc
every gruelling test known TO au-
| tomotive science.
When floating power was first
conceived and early experimental
cars built, all the resources of the
Chrysler engineering laboratories
one of the finest and most complete
Industrial laboratories in the coun-
try, were concentrated on the new
Plymouth.
Radiators, exhaust pipes, springs
rubber mountings, as well as all
movable parts were shaken, pounded
twisted or rotated literally millions
upon millions of times by specially
designed testing machinery before
passing final engineering inspection
More than a dozen experimental
cars were turned over to highly
trained and specialized test drivers
who put thousands of miles on them
in and around Detroit and on the
steep mountain grades near Lig-
onier, Pa.
AS a fitting climax to this COM
prehensive series of tests, the first
two production cars were sent west
on what proved to be a l0,000-mlle
Journey where every condition OF
weather and road that a motorist
will encounter was experienced.
From Detroit these new Ply
mouths sped direct to the alkali
wastes of Death Valley. Bounded
by the Panamint, Amargosa and Flu
neral ranges on each side, Death
Valley is 333 feet below sea level.
Not a breath of air stirs in this for
gotten section and the normal tenn
perature hovers around 134 degrees
Fahrenheit.
In this uninhabited and danger
Gus country, the new Plymouths
were driven mile upon mile III order
to confirm engineering Speciflca-
tions on ample cooling capacity,
proper functioning of the water and
oil circulatory systems, adequate
crankcase ventilation and proper air
cleaner, designed to keep out the
alkali dust with its penetrating and
destroying abrasive action on mov-
ing parts.
From the intense heat OF this
desert waste the new Plymouths
climbed swiftly up the 10-mile grade
to the heights of Mt. Wilson, where
the famous astronomical observa-
tory is located. Within the space
of a few hours these phenomenal
cars were called upon to function
IN the 134-degree heat of Death VAL
ley and in the 48-chill of the noun
tain peak above the clouds.
Hundreds of miles were put on
each car up and down the mountain
road in order to test the ruggedneSs
of the car in general, as well as the
revolutionary two-point suspension
of floating power: the pleasure-giF-
ing, economical free wheeling, and
the four wheel hydraulic brakes. so
often called upon to perform posi-
lively and quickly in mountain driV-
ing. The low-swung construction
of the new Plymouth. with its
double-drop frame and resultant
low center of gravity, insured COM
Portable riding and maximum safety
on turns and bends.
Following their return to Detroit,
Chrysler engineers accepted the ia
vorable reports of the test drivers
Thoroughly satisfied with every
phase of the cars performance. one
more test remained - the safety
test.
To the top of Bald Mountain,
north of Detroit, the new Plymouths
Travelled. There in front of engi-
neers and officials, they were un-
tremendously rolled over and over
down the mountain side. When the
cars reached the bottom they were
driven under their own power bact,
to the top and again catapulted
down the steep graveled slopes Of
this famous hill. Not a piece of
glass broke. not a major portion of
the all-steel body was bent or twist
ed, nor an inch Of the sturdy frame
was out of line and the rugged
mountings of the Plymouth floating
power engine were just as strong
and solid as before the series OF
falls.
All these tests were conducted and
recorded before one single new Ply
mouth was built for shipment to
Chrysler, Dodge and DeSoto dealers
throughout the country