1949 was the year that Mickey Mantle graduated high school and the year that he was awarded a contract to play baseball for the New York Yankees farm club. In these formative years as a young kid eager and ready to play, Mickey saw many great vehicles; and as any red-blooded American male of the time, cars could linger in the dreams of boys as long as baseball and girls. The Plymouth was the top production car in postwar America and was, most likely, the make most often seen driving the roads at that time. Perhaps dreams of driving this type of car to the drive-in movie and necking with the girls in the hometown of his youth is what later motivated Mickey to find this great example.

While Mickey owned this baby blue car, it sported the vanity plate "Mick-7." {Original "Mick-7" license plate is included in this auction.} The vehicle is also being sold with an original expired title executed by Mickey Mantle from the state of Oklahoma. (Today's current title is not in his name.) The car was sold in the mid 1990's at the annual golf outing and charity auction by Mantle, in Oklahoma, benefiting the "Make A Wish Foundation." Currently, our consignor is only the second owner of this car since the MICK let it go in 1995. The registration sticker on the "Mick-7" license plate says "Oklahoma AUG 1995"; THE VERY MONTH AND YEAR MICKEY MANTLE DIED!

VITAL STATISTICS
VIN 12321433

This 1949 convertible "Special Deluxe" Model Plymouth has an inline 6-cylinder engine with three on the tree, 97 bhp at 3600 RPM with 217.8 cubic inches, and a wheelbase of 118.5 inches. This exciting example has light blue exterior with a cream-colored convertible top and two toned blue interior. The P-18 series Plymouth was introduced in March of 1949 with Plymouth retaining its position as America's number three automaker with 21.1% of market share. Production leaped 47.5%from 1948 with 508,000 cars produced; taxing Plymouth's ability to produce enough cars to meet the calendar year sales of 574,734. One of the models with the LOWEST production number was the "Special Deluxe 6-cylinder, two door convertible" with only 15,240 made in 1949---making it MORE HARD TO COME BY THAN ANY OTHER MODELS PRODUCED THAT YEAR.

This "Special Deluxe" example includes variable speed wiper blades, a deluxe radio, and three dashboard gauges: temperature gauge with amp, oil pressure and fuel gauges. The car also includes a lighter and temperature controls. All gauges, wipers and radio are in working order. Heater, radio, full disc wheel covers, white sidewall tires, dual windshield wipers, dual horns, and dual sun visors were additional options in 1949; ALL OF WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THIS EXAMPLE.

The car is in Good condition overall, with the ELECTRIC CONVERTIBLE TOP also in working order. The undercarriage is farm fresh with surface rust; body trim is complete, and the chrome is in Good overall condition with only minor bends and dents. The car has been repainted to almost the exact original color. The tires are bias ply with some dry rot; the glass is in very good condition; there's a rear crank handle knob broken; head and tail, brake and right turn signals are working (later addition of rear back-up light and accessory turn signal controls). some minor repairs were made to lower door panels; some rust in trunk floor; newer filter and plugs in engine; may need ignition wires. Overall, this car is in very good condition as the owners, since Mickey death in 1995, have taken great care of this vehicle.

The driving force behind collectibles is reconnecting with ones youth---and the biggest hero, Mickey Mantle, connects us all! Although he didn't collect baseball cards, "The Mick" sought out this 1949 Plymouth to bring him back to the days when he dreamed of long summer nights under the stars with the convertible top down, his best girl in the seat next to him while laughing and flirting in the fields near Commerce, Oklahoma.

So, put your hands on the wheel that Mickey held numerous times. Sit in the car seat that Mickey sat in while cruising with the top down. You won't believe the way heads turn when you drive this car in your home town...it's a guaranteed traffic stopper. Own a piece of important history that encompasses Americana, baseball, the NY Yankees and of course, Mickey Mantle!