The family link in any car story makes it a better story, because an old car that connects a family over generations is a family treasure.
This 1957 Plymouth Savoy four-door sedan goes back three generations in the same family.
Jerry Sutherland
Sean Derrick is the proud owner/custodian of this classic 50s fin car because he grew up with it. He explained how his great-grandmother won the car as a bingo prize and after that it never left the family.
His great-grandfather (William Short) was the Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada fire chief and Sean said he used to go to fire calls in the Plymouth. That’s why Sean kept the decals on the car because he wanted to honor the history behind his Plymouth.
Sean’s great-grandfather crossed Canada to Ontario in the Plymouth “10-15 times”, then Sean’s great-aunt drove the car “now and then”. After that, the Plymouth was parked in a carport from 1978-82. Sean said he, “Always wanted the car and worked on the engine a bit”, so he was really happy to find out his great-aunt willed the Plymouth to him.
He parked the car for five years and went to university, before he thought about it again. Sean estimated the Savoy sat for 30 years in total—he thought the long hibernation in a dry climate really saved the Savoy from a grim fate because these cars were notorious for their rust problems.
This is a 301 V-8 car with the three-speed Torqueflite pushbutton automatic—that combination was bulletproof back in 1957 but Sean did have a few things to address. There was a problem with the number 7 piston when it seized after a head gasket issue, plus he had to replace the water pump. Sean admitted, “There’s a slight hesitation in the carb, because the accelerator pump isn’t good”, so that’s on his list.
Sean also repacked the bearings, but the rest of the car was rock solid. The car easily passed an out-of-province inspection to certify it for the road—the only issue was a taillight problem that was solved with original bulbs. This ’57 Plymouth is basically a textbook example of a survivor car. Sean said the car is great on the highway so he runs it at 70-75 miles per hour with ease because it’s smooth and it tracks down the road like a champ.
He added aftermarket wheel covers because he was worried about losing the original ones—history is important to Sean.
History is important because the Plymouth wasn’t just his great-grandmother’s, great grandfather’s, and great aunt’s car. It was also his parent’s wedding car—and his son’s wedding car. That kind of link to one family is priceless because it crosses five generations.
There is no question the Savoy is in the right hands because Sean wants to keep it factory stock—the same way it was when his great-grandmother won it in a bingo game back in 1957.
The real battle will come with the next generation because Sean’s son loves the car, but he wants to ‘soup it up a bit’. Sean’s going to give him a serious history lesson before that happens.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
- CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER
- CLICK HERE to Like us on Facebook
- CLICK HERE to Follow us on Twitter
- CLICK HERE to Follow us on Pinterest
Please re-post this if you like this article.
