Larry Tomlinson, 81, of Elida said he wanted something different when he got this 1941 Plymouth Coupe in a trade 27 years ago. Tomlinson gave up his 1946 Ford Coupe.
Jim Krumel | For The Lima News
ELIDA – You could say Larry Tomlinson’s 1941 Plymouth Coupe is a “this and that car.” In the 27 years he’s owned it, he’s added a little bit of “this” and gotten rid of some of “that” to make a special vehicle.
For instance, when he purchased the car, the body was in good shape, but it didn’t have all the chrome. So what chrome was on the car, Tomlinson ended up taking off.
“The color of the car is Dodge Viper Red. It stands out without the chrome,” the 81-year-old Elida man said.
He’s added power steering, power brakes, power windows and air-conditioning.
“It makes for a more comfortable ride,” he noted.
The interior is all new. A bucket seat from a 1965 Thunderbird replaces the old one. The engine and transmission came from a Chevy truck.
Tomlinson obtained the Plymouth in a trade with a Columbus Grove man.
“I had a 1946 Ford Coupe and wanted something different. We were able to both drive away happy,” he noted.
All the changes and additions have worked out well for him. His 1941 Plymouth captured Best of Show honors among the nearly 200 vehicles taking part in the inaugural Real Wheels Cruise-In in 2009.
To this day, his Plymouth draws a crowd at car shows. He was at the Happy Daz Cool-Car Cruise-In during July.
“A lot of people stopped by to take an extra long look. I think it’s the color that draws them over. It’s fun talking with all the people.”
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