Pre-WWII Plymouth Deluxe discovered in junkyard by explorers was found to be hiding US military secrets
Published on Sep 01, 2025 at 8:53 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Sep 01, 2025 at 6:16 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
A 1941 Plymouth Deluxe that was found rotting away in a junkyard had a secret military past.
The Plymouth Deluxe was launched in 1933, with an original production run that ended in 1942.
The car went back into production after World War II from 1946 to 1950.
Today, you don’t see many examples, but one was recently unearthed in a junkyard, and it had an interesting past.
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The 1941 Plymouth Deluxe had ended up in a junkyard
Recovering any old vehicle is pretty exciting, but there’s something particularly satisfying when the car has a cool past, like this 1968 Chevrolet Camaro Motion that was used as a street racer and even took a bullet during a street race, or this barn find Ford Torino that had its own street racing past.
Over in a junkyard in the US, YouTuber Dirt Road Derelicts discovered a 1941 Plymouth Deluxe that had an interesting military backstory.
The Deluxe was rescued alongside a 949 Windsor, and it’s safe to say it’s seen better days.
However, after taking a closer look at the vintage vehicle, Dirt Road Derelicts noticed that it had been made for the military.
The YouTuber thinks the car likely served as a military staff vehicle, and noted that the original olive drab paint was visible in several spots.
He also spotted the special blackout taillights that help to keep the car hidden from any enemies that may be watching.
Inside, there was another clue that the Plymouth Deluxe had been a military vehicle on the dashboard – a light switch that allowed the driver to swap between regular lights and blackout lights.
And while we’re on the subject of original, the 1941 Deluxe still has its original 3.3-liter inline six engine.
What will happen to the Deluxe?
Sadly, the car isn’t in the best condition. There’s plenty of rust, some missing parts, and no windows.
Despite all this, Dirt Road Derelicts rescued it and vowed to give it a second chance.
“I don’t want to see it get destroyed or thrown out or lost,” the car enthusiast said.
The Deluxe won’t be getting a full restoration, as it would cost too much to get it back to how it used to look.
However, it will be making a return to the road as a rat-rod.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
