Skip to main content

When it comes to cars and collectors the last of anything adds to a vehicle’s collectibility. And that will apply to this lowly Plymouth Neon. This is the last Plymouth ever made. 

Though in later years parent company DaimlerChrysler let Plymouth sort of fade away, it once had a glorious past. From the Fury and Barracuda to the Road Runner, the Plymouth brand was Chrysler Corporation’s “entry-level” car. It held the same stature within Chrysler as Chevy at GM and, well, Ford at Ford Motor Company. 

It might be worth a few grand just to drive a brand-new Plymouth Neon

2001 Plymouth Neon-the last Plymouth made
The last Plymouth made-a 2001 Neon | BaT

Even if this weren’t the last Plymouth. That’s because the silver with black interior sedan has only 68 miles on the ticker. Of course, the seller will likely want more than a few grand for the LX model. 

The seller would be the original purchaser of the Neon: Darrell Davis. Davis custom-ordered the Neon as senior VP of parts and service for DaimlerChrysler. He drove the car off of the line at the Belvidere, Illinois, assembly plant on June 28, 2001. The next day Plymouth shut down forever.

He has taken its ownership very seriously. He’s collected every conceivable piece of memorabilia and ephemera associated with the historic Neon. From the window sticker to the special banner attesting to its status as it came off of the assembly line, there is a bunch of stuff that goes with the sedan. 

Davis paid $18,210 for the last Plymouth, so he might get his money back

2001 Plymouth Neon interior
The last Plymouth-2001 Neon interior | BaT

It’s listed right now on Bring a Trailer sitting at $14,000. Yes, that’s probably $12,000 more than it would otherwise be worth. But you can already see what being the last of something brings to the table. Davis paid $18,210 for it originally, so he might get his money back before bidding ends. 

The weird thing about Plymouth Neons is that they were also sold as Dodge Neons and in certain markets Chrysler Neons. Even up close there was nothing that distinguished between the different brands of Neon. Unless you could make out the chrome badge on the decklid. 

Will anything gas-powered be worth collecting in 20 years?

2.0-liter four-cylinder Plymouth Neon engine
2001 Neon 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine | BaT

It’s a crapshoot whether anything gas-powered will be worth collecting in 20 years. You’ve got the gold-chip vehicles like racing Ferraris and Duesenbergs that will always command high interest and prices. But beyond that, you’ve got 1957 Chevys and Ford Mustangs to fill out the average collector’s garage. And everything in between.

Any Neon-be it the first or last, just seems like a stretch. Design-wise, it is a surprisingly good-looking car. But mechanically and from a quality standpoint, it is fairly low on the desirability scale. 

Best in Sedans & Coupes
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Thom Taylor

Thom Taylor is a celebrated automotive journalist. He was awarded the Top 100 Most Influential People in Hot Rodding from Hot Rod Magazine, and was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame and the National Rod and Custom Hall of Fame. He’s a member of SEMA and the NHRA.

Thom has authored a number of books, including Hot Rod & Custom Chronicle and several guides for drawing vehicles like a pro, which pull from his distinguished ventures as an automotive illustrator.

Thom joined the MotorBiscuit team in 2019, and focuses his coverage on new vehicle releases, design, and the latest features and tech in the industry. His tenure of 25 years writing about the industry gives him a unique context for the auto news he covers, whether it’s part of the Rusty Monday series or the latest news from Chevy. Thom has built two complete cars from the ground up and driven vintage roadsters at the Indy 500.