Founded in 1928 as Chrysler Corporation's value brand under Walter Chrysler's leadership, Plymouth was positioned to compete directly with Ford and Chevrolet from Detroit, Michigan manufacturing facilities. Depression era survival proved Plymouth's importance while strong post-war success established the brand, which introduced the Fury performance model in the 1950s before launching the 1964 Barracuda pony car that actually preceded the Mustang. The 1968 Road Runner muscle car and 1970 Superbird aero warrior became legends alongside the GTX performance variant, building Mopar performance heritage and muscle car credibility through consistent value orientation that delivered quality competitive with rivals through innovative engineering. Brand decline in the 1990s saw the Neon small car as Plymouth's final significant model before the DaimlerChrysler merger led to discontinuation in 2001, ending a chapter in American automotive history. Despite its demise, Plymouth's value brand legacy and permanent muscle car heritage thrive in the collector car market with devoted Plymouth enthusiasts preserving the marque's memory. Plymouth's story demonstrates that value positioning can coexist with performance credibility—the Road Runner and Superbird proved affordable muscle could compete with premium offerings, and that sometimes the smartest strategy involves delivering what enthusiasts want at prices they can afford rather than chasing luxury positioning that alienates core customers who prioritize performance over prestige.