1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster

1949 Dodge Other Roadster Description:

1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster

One of 5,420 Wayfarer Roadsters made in 1949 Restored about 2013; spent 99 percent of its time stored in an indoor, heated garage since restoration 230 CID flathead inline six-cylinder engine Fluid Drive transmission and 3.73 gearing Granite Gray exterior with red interior, black trim and new black folding top Brand new folding soft top and restored top frame All new wiring, polished stainless and new windshield All gauges and lights work as they should Supplemental electric fuel pump, wiper vacuum motor rebuilt Radio updated to AM/FM and has receptacle for connecting smartphones

After World War II ended, automakers rushed to get their new models out instead peddling warmed-over 1942 models with minor trim variations. Dodge was no different. The nineteen forty-nine models were the marque's first true post-war model, after a long run of 1948s. This fine Dodge came from a Colorado consignor who has lovingly cared for this Wayfarer since 2006, 13 years! He decided to thin out his heard an entrusted us to sell 4 of his cars.

This Wayfarer Roadster was made in Chrysler's main factory in Hamtramck, Michigan no earlier than May of that year. Its Granite Gray paint is in overall very good order with a few minor blemishes are visible at close range while its new black, folding top looks great. Its Briggs Body, including the rear fenders skirts, has held up very well through the decades and remains solid and straight. The car has its original side curtain frames and new plexi curtains were put in after restoration. This Wayfarer has polished stainless and a new windshield, too.

The engine bay is very tidy, the battery is in very good condition, the chrome bumpers are in very good order and the trunk interior is also in very good condition, however the full-size spare tire is for looks only. Perched above the front bumper are a pair of amber fog lights while the headlights wear small visors. This Wayfarer has all new wiring. The previous owner reports all lights and gauges operate properly with the exception of the fog lights. The wiper vacuum motor has been rebuilt.

This Dodge Droptop rolls on Goodyear Super Cushion wide whitewall tires, size 6.70-15. These tires are mounted on steel wheels topped with factory wheel covers. The tires and wheel covers are all in good, original order.

Under the hood is Chrysler's 230 CID flathead straight six-cylinder motor. Backing this engine is its Fluid Drive transmission. Fluid Drive has two gear positions: low, governing first and second gears, and a "high" position for third and fourth. Fast starts or towing was where a driver wanted to use "low." In most other driving situations, the driver simply shifted into "high, "? pressed the accelerator and backed off the gas at 14 mph and listened for/felt a thump that told the driver the transmission shifted from third to fourth gear. Stopping - or starting - the car required no clutching or shifting, which led Dodge to assert that 95 percent of all shift motions were eliminated. The rear end has a 3.73:1 ratio along with a supplemental electric fuel pump.

Inside, the car has a red interior with black trim that is in striking contrast to the body color. The front and rear seats are in overall great shape. The black carpet is in good, original condition. There's a three-spoke ivory steering wheel that is in very good order. The black, metal instrument panel has full instrumentation and is in very good order. The red and black inner door panels match the rest of the interior's theme and are in good, original order, as is the shift lever and completing that interior is a modern AM/FM radio complete with a receptacle for connecting smartphones. The soft top has just been replaced and fits tight & snog.

The "true" 1949 Dodges were introduced in February 1949, after a long production run of the 1948s. The Wayfarer (known as the D-29 series), aside from its shorter wheelbase, shared the boxy corporate design of the new 1949 Chrysler products. While much improved over the earlier Dodges, the Wayfarer still had to do without features such as a crankshaft dampener, the new Micronic oil filter, a splash-proof distributor, and rivet-less brake linings. The windshield wipers were vacuum-powered rather than electric and only the right-hand door received an exterior lock - the roadster received none. The Wayfarer arrived with three different body styles: a two-door sedan, a two-door business coupe, and the two-door roadster (only entering production in May).

The roadster had removable plastic side windows instead of wind-down units, and a short top which eliminated the need for rear quarter windows. More permanent swing-out vent windows were available as an option. However, Californian regulations on hand signaling meant that roll-down windows had to be added quick and retro-fitted to Californian market vehicles This happened in September, after which the roll-down windows became a rarely selected delete-option. A roadster with a rumble seat was even tested (with a bottom-hinged trunk lid), but the opening would have had to be moved and the cost of tooling up for such an option meant that it was soon dropped.

Competition to this Dodge in 1949 included Chevrolet's Styleline Cabriolet, DeSoto's Custom Convertible Coupe, Ford's Custom Six Convertible Coupe, Mercury's Eight Convertible, Oldsmobile's Futuramic 76 Convertible Coupe, Pontiac's Chieftain 8 Deluxe Convertible Coupe and Studebaker's Champion Convertible.

If you collect Chrysler products, if you gather post-WWII vehicles or if you're simply wanting a classic that is different from the other period late 40s cars, stop by MotoeXotica Classic Cars today to check out this Dodge Wayfarer. It's a great driver loaded with period charms.

VIN: 48002914

Briggs Body #: 65218

This car is currently located at our facility in St. Louis, Missouri. Current mileage on the odometer shows 95,836 miles. It is sold as is, where is, on a clean and clear, mileage exempt title. GET OUT AND DRIVE!!!

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