Long Term Owner/212ci L-Head I4/3-Speed Manual/Neville Fat Man Steering Wheel

1921 Dodge Touring Sedan

For consignment, a 1921 Dodge Touring sedan showing 5,399 miles, but the true miles are unknown. This car has been owned by our consignor since 1999 and drove under its own power for 35 miles to get to Classic Auto Mall. This may be rare now, but in 1921, the Dodge Brothers produced 81,000 four door, five passenger sedans.

Exterior
Move over GNX, over a hundred years ago black was the color of choice and this one presents in a monochromatic profile and included in the palette are the 32-inch wooden spoke wheels. A large and stately car by today's standards, she sits high and rides on 4” tires to help navigate rough roads, or no roads at all. Like a poolside cabana, the black vinyl roof hovers over the cabin and maintains a glass window in back and like a horseless carriage, the whole unit can be folded rearward for fully open air driving. A stop light is mounted in the back, framed by a spare tire without a wheel while up front a chrome ribbon bumper mixes visually with the chrome headlight rings and the shiny motometer on top of the radiator. Imperfections include a tear in the soft top along with tears near the pivot points and some areas of rough and chipping paint.

Interior
Plenty of patina on the door panels with cracking of the material but otherwise intact, the rear doors with storage pouch included. The channel tufted bench in front is in nice condition and the rear bench matches in condition and color, benefiting from a robe pole from which a blanket hangs. A Neville fat man steering wheel is up front representing a wildly unique design with a thicker wood rim, substantial H-shaped spoke configuration, and oiling port. According to the tag on the wheel, it was first trademarked in 1915. It heads up a simple dash with four vintage gauges over black paint. The vinyl coating on the floor is aged and peeling as you'd expect, and is home to the tall shifter, handbrake, and round pedals.

Drivetrain
In a mostly original presentation, we find the 212ci L head 4 cylinder engine rated at 24 horsepower and fueled by a 1-barrel carburetor. It's backed by a 3-speed manual that routes power to the rear axle with 4.16 gears. Mechanical drum brakes are found on the rear wheels only, typical for the era.

Undercarriage
Uniformly black underneath including the wood plank flooring, all with some expected patina. There's oil on the bottom of the engine and the rear differential and some surface rust on the exhaust, but otherwise the underside is clean. That exhaust is a single unit that encounters a stock style muffler before exiting under the car. Suspension is still a vestige of horse drawn carriages with leaf springs occupying front and rear.

Drive-Ability
Our crack staff has the knowledge of how to spark a 104 year old car and it has that vintage sputtering sound that is music to the ears of any antique car lover! It gets around our test loop without trouble and provides a ride that's as tall and smooth as a pint of ale. There aren't many creature comforts on board, but all items with intended functions work as they should. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.

Our consignor states this is “an excellent parade car that runs and drives well” and we can't argue with that. Outside of your average car show, a parade route and a dropped top is the ideal setting for this car, perhaps with municipal dignitaries waving from the back seat and either being cheered or jeered from the roadside crowd. Regardless of the public's reaction to them, there's no doubt there will be a smile on the mayor's face as they're riding in a piece of American automotive history, and it works!

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.

With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!