Looking as smooth as can be, this 1952 Dodge Wayfarer Business Coupe is among the most unique body styles available in this era. This long-trunk beauty is said to be “mostly rust-free,” and it can be found listed here on craigslist in Wheatland, Wyoming, and the seller is asking $7,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
I believe this color is Silhouette Green, but I’m not positive. I think it may have been Manchu Green originally, as the engine compartment looks more like that than the lighter color on there now. It can’t be original paint after 74 years, but it sure looks like it’s in nice condition. I’d bet this area of Wyoming is easier on vehicles than some upper-Midwest and eastern states that lay down thousands of tons of road salt, and the seller says this car is mostly rust-free. It’s hard to tell from the photos, but it seems like any rust would be in the usual areas: the bottoms of the doors, fenders, and they do show one photo of what I’m assuming is a shot of the floor somewhere, and it looks a bit… soft.
Dodge made the Wayfarer model from 1949 through 1952, and it was a low trim-level model, with the Business Coupe being made for customers who sometimes used it as people would use a pickup or SUV today. The trunk compartment was big, as you can see above. Perfect for hauling sales samples and other things while a person is on the road visiting clients. It looks good inside that huge trunk compartment. Here is a 1952 Dodge brochure.
Colors-a-plenty inside! The seat clearly isn’t original, but it looks nice in the photos. The door panels are missing, and the paint under there isn’t the current body color, and the tan/fawn dash color may be original to the car, no matter what body color a person ordered. The 8-ball-like shift knob on the three-speed lever is pretty cool, and I’d lose the necker-knob on the steering wheel. Otherwise, a nice cleaning up, fixing any floor rust issues, adding some sound-proofing and rubber flooring, or even carpet, maybe redoing the seat in a more correct 1952 pattern and fabric would be on the list for me. We don’t get to see behind the front seat, sadly. This is the only seat in this car, as a three-seater Business Coupe.
The engine is Dodge’s 230-cu.in. L-head inline-six with 103 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. Backed by what the seller says is a manual, which would have been a 3-speed with a column shifter. I assumed they were all Fluid-Drive, but maybe not. They say it runs well, and it has new tires, a new gas tank, and an electric fuel pump. Hagerty doesn’t list a Business Coupe, but they list a Wayfarer 2-door coupe as being $6,100 for a #4 fair-condition example. Any thoughts on this one?
Looks like a slice of Key Lime Pie on wheels.
These old business coupes are one of my favorite body styles. No matter what make. I’ve read many times how reliable these old Chrysler flat head six motors are. This would be great to see the interior finished up.
I had a 1951 Desoto 4 door. All was good until after rod destroyed the block. The back seat area was like a motel room.
Mostly a truck guy, but I love business coupes of any brand! GLWTS
Necker bob? Being from Texas that’s a new one for me. Nice ride though!
Doctor’s office green.
Almost “Landlord Green” too, as used in many rental apartments for years.
I’m a big fan of business coupes. Especially Mopars of this era. This one has potential and I would be interested in it if it were closer to me assuming it passed inspection. GLWTS.
Looks like a 12 volt/alternator conversion has been done. Opens up a larger selection of mods the new owner may want to complete.
Has been converted to 12 volt system. Does include original parts to return it to 6 volts as well as original air cleaner.
Scotty, Thanks again for giving us a neat little entry level vehicle into the classic car hobby at a reasonable price. Those old Mopar flathead 6’s were indestructible, and since they were built up until 1960 there a plenty of parts available.
In college in the mid to late 60s a student a year behind me drove a black business coupe like this (Plymouth or Dodge). It later turned out that he was the scion of the president of a large insurance company that later became AFLAC. Pater was obviously not willing to spring for a new Mustang and let him have Grandpa’s old rig.
I love these late 1940s – early 50s Mopar business coupes. I wish I had a garage full of them. But who chose the colors to repaint this one? YUCK!
Maybe the “Spring Green” color of the day?
Looks like PA Dutch green to me .See it every where in Berks Cty.
I can’t say that I’ve ever been fussy about business coupes but their uniqueness makes them attractive. There’s a guy in our local club who recently restored a ’51 model. Interesting enough, it’s almost the same color and shade, except the roof is also green.
This would be a fun car to take on club runs. I have no doubt that it would take you there and bring you back. It would be a better attention-getter than a fully restored Camaro SS…
Remember Elmer Fudd?
About 10 years ago over on the H.A.M.B. there was a Dodge Business Coupe that was for sale. It looked ordinary enough, until you got to the back, where the trunk lid had been removed and a short (6-1/2’) pickup box had been inserted into the Business Coupe’s modified trunk opening. I always thought that was a cool modification, especially if the original fenders could be modified to fit the contour of the pickup box.
Jakespeed, I’ve seen a few of those setups. A few carmakers offered that feature, including Chevrolet. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/wp-content/comment-image/1686006.jpg
I saw one at the Peterson Museum a few years ago, on, I think, a Hudson business coupe.
https://media.invisioncic.com/r277599/monthly_2021_02/863335205_1937hudsoncoupe084.JPG.048b4f3584f3aef60f97077142a677a1.JPG
https://media.invisioncic.com/r277599/monthly_2016_09/57db0256df8ea_more1937hudsonshots098.thumb.JPG.7a852cf5c0750dede711a1ba8b621867.JPG
About 1968, a friend from Costa Rica asked me to find him two cheap old cars for he and another fellow to drive back home. I found a 1959 ALFA Guilietta Spider for $500 (That’s a different story) and a 1951 Dodge Business coupe for $50. The Dodge was solid but had a rusted brake line. In short order, it was on the road. They drove the two cars through Mexico to Costa Rica. In Mexico, The Dodge hit a rock and holed the oil pan. Carlos carved down a stick to fit in the hole and they continued on their way.
I see the remains of a kneckin’ knob on the steering wheel. Nice 52 touch. Nice white chrome bum[ers.
An old friend of mine had one of these. A ’50 model I think. And try as I might, I couldn’t get him to
sell it to me. Yeah, it had rust in the rockers and floors, but I still wanted it. Would’ve made a really cool street rod if you swapped in a Fire Power hemi (you could still find ’em in your local junkyard and buy ’em cheap
back then) or a 318 LA engine if
you wanted rock solid reliability.
Mate either one to a 727 torquefilte tranny and call it done.
Who needs an LS when when you
could have something like that. He finally did sell me his late wife’s ’57 Pontiac Star Chief 4-door hardtop by making me an offer I couldn’t refuse. It was a dark brick red with a cream top
and side spear. Oh sure, it was in
near mint shape, but it just didn’t
have the cool factor that Jonesy’s
coupe did. It did, however, run like a scalded dog thanks to a hot
347 V-8 with a high lift cam and 3
deuces on top. Seems that Jonesy special ordered that car for his wife in ’57. Came home from a tour in 1980 to find out that Jonesy had passed away at
81. RIP Jonesy, you are missed.
This could be a very nice car with a bit of money put in it, being a business coupe a big plus and running at a very reasonable price not too many of these available at this price- nothing fancy just a neat old car for the right price…