One of the fun things about studying automotive history is coming to the realization that there are still a lot of stories you haven’t heard about. In 1939, the Chrysler Corporation managed to upset their Chrysler, DeSoto, and Dodge dealers by not offering them a convertible to sell. This 1939 Dodge Hayes coupe for sale on Facebook Marketplace in Califon, New Jersey represents the Dodge version of the consolation prizes awarded to each of those dejected divisions. With few examples produced and even fewer existing today, a Hayes coupe is a true prize for a dedicated Mopar collector. Needing a full restoration, the asking price for this one is $12,500. Does the rarity of these coupes justify that price plus the cost of a full restoration?
The true story of the Hayes-bodied coupes made exclusively in 1939 has been documented in a few places. Mac’s Motor City Garage provides us with the simplest and most widely accepted version. In short, Chrysler ordered 1,000 bodies from the Hayes Body Corporation. The design, credited to Chrysler designer Dean Clark, sat on a regular coupe chassis. The difference was that the roofline was extended sixteen inches in the style of a Victoria. The rear seats, which faced each other on normal coupes, were upgraded to a full forward-facing seat. What set these bodies apart was the distinctive roofline with a large greenhouse, complete with chrome trim surrounds on the side glass and a split rear window. Some even think that this styling treatment was an early iteration of the pillarless hardtops that were so popular after World War II.
Each division other than Plymouth received examples of these coupes. The story gets murky, though, when you analyze the numbers. As stated, 1,000 bodies were ordered. 1,016 cars were built, according to Chrysler Corporation records. If these numbers are correct, and somewhere around 1,000 cars were built, why are examples rarely seen? There is one in the Chrysler Museum, and occasionally you hear about a Hayes coupe changing hands. Otherwise, they are like a ghost of sorts. To put this into perspective, consider Plymouth’s convertible sedan for that year. 387 of those were produced. In 1979, the Walter P. Chrysler Club published a list of 18 complete examples known at the time. There are likely many more survivors, as there are two examples on the market this month alone.
On that point, another rumor claims that many of these bodies never made it onto a chassis, with the unused bodies being scrapped during the war. This makes the most sense given the low number of survivors. It also matches up with my experience. I wanted one of these a few decades ago when I had enough folding money to make this happen. After months of looking, one popped up in Hemmings Motor News. I called the day the magazine showed up at the house, but the car was already sold. I cannot recall another one for sale since then, and I have never seen one in person. While I would love to grab this one, I am not prepared to restore a car at this time, nor do I have the space.
The seller tells us that this distinctive coupe is 95% complete. Hopefully, the missing 5% represents parts not specific to the Hayes body. The ad also provides a video of the engine running. Fuel is provided by a small plastic tank above the carburetor, but it is running smoothly nonetheless. Analysis of the rest of the pictures shows a solid car that will likely require a full restoration. This doesn’t seem to be one of those cars nice enough to be cleaned up and put on the road and driven.
Restoring a car like this would be a labor of love. There is no doubt that it will cost a boatload of money to bring it back to its former glory. That would be hard to justify for someone who doesn’t even know what a Hayes coupe is. For those of us who do know how special and rare they are, this one is worth saving. If anyone is looking for me tomorrow, I will be down at the plasma place selling some blood.
Is this the kind of project that appeals to you, or is this a lost cause with a nice roofline? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Hey Hayes,,the late Frank Fritz of American Pickers fame, had a Plymouth like this, in similar condition, except Dodge had those headlights, I think he allegedly, paid $5 grand, thinking like this chap, can double my money easy,,,well, turns out, the car was worth about $3 grand, and a loss. He was unfairly ridiculed about that. Still a cool car, got restomod all over it. And a nice one it would make too.