Maybe your experiences are different from mine, but I’m fortunate to see one Mopar “Business Coupe” a year, and here I am writing about two of them within ten days. Our reliable Barn Finder T.J. brings us this one, and although its price is $10,500 higher than last week’s car at $23,500 (or best offer), this one is almost certainly that much nicer. It’s being sold on craigslist through a dealer called “Cascadia Classic” in the Portland, Oregon, area; if you like three-window Dodges, this one will certainly gather your attention.
Last week’s coupe drew, as I expected it would, some widely varying comments on its proportions; after all, it has a long hood, a long trunk, and a truncated cab. It shouldn’t work, and for some people, it doesn’t. At all. But I learned that there are many like me who appreciate these coupes, which were often used for hauling salesmen’s samples. Look at that huge trunk, and the passenger seat folds forward for even more space.
All 1941 Dodges had the sturdy 218-cubic-inch flathead six, which produced 91 horsepower with a 6.5:1 compression ratio. Dodge bragged about its “special alloy inserted exhaust seats,” which combined with the low compression ratio should make this engine live on a diet of regular old gasoline. The seller says that the engine starts and runs well, and the oil has been recently changed and the coolant flushed in preparation for sale.
The interior is absolutely beautiful, especially considering the Dodge’s factory price of $1,229. The “three-window” coupe was only available in the least expensive “Deluxe” line, but all Dodges earned the “Luxury Liner” badge and descriptor in 1941. If only all dashboards could be as elegant as this one…but then again, nobody wears a suit on an airplane anymore, either. This Deluxe has “Fluid Drive,” and the brochure uses the effective illustration of a Dodge pressed up against a stone wall. The message? You don’t have to depress the clutch or shove the car out of gear at a stop; in fact, you can take off in high gear if you’d like (although I imagine a kid on his bike or a lady walking her dog would get the jump on you).
The dealer’s website has a lot more pictures and a more thorough description of this ’41 Dodge than does the craigslist ad, but even that shows pictures of the undercarriage that are as clean as the topside (which appears to be painted in the original shade of “Flare Red”). If you like this bodystyle (and I know many of you don’t), and you are willing to spend something near the asking price, this may be the one. As the seller says, it’s a rare find.
What a beauty! In my mind’s eye, I always saw Willy Loman driving a business coupe like this loaded with samples (although in the play he drove a Chevy early on and then a Studebaker). But as far as this car goes, as Willy might have said, “Attention must be paid!”
Yes! Willie in a suit and appropriate headwear with is notebook of costs, except when he was visiting a certin person.
They need to “Simonize” it.
My apologies I hit send way too quick by mistake. This is absolutely beautiful. I for one, love this body style. I like the long trunk. The color and the interior is absolutely perfect for this Dodge too. I would not change a thing. ( Maybe period correct white walls, I think it would make the maroon paint pop.
They would indeed make the paint pop.
Apparently all the car companies jumped on the “business coupe” bandwagon. Many were raced in the 50s, because of being lighter, but for the most part, they traveled the back roads of America, with everything you could imagine. Primarily catalogs and brochures for items too big to fit in the car. “In your face” sales was huge. These racked up millions of miles, with motors plentiful from the war, they were easily changed, and racked up another 100K. Regular gas? I bet these would, and did run on corn oil, or worse. I always wondered if these cars could talk and all the alleged traveling salesman stories were true? An amazing example, and not sure if restored, if so, they started with a pristine car, obviously bought in 1941, drove it a paltry 3,000 miles and who knows, anchors aweigh? Another war casualty? What a find.
What a different era – a Big 3 car manufacturer actually making a special car with a niche market of traveling salesman. They knew they were on the road a lot – and made the effort to make the interior nice and comfy, with just a hint of luxury. All the while shaping the rest of the car spacious enough for all of their wares and samples to be able to come with them on a sales call.
Maybe it’s the color but this one is proportionally much more appealing to me than the other one a couple weeks ago.
Nice car & in great shape.
Pricy, but most probably worth it!
Awesome automobile! Be sure to watch the running and driving video for the full experience.
Beautiful interior and dashboard! THIS was when cars looked “normal” to me — before everything went “nuts” around 1955. Most of the 1941 Dodges were other body styles — but I saw lots of them: come to think of it, ALL of the 1941s were plentiful, and I still picture the streets loaded with them — especially, 1941 Plymouths. A 1934 Ford drives by. A 1942 DeSoto with “blackout” headlamps folded into the fenders. A couple of Model As. A 1936 Chevrolet. A 1939 Buick Century. A 1940 Chevrolet. A 1937 LaSalle. It feels strange, in a way, not to see these cars in common usage anymore. Time tends to almost stand still for us “old folks”, and a car such as this brings it all back.