Dodge Brothers Company was sold to Chrysler in 1928, having begun in the automobile manufacturing business in 1914. The D-Series of cars started production in 1935 after the economy had begun to come back from the Great Depression. They were styled similar to the unsuccessful Airflow models but were not as unorthodox in appearance and would be more successful. This 1936 Dodge 4-door sedan (suicide doors!), believed to be a D-2 model, has a decent body for its age and looks to be a solid restoration candidate. Located in Edwardsville, Illinois, the old Dodge is available here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $5,000.
There were three series of Dodge automobiles for 1936, the D-2, D-3, and D-4. The D-2 was the entry-level series of cars and about 265,000 of them were built that year. The D-2 was powered by an L-head six-cylinder engine with a displacement of nearly 218 cubic inches (and 87 horsepower). The engine was paired with a 3-speed selective sliding gear transmission and the cars had hydraulic brakes and steel artillery spoke wheels. Styling-wise, the D-2 had a rounded radiator grille and torpedo-shaped headlamps.
The seller’s ’36 Dodge is said to have been stored inside a garage for the last 40 years, which has no doubt helped preserve its overall condition. While there is some rust in the floor pan under where the battery was located at the factory, the sheet metal looks to be good. All the chrome trim has survived although not necessarily on the car and its black paint (patina and all) could very well be original. The interior is going to need some work as the original upholstery has given up the ghost. Note the giant speedometer in the middle of the dashboard.
A prior owner started a 12-volt conversion (which means it was not completed) and the radiator was replaced. The car comes with several bins of parts and original documentation on the automobile. New tires are featured all around. The seller is not interested in any trades, so if you’ve been looking for a pre-World War II automobile to restore, this might be a good starting point.
Car part pictures. Still not a great way to excite potential customers. This could be a neat car but without pictures of the entire car it’s pretty hard to visualize what it looks like in the real world.
And what’s the wiring around the steering wheel about? To electrocute a potential thief? More piare needed but this looks like its all there.
I’d like to see more pics inside and out
Wiring at steering wheel is a early attempt at radio and cluster info controls.