Last week I stumbled across this cool 1933 Plymouth sedan and marveled at the fact that it’s not a typical ’30s vintage Chevy or a Ford. Well, the hits keep coming as today we have another Mopar from that era in the form of a 1933 Dodge Sedan Delivery. Let’s look it over! Said vehicle is located in Melbourne, Florida and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $4,650 with 35 bids tendered as of this writing.
By all measures, 1933 was a tough year to be in the automobile business – probably a tough year to be in any business due to the lingering effects of the 1929 stock market crash and the resulting depression. Dodge, at this point, had been a division of Chrysler Corporation for five years, and in 1933 was newly aligned just beneath DeSoto and just ahead of Plymouth. Dodge’s 1933 production figure of 106K dropped it in fourth place behind Plymouth, Ford, and Chevrolet, respectively.
Being a sedan delivery defines this Dodge as a 1/2 ton, “HC” commercial vehicle, riding on an appropriate chassis. The seller describes the body as, “All steel except the two back fenders; A loosely applied steel top cut from a station wagon body, ready for weld and finish“. He further states that the fenders, doors, and hood are original and that there is some rust along the “lower bead”. That said, the body looks to be reasonably solid. To state the obvious, the headlights and running boards are missing and it doesn’t sound like they are available. What I found rather intriguing is the seller’s statement that this Dodge possesses, “A completed chassis using the original frame with added “A” body Torsion Bar suspension“. So that’s novel, a somewhat newer suspension design, incorporated into the existing, original frame – sadly, there are no accompanying images. The Magnum-style wheels are a nice touch!
Power would have originally come in the form of a 70 HP, 190 CI, in-line, six-cylinder engine but that has been given the heave-ho and replaced by a 318 CI “LA” series V8 of unknown provenance. It is listed as a “non-seized, good runner” but running won’t be its forte in light of all of its missing parts; no indication if they are included. The motor has been modified with a four-barrel carburetor flanged intake manifold – no word beyond that regarding other potential modifications. There is a PowerFlite automatic transmission in place – seems like an odd choice but at least the seller, or a previous owner, has decided to stay all Mopar instead of substituting in the ever-present Chevrolet small-block engine/Turbo 350 transmission combination. This Dodge does roll and steer.
The interior is, well, inside and that’s about it. A newer steering column and aftermarket steering wheel are evident but it’s about as barren an environment as an interior can be. That’s not entirely a bad thing, it allows the next owner, assuming some level of creativity, to have at it and build it out the way he or she sees fit. Of note, the floors appear to be constructed of oriented strand board (OSB).
This sedan delivery has a very cool vibe about itself but it’s going to take a lot of work to turn this project into something road-worthy and useable. But, if you’re up to the challenge and like the idea of something other than an early ’30s Ford or Chevy coupe, here’s your opportunity, right?
Like my poor dad use to say, it will take a lot of WD – 40 to get this thing going, but not a bad looking project !!!!
Great lines/rarely seen body style.
Just too bad someone beat us to the barn to molest it…
Yep cool lines for sure. And you need to get off your high horse.
The rules of behavior in these comment sections are explicit. I read every one and share the belief – *fact*, actually – that these survivors can only be correct once.
the auction has closed . looks kid of strange , just says opening bid $500 but it has ended
Maybe sold locally.
Nice to see an oldie like this where they kept the engine in the family… might be a fun project, for someone.
OMG… that would make a unique, badass rod…
Best lines of any car in that era..Steel too.
This rare surviving panel truck looks complete enough to be the subject of a correct restoration. Here’s hoping it reappears as such.
I built one from a 1934 Plymouth, it had coil and wishbone front end standard, and I used a 1967 Dodge Custom Royal as a donor car, because the late model Dodge parts were almost interchangeable with the 1934 Plymouth, a very easy job, and a great car with a 361 engine.
Enough room under the hood for a V-12.
I believe the first Dodge as such was in 1938; all previous are Dodge Brothers.
What did it sell for?