Dodge : Other - Pre War Daily Driver -

1937 Dodge D5 Business Coupe

Full mechanical rebuild

Excellent on the road

Stock and original

~ Relisted due to a zero feedback bidder that never contacted me after winning the auction.   Please only bid if you are serious about owning this car ~

Up for sale with mixed emotions is my '37 Dodge Business Coupe.   Although I deal in classic cars. this Dodge has been with me since 2010 and used almost daily.   It took me a long time to find this car. I was looking for a bone stock example and as you may know they're not easy to find.   My search led me to joining the Walter P Chrysler Club and it was from there that I was able to find this car.   The car was owned by a master Mopar mechanic who had recently passed away.   Before owning it he had serviced the car literally for decades. through 2 owners. both of whom had gotten too old to drive.   When the car became available for sale he knew it so well that it was like an old friend.   Upon his retirement he set about doing a full restoration. using his years of experience to do the job right.  

The car was restored with an eye towards originality and preservation.   Every mechanical component of the car was rebuilt. and I mean everything. nothing was overlooked.   The paintwork was done to amateur standards but the mechanical aspects were done at the hands of an expert.   The restoration was started in 1994 and completed in time to participate in Hemmings Motor News "Great Race" in 1995.   The car was driven sparingly over the next 5 years until I bought it in October of 2010.   I bought the car with the intention of using it as a daily driver. cosmetics weren't as important to me as reliability. when I found this car I knew that my search had ended.

Since owning it I've driven just about 6. 00 miles over 4 years and it's never let me down or given me a lick of trouble.   Aside from oil changes my expenses have been limited to a new battery and a replacement fuel pump.   I've never viewed the car as precious or fragile. just a reliable driver with fantastic Pre-War styling.   I didn't mind the patina. to me it made the car seem even more like a relic from the past. inexplicably out and about on the streets of Portland on a daily basis.  

I've driven this car rain or shine almost every day. taking my 9 year old kid (now 13) to school in it every morning - I trust it that much.   Our hobbies now require the use of a pickup and I know that my son now prefers being part of the 21st century with our new (2000) Toyota Tundra.

 So times change.   I hate to see the Dodge sit idle. I guess it's time for the next guy to enjoy it as much as I have.  

 

Click to enlarge any of the photos below. a link to a slideshow of all the enlarged images is available at the bottom of the page.

  Although the body is rust free and solid. the paint shows quite a bit of age.   Expect to find areas with paint checking. small dents. adhesion loss blisters and just generally poor paint.   I'm partly to blame for that; I usually wash the car only about twice a year and have never waxed it.   If you're experienced with a buffer you could definitely improve the appearance.   The good news is that the body is very sound. I've found no rust problems and the panel fit is quite good for its age.   Tires are Firestone Deluxe Champions from Coker. I bought these in 2010. they have about 6000 miles on them.   I'm running 6. 50's in the front and 7. 00's in the rear for a subtle rake.

The bumpers were rechromed in the 90's. they've held up very well and look great. definitely a cosmetic strong point on the car.   Front over-rider was installed with foam strips beneath so as to not damage the bumper's chrome finish.  

Lights. lenses and emblems are in good shape with the exception of a little wear on the front cloisonne emblem.

The paint finish in the 1st photo below tells me that I probably should have waxed this car.   A cut and polish will help.   The 1937 Oregon plate will be included with purchase.

All of the glass is good with the exception of a small crack on the driver's side window.   Front windshield tilt-out function works perfectly and is a big plus in summertime weather.

Mopar Business Coupes are known for their enormous trunks. this Dodge is no exception.   You'd be surprised at how much cargo this trunk can hold. this was part of the reason that this car functioned so well as a daily driver for me.
The car comes with records from the restoration. parts manual. original sales brochure. and a huge assortment of spare parts. enough to fill the trunk.

Nicely done interior to stock specifications.   The front mat is a replacement. the rear is original.

 

The dash finish is original. gives you an idea of how well preserved the car was to start with.   All gauges function correctly except for the gas gauge. it stopped working a year ago so now I track it by the odometer .   All pull knobs operate correctly. the 2nd from the left is for a vacuum operated wolf whistle.   Ashtray is unused and the interior has no bad odors.

Clean and well sorted underdash area with original firewall material.  

 

Nice headliner from front to back.   Drive's side sunvisor only. the passenger side was an extra cost option.   The vacuum wipers operate correctly.

The car didn't have a heater when I bought it (another extra cost option) but it did have blanking plugs on the engine block and firewall.   I wanted to find an exact fit Mopar original.   This took a little longer than expected and with winter approaching I definitely needed one.   When I finally found one on ebay it turned out that there were other folks looking as well.   With just minutes to go and bidding at $50 I put in a $300 bid to ensure that I would get it.   3 minutes later and $291 poorer I was the high bidder.   Having heat in January was nice. especially for my kid.   I got a chuckle about how some of my son's friends were excited about the DVD or Bluetooth systems in their parent's cars. mine was excited about having a heater.

This Dodge starts readily and runs out great.   Fast idle works correctly at startup and the L-Head Six soon settles down to a super smooth. super even idle.   The motor and transmission were both totally rebuilt. the car has all new suspension components. all new brakes. all new electrical. fuel systems. etc.   The car is geared for high speed driving. it's happy at 60mph and is capable of more. but for the most part I take it easy.   Most of my driving is around town but on occasion I've driven the Dodge on an extended trips.   She's always done great. runs cool and doesn't burn oil.

The car is still on a 6V system. the only modern upgrade was the addition of a PCV valve.   Oil changes have been done using high content ZDDP motor oil. essential for older motors.   I also like to add in a few ounces of Marvel Mystery OIl to the fuel at fill ups.   When I had the car on the lift for photos I went ahead and lubed the suspension fittings. she's ready for the road.

The underside shows really nice original floor pans with no patching or signs of previous repair. just a super solid 77 year old car.

Lots of little details that show the extent of care that this old Dodge has been given.

Click here for a slideshow of all of the enlarged images.

About the reserve price:
Out of fairness to all bidders the reserve is held in confidence. please just bid at the level that you're comfortable paying.   This auction ends Monday November 10th at 9 AM Pacific Time . 11 AM Central . 12 Noon Eastern. 5 PM GMT .

About Payment:
I will contact the winning bidder via email within 3 hours of auction completion.   I would like a $500 deposit via paypal within 24 hours.   Balance is due (bank check or bank wire transfer only) within 7 calendar days of auction end. The car will be securely garaged until pickup.

About this auction:
This auction process is a legally binding contract into which you enter when you click "confirm" on your bid.   Please have finances in order before you decide to bid and please ask all questions before you decide to bid.   Basically. please only bid if you are ready to purchase this car.   Car is sold as-is with no warranties express or implied.   Any disputes regarding the sale of this vehicle shall be resolved through binding arbitration exclusively in Multnomah County. Oregon under applicable state laws.   By bidding you agree to these terms.

About me:
Please check my feedback. I take customer satisfaction very seriously and am a licensed. bonded and insured dealer in the State of Oregon.   I own this car outright and all but 3 of the pictures were taken last week.   Clean and clear title.

 

You and/or your representative are welcome and encouraged to inspect the car in person before the close of auction. I can be reached at 503-891-7702 between the hours of 9-5.   Previously sold inventory is available to view at www. cascadiaclassic. com

Post Auction details:
The transport cost is the responsiblity of the winning bidder. although I'll be happy to help with logistics.   I have a wholesale account with a shipping dispatch service and can help you find a reasonable rate.

Overseas bidders may contact any of these international shippers for a quote:
Schumacher Cargo
CFR / Rinkens
California Shipping

Thanks for looking!

Also published at eBay.ca

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