Handsome, well-restored Series 128 business coupe. 12-volt electrical system, turn signals added for touring safety. Strong runner, easy to handle, cruises at 45-50 MPH. A great alternative to the usual Model A!
Thanks to a fairly high-quality restoration a few years ago, this handsome Dodge Brothers coupe has an elegant look and broad shoulders that suggest durability and style. Refinished in correct Gendarme Blue with black fenders, it looks period appropriate, a look that’s reinforced by details like the wood-spoke wheels, windshield visor, and upright grille. There’s a nice shine to the paint, which is probably better than anything they could deliver in 1927, and for a wood-framed vehicle it fits together remarkably well. The doors swing closed easily and make a great kerCHUNK sound and the coupe body style is ideal for touring. For ease of maintenance, the bright trim is now chrome instead of nickel and experts will spot the 1928 Model A taillight, but those are small deviations from stock and this isn’t intended to be a show car. You will also note aftermarket turn signals have been neatly installed on the front bumper and inside the rear spare tire bracket, adding safety on the road.
The interior is upholstered in black leatherette, which is not quite how this car would have been delivered new, but it’s a durable, low-maintenance choice for a car that’s going to be driven. Simple door panels were created to match, including map pockets, and there’s a lovely wool headliner overhead. The big wooden steering wheel looks fantastic and makes it surprisingly easy to wheel this Dodge around town, where it’s quick steering and torquey engine make it fun to drive. Factory gauges cover the basics of speed, oil pressure, and generator output, and someone has added an hour meter to the left of the steering wheel along with the toggle switch for the turn signals. The car has been converted to a 12-volt electrical system so the headlight switches on the steering wheel hub are disabled, replaced by a subtle period-looking switch on the side of the column. This is strictly a 2-passenger vehicle, as the business coupe offers a large trunk in place of a rumble seat, and that’s why this is a great tour car: lots of space for gear.
Dodge’s 212 cubic inch inline-4 evolved quickly in the mid-20s, and it was rated at 44 horsepower when this car was built. This one appears to have been rebuilt during the restoration and runs superbly, starting easily with 12 volts running through the starter and ignition system and getting fuel using an electric fuel pump instead of a vacuum tank (which is still in place to keep the engine bay looking correct). You will note that the original generator is gone, replaced by a custom jack shaft that still powers the original water pump, and a modern 12-volt alternator was mounted on the driver’s side. That 12-volt alternator also allows the use of a big electric fan on the radiator, so this Dodge runs cool and is almost immune to warm weather issues and as I mentioned the starter spins it over with vigor. We’re usually purists, but we can’t argue with how well this handsome Dodge works. It start easily, idles nicely, and runs down the road quite well.
The Dodge rides notably better than a Model T or Model A and don’t be afraid of the rear-only brakes, as they’re quite effective for the car’s weight and performance. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily and you’ll get the hang of it quickly with a little practice, and the 3.76 gears in back mean it’s pretty comfortable at 45-50 MPH. A new exhaust system gives it a nice 4-cylinder grumble that quiets down at speed and we really can’t complain about any of this car’s behavior on the road—it just works! Handsome wood-spoke wheels were surely refinished during the restoration and now wear flashy new 4.75/5.00-19 whitewall tires.
Extras include a factory mechanic’s instruction manual, hub wrench and crank, plus some spare parts.
This is a great entry-level hobby car for the guy who wants a taste of the ‘20s. With great road manners, durable hardware, and strong parts and club support, you get a car that is easy to love and makes sense for first-timers and experienced hobbyists alike. And if you’re a Mopar fan, this is where it all started. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
