Vehicle Description
If you're like a lot of people and are tired of looking at the same
cars at every show you go to, perhaps you should try something a
little different. And by "a little different," I mean an incredibly
rare specimen like this 1925 Dodge Brothers 116 Touring car. It's
got lots of hotrod upgrades, so it's a pleasure to drive, and
nobody else will have anything like it anywhere you go. If you're
tired of the same Model A creations, or soulless cookie-cutter
fiberglass rods, this is an awesome alternative with a whole lot
going for it.
Despite the implication of antique luxury that comes with a Pre-War
touring car, the 116 was actually a 'middle-class' car and Dodge
Brothers' main model. It was the first car ever to have an
all-steel body, and that's how it sits today, wearing its original
steel livery dressed in a classic gray finish that's perfect for
the era. This long Dodge is imposing from any angle, combining the
upright formality of a '20s roadster with the muscular look of a
modern rod. The subtle, strong driver-quality paint is appropriate
on a big tourer like this, with the doors and hood offering a
slightly lighter shade of gray for an awesome contrast, and the
custom pinstripe work on the spreader bars frames and around the
third brake light add a killer touch. The deleted fenders and
bumpers, along with the exposed front suspension and rear gas tank
make it look like a stretched-out hi-boy, with King Bee-style
headlights and blue-dot taillights adding to the flair. There's
plenty of original styling as well, including the blacked-out
radiator shell, the diminutive windshield, and ornate side-step
pedals that help passengers climb into the back. Yes, it's no
longer perfect and has a few signs of use, but we can guarantee
that nothing else you can buy (especially at this price) will
attract anywhere near as much attention. And it's still practical,
too!
The exposed interior is totally custom, with supple tan vinyl hides
punctuated by cloth diamond-cut inserts on the bench seats and door
panels. The window garnish moldings were painted to match the body,
as was the steel dash, which was completely reworked and now
featured a host of Dolphin gauges and more of that cool,
off-setting pinstripe work. A slick, woodgrain steering wheel is an
update on the banjo-style wheels from the early hotrod days, and it
comes mounted on a modern tilt column that not only provides a
better angle for the driver, but also a late-model turn-signal
stalk and chrome shifter for the automatic transmission below. A
new gas pedal was added for comfort, but they left the original
circular brake pedal to further illustrate the duality of this
build - tying old and new together so seamlessly we hardly even
notice. The back of the front bench was upholstered with matching
patterns, as was the rear seat, while plush carpets insulate the
floors and look very high-end. There's plenty of stretch-out room
for passengers, seatbelts were added in the rear, and the faux
boot-cover features thick, comfortable padding wrapped in more of
that high-end tan vinyl. None of this work could have been cheap
and everything remains in excellent condition overall, meaning you
can get in and head out on the road without any worries.
The engine is a 200 cubic inch V6, fully rebuilt and installed
approximately 3,000 miles ago. It's considerably more powerful than
the Dodge's original inline-four and pushes the big box through the
air with ease. It's really beautiful under the hood, with the
accessories tucked in tight to the block, blue engine enamel
coating the intake and block itself, and chrome valve covers and a
matching air cleaner adding some flash. A fresh 2-barrel carburetor
feeds the engine up top, an HEI ignition was added for easy starts,
and there's a big radiator up front keeping things cool. The
independent front suspension was borrowed from a late-model
vehicle, and includes rack-and-pinion steering and power front disc
brakes and there's a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that
makes this a great driver. Upgraded spring, coils, and shocks
vastly improve the ride quality, while the 10-bolt rear out back
can handle just about anything you throw at it, and the entire
undercarriage/frame was painted and detailed to match the top of
the vehicle, ready to show off at a moment's notice. The upgraded
dual exhaust has a great hotrod burble and classic Cragar 'Rocket'
wheels look just right wrapped in 26x6x15 Mickey Thompson meats up
front and fat, wide white-walls out back.
Dodge Brothers' antiques don't come up for sale often, and it's
even rarer to seem them finished in such a well-executed,
old-school hotrod treatment. Unique rigs like this never last long,
so call today!
