Vehicle Description
1921 Dodge Touring Sedan
One hundred years ago there was far greater owner interaction with
their cars. In the 1921 Dodge Brothers Book of Information,
essentially an owner's manual which was published on May 15, 2021,
components are not just explained, but specific instructions on
servicing each one are provided not for mechanics, but for the
owners! The lubrication chart, a fold out poster, notes 47 points
of lubrication. Other instructions include setting the camshaft,
removing carbon deposits from the cylinders, tightening engine
supports, care of the distributor and of course, position of the
spark lever.
For consignment, a 1921 Dodge Touring sedan showing 5,399 miles,
but the true miles are unknown. This car has been owned by our
consignor since 1999 and drove under its own power for 35 miles to
get to Classic Auto Mall. This may be rare now, but in 1921, the
Dodge Brothers produced 81,000 four door, five passenger
sedans.
Exterior
Move over GNX, over a hundred years ago black was the color of
choice and this one presents in a monochromatic profile and
included in the palette are the 32-inch wooden spoke wheels. A
large and stately car by today's standards, she sits high and rides
on 4" tires to help navigate rough roads, or no roads at all. Like
a poolside cabana, the black vinyl roof hovers over the cabin and
maintains a glass window in back and like a horseless carriage, the
whole unit can be folded rearward for fully open air driving. A
stop light is mounted in the back, framed by a spare tire without a
wheel while up front a chrome ribbon bumper mixes visually with the
chrome headlight rings and the shiny motometer on top of the
radiator. Imperfections include a tear in the soft top along with
tears near the pivot points and some areas of rough and chipping
paint.
Interior
Plenty of patina on the door panels with cracking of the material
but otherwise intact, the rear doors with storage pouch included.
The channel tufted bench in front is in nice condition and the rear
bench matches in condition and color, benefiting from a robe pole
from which a blanket hangs. A Neville fat man steering wheel is up
front representing a wildly unique design with a thicker wood rim,
substantial H-shaped spoke configuration, and oiling port.
According to the tag on the wheel, it was first trademarked in
1915. It heads up a simple dash with four vintage gauges over black
paint. The vinyl coating on the floor is aged and peeling as you'd
expect, and is home to the tall shifter, handbrake, and round
pedals.
Drivetrain
In a mostly original presentation, we find the 212ci L head 4
cylinder engine rated at 24 horsepower and fueled by a 1-barrel
carburetor. It's backed by a 3-speed manual that routes power to
the rear axle with 4.16 gears. Mechanical drum brakes are found on
the rear wheels only, typical for the era.
Undercarriage
Uniformly black underneath including the wood plank flooring, all
with some expected patina. There's oil on the bottom of the engine
and the rear differential and some surface rust on the exhaust, but
otherwise the underside is clean. That exhaust is a single unit
that encounters a stock style muffler before exiting under the car.
Suspension is still a vestige of horse drawn carriages with leaf
springs occupying front and rear.
Drive-Ability
Our crack staff has the knowledge of how to spark a 104 year old
car and it has that vintage sputtering sound that is music to the
ears of any antique car lover! It gets around our test loop without
trouble and provides a ride that's as tall and smooth as a pint of
ale. There aren't many creature comforts on board, but all items
with intended functions work as they should. While Classic Auto
Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of
our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working
at the time of your purchase.
Our consignor states this is "an excellent parade car that runs and
drives well" and we can't argue with that. Outside of your average
car show, a parade route and a dropped top is the ideal setting for
this car, perhaps with municipal dignitaries waving from the back
seat and either being cheered or jeered from the roadside crowd.
Regardless of the public's reaction to them, there's no doubt there
will be a smile on the mayor's face as they're riding in a piece of
American automotive history, and it works!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
