For Sale: 1949 Dodge Wayfarer in Hilton, New York

Wayfarer Roadster Inline 6 - with Semi-Automatic-Manual on the Column Very well kept in beautiful condition Owned by a Mopar Enthusiast You might be familiar with the number of postwar roadsters that gained popularity in the immediate postwar era. Many fondly remember those wearing MG, Triumph, and other British badges. Less common are those from American marques such as Chevrolet, Kaiser-Darrin, and Dodge. This later example features roll-up windows instead of the removable plastic side curtains found on the earlier models. Power is provided by a 230ci L-head straight-six that provided 103 horsepower when new. It is paired with a 3-speed M-4 Fluid Drive semi-automatic transmission that incorporates the use of a fluid coupling over a conventional flywheel. Wait a minute, Dodge? Well, yes. For 1949, Dodge introduced its first true Detroit-built roadster since 1931. The so-called Wayfarer Roadster arrived alongside Dodge's redesigned models in February 1949. The company would have introduced them during the traditional fall 1948 new model rollout, but Chrysler Corporation, then America's second-largest automaker, didn't have everything ready. To fill showrooms, 1948 models, which were, in reality, slightly restyled pre-war designs, were sold as "first series" 1949s until the new models were produced. Called the "second series," the 1949 Dodges were all-new but hardly exciting due to their drab, boxy, slab-sided styling. The new looks reflected the conservative, if dowdy, taste of Chrysler President K.T. Keller, who rejected the "longer, lower wider" ethos of GM's design chief Harley Earl. "We make cars to sit in, not piss over," Keller reputedly said. Perhaps to attract buyers to its staid product lineup, Dodge introduced the entry-level Dodge Wayfarer as a notchback business coupe, a fastback two-door sedan, and two-door roadster models. The roadster was priced at $1727, or $18,583 in 2019 dollars when adjusted for inflation. Clearly, it was designed for the tightwad who wanted a drop-top but didn't want to spend a whole lot to get one. After all, competing convertibles cost more, including Plymouth ($1982), Ford ($1886), and Chevrolet ($1857). We sell and ship worldwide