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For Sale: 1940 Dodge Deluxe in Cleveland, Ohio

Vehicle Description

Beautiful restoration, very correct, impressive quality especially at this price. Great runner, AM radio, wipers, gauges all work. Incredible pre-war bargain!

Basic black is an excellent choice for any vehicle of this era and was probably the most popular color in the pre-war days, and this car wears it rather well. With four doors that fit tightly, a hood that sits right, and smoothly rounded fenders, this car looks great from any angle. And it has a glossy, ripple-free finish that’s far better than any car at this price has a right to wear—just check out the reflections in the surface! There’s also a sizeable investment in the chrome, all of which is in fantastic condition, from the intricate grille to the bumpers to the ram hood ornament up front. It also includes lovely cloisonné emblems front and rear that seem to glow from within, and all the stainless has been properly buffed to a high shine. If there’s any demerit, it’s that the red accents in the trim were painted by hand and are just a little outside the lines, something that’s easy to fix but only noticeable when you’re close up.

If you expected a cut-rate interior, guess again, because this Dodge wears fresh upholstery, new carpets, proper door panels, and a taut headliner. It’s all pretty much the way it would have been when it was new, with a period-correct striped fabric on the seats and plain door panels that match the Dodge’s modest personality. On the other hand, the wonderful woodgrained dashboard and window garnish moldings look quite upscale and really warm up the interior in a good way. The gauges are all functional, with an original-style speedometer in the center that uses a neat circular indicator made of clear plastic to make it appear that the needle is floating above the numbers. There’s also an accessory AM radio that appears to be operational, although I’ve only been able to dial up static on it, as well as a dealer-installed “Airflow” under-dash heater that works well enough to bake a turkey. Other accessories include a flashlight clamped to the steering column and a “trafficator” on the dash, which works with the exterior visor that’s also included with the car. Turn signals have also been added for safety, using the fog lamps up front and the taillights in back. The back seat offers plenty of space and luxury touches like a robe rail behind the front seat. The trunk is also nicely finished with correct materials and includes a full-sized spare tire that’s never been used.

As it sits, the 218 cubic inch inline-six was rebuilt during the restoration and looks quite accurate wearing its corporate gray engine enamel. The wiring is new, including cloth-covered ignition wires, and even the hoses and clamps are what it would have been wearing in 1940. Up top, there’s an oil bath air cleaner and a downdraft Stromberg carburetor, and a 6-volt generator still makes the electricity. Hit the starter and it fires easily, and while it’s a little grumpy while it’s on the choke, once it’s warmed up it’s ready, willing, and eager to hit the road. There’s a nice grumble from the reproduction exhaust system and there’s plenty of oil pressure, even at warm idle.

The three-speed manual transmission shifts cleanly once you acquaint yourself with the column-mounted shifter and it’s happy to trundle along at idle in high gear or zip along at 50-55 MPH on the open road. Fuel economy is surprisingly good for an old car like this, too, and thanks to Chrysler’s early adoption of hydraulic brakes, which they’d been using since 1924, this one stops better than most of its peers. The suspension rides well with a big car feel, but it also seems lively and agile, so you never feel like a sitting duck when you’re surrounded by modern iron. The flashy red wheels wear polished trim rings and ornate hubcaps and are wrapped in 7.00-16 BFGoodrich wide whitewall tires that really dress this car up.

The car includes a set of accessory steel fender skirts that have been painted to match, as well as the aforementioned exterior sun visor.

This car gets just about everything right: it’s handsome, fun to drive, a bit unusual, and beautifully finished. In fact, we dare you to find a nicer pre-war car for under $20,000. This is a great hobby car at a very affordable price, a car that needs no excuses, and that we’re sure you’ll enjoy for all the right reasons.

For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com

Vehicle Details

  • 1940 Dodge Deluxe
  • Listing ID: CC-771083
  • Price: $17,900
  • Location:Cleveland, Ohio
  • Year:1940
  • Make:Dodge
  • Model:Deluxe
  • Exterior Color:Black
  • Interior Color:Brown
  • Transmission:Manual
  • Odometer:38854
  • Stock Number:113007
  • Trim Level:4-Door Sed
  • VIN:914140
  • Title Status:Clear
  • Restoration History:FullyRestored
  • Exterior Condition:Excellent
  • AM Radio:Yes
  • Drive Train:RearWheelDr
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