Jump to content

1923 dort model 20C


Guest alex661

Recommended Posts

The Dort was a nice car, and this was its next-to-last year of manufacture. Not many change hands. I couldn't find any sold in the last 13 years by RM, for example. Gooding sold a nice-looking restored 1923 touring model at Scottsdale in 2011 for $15,400. Keeping in mind this is a "project" car, I would estimate value as-is (if complete) at around $4500-$6500. I'm sure you'll get other opinions, too.

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Dort manufactured by Dort Motor Car Company started by close friend of William "Billy" Durant founder of General Motors and Durant Motors Inc. was a great car and rare on the market today. The Durant Motors Automobile Club which services Dort and Dort-Gray has a number of members, but still small compared to the other makes. This being said, just like Durant automobiles although rare, they don't often bring high dollars due to no one knowing what they are and many being afraid to tackle a restoration on a car that parts might be very hard to find. Also the limited speed of any vehicle in the teens and 20's limits the market to those who appreciate early automobiles and just love the cars of that era. Most today want car that can travel highway speeds comfortably with all the conveniences and not assigned to the back roads less traveled. Although not an official appraiser, I'd put the value in the market of beween $3,500 and very top end of $5,000. But like anyone usually says in the classic car market it's really worth what anyone is willing to pay. My two cents worth.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Several years ago, at the Iola (WI) car show/ swap meet there was a vender who had a Dort engine for sale. Up until then, I had never heard of a Dort, and this guy was practically begging for any reasonable ( or maybe even unreasonable ) offer as he seemed desperate to get rid of it. A few years later, after I relocated to Michigan and rode along the Dort Highway, I began to pay closer attention to this marque and it's historical significance. And now, whenever I'm at the Iola swap meet I keep an eye open for that Dort engine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The engine is a Falls Model - 3 1/8 x 4 1/4. I see a little info is here - http://forums.aaca.org/f169/falls-engine-dort-apperson-velie-gardner-371091.html - but not much help. I know the Grant car used Falls engines in the late teens. Moon, Velie, Apperson and Premocar used the engine for a short time in the same era. Seems it was the same 195 cid size in all of these.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest AlCapone

Although this is the era I collect in there are so many unknowns. Is there any rust, are all parts there, condition of interior, tires etcetera. I would say that if you get an offer in the. $4000 range consider it seriously. Wayne

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A661: Does your Falls engine have a tag?? It's usually a 3x4 inch or so metal rectangle riveted to the block giving makers name, engine model designation, serial # and maybe b/s...

A couple of my old engine parts catalogs are inconsistent---one says Falls T-8000, another indicates it could be Falls DT (both are shown as 6 cyl 31/8 bore)...

I have A "D" on my Falls list, and a "T", but no DT...unfortunately my catalogs are inconsistent on Falls, listing several engines as 4cyl in one place and 6cyl in another...

Many thxx for any illumination...

Oh---my sympathy on the Falls engine: there are very few comments about them in the engines etc forums I follow...

They also built little one-lung farm engines, and one Falls ad referred to 4, 6, 8 and 12 cyl engines for pleasure and commercial cars. I always meant to try to run down info on the 12 cyl......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...