Ok time for the big reveal. Don't get too excited, it's not that big! Dodge Wayfarer Sportabout

[auburnseeker]

Here she is. Unfortunately with the cold gray day,  I have to post a photo the seller sent me.   I'll try to get it out over the weekend for a few better shots.  Winter has been knocking on our door today.  Lets hope it passes us by.   I would love to drive it once or twice this fall,  if for nothing else,  than to find the gremlins most old cars have so I can sort them over the winter.   She doesn't look like she's had much use in the last 20 years with about 3000 on the odometer according to the owner restorer.  

I have seen a few and remember seeing one for sale when I was around 16 or 17 in much worse shape for ironically not alot less money and that was 30 years ago.  

She runs very well.  Most chrome is new, Nice top and decent interior.  Very good straight body with good paint and since it's been on there a long time I should be good to go.  

Needs alot of detailing.  Looks about as dirty in person,  but that's some of the fun.  I haven't had a chance to test everything out so I can't give a full report. 

Should be a fun driver by next summer.

Now the question. The Bedford Classic tires are probably 20 years old so they need to go.   Correct white walls or Blackwalls?  I probably won't go the expense of Radial whites so they would be probably a Bias Firestone white.  Had them on my 48 Plymouth conv't and it drove very well without even balancing the wheels. 

No I'm not going Chrysler Wires Though I do have a full painted set that came off a 54 Dodge sedan in a junkyard back in the 60's. 

[Grimy]

So where's the photo, Randy?

[auburnseeker]

Now if anyone has a spare set of Wayfarer Sportabout Scripts for the front fenders in decent shape I would love to hear from them.  The ones on the car are just Wayfarer fluid Drive which it doesn't have, thankfully. 

[auburnseeker]

1 minute ago, Grimy said:

So where's the photo, Randy?

Sorry about that.  Hit the submit without uploading the photo. 

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Nice!!  Congrats. Love thr color, and a mopar did cross my mind when ypu said 6 Randy!!

[Grimy]

Worth waiting for!

[bryankazmer]

on the tires, would blackwalls with the white spats (trim rings) be another possibility?

[edinmass]

It’s a neat car in great condition......and the top goes down. Can’t beat it. Bet your wife will like riding around in it.

Edited November 2, 2019 by edinmass (see edit history)

[zepher]

Very nice car.

I've always liked convertibles.

Have fun with it.

[auburnseeker]

40 minutes ago, bryankazmer said:

on the tires, would blackwalls with the white spats (trim rings) be another possibility?

I hadn't thought of that but never really cared for them on the 40's cars I have seen them on.  Worth suggesting though. 

[1937hd45]

Someone has to ask, what is it, and what year was it built. Bob 

[auburnseeker]

It's a 51 Dodge Wayfarer Sportabout "Roadster".  Basically they took the 3 window coupe and chopped the roof off.  Huge trunk and space behind the seat.  Kind of like a Business man's Roadster. They built them from 1949-1952.

They called it a Roadster as in 49 it actually had removable windows but they weren't popular so they went to conventional roll up windows I think late in the year. 

Edited November 2, 2019 by auburnseeker (see edit history)

[3macboys]

That looks like a drive it until the cheeks hurt from smiling purchase!  And then drive it some more!

[keiser31]

VERY cool car! Glad you found a new toy.

[Billy Kingsley]

Looks great, congratulations!

[41 Su8]

 

Quote

Now the question. The Bedford Classic tires are probably 20 years old so they need to go.   Correct white walls or Blackwalls?  I probably won't go the expense of Radial whites so they would be probably a Bias Firestone white.  Had them on my 48 Plymouth conv't and it drove very well without even balancing the wheels. 

I always liked the look and ride of BF Goodrich Silvertowns.

[trimacar]

I've always liked the look of those cars, congrats!  Looks like a lot of fun....

[Robert G. Smits]

Brings back memories.  We had a 51 Dodge growing up.  Not known for their speed but I could outrun most 49-51 Fords in the day.  You can't beat an open car for summer fun.  NICE FIND

[Walt G]

Congratulations! with all the time and labor you put into your building , plus letting all of us read about how, why, what the construction was about you deserve a great machine that perhaps needs very little to take you and your wife for a ride to have a bit of time away from everything you have been working on for so long . this is the great car to "take that break" with.  I am so very happy for you and I am sure many who read this feel exactly the way i do.

I have seen the trunks on these when they are open as well as the ones on the coupe that shares the same primary body shell. you can set up a bowling alley in there it is so deep!

Hope you have many pleasurable miles of great motoring in your new acquisition. All my very best.

[plymouthcranbrook]

I am a large fan of that era Mopars and that one really looks great.  Reliable as can be and a lot of fun to drive.  I hope you get a lot of enjoyment from it.

[padgett]

Great choice. I can never think properly without at least one car the top goes down. Whitewalls look 60s, pretty sure in 50 they were still wide whites. Would go well with the white top.

[alsancle]

LOVE IT!   I threw out the Skylark and Caribbean but I should have tossed this out too.    The early side curtain cars and the very last ones like yours are my favorites.    That engine is indestructible and there is cool vintage speed equipment that you can bolt on.

 

Be sure to join this forum:  https://p15-d24.com/

[Harold]

Enjoy the car.  Great choice! 

[avgwarhawk]

Beautiful car. Going to be great top down next summer.  Nothing worse than having a wonderful car like this but it needs to be put away for the winter.  Left day dreaming driving it!  But, it's a great time to clean, repair and replace any parts requiring it. Enjoy! 

Edited November 2, 2019 by avgwarhawk (see edit history)

[ericmac]

I like this a lot. I agree that life just seems better when you have one great driving postwar driver.

[auburnseeker]

9 hours ago, alsancle said:

LOVE IT!   I threw out the Skylark and Caribbean but I should have tossed this out too.    The early side curtain cars and the very last ones like yours are my favorites.    That engine is indestructible and there is cool vintage speed equipment that you can bolt on.

 

Be sure to join this forum:  https://p15-d24.com/

I definitely wouldn't have kicked a Skylark  or Caribbean out if one was available but A very rough project is about all one could afford for what I paid for this.

 

 I forgot all about those forums.  I was on there when I had my 48 Plymouth.  I have the log in written down somewhere.  I'll be sure to go there is I have any questions I can't get answered here. Rebuilding the 36 Chrysler 6 and doing a Valve job and brakes on the 48 Plymouth, I should have enough in my wheelhouse if I dig deep enough to get it figured out. 

 

I do want to thank you all for the kind words.  It's far from perfect but a decent car with alot of nice work done.  Looks like a new cloth wrapped wire harness was put in when they restored it.  The old guy spent some money.  The top is Canvas and not vinyl as well. 

[Buffalowed Bill]

I like! I would like to see it shod on period correct, wide whites. I've seen the coupes but can't remember seeing one of these. Please believe me when I say that there was a better the 50/50 chance that your grandfather, had he bought one,  would have ordered this with ww's. I guess that it kind of depends whether you want it to be contemporary 50's, or you're looking to modernize.  Did Chrysler maintain production orders for their cars?

[Isaiah]

Nice car , should be fun  next summer!!

 The Bedford Classic tires are they weather cracked , if not use then they probably get a can of Reu Glide and go over the tires and rubber.

 

[Xander Wildeisen]

Looks like it has been lowered about three inches?

[Laughing Coyote]

Nice one.  It would probably run better with the typical Chevy 350/350 combo in it and stop a lot better with disc brakes. I'm sure it will all just bolt right in with no modifications.  

[alsancle]

If we are taking a vote, no to the whitewalls.

[auburnseeker]

Ok the vote is 1 to 1 on the whitewalls.  Period literature shows whitewalls one them,  but also notes for an extra charge. 

[edinmass]

Since it’s getting new tires, I recommend you use black shoe polish on the whitewalls on one side  and post a photo......we can take a survey or vote for the final result. 

[auburnseeker]

 

27 minutes ago, edinmass said:

Since it’s getting new tires, I recommend you use black shoe polish on the whitewalls on one side  and post a photo......we can take a survey or vote for the final result. 

That would actually work.  I might give it a try.  It might be a week before I get it done,  but I'll get to it. 

[auburnseeker]

3 hours ago, Xander Wildeisen said:

Looks like it has been lowered about three inches?

I was wondering if someone lowered it.  I was thinking maybe the springs are just weak but boy it sits very level.  Roof Height is a good 6 inches lower than my Hudson Pickup and that's saying alot for the time period.  Especially when they all seemed to be designed to wear a top hat in them. 

[zepher]

1 hour ago, edinmass said:

Since it’s getting new tires, I recommend you use black shoe polish on the whitewalls on one side  and post a photo......we can take a survey or vote for the final result. 

 

Photoshop is faster and easier to perform and reverse than shoe polish.  😁

And if you don't want to purchase Photoshop you can download GIMP for free.

All an amateur would need.

[alsancle]

It might not be lowered.   Many of 51's seem to sit like that.   The 51 is rare.  9300 over 3 years,  but only 1k in the last year of 51.

 

I tried to buy my first one when I was 18.  It was advertised for 1500 bucks in the Want Advertiser as a good restoration candidate.   What a complete POS it was when I got there.

[Laughing Coyote]

Here you go.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2019 by Laughing Coyote (see edit history)

[auburnseeker]

That was easier that shoe polish for sure. .  Thanks for that.

It doesn't look terrible with the black walls.  Not sure yet though.  

I used to relate guys that went with blackwalls to guys being to cheap to spring for the Whites.  On the Hudson the blackwalls definitely look fitting.  Not sure if it makes this look cheaper or dignified.  I want it to look sporty. 

[alsancle]

When you start buying the speed equipment I link for you be sure to buy original stuff.   More money but since this is the AACA we need to stay in period.