1937 Dodge Series D5

Brothers Horace and John Dodge founded the Dodge Brothers Company in Detroit in 1900, manufacturing engine and chassis components for many automobile firms. Among their earliest customers was the Olds Motor Vehicle Company and the new Ford Motor Company.

In 1913 the Dodge Brothers Motor Company was established and the following year the brothers debuted their first automobile, a four-cylinder Dodge Model 303/5 Touring car. The company soon moved into second place in American automobile sales, a position it held in 1920 when John Dodge passed away from pneumonia, soon followed by his brother Horace due to cirrhosis. Ownership of the company passed to the brothers' widows, who promoted long-time employee Frederick Haynes to the company presidency. As the 1920s progressed, the company slowly slipped to seventh place within the U.S. market. In 1925, the company was sold to an investment group called Dillon, Read & Co. for US $146 million, the largest cash transaction in history to date. In 1928, the company was sold to the new Chrysler Corporation.

At the time, the Chrysler Corporation consisted of the low-priced Plymouth and the medium-priced DeSoto. Dodge prices were just above DeSoto and below the top-of-the-line Chrysler. In 1933, DeSoto and Dodge swapped places in the market, with Dodge dropping down between Plymouth and DeSoto. As Plymouth cars were sold at Chrysler dealerships, Dodge branded vehicles were sold as a lower-cost alternative to DeSoto.

Much of the Chrysler corporation was restyled for 1935 with the 'Wind Stream' look. Chrysler and DeSotos of 1934 to 1937 used more exaggerated streamlining designs, with the radical Airflow styling which caused a dramatic drop in sales for both of these brands.

The 1937 Dodge junior models were fashioned similarly to the 'senior' Chrysler models. In the front was a new split-grille and chrome was used extensively throughout. Standard equipment included all-steel disc-type wheels, 'No-Draft' ventilation, hydraulic brakes, Autolite ignition, new 16-gallon fuel tanks, dual taillights, and reading lamps over each rear window. Power was from a six-cylinder engine which displaced 218 cubic-inches and breathed through a single barrel carburetor that helped it produce nearly 90 horsepower. The engine was mated to a three-speed sliding gear manual transmission and buyers had the option of selecting several different body styles, including a longer-wheelbase version.

For 1937, the only model in Dodge lineup was the D5, and available in nine body styles. A total of 295,047 examples were built in 1937.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring Sedan
Chassis number: 4542799

The styling for the 1937 Dodge models were heavily influenced by the 'senior' Chrysler models, and given a new split-grille front treatment and plenty of bright trim. They had standard Autolite ignition, hydraulic brakes, all-steel disc-type wheels, 'No-Draft' ventilation, reading lamps over each rear window, new 16-gallon fuel tanks, and dual taillights. The 218 cubic-inch L-head six-cylinder engine breathed through one-barrel carburetor and produced nearly 90 horsepower. They had a three-speed sliding-gear manual transmission and were available in several body styles, including a longer-wheelbase version. Pricing began at $715 and rose to over $1200. The most popular Series D5 body style was the four-door touring sedan, which saw over 185,480 examples produced. Total series production for all D5 bodies was 295,047.

This vehicle is a five-passenger Touring Sedan that sold new in Lewiston, Main from Twin City Motors for $924. It has remained in Maine its entire life and is believed to have had just three owners from new. The current owner acquired the car in the early 2000s. The car has been repainted at some point and received some minor work.

In 2010, this car was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $15,000 - $20,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $13,200, which included buyer's premium.

by Dan Vaughan

Business Coupe

The Dodge story dates to the turn of the 20th century, when the Dodge brothers were suppliers to the fledgling industry.

Oldsmobile was the first client; later the brothers furnished engines, transmissions, and rolling chassis to Ford from 1903 through the beginning of the Model T era.

When Ford became self-sufficient in mechanical components, the brothers decided to become carmakers; the first Dodges were built late in 1914. John and Horace Dodge died in 1920; in 1925 their widows sold the company to Dillon, Read, and Company, a Wall Street firm. Three years later Walter Chrysler added Dodge to his four-year-old company.

The D5 was Dodge's only model in 1937, available in nine body styles. This business coupe was one of 47,702 produced that year.

All 295,047 1937 Dodges shared the same 217.8 cubic-inch engine, a flathead six-cylinder rated for 87 horsepower. Chrysler was just emerging from the ill-starred Airflow styling adventure, but that daring design affected neither Plymouth nor Dodge.

The late 1930s saw the industry abandon boxy styles. Inspired in part by aircraft designs, it became known as the streamline era, and Dodge styling was typical of the time: conservative, smooth, and cautiously elegant.

2-Door Fastback Sedan

This current caretaker first heard about this car in September of 1984. A phone call to the owner in Belleville saw the current owners end up purchasing the Coupe on September 15th, 1984. The car was then taken to Elliott Auto Parts in Newtonville, Ontario; and shortly after put into storage for 11 years while Mr. Owens finished restoring a 1931 Ford Model A. Eleven years later, the car taken to another shop in Newtonville; the restoration started October 1995. Over the years, a number of new-old-stock parts and pieces were collected in preparation of the restoration. The chassis was then stripped, sand-blasted and painted. The owner then proceeded with the installation of new brake lines and gas lines; and a new-old-stock gas tank. The engine was overhauled before being installed, and the overdrive was then installed. Once this was complete, the car was sent out to have the upholstery done. When the car retuned, the bumpers were installed. The restoration was completed by 2005, and the car was road-ready. Since the summer of 2005, the car has been driven over 19,000 miles, even going to Detroit to celebrate 100 years of Dodge, where the car won First Place in its category.