Hidden for Half a Century:
The 1940 Barn Dodge
VIN
*30231403* was built by proud American workers in Detroit,
Michigan, one of 84,976 Dodge D-14 DeLuxe four-door sedans manufactured in 1940. A veterinarian from Horseshoe Bend, Idaho,
purchased the blue Dodge new at the local Dodge dealer in Boise . He used it to respond to calls all through the war years;
his 1944 permit is still affixed to the windshield. The car was always parked in a dedicated spot in the barn when not in
use. In
1948, the good Doctor passed away. The car was put on blocks and covered with bed sheets. No, it was not going to be for sale.
Who would have guessed at that time that the Dodge would be asleep for more than 50 years .
Children became adults, parents, then grandparents. The old Dodge was still slumbering in the barn. In the late 1980s an attempt was made to awaken and sell the car.
Finally, early in 2003, the time had come. The bed sheets were taken off, the car was lifted from the blocks, and the tires
were filled up with air. A new owner was found. He took the Dodge to Southern California .
63 years old and with only 42,342 original miles showing on its odometer,
this Dodge personifies the term "reference car." More importantly, it represents a rare opportunity to experience how
it felt driving a new car in the 1940s. Time to start our little journey around this amazing Dodge.
The body, amazingly, is straight and absolutely
rust free, thanks to
being stored in a dry, well ventilated barn, away from the elements. The blue
lacquer paint is original, factory applied. Sure, it's worn thin on the tops of the fenders, shows a myriad of nicks, imperfections,
and touch ups from the past. There are a few small dings here and there, but not an ounce of body filler nor a single rust
bubble. It's all heavy metal! Repainting this car--ever--would be an unforgivable sin! Its patina is irreplaceable and gives
the Dodge its inherent value.
Open the doors and be invited into a cabin that's 100% factory original.
Unmolested, unmodified, unrestored. It has the special 1940s aroma and charm that cannot be duplicated. It should never be
restored, instead be enjoyed just the way it is.
The dashboard is a masterpiece of Art Deco design. Fabulous
painted metal creates the ambiance of lightly stained wood.
Nickel plated accents duplicate the look of then-popular costume jewelry. Every single part seems infused with the designer's
idea to create a harmonious environment; details such as the retracting ash receiver lid are simultaneously good-looking and
functional. There's simply no comparison to present-day throwaway products, sprouting black plastic appendages everywhere.
Nevertheless, the Dodge was built with entirely modern creature comforts. It features dual electric windshield wipers, Sealed
Beam lamps, floating power, hydraulic brakes, telescopic shock absorbers, a column-shifted, synchronized transmission, tinted
glass, a chromed horn ring, and a host of other innovations
The engine compartment is clean and original as well.
Dodge's 217 cu.in , 6-cylinder engine was good for 87 lively horsepower. It starts instantly
and runs like the proverbial Swiss watch. Items recently replaced or serviced include the battery, water pump, ignition wires,
spark plugs, fuel tank, carburetor, brakes, and shocks. Original honeycomb radiator core looks gorgeous! And, yes, the horn
works, just like everything else on this time machine.
I did not take these pic's, or write the text. A friend sent them to me
in an e-mail.
|
