For those who like early Dodge Brothers cars

-
Bill Crowell

Bill Crowell

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
1,170
Reaction score
805
Location
Diamond Springs, CA
I saw a restored 1918 touring car at a car show some years ago on which the top had been re-done by a really good upholsterer, who had the original top to use as a pattern and who was able to obtain the original-type materials. This is the most accurate reproduction of an original DB top that I have ever seen. A lot of labor goes into sewing a top like this. Dodge Bros. was still using the so-called "cathedral windows" in 1918, but they eventually became too expensive because they required a bunch of extra labor, so in 1921 they went to a standard rectangular rear window. Here's a picture of the inside of the top on the '18 touring that I saw at the show. I tried to duplicate this on my own 1922 touring car top. It gives you a real warm and fuzzy feeling to sit on the leather upholstery in your car and look up at that nice lined, padded top and all of its retaining straps. You're good to go, and your "isinglass" side curtains are right in back if the weather gets too cold!

inside top on an early DB.jpg
 
I actually purchased one years ago in South Carolina. Was a customer of mine that I sold furniture finishing products. Went back a month later to pick it up and he had closed and disappeared. Lost 500 and never located him. I believe it was a 1926 sedan. I have a bill of sale and was going to get the title when I paid him the balance.
 
Very nice!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

My neighbor's dad had a 1918 I believe... Here's when her cousin came to take it back to his place last August...

DSC01377 B.jpg


DSC01390 B.jpg


DSC01438 B.jpg


DSC01444 B.jpg


DSC01515 b.jpg
 
krazykuda wrote: "Very interesting to see how they made them back then..."

They had to make them "brick outhouse" strong because the roads were so terrible. Wood-framed, metal-covered bodies had proved to be unsatisfactory, and had given a lot of car manufacturers such a bad reputation that they went out of business. Since the Dodge Bros. were introducing a new car to the market in 1914, they were really paranoid about getting a bad rep and therefore decided to use an all-steel body that was engineered by the Budd Body Co. using chrome vanadium steel, one of the hardest steel alloys in existence; which was rather expensive and really overkill. And when they approved the final plans for the steel body, the Dodges were still afraid it wouldn't be strong enough, so they ordered that a bunch of additional rivets be installed. It is quite difficult to straighten a dented DB body, fender or door without using heat.
 
Bill Crowell said:
I saw a restored 1918 touring car at a car show some years ago on which the top had been re-done by a really good upholsterer, who had the original top to use as a pattern and who was able to obtain the original-type materials. This is the most accurate reproduction of an original DB top that I have ever seen. A lot of labor goes into sewing a top like this. Dodge Bros. was still using the so-called "cathedral windows" in 1918, but they eventually became too expensive because they required a bunch of extra labor, so in 1921 they went to a standard rectangular rear window. Here's a picture of the inside of the top on the '18 touring that I saw at the show. I tried to duplicate this on my own 1922 touring car top. It gives you a real warm and fuzzy feeling to sit on the leather upholstery in your car and look up at that nice lined, padded top and all of its retaining straps. You're good to go, and your "isinglass" side curtains are right in back if the weather gets too cold!

View attachment 1715012387
Click to expand...

Do you have the contact info for the guy that did the top on the Dodge Brother's car???

My neighbor's cousin just came for another visit and would appreciate any info on who and where to get parts and info to help restore his old Dodge... Especially any near Arizona...

Please post any info that can help him find info/parts to restore his car that I can pass along to him...
 
My favorite Dodge Brothers car is the one that's always black and was "built by Ford".
 
I had one Model T '17 vintage and sold it for the money to buy my 1973 Dart Sport 340. Best decision I ever made.
 
Bill Crowell said:
I enjoy my Dodge Bros. car much more than my A-body because A-body people tend to be such assholes.
Click to expand...
At the end of day. Mine was just a Ford. 1 of 15 million. I've been a Mopar guy since 1986 and my son (16) is one as well.

Dodge Bros. are cool. I saw the one in the Chrysler Museum ~2004
 
So does anybody have any info on 1918 dodge parts and resto????
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top