1949 Dodge Wayfarer Roadster (LHD)

Description

Having made their fortune as a supplier of engines and transmissions, initially to Ransom Eli Olds then for Henry Ford, John and Horace Dodge began building automobiles independently in 1914 and the announcement of the new automaker was greeted with enthusiasm by the press and public alike. Early Dodge automobiles earned a reputation for being mechanically robust and offering excellent value for money, being the first mass-produced American car with an all-steel body, along with an advanced 12-volt electrical system. Dodge's rapid expansion was curtailed somewhat by the premature deaths of both hard-living brothers in 1920 and the company changed hands twice in that decade, first to a New York bank before Walter P Chrysler ultimately took control in 1928. Dodge continued to thrive in the years after the Depression, bridging the gap between the low-priced Plymouth and the more upmarket Chrysler brands. Dodge's early post-war production initially consisted of mildly facelifted pre-war models before a fresh line-up was unveiled in February 1949, consisting of the Wayfarer, Meadowbrook and Coronet series. With all-new sheetmetal, the Wayfarer featured longer, lower styling and was available in sedan, coupe or roadster body styles. Initially the roadster was only sold with detachable windows but these were replaced with roll-up glass and vent wings early on. Under the bonnet was Dodge's sturdy in-line six, displacing 230-cid and developing 103 horsepower, coupled with Dodge's innovative Fluid-Drive system and the option of a new Gyro-Matic semi-automatic transmission. All Wayfarer models used the same 115-inch wheelbase frame and the roadster model was built in limited numbers, with 5420 made out of a total annual production of approximately 55,000 units. Stylish, dependable and now very collectible, the 1949 Dodge Wayfarer is a rare sight on Australian roads, with few ever sold in right-hand drive markets.