1952 Dodge Wayfarer Sedan

The Dodge Wayfarer was introduced in 1949 and was the company's entry-level vehicle.  It was offered as a two-door, six-passenger sedan, a two-door, three-passenger coupe and as a two-door, three-passenger roadster.  The roadster body style was initially offered with removable windows, which were superseded by roll-up windows with vents in 1951.  The 1949 and 1950 Wayfarer are of the last production roadsters built in America, with the exceptions of the Corvette and the Kaiser-Darrin.  Like many automakers, the Dodge vehicles were not ready with its first all-new postwar cars in time for the fall 1948 new car roll-outs.  So the 1948 Dodges were sold through April as the 'first Series'.  The second series of 1949 models were completely new, with the exception of the L-head six-cylinder engine found under the bonnet.  The 1951 and 1952 Wayfarer models were virtually identical. The 1951 season saw the Wayfarer receive several styling updates which would remain through the 1952 season.  They had a new hood, grille and bumper modifications.  The bumpers had a rounded cross-section, the hood sloped smoothly to the grille, and a single chrome stripe was placed on both the front and rear fenders.  The Wayfarer name could be found on the front fenders, and the Dodge crest was located in the center of the hood.  Just under 80,000 examples were produced in 1951.  The biggest news for the Wayfarer series for the 1952 model year was the absence of the Roadster body style.  1952 would also be the final year for the Wayfarer.  For 1953, the Meadowbrook Series would serve as the company's entry-level vehicle.

Offered for consignment and your viewing pleasure, a final year 1952 Dodge Wayfarer showing 4,943 original miles which cannot be title verified, but after looking under, over, around, and throughout this example you'll be hard pressed to think otherwise.  Bought and stored by a Texas auto dealer with 1 mile on the odometer, this sedan stayed in storage until 1976 when Thomas Barrett found and purchased the car.  Our consignor is including a news article describing this find as well as the original owners manual, a repair manual, and some dealership brochures.   Always collector owned and clearly well maintained, this pedestrian car was the entry level car from the Dodge camp.  Take a second and breathe in all the originality!

Exterior
It's hard to argue with factory installed steel, and this car has it.  From the well minded gaps to the beautiful coat of shining paint in Superior Blue that adorns the exterior straight steel panels of this massive slab sided car we are in factory fresh heaven.  From mid door forward appears to be a respray, but it is difficult to notice unless the car is in direct sunlight.  All chrome on this car is beautifully preserved, and even the door handles retain their vivid shine.  Speaking of vivid color, we need to look closely at the cloisonné badge on the leading edge of the hood which is near perfect.  Just above, residing top dead center of the bulbous hood, is a ram hood ornament with curled horns, again factory fresh.  The large bumpers and their guards and a big front chromed oval grille surround are spotless and I cannot stop looking at my reflection in them.   All window trim is buttoned up and just beautiful and a quick view of the side profile shows the forward thinking at Dodge with a slightly custom fastback roofline.  This side view also allows us to explore the twin mid beltline trim spears with one gracing the front fenders along with Wayfarer and Gyromatic badging, and another on the semi-pontoon styled rear quarters.  Out back is the sloping trunk lid with its pristine guarded bumper below and chrome trimmed upright rectangle tail lights to either side.  6.70-15 blackwall tires from the 10th week of 2017 wrap Superior Blue painted steel wheels and Dodge badged dog dish wheel covers, which are excellent.  Overall the exterior of this car is extremely fine in presentation and nearly showroom fresh.

Interior
Near showroom door panels utilize painted uppers in taupe, with some textured tan broadcloth housing the perfect gray and blue striped vinyl armrest, shiny door actuators and window cranks and a straight trim piece which delineates the broadcloth from the lower brown vinyl.  Very tastefully done and all near perfection.  A straight unmarred taupe finished steel dash has plenty of chromed trimmed gauges in square and round format.  The bottom of the dash cascades in a curve toward the floor, but before it gets there is housing the radio and heater delete panels, a metal vertical ribbed and screened speaker cover and a shiny ash receptacle.  A large metal door glovebox resides in front of the passenger side along with an analog clock.  Simply beautiful will best describe the original steering wheel and horn rim topping a big steering column with its chrome and red center badge.  Sitting in front of the dash is a long complimenting tan with black ticking broadcloth split bench still being protected by the same style clear plastic slipcovers grandmother kept on her couch.  The rear bench takes on the same look and covering and has small outboard armrests integrated into the side panels.  Low pile tan carpet that is very clean is on the floors in the rear and up front is a utilitarian ribbed black mat, again all original.  Above is a tan mohair broadcloth headliner that hangs tightly to the roof.

Drivetrain
A 230ci L-head inline 6 cylinder in just clean and pristine condition resides under the hood and can be verified as original and correct to the car.  A 1-barrel Stromberg BXVD carburetor feeds this engine and a Gyro-Matic 4-speed fluid drive semi-automatic transmission is strapped to the back of the engine.  3.90 gears for the rear, and we are all good to go.

Undercarriage
Some surface rust is seen on the usual  suspects but it is sparsely appearing.  Slightly worn gray/blue paint is showing on the rock solid flooring and rockers and such as suspension, and black is reserved for the frame.  Independent coil spring suspension for the front and leaf springs on the rear are noted as are 4-wheel drum brakes.  Just the way the 

Drive-Ability
Due to an aversion to plastic coverings, protective or not, I deferred to our test driver for this one and he reported a quick start, smooth idle, and much comfortable ease of operation.  Not a fireball in the acceleration department, but then again it is a family cruiser, which it handles just perfectly.  A clean driver with no smoke and the only flaw to be noted is that occasionally the low range of the Gyro-Matic transmission would not shift into its upper gear.

Before you is a great example of this model year and car, with all features functional, beautiful exterior paint and chrome, a snazzy interior right out of 1952, and smooth running engine and drivetrain.  Even down to the trunk interior it has the original jack, spare and literature.  An awesome, unrestored, well preserved, and well-kept example ready to turn the key and enjoy immediately.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.