1925 Dodge Brothers Series 116 Tourer

Description

If you're like a lot of people and are tired of looking at the same cars at every show you go to, perhaps you should try something a little different. And by "a little different," I mean an incredibly rare specimen like this 1925 Dodge Brothers 116 Touring car. It's got lots of hotrod upgrades, so it's a pleasure to drive, and nobody else will have anything like it anywhere you go. If you're tired of the same Model A creations, or soulless cookie-cutter fiberglass rods, this is an awesome alternative with a whole lot going for it.

Despite the implication of antique luxury that comes with a Pre-War touring car, the 116 was actually a 'middle-class' car and Dodge Brothers' main model. It was the first car ever to have an all-steel body, and that's how it sits today, wearing its original steel livery dressed in a classic gray finish that's perfect for the era. This long Dodge is imposing from any angle, combining the upright formality of a '20s roadster with the muscular look of a modern rod. The subtle, strong driver-quality paint is appropriate on a big tourer like this, with the doors and hood offering a slightly lighter shade of gray for an awesome contrast, and the custom pinstripe work on the spreader bars frames and around the third brake light add a killer touch. The deleted fenders and bumpers, along with the exposed front suspension and rear gas tank make it look like a stretched-out hi-boy, with King Bee-style headlights and blue-dot taillights adding to the flair. There's plenty of original styling as well, including the blacked-out radiator shell, the diminutive windshield, and ornate side-step pedals that help passengers climb into the back. Yes, it's no longer perfect and has a few signs of use, but we can guarantee that nothing else you can buy (especially at this price) will attract anywhere near as much attention. And it's still practical, too!

The exposed interior is totally custom, with supple tan vinyl hides punctuated by cloth diamond-cut inserts on the bench seats and door panels. The window garnish moldings were painted to match the body, as was the steel dash, which was completely reworked and now featured a host of Dolphin gauges and more of that cool, off-setting pinstripe work. A slick, woodgrain steering wheel is an update on the banjo-style wheels from the early hotrod days, and it comes mounted on a modern tilt column that not only provides a better angle for the driver, but also a late-model turn-signal stalk and chrome shifter for the automatic transmission below. A new gas pedal was added for comfort, but they left the original circular brake pedal to further illustrate the duality of this build – tying old and new together so seamlessly we hardly even notice. The back of the front bench was upholstered with matching patterns, as was the rear seat, while plush carpets insulate the floors and look very high-end. There's plenty of stretch-out room for passengers, seatbelts were added in the rear, and the faux boot-cover features thick, comfortable padding wrapped in more of that high-end tan vinyl. None of this work could have been cheap and everything remains in excellent condition overall, meaning you can get in and head out on the road without any worries.

The engine is a 200 cubic inch V6, fully rebuilt and installed approximately 3,000 miles ago. It's considerably more powerful than the Dodge's original inline-four and pushes the big box through the air with ease. It's really beautiful under the hood, with the accessories tucked in tight to the block, blue engine enamel coating the intake and block itself, and chrome valve covers and a matching air cleaner adding some flash. A fresh 2-barrel carburetor feeds the engine up top, an HEI ignition was added for easy starts, and there's a big radiator up front keeping things cool. The independent front suspension was borrowed from a late-model vehicle, and includes rack-and-pinion steering and power front disc brakes and there's a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission that makes this a great driver. Upgraded spring, coils, and shocks vastly improve the ride quality, while the 10-bolt rear out back can handle just about anything you throw at it, and the entire undercarriage/frame was painted and detailed to match the top of the vehicle, ready to show off at a moment's notice. The upgraded dual exhaust has a great hotrod burble and classic Cragar 'Rocket' wheels look just right wrapped in 26x6x15 Mickey Thompson meats up front and fat, wide white-walls out back.

Dodge Brothers' antiques don't come up for sale often, and it's even rarer to seem them finished in such a well-executed, old-school hotrod treatment. Unique rigs like this never last long, so call today!