1924 Dodge Breathes New Life After Spending 83 Years Hidden Away

⚡️ Read the full article on Finding Old Cars

Will it run after eight decades?

Will it run after eight decades?

‌ ‌

The experience of discovering a long-forgotten classic car tucked away in a barn is a treasure for any automobile enthusiast. The exhilaration is amplified when the car, sitting dormant for years, springs back to life. A recent find of this nature involving a 1924 Dodge will astound you, given that the vintage gem spent an incredible 83 years in seclusion.

Explore a NASCAR stash here.

YouTube's "Classic Car Rescue" recently uncovered a 1924 Dodge Brothers Series 116, a two-door model which had been sitting untouched in a barn since 1940. But it wasn't just the duration of its dormancy that was remarkable. Despite spending decades untouched before the US joined World War II, the vehicle is remarkably intact.

Caked with dust and the paint long faded, the Dodge nevertheless emerged from its hiding place free of rust, a condition practically unheard of for vehicles left in barns for decades. Vintage vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s are often found with significant rust damage after 20 to 30 years in storage, making the preserved state of this 1924 Dodge all the more astonishing.

Incredibly, the car was revived and put back into running condition without the need for an engine rebuild, the original factory engine having stood the test of time. The interior, too, has weathered the years exceptionally well. The bench vinyl is intact, the door panels look as if they could be easily cleaned up, and there is no rust to be found on the floors or the dashboard. Every aspect of this car is original, creating an authentic snapshot of history.

The Dodge Brothers Company, a privately-owned firm established by brothers John and Horace Dodge in 1900, was the original manufacturer of this automobile. The company changed hands multiple times, first sold by the widows of the Dodge brothers to the investment group Dillon, Read & Co., then subsequently to the Chrysler Corporation in 1928.

The 1924 Dodge belongs to the Series 116, produced between 1922 and 1925. Its 212-cubic-inch (3.5-liter) flathead four-cylinder engine churned out a modest 35 horsepower, coupled with a three-speed manual gearbox. This series was one of the first US-made automobiles with an all-steel body and boasted a top speed of 50 mph (80 kph). Luxuries for the time, such as door locks, an exhaust heater, and roll-down windows were available options.

After 83 years in darkness, this extraordinary time capsule has now seen the light of day and even experienced its first drive in over eight decades. This extraordinary 1924 Dodge's revival is not only an incredible feat of restoration but also a tribute to the enduring legacy of automotive history.

For the latest news, follow us on Facebook