1937 Dodge Vs. 2012 Tesla
Folks that are into classic cars usually hold allegiances to their favorites. There are Corvette people, Porsche people, enthusiasts who collect Tri-Five Chevy’s, etc. I guess I could say that I’m into 1937 Dodge Business Coupes. I’ve had a bunch of them over the years and there’s something about their utility and styling that appeals to me.
I actually used one as a daily driver for about four years starting in 2010. Rain or shine, winter or summer, this black coupe became my sole transportation. Our son was in 4th grade back then and every morning the two of us would make the six mile commute to his school in it. That old Dodge didn’t fail us once. On the ride I’d often tell my son - “You’re probably the only kid in the world right now that is being driven to school in a 1937 Dodge. In the world!” I got a kick out of that.
The car was a bit on the ratty side but I didn’t really mind. It was an older frame-off restoration that still ran perfectly, and that’s what was most important to me. I went everywhere in that Dodge, and it was especially handy for hauling stuff. See, the business coupes were designed for the traveling salesman; there’s no back seat but instead there’s a HUGE trunk, meant for hauling samples around. For me, I used it like a work truck and never looked at it as anything too precious. I’d always leave the car unlocked, sometimes even with the keys in it - the starter button on the floor and the required combo of choke and throttle settings were an anti-theft device as far as I was concerned.
The only problem with the car was that it didn’t have a heater. These Mopars were pretty basic, and if you wanted any extra stuff it would cost you. Even a passenger side sun visor was listed as an extra-cost option! Soon after I bought the car in October of 2010 I started looking for a heater on eBay. I wanted one that was correct for the car, one that would mount in the stock location on the firewall without messing anything up. It ended up being really hard to find, and in the meanwhile, the temps were dropping every month. My kid was a trooper, but by February we were both pretty tired of being cold. When I finally found the right one on eBay I was all-in. The bid price was sitting at $50 and I set my alarm to be in the bidding at the end. On the last day I was the high bidder at $65 but went ahead and put in a $300 proxy bid, not wanting to take any chances. Apparently I wasn’t the only one looking for a Mopar heater, and in the final minutes the price steadily climbed from $65 all the up to $291. I didn’t care, it was worth it. Heat!
The previous owner had tapped the engine block for a hose connection when he did the rebuild, so installation was pretty straightforward. Finally, we were warm! It seemed like such a luxury for us.
In the autumn of 2012, one of my kid’s classmates got dropped off in a shiny new Tesla Model S, and it was the first time we had ever seen one. A crowd had literally gathered around it, and the classmate was excited to show it off to his friends. “Look at that big screen! My dad can get phone calls on it! This car’s electric, it doesn’t need an engine!” My kid waited patiently for his friend to finish his bragging, at which point he replied “That is awesome! But, hey, in my dad’s car we have a heater!”
Driving cars from the 30s and 40s have a way of reminding you just how much we take for granted today. With no touchscreen display to distract you, the actual operation of the automobile you are driving remains your first focus, and you become attuned to its nuances. How it’s driving that day, what the gauge readings are looking like, or maybe today there’s a new sound that you haven’t heard before. Now, for most of us, we just need a car to get us to where we’re going without thinking about it, and that’s totally understandable. But despite their quirks, there’s no denying that old cars have personality. Remember how we used to give our cars nicknames? I can’t imagine that anyone’s nicknaming their Prius.
These days, I’ve been driving a 2014 Silverado that I haven’t had to think twice about. But recently I did find myself starting to look for something older, something with more personality. Don’t laugh, but I found what I was looking for in a 1990 Oldsmobile with 17k original miles. For me it’s the perfect bridge between old and new, having most of the creature comforts I’d want but still with enough of a vintage feel to be somewhat interesting. Truth be told, it’s probably not interesting enough to warrant a nickname.
But I actually do have another ’37 Dodge in my possession right now, and at the time of this writing it’s up for auction on BaT, here. It’s a local Portland car, and I was thrilled to find it. I gave serious thought to keeping it and reliving those days from a decade ago, but in the end I realized that you can never really go back. Nostalgia is about a time and a place, and this car’s ready to make some new memories of its own.
That's a beautiful car. Too bad I don't have any garage space. :) Loved the stories of your son and your shared adventures with the car.