Few classic cars have been fortunate enough to come through the decades in as strong a fashion as this 1951 Dodge Wayfarer Convertible. With its striking blue paint still showing nicely, and its assortment of brightwork and badging looking clean, this open-air cruiser appears as if it has time travelled from its vintage era straight to the present. It rides on a set of convincingly authentic whitewall tires that are in surprisingly good shape, and its tan cloth convertible top is in downright great condition, ready to be lifted into position to protect you from the elements. If you want a classic with bona fide rarity, this Dodge warrants a closer look. There were very few Wayfarers manufactured in convertible configuration, most of them have long since dropped off the map and, of those remaining, it's a safe bet that few can match the solid driving condition this one features.
Climb inside and you'll be impressed with your surroundings. This interior is in uniformly clean shape, with a bench seat that's covered in tan vinyl free of any marked wrinkling or discoloration and door panels that still cling firmly to their surrounding steel. The dash area has been left in its native configuration, is color-matched to the exterior and harbors an extensive array of original gauges, all of which sit behind clear lenses. A little fine tuning here and there will quickly bring the functionality of this cabin back to top form, but rest assured, it's very much ready to enjoy in its present form.
You wouldn't normally expect an early '50s cruiser that's been left almost entirely in original configuration to deliver a particularly strong driving experience, but this Dodge does just that. Its period-correct 230-cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine, fed by a one-barrel Stromberg carburetor, starts up eagerly, holds a smooth idle and offers solid acceleration. The accompanying "three-on-the-tree" manual transmission also shifts through its gears with no issues. It tracks nice and straight, with none of the wandering you might anticipate, and its quartet of manual drum brakes brings it to a stop with no fanfare. A glance below will show that the frame is still structurally sound and ready to provide plenty more miles of driving enjoyment.
HIGHLIGHTS
EXCEEDINGLY RARE WAYFARER IN CONVERTIBLE CONFIGURATION
PERIOD-CORRECT 230-CUBIC-INCH INLINE 6 CYLINDER ENGINE
1-BARREL STROMBERG CARB
3-SPEED, "3-ON-THE-TREE" MANUAL TRANSMISSION
ULTRA-SHARP BLUE EXTERIOR
TAN VINYL UPHOLSTERY
TAN CLOTH CONVERTIBLE TOP
PERIOD-CORRECT 6.70-15 FACTORY WHEELS
AM/FM RADIO (CURRENTLY INOPERABLE)
A rolling automotive tribute to a bygone era, this 1951 Dodge Wayfarer Convertible offers rarity, striking aesthetics and a solid running condition and would be an outstanding acquisition for the collector who prizes this hard-to-find combination. Call today!
