A base-model Series D-19 four-door sedan restored in the most authentic way possible now showcases how cars really looked in the 1940s.
The perfect example of the “Less is More” viewpoint can be found in base-model automobiles. It’s that bare bones appearance of limited trim, painted wheels, blackwall tires and the absence of exterior accessories that renders such automobiles so engaging to look at. Why? Because you’re admiring the car itself – its design, its style, its overall character – and not persuaded by frivolous embellishments and distracting wide whitewall tires. The honesty of pure, unadorned aesthetics is what base-model cars are all about.
A perfect example of a base-model beauty is this 1941 Dodge sedan. Oddly called a Deluxe model, there was nothing deluxe about it, yet that’s what makes this four-door sedan so attractive. With so little trim to distract you, admiring the car’s design the way the designers and stylists intended it to be admired, allows us to better understand the principles of the car’s being.
Known as a Series D-19 Deluxe five-passenger, four-door sedan, a grand total of 49,579 examples were built for the 1941 model year. With war looming on the horizon, few changes differentiated the 1942 models from the ’41 models as the auto manufacturers were gearing up instead for the impending war effort. The differences, which were limited to trim changes such as the front grille, were minor. With a base price of $855, this handsome sedan sold well.
The car featured here is one of the finest 1941 Dodge automobiles in existence. Owned by The NB Center for American Automotive Heritage in Allentown, Pennsylvania, over a period of several years this Dodge was restored to absolute perfection by their in-house restoration facility.
We applaud their efforts to restore this Dodge to its original base-model style, because all too often car owners lose sight of the importance of automotive history and are tempted to reconfigure their cars with every conceivable option ever offered, which was rarely the case when the cars were new. Base-model cars like this were the norm back in the day, so it’s rewarding to see such an automobile restored to the way they were really built.
Aside from the single piece of side trim that’s inline with the door handles, the lack of excess brightwork allows you to better appreciate this car’s design. The taillamps, even in their most basic form, are the most decorative piece of trim on the body. The Dodge script proudly advertises the car’s Fluid Drive transmission.
A big, finely crafted steering wheel, decorative 100 MPH speedometer, four ancillary gauges (temperature, oil, amps and fuel) and a large chrome radio grille highlight the beauty and distinctiveness of well-built, pre-war automobiles’ intrument panels.
The spacious interior with its soft mohair-type upholstery provides plenty of leg room for passengers in the rear, along with straps to hold on to. The door handles and the interior panels are pure works of art, while the Deluxe Airflow heater helps keep the cabin warm during the winter months.