Hi Everyone, my name is John. I'm new to these forums but not to old Dodges. My new ride is the oldest Dodge I've owned thus far. I just HAD to have it.
It's a 1951 Dodge Meadowbrook with Fluid Drive. It is all original, including the paint and interior. I'm going to leave it as-is and just drive it. It has 59K original miles with less than 1,000 of those miles in the last 40 years. One of the front wheel cylinders blew out on my drive home a couple of weeks ago, so right now I'm replacing the front brake cylinders, shoes, and lines. I'll tackle the rear after that. I also ordered a carb kit and a fuel pump for it, and I'll probably have the radiator reconditioned (re-cored if needed) before too long. I will leave the entire system 6 volt.
The car looks better in the pictures than it actually is; the rockers are shot and there is some rust holes in the body, but it is what it is. I love working on it and driving it, so that's what matters to me. I am the 4th owner. The original owner's name is stamped on the back of an original Dodge medallion that is attached to the key ring along with the original keys. I'll post pics of those keys later; they are really cool!
Doing some online research along with some information passed on to me from the guy I bought the car from, the original owner was a professor at Winona State University here in Winona, MN BITD. He purchased the car (new obviously) in 1951 when he was 37 years old from Seifert-Baldwin Motors (Chrysler Plymouth Dodge) in Winona MN. I'm not sure when he sold it to owner #2, but the original owner died in 1996 according to an old obituary. One of the bias-ply tires still has his name written on it (Sebo). The tires must be 40, or more than like 50 years old. They're shot so I will be replacing them with radials soon.
I guess radios were an option in those days; mine does not have one. But the second owner found and original one and left it in the trunk, never installing it. Not sure if I will hook it up or not. Something to think about anyway.
I was surprised how nice the car rides/steers, and how easy the Fluid Drive operates. Also, the 230 flathead isn't a dog like I thought it might be. It has really good power and easily cruises along with modern traffic.
It's certainly not a flashy show car, nor an Imperial or anything, but I love it. Hope you guys do, too!
Couple more things: I really like the hubcaps, and I found a 1951 MN license plate that I will use in place of the collector plates.
link to my photobucket page with more pics: http://s1142.photobucket.com/user/gorfmaster/library/1951%20Dodge%20Meadowbrook?sort=3&page=1
