1942 dodge business coupe

[Goathead]

I have bought a pretty much rust free car with a good clean title for Illinois so my question is how rare our these cars should I got rod it or try and keep it stock I want to put a gen 3 hemi in it and a od tranny to make it a great driver but i don’t know how to go after this project 

[Mark D]

1942 is really low production year. And yes, Business coupes are pretty rare. Personally I like original stuff, my vote would be to do your best to restore it and enjoy it.

[desoto1939]

I agree with Mark D. All 1942 cars were or little production numbers becasue of the war.    You state that you want to put a Hemi with overdrive in the car that you also state it basically all original.  Just with your statement and plese take what I am saying as not a smart ass reply, but since you are modifying the engine with a Hemi I feel that you have already made the decision to make it a Hot Rod.

 

What are your and i state your plans for the car?  These old cars can run at 50-60 mph all dayong.  Yes you are not going tobe going down the road at 70+ mph like a modern car.  Also with the older style drum brakes and original suspension they are not setup to stop and handle like a modern car. So trying to stop a 1942 car with standard 10-11 inch brake drums is not an instantaneous stop like you can get with disk brakes.  There is a  special enjoyment of sitting back and crusing in an older car and you get to enjoy the car and see the scenery and just just wiz by it a 70 mph.  Our society has now all turned to be in a hurry to get some place and a hurry to get back.

 

If the car was a diamond in the rough then I would make it a hotrod but since it is an original keep it that way. People do not get to see many 1942 cars and if original it is even more impressive.

 

Just my thoughts but take your time to make your own decision about the car. remember it is your car and your money so do what ever makes You happy and not everyone else.  I listed my reasons to keep it original as you asked for input.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

[chrysler1941]

5 minutes ago, desoto1939 said:

I agree with Mark D. All 1942 cars were or little production numbers becasue of the war.    You state that you want to put a Hemi with overdrive in the car that you also state it basically all original.  Just with your statement and plese take what I am saying as not a smart ass reply, but since you are modifying the engine with a Hemi I feel that you have already made the decision to make it a Hot Rod.

 

What are your and i state your plans for the car?  These old cars can run at 50-60 mph all dayong.  Yes you are not going tobe going down the road at 70+ mph like a modern car.  Also with the older style drum brakes and original suspension they are not setup to stop and handle like a modern car. So trying to stop a 1942 car with standard 10-11 inch brake drums is not an instantaneous stop like you can get with disk brakes.  There is a  special enjoyment of sitting back and crusing in an older car and you get to enjoy the car and see the scenery and just just wiz by it a 70 mph.  Our society has now all turned to be in a hurry to get some place and a hurry to get back.

 

If the car was a diamond in the rough then I would make it a hotrod but since it is an original keep it that way. People do not get to see many 1942 cars and if original it is even more impressive.

 

Just my thoughts but take your time to make your own decision about the car. remember it is your car and your money so do what ever makes You happy and not everyone else.  I listed my reasons to keep it original as you asked for input.

 

Rich Hartung

Desoto1939@aol.com

Very well written. I concur.?

[RobertKB]

55 minutes ago, Mark D said:

1942 is really low production year. And yes, Business coupes are pretty rare. Personally I like original stuff, my vote would be to do your best to restore it and enjoy it.

 

I feel the same. Pictures of the car would be interesting.

[Booger]

congrats on a rare find. get you some saddle shoes and a zoot suit and style out. Please dont rod it out til all is lost

[Goathead]

It was painted Matte black from the previous owner I have all the parts 

[Goathead]

I want to keep it as original as I can I’d like to put a 10 bolt gm axle in it with rear disc and still keep the factory axle like to up grade the front suspension a bit to handle a bit better with disc brakes and other than that make a drop in motor tranny set up and I’m going to keep all the original stuff to we’re one day put it all back to the way it was but someone already filled the fuel neck hole and the spare tire hole in the trunk I want to keep the dash stock as well as a the seat but I want to drive this car owning a car I can’t get in and drive 250 miles is useless for me that’s why I want to up date a few thing on it for me to be able to drive but everything I’m doing can be removed and go back to stock I still don’t know what these things are worth or a real number how many are out there doesn’t seem to be many since this is the first one iv seen in person came from Montana around 2007 

[dudford]

Hot rod, it’s an odd term really as a car like this will never look like a 32 Ford fenderless, chopped, channeled coupe with a hemi and lakes pipes... essentially the hot wheels idea of a “hot rod”. In my opinion and it’s always going to be your decision but I’d just trad rod it. Freshen up the motor, add some hop up period correct equipment like split headers, dual intake, junior cam, high comp head,  lay it down on the floor a little and cruise it about. You get way more interest in it like that than just another chopped out hemi version. That’s my $.02 

[T120]

Goathead, Welcome to the forum. You have acquired a very desirable car. How ever you decide to proceed  on your build is up to you. Hope you will followup with photos as it progresses. ?

[desoto1939]

The hobby has changed, remember you will not baiscaly get out of the car after all of the money spent what you put into it.  The car collectors of today want the Hemi Cuda and High perfornace cars from the late 60's thru today.

 

If car auctions houses such as Barrett Jackson have inflated the car hobby and pricing. Everyone sees a car similar to what they have and think that their car is worth the same amount, not so.

 

We all have spent more than our cars will be worth to a potentail buyer along with the collection of spare parts.  Buy what you need, drive the car, learn from the experience of getting it road worthy, have fun, and las t state just drive the hell out of the car. After you have driven it you will understand everyones input. I started with a 1915 Willys Overland, gone thru Model A's and now a 39 Desoto for 34 plus years.  Have meet so many great people, gone to Hershey every year. There are diffenet parts to the whole experience of the car hobby.

 

Welcome aboard and drive the car.

 

Rich Hartung

[MackTheFinger]

I'm 100% with T120 on this. Everyone has their idea of the perfect car; it's up to you to proceed in your own direction. Looks like a nice one and as others state, 1942 is a rare year.

[T120]

Goathead, Do I see a vintage British bike in your stable? ?

[MackTheFinger]

1 hour ago, T120 said:

Goathead, Do I see a vintage British bike in your stable? ?

I was wondering myself but I can't figure out that big round thing. Only pre 60's Brit bike I ever owned was a '56 BSA Road Rocket. 

 

Edited April 2, 2021 by MackTheFinger

[Goathead]

That’s a 1965 Sears 250 come from puch out of Austria 

[Andydodge]

Goathead..........my 1940 Oz Dodge has a 318 Poly, auto, 4wheel discs, bucket seats, console, 2" widened rear fenders, mag wheels etc but as its been this way since 1973 its gotten used to it and as it has the stock "jewellery" most people tend to think......"what a nice old car".........which it is...........so do what you can if you want to upgrade it but the main thing is to get it on the road ...........welcome aboard...........Andy Douglas  

[MackTheFinger]

17 hours ago, Goathead said:

That’s a 1965 Sears 250 come from puch out of Austria 

A Twingle? Those are cool!! Yours is an earlier model than the only one I ever owned. Mine had the squarish gas tank. I thought I recognized the muffler but couldn't place it. In my defense it's been 45 years since I owned one..

[knuckleharley]

On 4/2/2021 at 2:44 PM, Goathead said:

I want to keep it as original as I can I’d like to put a 10 bolt gm axle in it with rear disc and still keep the factory axle like to up grade the front suspension a bit to handle a bit better with disc brakes and other than that make a drop in motor tranny set up and I’m going to keep all the original stuff to we’re one day put it all back to the way it was but someone already filled the fuel neck hole and the spare tire hole in the trunk I want to keep the dash stock as well as a the seat but I want to drive this car owning a car I can’t get in and drive 250 miles is useless for me that’s why I want to up date a few thing on it for me to be able to drive but everything I’m doing can be removed and go back to stock I still don’t know what these things are worth or a real number how many are out there doesn’t seem to be many since this is the first one iv seen in person came from Montana around 2007 

Ok,so put a mid-50's flat 6 from a Plymouth in it and gain 30+ horsepower. Add a mild cam,some headers,and 2 carbs,and get even more while keeping it flat 6.

Nobody ever said you couldn't put power disc brakes up front for better stopping power,and nothing will have been changed that is obvious and can't be brought back to original if you didn't toss the original parts.

 

You will have a car you can drive and enjoy,and won't have stoopid money in modifications to gain power that you will never use.