Boyertown PA, Visited the Boyertown Car Museum

[desoto1939]

Last weekend my local AACA club went on a car tour and we went to the Boyertown Car Museum in Boyertown, PA.  The museum is the old Boyertown Truck Body Manufacturing Plant.

 

Boyertown Boded trucks were their main business and they were very popular in our area.  If you ever get to the Allentown or Chester County area plan a visit. They trace the history of all vehicles from sleight, coaches-buggies, bicycles and cars and trucks that have either been manufactured within the tri county area. Some very unique cars and trucks.

 

When I first entered the museum I saw the back end on 1937 Chrysler and from the rear I knew it was a Durham Bodied car.  Durham body works is a famous custom body compnay that was located in Rosemont, Pa which is next to Villanova   near Villanova college.

 

Upon reading the attached poster on this car I also learned that Durham Body Works was at one time a Chrysler Desoto dealership.  The current building is nw the Algar Motor company that sell lotus and other high prices cars.

 

Also of note is that the picture of the one carriage was made by the Wolfington Coach Company that later on became the Wolfington Desoto dealership located at 34 and Chestnut street in Philadelphia, PA.  The dealership is closed but the name is still being used in Exton PA as the Wolfington Bus Company. I have shown my 1939 Desoto to the Great Grandson that nw runs the Bus company  and told him that my 1939 Desoto was sold out of the Wolfington Dealership back in 1939.

 

Also during my visit he informed me that the Wolfington dealership also did custom bodied cars  and that they would share between them and Durham when ever they needed additional experienced craftsman. I told the tour guide about the history of my car and they then took pictures of my car after our tour was completed.

 

I have attached pictures of these cars and the carriage for your viewing pleasure.

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Plymouthy Adams]

that teal painted thing with the overstuff vinyl roof has totally been hit by the ugly stick....does not match the period of the car in my opinion and yes it is JUST MY OPINION 

[keithb7]

I will admit I do take a special linking to the harmonica-grill period of post war Mopars.  They look good. Navy blue with chrome is very classy.  A NY’r coupe with a straight 8, manual 3 speed with OD would be a nice acquisition. Was it offered configured as such? 

[desoto1939]

3 minutes ago, Plymouthy Adams said:

that teal painted thing with the overstuff vinyl roof has totally been hit by the ugly stick....does not match the period of the car in my opinion and yes it is JUST MY OPINION 

Plymouthy: yes I agree in regards to the color of the Durham bodied car. Does not seem to be period correctness on the color. But the coach work of being a Durham Custom Bodies car is the main point that I am trying to point out and that it is a local car from the Philadelphia area and you do not get the opportunity to see a durham bodied car and or even truck.  In another local museum call 3 dog garage which is also in Boyertown there is a Model B ford truck that has a custom body that was designed by the Durham Body works.

 

Rich Hartung

[Plymouthy Adams]

I fully understand the special bodies.....however, ugly is ugly and like I stated, just my own personal opinion.   That is why there are so many makes and models out there, no one model is right for everyone.....