Quick Facts

This reference summarizes the specifications most useful when distinguishing a genuine DP Salon Brougham from another 1933 Dodge body or a car assembled from mixed components.

The DP designation matters more than an informal description such as “1933 Dodge sedan.” Dodge changed series identifiers frequently during this period, and neighboring models can look similar after decades of restoration, modification and parts interchange.

Why the DP Salon Brougham Matters

The Salon Brougham preserved seating for five while replacing the four-door sedan's rear doors with long front doors and fixed rear quarter panels. That gave the roof and side glass a tighter visual rhythm without reducing the car to the two-seat role of a business coupe. It was a practical family body with the appearance of a close-coupled coupe.

Its mechanical specification also illustrates why Dodge retained a loyal clientele during the worst years of the Depression. Chevrolet competed aggressively with six-cylinder cars, while Ford promoted the newer flathead V8. Dodge answered with a well-developed six, hydraulic brakes and Chrysler's highly advertised Floating Power engine mounting rather than pursuing the least expensive possible specification.

Survival, rather than headline production statistics, now determines the Salon Brougham's collector appeal. Exact body-style production totals are not consistently documented in commonly available references, so claims that assign a precise number to surviving or originally produced Salon Broughams deserve documentary support.

Historical Context and Development

Chrysler Corporation purchased Dodge Brothers in 1928, gaining a respected name, substantial manufacturing capacity and an established dealer organization. By 1933, Dodge engineering had absorbed several Chrysler practices while retaining a reputation for strong frames, conservative engines and practical body construction.

The Depression forced manufacturers to compete on price while giving buyers visible evidence of improvement. Longer, lower-looking bodies, skirted fender forms, sloping windshields and increasingly integrated luggage treatment replaced the upright vocabulary of the late 1920s. The DP's vertical grille and separate headlamps remained traditional, but the body sat with greater visual mass between the axles and less of the high-bodied stance seen only a few years earlier.

Chevrolet's six-cylinder Eagle and Master models were direct market references, while Ford's Model 40 V8 offered two additional cylinders and considerable showroom appeal. Plymouth covered Chrysler Corporation's lower-priced volume business. Dodge therefore relied on its six-cylinder refinement, hydraulic braking and established durability rather than attempting to duplicate either Ford's V8 formula or Plymouth's price.

There was no homologation requirement behind the DP and no recognized factory competition derivative of the Salon Brougham. Its significance is commercial and technical: it records how an established American manufacturer packaged six-cylinder power and hydraulic brakes in a moderately sized Depression-era family car.

Engine and Drivetrain

The DP used Dodge's water-cooled, side-valve inline-six. Both camshaft and valves sat in the cylinder block, leaving a simple detachable cylinder head above the combustion chambers. The design sacrificed some high-speed breathing compared with an overhead-valve engine, but it reduced valvetrain complexity and delivered the low-speed flexibility valued on contemporary roads.

A single downdraft carburetor supplied the engine through a conventional intake manifold. A mechanical fuel pump drew gasoline from the rear tank, while a distributor and coil handled battery ignition. Cooling depended on a belt-driven fan, water pump and radiator, and the internal water passages must be free of rust scale if a restored engine is expected to tolerate sustained road speeds.

Dodge's Floating Power system used compliant engine mounting to reduce the vibration transmitted into the frame and body. It did not transform the flathead six into a high-revving engine. Instead, it allowed the long-stroke unit to pull smoothly through the useful lower and middle portion of its operating range.

The following figures are the core factory specifications most consistently associated with the DP six. Torque, redline and compression-ratio figures are omitted because surviving secondary references do not always agree.

The 3⅛-inch bore and 4⅜-inch stroke reveal the engine's priorities. Its long stroke favored useful torque at modest crankshaft speed, while the three-speed transmission required the driver to preserve momentum rather than rely on closely spaced ratios. Correct carburetor calibration, ignition advance and engine mounts have a disproportionate effect on how refined one feels.

Chassis, Suspension and Braking

The DP used a separate steel frame beneath its closed body. A rigid beam front axle and live rear axle were located by semi-elliptic leaf springs, an orthodox American arrangement that combined load capacity with straightforward maintenance. Steering was by a manual steering box and mechanical linkage, with no hydraulic assistance.

Dodge's four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes were an important selling point when many competing cars still used mechanically actuated systems. The hydraulic system gave more even application when correctly adjusted, although its single-circuit layout lacks the redundancy of a modern braking system. Drum condition, shoe arc and wheel-cylinder health determine whether a restored car stops evenly or darts under pedal pressure.

This table concentrates on dimensions and equipment that affect restoration and component identification.

The long leaf springs and narrow tires allowed considerable wheel movement over unpaved or broken surfaces, but the tall body and beam axle also produced visible roll and slower transient response. Excess steering play, axle shimmy or harsh spring action should not be dismissed as normal merely because the car was built in 1933.

Driving Experience and Handling Dynamics

A sound DP Six moves away with steady low-speed pull rather than a sharp burst of acceleration. The long-stroke engine should accept moderate throttle without persistent misfire or heavy mechanical knocking. Correctly set ignition and carburetion produce a clean response, while worn throttle shafts, manifold leaks and weak compression make the engine feel markedly less willing.

The clutch is deliberate, and the three-speed gearbox rewards an unhurried hand. First gear serves starting and steep grades, with much normal driving conducted in second and top. A driver accustomed to a later synchronized gearbox should pause between shifts and avoid forcing the lever until the individual transmission's condition and technique requirements are understood.

Steering effort rises at parking speeds because the large steering wheel works through narrow front tires without assistance. Once moving, the car should track predictably, with gradual response and limited feedback by later standards. Wandering usually points to worn kingpins, tie-rod ends, spring shackles, wheel bearings, incorrect toe or accumulated steering-box play.

The hydraulic drums can provide progressive braking at period road speeds, but pedal travel should remain stable. Pulling, grabbing or a pedal that slowly sinks indicates a fault, not vintage character. Cornering is best approached by braking early, selecting the needed gear before turn-in and allowing the chassis to settle rather than adding abrupt steering inputs.

Identification and Originality

Confirming a Genuine DP

Identification begins with the DP series designation, the serial or chassis number, body evidence and the engine-number stamping. A modern 17-character VIN did not exist, and the vehicle serial number should not be expected to match the engine number character for character. Registration records may also use an engine number, chassis number or administrative number, depending on local practice and the car's history.

Any identification plate should be examined for disturbed fasteners, fresh stamping, inconsistent typefaces or a location that conflicts with marque references. Because serial-plate practices and number ranges can differ by assembly plant, a purported decoding should be checked against a recognized Dodge serial-number reference rather than inferred from another Chrysler Corporation model.

Body and Trim Evidence

A Salon Brougham should have two long doors, rear seating and fixed rear quarter panels. It must not be identified merely from a title that says “coupe,” because registries have often applied coupe and two-door sedan descriptions interchangeably. Door structure, roof length, rear-quarter window shape, seat arrangement and body-number evidence provide a better foundation.

The Salon designation concerned trim and presentation, but equipment could change during production and through dealer installation. Surviving cars often have sidemount hardware, trunks, lamps, wheels or upholstery acquired from donor vehicles. Period photographs and sales literature should be compared with the individual body before expensive trim is restored or reproduced.

Matching Numbers, Paint and Documentation

“Matching numbers” requires careful wording on a 1933 Dodge. The engine number and vehicle serial number are separate identifiers, so the strongest claim is usually that the engine is of the correct DP type and falls into a plausible production relationship with the chassis. A surviving build record, early registration or long ownership history is more persuasive than identical-looking newly stamped characters.

Date coding was less comprehensive than on postwar collector cars, and there was no later-style option plate listing every accessory. Restoration research therefore depends on body tags, casting identifiers, factory parts books, color bulletins, sales catalogs and physical traces found beneath later work. Original paint protected behind hinges, garnish moldings or interior fittings can be more useful than a modern color label attached during a previous restoration.

Correct finishes matter because restorers have often applied excessive chrome, high-gloss engine paint or modern upholstery patterns. Factory photographs generally provide the best guide to the balance of painted, plated and black-finished hardware. Reproduction rubber and interior materials can improve usability, but their grain, profile and stitching should be compared with original samples.

Variant and Trim Breakdown

Dodge offered the DP chassis with several open and closed bodies. Catalog terminology can differ by printing date and market, so the table concentrates on principal DP designations relevant when separating the Salon Brougham from related cars.

No separate high-performance engine or homologation package defined the Salon Brougham. Its distinction lies in body and trim, making preservation of the doors, quarter panels, interior fittings and exterior hardware especially important.

Performance and Dimensional Specifications

Factory and period references consistently document the engine rating and wheelbase, but standardized acceleration tests were not routinely published for every American body style in 1933. Top speed, curb weight and road-test figures can also differ according to body, axle ratio, equipment and test conditions, so unsupported values are excluded.

The absence of a defensible 0 to 60 mph or quarter-mile result is historically appropriate. Contemporary buyers judged acceleration through traffic, grade-climbing ability and smooth top-gear operation, not through the standardized instrumented testing that became common later.

Compared With Related Dodge Models

1932 Dodge DL Six

The preceding DL Six belongs to an earlier styling phase, with more upright body proportions and model-specific mechanical and trim details. Similar flathead-six architecture can tempt restorers to assume interchangeability, but body hardware, chassis components and identifying numbers must be checked against the correct parts book.

1933 DP Brougham

The standard Brougham is the closest source of confusion because it shares the two-door five-passenger body concept and DP mechanical package. The word “Salon” should not be added solely because a car has dual sidemounts, elaborate upholstery or extra chrome. Accessories and restoration choices can imitate an upgraded specification.

1933 DP Sedan

The four-door sedan provides easier rear-seat access and survives in greater visibility among restored prewar Dodges. Its doors, quarter structure and roof treatment differ fundamentally from the Salon Brougham, even though the frame, engine and much running gear follow the same DP specification.

Ford Model 40 V8 and Chevrolet Six

Ford offered the market appeal and power characteristics of its flathead V8, while Chevrolet continued to sell overhead-valve six-cylinder cars in large numbers. The Dodge countered with a side-valve six, hydraulic brakes and Chrysler-developed engine mounting. That comparison explains the DP more accurately than judging it against postwar cars with higher compression, independent front suspension and vastly improved tires.

Ownership and Restoration Notes

Mechanical service parts for Chrysler Corporation flathead sixes are generally easier to locate than model-specific Salon Brougham trim. Bearings, ignition parts, gaskets, brake components and some cooling-system pieces are supported by specialist suppliers, but every component should be ordered by measurement and original part number where possible. Later Dodge and Plymouth flathead parts may look similar without fitting correctly.

Cooling-system condition deserves priority. Rust scale can obstruct block passages and the water-distribution tube, while a partially blocked radiator may permit acceptable idling yet cause overheating on a sustained climb. Before rebuilding an engine, check the block and cylinder head for cracks, inspect oil pressure hot, measure cylinder wear and establish whether earlier machining has altered standard dimensions.

The gearbox and rear axle should be evaluated for chipped teeth, bearing noise, shaft wear and lubricant leakage. A dragging clutch or worn engine mounts can make shifts feel worse than the gearbox itself. Original-style seals may leak more readily than modern conversions, but any alteration should be recorded so that future service does not rely on an incorrect parts assumption.

Body restoration is usually more difficult than mechanical work. Inspect the lower cowl, door bottoms, running-board mounts, rear body corners, floor edges, roof insert and all points where wood, fabric or trapped moisture meet steel. Long Brougham doors amplify hinge and pillar wear, and poor alignment may indicate weakened structure rather than a simple latch adjustment.

Service intervals should follow a period lubrication chart rather than a modern extended schedule. Chassis fittings, steering joints, spring shackles, wheel bearings, brake adjustment and fluid condition require regular attention. A car driven infrequently still needs fuel-system inspection, coolant maintenance and hydraulic-brake service.

Buyer and Inspection Points

A useful inspection separates ordinary age from expensive model-specific deficiencies. The following checks address the areas most likely to affect authenticity, safety and restoration cost.

A complete but worn car may be a better project than a freshly painted example missing its correct hardware. Mechanical assemblies can be rebuilt from drawings and measured parts. Salon moldings, body fittings and sound long-door structure are much harder to recreate convincingly.

Collector and Market Relevance

The open DP bodies generally attract the most attention at auction, but the Salon Brougham appeals to collectors who want unusual closed coachwork without sacrificing rear seating. Its value depends heavily on identity, completeness and restoration accuracy because the body distinction is more significant than any change in horsepower.

Collectors favor cars retaining a correct-type engine, original body structure, recognizable Salon fittings and a coherent paper trail. Authentic upholstery patterns, restrained plating and factory-informed paint carry more weight than modern conveniences hidden beneath an otherwise inaccurate restoration. Conversely, a beautifully finished car with uncertain tags or mixed trim may remain difficult to authenticate.

Exact production and survival numbers should be treated cautiously. The model's relative scarcity is apparent at marque gatherings and in the limited supply of body-specific parts, but rarity claims need factory or registry documentation. Market demand is strongest for examples that can be driven reliably without erasing the mechanical and visual evidence of their 1933 construction.

Cultural Relevance

The DP Salon Brougham belongs to the automobile culture of Depression-era America, when a closed six-cylinder Dodge served as family transportation rather than a leisure object. Its spacious rear seat, weather protection and hydraulic brakes addressed daily travel on roads that ranged from city pavement to graded dirt.

The model has no major factory racing program or homologation story to inflate its reputation. Its modern cultural life comes through Dodge Brothers clubs, Antique Automobile Club of America events, preservation classes, tours and specialist restoration networks. These groups have also become repositories for parts-book knowledge, serial-number research and surviving factory literature.

Period-style hot rodding has claimed some surviving two-door bodies, particularly when complete original drivetrains were missing. That history is part of American car culture, but it has also reduced the supply of structurally intact Salon Broughams and increased the importance of documenting unmodified examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engine is in the 1933 Dodge DP Six Salon Brougham?

It uses a naturally aspirated 201.3-cubic-inch, 3,299 cc L-head inline-six commonly rated at 70 horsepower. The engine has a 3⅛-inch bore, a 4⅜-inch stroke, side valves and a single downdraft carburetor.

What does the DP code mean on a 1933 Dodge?

DP is Dodge's series designation for this 1933 six-cylinder model family. It is the relevant model code for checking serial-number references, factory parts books and body applications, but it should not be interpreted using a later 17-character VIN system.

Is the Salon Brougham a coupe or a sedan?

It is a two-door, five-passenger closed sedan body with rear seating and fixed rear quarter panels. Period and registration terminology can be inconsistent, which is why the body structure is more reliable than a later title describing the car simply as a coupe.

How can a genuine DP Salon Brougham be identified?

Confirm the DP serial evidence, engine type and stamping, body tags, two-door five-passenger structure and Salon-specific trim against period literature. No single accessory proves the designation, and a modern claim of matching numbers should explain how the separate chassis and engine identifiers were evaluated.

What are the main mechanical problems?

Common concerns include cooling passages blocked by corrosion, radiator restriction, water-pump wear, oil leakage, tired engine mounts, carburetor air leaks, ignition deterioration and wear in the gearbox, steering joints and kingpins. The hydraulic brake system also requires complete inspection after long storage.

Are restoration parts available for a 1933 Dodge DP?

Many engine, ignition, brake and routine service parts are available through prewar Chrysler specialists, although fit must be confirmed by number and measurement. Salon Brougham body trim, long-door hardware, garnish moldings and correct interior fittings are much harder to replace.

What makes the Salon Brougham collectible?

It combines the DP's 201.3-cubic-inch six and hydraulic brakes with a less commonly preserved two-door five-passenger body. Collectors value correct Salon equipment, sound body structure, a proper DP identity and documentation more than cosmetic additions or unsupported rarity claims.

Collector Takeaway

The 1933 Dodge DP Six Salon Brougham deserves attention because its defining feature is not an exotic engine or racing association. It is the way Dodge packaged a durable flathead six, Floating Power mounting and hydraulic brakes beneath one of the DP series' most attractive practical bodies. The two long doors and close-coupled roof give it the visual economy of a coupe while retaining a usable rear compartment.

Buy the body, identity and missing trim before being seduced by paint. A correct DP six can be rebuilt, and its chassis can be made to steer and brake as intended. Reconstructing an altered Salon Brougham body or replacing lost model-specific fittings is the harder task. Preserved accurately, the car explains 1933 Dodge engineering better than a modified example ever could.