Horace Gets a 'Glow Up'
We'd like to extend a BIG thanks to our friend Larry at AMMO NYC for highlighting this car on his YouTube Channel. AMMO NYC is a world class detailing operation and is ranked the #1 car detailing channel on YouTube. Larry and his team graciously agreed to do a preservation detail of this unique donation and to address some of Horace's issues of age and damage.
How to Win This Barn Beauty
You can win this 1964 Dodge 880! This classic car donation is a rare find and its history inspired WDET to go beyond the routine sale at auction to find it the right home. WDET is hosting a raffle for the car on September 24, 2023. Each raffle ticket costs $101.90, with 100% of the ticket sales benefitting WDET Radio.
Horace's History
This car was originally owned by Anna Thomson Dodge, wife of Horace E. Dodge, one of the founders of the Dodge Brothers (now the Dodge division of Fiat Chrysler). The second owner of the '64 Dodge was Mary Wilson, widow of Ralph C. Wilson Jr., who was the founding owner of the Buffalo Bills football team. In a 2014 New York Times article, Mrs. Wilson breaks down the history of the ‘64 Dodge 880 based on documents found with the car.
Anna Thomson Dodge was gifted the convertible on December 27, 1963. Her son, Horace E. Dodge Jr., ordered the car as a Christmas present for his mother and also ordered one for himself. Unfortunately, he died in a Detroit hospital in December of 1963 before he was able to see his mother drive the Custom 880. Anna, who lived in Palm Beach, Florida, did not make it back to Detroit in time to visit her son before his passing. During her time, she was one of the wealthiest women in the world, as she and her sister-in-law sold the Dodge Brothers company for $146 million in 1925. Anna also received $1.4 million a year from her late husband’s municipal bonds investment.
In 1994, DuMouchelles, a Detroit auction house, held an auction where Lot 1001 contained the 1964 Dodge 880 Custom Convertible with 7,862 miles and original tires. The winning bid of $13,000 bought Mrs. Dodge’s car. The full price was $14,950, including the auction house’s commission on the sale. Ralph C. Wilson Jr. bought the car as a gift for his future wife, Mary, who was aware of the car’s history and admired Detroit's automotive legacy. The Wilsons named the car "Horace."
After Mr. Wilson’s death, Mary decided to support the NPR programs she loves by donating the car to Detroit's NPR News Station, WDET, knowing public radio listeners would appreciate the provenance of this particular vehicle.
We're Grateful to Our Friends and Donors
WDET partners with the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program to turn vehicle donations into funds for your favorite public radio programs. If you have a classic car sitting in your garage, let it do one more good deed by donating it to your local public radio station through the Car Talk Vehicle Donation Program! Start your NPR car donation by filling out the online donation form or by calling us at 877-215-0227.
Do Something Great for NPR and Win a Piece of History
Ready to test your luck at winning this piece of history? Click here to view the complete contest rules or call 313-577-4146 with any questions. For more information on this amazing contribution, you can see repair files, photos, and its complete condition report at by visiting TheCommonGear.
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