Meet SRT33: Half 1933 Dodge Sedan, Half 6.1 HEMI Restomod, 100 Percent Badass

Or cars that are about to fade from living memory of when they were brand new. But we hope you can put your biases aside for just a moment because this positively ancient 1933 Dodge Sedan is the Great Depression on top and the Great Recession underneath.

But first, a little bit of history surrounding a Dodge product most people in 2024 have never heard of, let alone seen turned into a restomod. Since Dodge and Chrysler have been joined at the hip since time immemorial, some might not be aware the two companies were separate entities until Chrysler purchased Dodge in 1928. When this historic merger was complete, it was now Chrysler's responsibility to provide the Dodge Brother's old company with a passenger vehicle for the coming decade. Under this deal, entry-level Chryslers would be branded as Plymouths, while Dodge would handle mid-rangers and De Soto filled the gap between Dodge and Chrysler.

Among the first vehicles to roll out under this new scheme was the Dodge Six, based on the architecture of the Chrysler Series 60. From the factory, the heart and soul of the Dodge Six was Chrysler's trademark flathead straight-six engine. This engine made its debut along with the car in 1928 at roughly 3.6 liters of displacement and gradually increased its stroke up until the Six was sunset in 1938. The Six model line was chocked full of variety in the form of the bespoke Standard Six, Victory Six, and Senior Six, which brought incrementally nicer features and higher-quality build materials.

As far as Chrysler was concerned, it was the genesis of a model trim level formula some argue the company still uses under their new corporate overlords at Stellantis Group. A bit like the modern Dodge Charger did up until very recently, the Dodge Six was the common folk's American family sedan. What a pity there was no SRT division in those days, but don't worry. Just like the lauded 1932 Fords beloved by hot rodders, these old Dodges are a fantastic platform for responding. It just needs a competent set of brains and hands to be done correctly.

This 1933 Dodge comes to us via Customs by Kikeary of Washington County, Pennsylvania, just south of Pittsburgh. With three-plus decades of experience building custom resto-mods out of old American iron, there are not many tuning shops in all of Western Pennsylvania with the kind of know-how Tim Kikeary and his team bring to the table. From engine and suspension tuning to bodywork and interior trimming, every Customs by Kikeary build is an in-house labor of love from start to finish. Never once does a vehicle leave the shop during that time, as the shop can install all the aftermarket parts their customers could order right under the same roof.

The team is happy to work on any American vehicle, be it Chrysler, Ford, or GM, and from any time period, antique to contemporary. In short, they're the perfect team to take an ancient car most youngsters couldn't care less about and stuff it full of modern Mopar hardware they very much do. Gone is whatever anemic motor from the Stone Age this Dodge came with. In its place is 6.1 liters of HEMI 392 V8 perfection. Add on a full Magnaflow stainless steel exhaust, and an engine that jets 485 horsepower on all-stock hardware is surely breathing a little easier now.

Power is fed to a rebuilt MAG1 five-speed automatic transmission from SP Precision, and the car is sitting on a custom chassis from Roadster Shop in Mundelein, Illinois. Add on a dependable Ford nine-inch rear end with a  Superide II IFS front suspension from Heidts Hot Rod & Muscle Car Parts, and the custom four-link rear suspension matches the fronts to perfection. Wilwood drilled and slotted disc brakes are just added gravy on top. But this time around, it's fair to say this Dodge's bodywork and interior trim are even more electrifying than its drivetrain.

Every square inch of polished chrome, plush tan leather, and solid bronze emblems by JAB Jewelry in Cannonsburgh, Pennsylvania, is refined to a standard that lesser shops can only hope to obtain. This especially potent blend of timeless 30s looks with modern comforts and amenities makes for drool-worthy material. Now that the LX/LD Dodge Charger finds itself in the history books alongside its Dodge Six grandpa, it's only a matter of time before it has a similar restomod job, too. Sadly, it'll probably be some EV nonsense.

Whatever the case, this kind of restomod demands respect from young and old, regardless of your preconceived biases about what constitutes a car worth checking out at the local car meet. Congrats to Customs by Kikeary on a fantastic build.