Phaetons

Four-door convertible sedans, often called "phaetons," were low-volume body styles which came into some popularity in the '30s. Here is a 1936 Dodge four-door convertible, one of only 750 built.

This 1936 Ford four-door convertible sedan was one of the higher-volume cars of its type in the '30s. Production of DeLuxe Phaetons and four-door convertible sedans totaled more than 10,000. New, the cars cost $590 for the Phaeton, $760 for the flat-back four-door convertible and $780 for the trunk-back convertible sedan. In excellent condition, they are now worth $25,000-$35,000.

This rare 1938 Studebaker President four-door convertible sedan featured an optional dash-mounted "Miracle Shift" vacuum transmission control. The Commander model name was introduced by Studebaker in 1938 to replace the Dictator because Adolf Hitler had made "dictator" a bad word.