Dodge Brothers Club Australia National Rally

What did he say??

Looks like something along the lines of, "Hello Ken, Hello Dodge friends in Australia. Thank you for posting the wonderful photos of the rally. I like those cars. (and something about being from Germany)." That is a total guess on my part.

What a great collections of DBs! Some interesting colors too. Was there more than black originally available on the pre-mid-twenties cars?

Mike

Most of the Dodges sold in Australia were assembled from knocked down kits and fitted with Australian coach built bodies. This was to avoid the high tariff placed on imported bodies. For this reason the choice of colour was up to the individual body builder or State-based importer/assembler. That being said, there was only a limited range of colours available in the coach paints of the time. Most favoured were greys and dark blues. There was also variation in colour of running gear. For instance, the guards (fenders) and valances on cars assembled by Standardised Motors in New South Wales using Holden's bodies (made in South Australia) were painted body colour. Those assembled by Canada Cycle in Victoria, again mainly using Holden's bodies, utilised black running gear - most probably the baked black enamel supplied by the Dodge Bros factory.

I think that the variation seen in these photos is a reflection of the current owners' individual taste.

Tony

Hallo Ken_ Hallo Dodge Freunde im fernen Australien. Danke für die wunderschönen Bilder von der National Rally Ich bin begeistert von all den schönen Autos. Herzliche grüsse aus Germany

To reduce the guess work, here is what Google Translate says: "Hello Hello Ken_ Dodge friends in faraway Australia. Thank you for the wonderful pictures of the National Rally I'm impressed by all the beautiful cars. Cordial greetings from Germany"

I guess I should have taken German in high school instead of Spanish...

Thanks for the translation ... I hope my reply is right

Danke und ich bin froh, dass du die fotos gefallen

Mike

Most of the Dodges sold in Australia were assembled from knocked down kits and fitted with Australian coach built bodies. This was to avoid the high tariff placed on imported bodies. For this reason the choice of colour was up to the individual body builder or State-based importer/assembler. That being said, there was only a limited range of colours available in the coach paints of the time. Most favoured were greys and dark blues. There was also variation in colour of running gear. For instance, the guards (fenders) and valances on cars assembled by Standardised Motors in New South Wales using Holden's bodies (made in South Australia) were painted body colour. Those assembled by Canada Cycle in Victoria, again mainly using Holden's bodies, utilised black running gear - most probably the baked black enamel supplied by the Dodge Bros factory.

I think that the variation seen in these photos is a reflection of the current owners' individual taste.

Tony

Mike and Tony.

I was told by the son in law of my DC8 roadster's original owner that the colours could be chosen by the buyer. The purchaser and the dealer agreed on a colour before the car was assembled by the Australian body builder.

This was in 1930 when production was minimal and sales were slowing up. This applied to T J Richard bodied cars at least. It may have only applied to the less produced variants with minimal production. More popular variants like the 6 cylinder sedans and tourers may have been available off the floor.

Jim

One interesting thing I found out was that with the 34's a lot of the left hand drive ones had pin striping around the body, fenders and so on but quite a few of the Aussie built bodies actually had the swage line painted. Not sure if this was something to do with country preferences, or to differentiate between local and export cars ?

Anywho, just thought I'd share that.

Ian

Thank Tony & Jim, I was thinking that with the locally sourced bodies that there might be a bit more flexibility in paint colors. I love that shot with the multi-hued touring cars lined up together.

Rear view group shot from assembly point ... Photo from the Dodge Brothers Club Australia web site ... http://www.dodgebrosclub-australasia.asn.au/ ... also opens photo gallery of members cars

I recieved a poster today with all the cars that participated in the rally ... around a group shot framed by a radiator shell

Edited December 16, 2014 by Ken_Lincoln (see edit history)

Great commerative poster Ken, it's nice seeing such a large collection in one place.

Good idea for the poster. Do either of you know the owner of the black wood bodied coupe with suicide doors and wire wheels? If you do, could you have him contact me? thanks doug

Are the posters still for sale.

Manuel

Manuel ... I do not know if they are for sale.. The Dodge Brothers Club of Australia sent it to all those who attended the rally ... I will try to find out for you ... Ken

Thanks Ken

I have spoken to the lady who sent the poster to me, she has sent a jpeg of the poster that she believes is suitable to reproduce as a poster from places like Officeworks etc.. anyone who wants one can pm me with your email address, and I will forward one to you.. Edited December 18, 2014 by Ken_Lincoln (see edit history)

nearchoclatetown : .... I do not know the gentleman who owns the black coupe .. I saw by your earlier post that you know of 3 other wooden body coupe`s .... I have an email address for him, but as I do not know him personally, could you send a pm to me with a message and email address and I will forward it to him and leave it up to him to make contact...

Ken