Richard Perry, RIP December 25, 2014

[22touring]

I searched to see if anyone mentioned Dick Perry's death last December, and it didn't appear that anyone did.

 

He knew more about the early DB cars than anyone else I ever met and his father, Carlton Perry, was there at the beginning. Here's Dick's obituary:

 

http://patch.com/new-york/peekskill/richard-perry-member-dodge-brothers-club

 

He wrote an article in the Dodge Bros. Club news one time entitled "What is a 'B' Engine? How About 'C' and 'D' Engines? What is a Series 126? Series 124? Series 128/129?" that was an absolute masterpiece. It contained more pertinent DB information than I have ever seen collected in such a short article. A whole bunch of changes were made to the 4-cylinder cars around that time, such as the 2-unit motor, the 5-bearing crankshaft, the single-plate clutch, the 4-point suspension engine mounts, the standard-shift transmission, relocation of the water pump, carburetor, distributor, manifolds and oil pump, the timing chain rather than the previous gears, four-wheel brakes and the Fast Four. Mr. Perry discusses these changes very skillfully in his article.

 

Here's just one thing from the article that I'll plagiarize: Until the Model 126, the factory never designated the early DB car as a "model". They did use "Type" to identify trim and upholstery differences (such as Type A sedans, Type B sedans, special and standard cars), and they did refer to the 4-cylinder cars by their various wheelbases in the factory parts book and in serial number lists; however, anybody who refers to his car as a "Model 30" (I see this often on Ebay.com**) or as a "B" or "C" series, is incorrect!

 

It would be really cool if the Dodge Bros. Club and Mr. Perry's estate would let us re-print that article.

 

**Later edit: like this one!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-Other-California-Touring-Sedan-/371453925963?hash=item567c611a4b&vxp=mtr

Edited October 7, 2015 by 22touring (see edit history)

[Guest KimPS]

I am executor of my father Richard Perry's estate.  Please feel free to share, quote, reprint anything my father or grandfather wrote.  They were amazingly full of information, and it should be shared with those who enjoyed the cars as much as they did.

[JB-ed]

YES, Dick Perry was one of a kind and is missed by us all. He invariably carried around a lawyer's sized briefcase stuffed with scraps of paper, notes, literature, tech sheets, and maybe even a sandwich. Anytime, anywhere, if you asked him a question about the DBs he'd open up that briefcase, search around a couple of seconds, pull out a scrap of paper and give you your answer in a good 20 minute lecture. A walking encyclopedia of knowledge. I only hope that someone has possession of all his hand-written notes and other such information and is preserving it. Perhaps someday they could share it with the Dodge Brothers people who are still trying to preserve all this history.

John Bittence

[Guest Brian Baldelli]

I personally knew knew Carlton & Mary Perry. Your grandfather who helped me restore my 1916 DB touring car. He was so passionate and a walking encyclopedia of knowledge!  Would help anyone!  I am so sorry to learn of your dad's passing.  Me and my wife were attendees at Mary & Carltons 50th wedding Anniversary in the early 80's 1984?   Love Sally and Brian Baldelli of North Carolina