Fargo Utility Truck

[Guest redfern park]

G'Day everyone on AACofA.

 

I have a Fargo coupe utility serial number 8824646, Model FE1-16, engine number T38-32131 with the coupe style body fitted by TJ Richards of Sydney.

My father bought the vehicle in 1946 and I have the registration papers from the 1950's for it and one (unfortunately not the two) original licence plate.It was taken out of service in 1962 and languished in the open until 1990 causing considerable but not terminal damage. 

 

The vehicle is complete apart from the door window glass, one headlamp lens and the stone tray below the tailgate. It has the vacuum windscreen  motor and a 6 volt electric motor fitted next to it.

Apart from that and a rear window protector grille it is original including the crank handle/wheelbrace and an oil gun to top up the differential.

 

Sadly I only have a few  photos to upload . Although it is in rusty condition most panels are intact but with surface pitting although there is rust right through the lower section

of the dash

 

.

 

 

The engine starts and runs with petrol poured into the carby  oil pressure comes up and the generator charges .

 

My query as a newbie is this.

 

I have been told all of my life that this is a 1936 model, however the model number points to a 1937. It has the globe radiator ornament. The outside door handles are said to be 1937 but I have seen the same handles on a 1936 model that came as a truck style cab not a coupe style. It has the 218 cu inch motor coupled to a three speed box.

 

Here are two crayon drawings by an artist of the utility in a hay shed. 

 

 

 

 

Someone may know if TJ Richards produced some FE1-16 vehicles in 1936 or is it that my vehicle must be a 1937 model.

 

The handbook and warranty is from the Chrysler Corporation Export division Detroit Michigan, printer ref 'DX-5542".

 

The warranty is very useful being for 90 days or 4,000 miles whichever occurs first but the vehicle has to be returned to the manufacturer "with all transportation charges pre-paid". 

 

Any help in clarifying the actual date of manufacture would be appreciated as would advice on where to obtain a replacement headlamp lens.

 

 

Kevin

 

in Western Australia

 

 

[Rusty_OToole]

In those days export orders for Commonwealth countries were usually sourced from the Canadian factory as they were duty free. There may be some indication that your vehicle's chassis was made in Canada if there is an ID plate or possibly the engine serial number. Fargo trucks were sold only in Canada and world markets, not in the US.

 

They changed styles every year in those days and the Fargo was a badge engineered Dodge. If you can find pictures of 1936 and 37 American Dodge light trucks it should be clear which you have.

 

I say that because it is quite possible that your chassis was made in 1936 and shipped either complete or in knocked down form, assembled and body fitted by TJ Richards, and by the time it was completed and sold the calendar had rolled around to 1937. This would explain how a vehicle that was at least partly built in 1936 could be registered as a 1937 model.

 

Later.... I looked up pictures of 1936 and 37 Dodge and Fargo trucks and they appear practically identical. There should be some difference but I can't see it.

Edited April 4, 2017 by Rusty_OToole (see edit history)

[hchris]

As with all things from T J Richards of this period, you will find that there are many subtle differences between US and Aus. production; your vehicle is not uncommon down here, do a search on some of the Aus. related websites.

 

Sadly there are very few records of TJ`s production numbers, but if you do a search on Richards, there are a number of good books on their auto manufacturing history with associated photos.