Chrycoman

Model FE-1 is a 1937 Fargo Truck, half ton, 116" wheelbase. Engineering code is T-39. Serial numbers for export Fargo Truck FE-1, built in Detroit, started at 8824001 and ended 8824950. Total of 950 built. 8824139 - 139th 1937 FE-1 built in Detroit. The numbers on the lower tag are for the body. Bill Toronto, ON

No, Chrysler Canada did not open their engine plant until late 1937. Thus 1938 and up Canadian-built vehicles used the 25" block. 1933 to 1937 Canadian-built Plymouths used American-built 23" block Plymouth engines. Bill Toronto, ON

If the plate shows it to be a Dodge Brothers vehicle, then it is a Dodge Brothers vehicle. Many seem to be of opnion that all cars were sold as Dodge Brothers and all trucks as Graham Brothers. All cars were sold as Dodge Brothers, but the 1/2-ton models were sold as Dodge Brothers Commercial Cars. Heavier vehicles were marketed as Graham Brothers. If your truck was built in October, 1927, then it is a 1928 model as DB/GB began model years in July. Model years and calendar years are not the same, and model years, which are determined by the manufacturers, are just about as old as the auto industry. Bill Toronto, ON

Nitrocellulose lacquer first appeared on the 1924 Oakland - Oakland Blue. The problem with the coloured varnishes, as stated by others, was the need for multilayers and the length of time from the application of the first layer to the completed body. Willys-Overland, in an article to its dealers in the early 1920's, stated it took about two weeks to complete the body. The Willys body plant was a multi-storey affair that began body assembly on one floor, and the body worked its way down the line, and down the floors, to completion at the other end of the building. Japan Black enamel took about an hour to dry using heat. Which is why Ford switched to Japan Black and was able to eliminate a major jamb in the production of cars. And Ford could increase body production without expanding their body plants. The problem with lead, and mercury, is that the accumulation of lead and mercury in the body can damage cell membranes and affect the body's production of various chemicals. And lead can result in damage or death to many cells, such as brain cells. Lead does not lead to two heads or three legs, etc., rather the end result is lead poisoning - and death. Bill Toronto, ON

Lacquer paints were introduced in 1924. Japan Black enamel was common back then. Ford used it for the Model T. Before 1924, if you wanted a colour other than black you used coloured varnishes.

They have some of their information mixed up. Chrysler Corporation did make it to #2 in US sales, but GM was #1, not Ford. Chrysler actually had sixteen cars built by LeBaron for 1936, with eight being Airstream DeLuxe 8 town cars on the 133-inch long wheelbase chassis. The LWB AD8 also had 619 7-passenger touring sedans, 350 Traveler 5-passenger touring sedans, 67 7-passenger limousines built as well as a number of cowl-chassis units. The LeBaron town cars used the 7-passenger model as a basis and sold for $4,995. This particular car does not appear to be one of those eight, though. The eight used the rear end and trunk of the production model while the museum's car has the rear treatment of cars in the early 1930's. With the unique rear treatment, this one is a true one-off. They should get the build record from Chrysler Historical. The other eight were Custom Imperial Airflow model CW*. Actually ten were built, but the last two were sold as 1937 models with the grille updated. One of the 1937 models was built for Major Bowes while the other was for the President of Indonesia. The 1934 model CW and the 1935-36 model CW* sedan and town sedan models sold for $5,000 while the limousine versions went for $5145. There were no published prices for the 1937 models as they were custom built.

Unfortunately, I have no information on Canadian trim before 1949. Pre-war Canadian parts books carried information on US trim, but advised dealers working on Canadian-built cars to submit what they were looking for along with the car's serial number. The staff at the Chryco parts warehouse in Chatham would look up the build record and send the correct material. Same for requests for painted parts. For all other orders, east of Port Arthur (Thunder Bay) went to Chatham and all others (west) went to Regina. The firewall tag on your car was used from at least 1935 through to the end of the 1965 model year. The model number probably looks like D2 2-dr Coupe. The next line, Body No., means your car was the xxxth D2 2-dr Coupe built at Windsor. By the way, the D2 was sold in Canada as the Custom Six. Your D2 will have an American-built 23" block flathead six with the engine number starting with D2. I am always looking for paint chips. Should I run across the 1936 chips, or someone who does, will pass it along to you. Bill Toronto, ON

From 1937 through 1940 Chrysler of Canada had each colour with up to five numbers. I suspect Plymouth, Plymouth-based Dodge, US-style Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler each had their own code. Not sure why 1936 had so many codes although special combinations, such as black fenders, would have a unique code. That is the complete list of colours offered in 1936. No American colours were available on Canadian-built cars. The first digit identified the colour - 1 - Black 3 - Green 4 - Grey 5 - Blue 7 - Red, Maroon 9 - Gunmetal The colour numbers would change in 1937, with some colours using numbers over 1000. Chrysler did not use the same code more than one year back then. In 1941 Chrysler of Canada began using one code for each colour - 1062 - Black (246-8708) 1579 - Regimental Blue (246-37342) 1580 - Aviator Blue Metallic (202-32535) 1618 - Garland Green (246-8972) 1619 - Amphibian Green (246-8973) 1621 - Harbour Green Metallic (202-32503 - 1939 Chevrolet) 1883 - Regal Red (Maroon) Metallic (202-33039 - 1940 Buick) 1905 - Speedwing Grey (246-8974) 1906 - Skyline Grey Metallic (202-8975) 1907 - Gunmetal Grey Metallic (202-53628 - 1940 Oldsmobile) 1620 and 1621 are two tones. Note that the second number identifies the colour's shade. 1946-1954 passenger car numbers started with 4 and 1955 with 6. For 1956 the numbers started at 10 and continued up for 1957. With 1958 Chrysler of Canada adopted the letter codes and 1965 would be the last year Canadian codes and colours differed from the U.S. By the way, Chrysler of Canada used lacquer paints prior to World War II and adopted enamels for 1946. In the U.S. Plymouth began the switch to enamel paint in 1935 (Detroit) with the LA plant switching in 1940. The other car lines switched in 1939. Bill Toronto, ON

Chrysler Corporation of Canada colours for 1936 : Black (145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153) - 31137; 246-8708 Hunter's Green (379,380,381,382,384,385,393,395,398) - P-1188 Polo Green (386,387,388,389,390,391,394,396,397) - P-1195 Palm Beach Grey No. 2 (461,462,463,464,465,466,472,473,474) - P-1189 Blue (540,541,542,543,546,547,561,562,568) - P-1193; 246-8629 Aquamarine Blue (548,549,550,551,552,553,557,559,560) - P-1194 Regal Maroon (776,777,778,779,781,782,789,790,791) - P-1192; 246-8633 Gunmetal (914,915,916,917,918,919,922,923,924) - P-1187; 246-8098 Commercial colours were black and - 20th Century Red (783,785) - P-1190 Fire Red (786,787) - P-1191 The numbers in parentheses are the paint code numbers, the number stamped on the body tag on the firewall. The list was taken from a Sherwin -Williams list, which is where the "P" numbers came from. I do not have chips, though. The "246" numbers are CIL (DuPont) colour numbers. These colours were also used in 1937 and I have both Sherwin-Williams and CIL lists for 1937. Thus I was able to do some cross referencing. I suspect that all but black are unique Canadian colours. The "8000" CIL numbers were Canadian shades. In 1937 only one colour was American in origin - Tartan Green 246-50873. Have not been able to track down an American make that used it, yet. Bill Toronto, ON

Graham Brother Trucks was a subsidiary of Dodge Brothers and when Chrysler purchased Dodge Brothers, they got Graham Brothers with it. Dodge Brothers car production was moved from Toronto to Windsor in 1929 with the opening of the new Windsor assembly plant. Truck production was moved to the old Maxwell plant on Tecumseh Avenue in 1931. The "official" history of Chrysler of Canada makes that statement. The Toronto plant, on Dufferin Street, was used as a parts facility by Chrysler of Canada for a few years. I believe it was a leased plant and was torn down in the early 1970's. American-built Dodge trucks also used plates with "Built by Graham Brothers" to about 1935 or 1936. Part of the agreement signed by the three Graham brothers when they left Dodge Brothers was that they would not market a truck for a period of time (ten years?). That agreement came with with the DB purchase. As long as Chrysler used the Graham Brothers truck name they could hold the brothers to that agreement. In 1931 Graham-Paige entered the truck market, but the brothers used the Paige name and not Graham due to the agreement of 1926. Canadian Dodge Brothers / Graham Brothers car and truck production started at the Toronto plant in 1924, although they used US serial and engine numbers. It was not until after the Chrysler purchase that Canadian-built Dodge cars (Dodge DA) and trucks (F/UF series) used unique Canadian serial numbers. Unique Canadian engine numbers did not begin until the opening of the Canadian engine plant for 1938. Fargo Trucks were built in Canada for the 1929 and 1930 model years, although in Windsor and not Toronto. Detroit production continued to late 1930 (1931 models) and Chrysler began building Fargo trucks in Detroit for export in 1933. The Canadian line of Fargo trucks began for the 1936 model year. The last Fargo truck built for Canada was in 1972, although export Fargo models continued to 1987. Bill Toronto, ON

In 1949-1950 the Suburban was available only with the DeLuxe (base) trim while in 1951-1952 the Suburban continued to use the base (now Cambridge) trim while a fancier model, the Savoy, used trim similar to the high line Cranbrook. This one has trim around the windshield which would make it the upscale Savoy model. No idea how many Savoy models were built in the U.S., but in Canada production was very low at 709, compared to 1,436 Suburban models. Bill Toronto, ON