 Photo's 2 & 5 are very small, but all I have of the car in the 70's, 1 is arriving home in April 2013, rest having fun on rallies in 2014. Nick Hunt from Kalangadoo (Australia):"I am a farmer in South Australia, and about 5 years ago, decided that I had reached a stage of life (mid-life crisis?) where a little extravagance was warranted so after much deliberation, purchased a 1929 DeSoto tourer. This proved most rewarding, making a new circle of friends and enjoying being noticed in a beautiful car. However the tidy and shiny tourer left something missing for the farmer image, the old buckboard with the dog on the back! The morning internet search was rewarded in April 2013 when an original and mostly complete 1925 Dodge buckboard was advertised. While around 500 kms from home, with the suggestion of a shopping trip combined, my good wife was happy to join me the next day with a car trailer in tow! The Dodge had been under a tarp' for the last few decades, a restoration project that stopped when the owner's health declined. While his son intended to complete Dad's project after he passed on, after 25 years he realised this wasn't going to happen. Thankfully restoration had stopped at a body off chassis strip and paint, with the body still original, as I wanted! I am fortunate to have a retired mechanic mate living close by, who enjoyed helping pull the old motor apart, which, although hadn't been started for 35 years, and was last registered 50 years ago, it was still in good condition. With help from local and American friends and parts suppliers, we were able to get it going over the next 10 months. When my mechanic was tied up with other things, I got to work on the tray, building a new one from some re-cycled baltic pine that I had in the shed. I was keen to keep the original leather seats, but they were tearing a little more each time I jumped in, so after much consideration, the ideal look was found, - old hessian potato bags! While it did come with the original roof bows, I found it extremely difficult to get in and out with them attached, so again after scouring photos on the internet, I have found the ideal solution, - a convertable - made from an old rusty bullnozed verandah! Easily detached with 2 wing-nuts and 2 bolts, it is reasonably rain proof and great shade on a hot day, but most importantly, looks good! The only finishing touch I was missing was the red kelpie dog on the back.... this was fixed with "Jess", even if she is distracting some on-lookers away from the Dodge! Motivation to complete the project quickly was the Centenary of Dodge events taking place in 2014, the highlight in Australia being a Nationaly Rally around Forbes. While over 1000 kms from home, this proved a most worthwhile trip, it was on the trailer to get there but enjoyed doing around 650 kms in a week with 100 other 1914 to 1938 Dodges! Complete with a bale of hay, rusty milk can, sheep shears and rabbit traps, I have taken care to restore the car to a reliable and safe vehicle, but also one that still looks its age. It has been a most rewarding project, and must really frustrate other drivers of fully restored shiny models when this rusty feral parks next to them and gets all the attention! For the mechanically minded, Dodge Brothers started with a good motor that didnt change from 1914 until just after mine, in March 1926. They were all 4 cylinder, 12 volt positive earth, 212 cubic inch motors of 24 horsepower. My engine number is A452-441 and chassis A380-853, giving a build date of July 11th, 1925 (they were turning out 830/day at that time from the one Detroit factory!). ( edition 5000 competiton) |
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My 1925 Dodge named "Dudley"!
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