Segment Two: 1929 to 1932 Early Chrysler Pickups
Author: Don Bunn
This
segment of Dodge truck history consists of that short period of time
between when Mr. Chysler purchased the Dodge Brothers Company and
when Chrysler released an all-new series of trucks designed and engineered
by Chrysler employees.
Chrysler Corporation
began production of Fargo trucks in August 1928 and ceased production
in November 1930. A 1929 Fargo half-ton Packet Panel is shown. It
was powered by a four cylinder engine and featured 4-wheel hydraulic
brakes. It sold for $845 in its prime. Photo:
DaimlerChrysler
The half-ton
Merchants Express Panel was new in 1928, a 1929 model is shown.
Its wheelbase was 109-inches. It was powered by the 175.4 cubic
inch four cylinder Plymouth engine mated to a 3-speed transmission.
Its load space was six feet long through two full-length rear doors.
Wood spoke wheels were standard equipment. Photo: DaimlerChrysler
Mr.
Chrysler founded his company in 1925; in 1928 he purchased Dodge Brothers
and introduced three new nameplates -- Plymouth, DeSoto, and Fargo
trucks. The three new nameplates were started from scratch. The plan
was for Plymouth to compete against Ford and Chevrolet; DeSoto would
have been positioned between Plymouth and Chrysler but with the addition
of Dodge, DeSoto was slotted between Dodge and Chrysler. Fargo trucks
were designed and engineered to be the corporation's truck line. These
trucks had no relationship to Dodge trucks. They shared engines and
other mechanical and sheet metal parts with DeSoto and Plymouth. Fargos
were exceptionally good looking trucks. Chrysler dropped the Fargo
line after the 1929 model year. The name continued for many years
as a badge engineered Dodge truck sold in Canada and for export.
It
was the Dodge Brothers' practice to begin their new model year on
July 1. Mr. Chrysler closed on his purchase of Dodge in early July
1928. Consequently the 1929 model Dodge trucks were designed and engineered
by the "old" Dodge Company. Interestingly the first ever
half-ton Dodge pickup was the 1929 model, the "Merchants Express".
It was a companion model to the half-ton Merchants Express panel which
was new in 1928. Both trucks were, for their time, exceptionally fast
and handsomely styled. At the beginning of the 1929 model year the
entire Dodge car and truck lines were powered by six cylinder engines.
The largest 1929 Dodge truck was a big, powerful three-ton which featured
a 241 cubic inch, 78 horsepower six cylinder with a heavy duty 4-speed
transmission and 4-wheel hydraulic brakes.
The first Dodge
half-ton pickup was the 1929 Merchants Express pickup (shown). Its
short five foot wooden cargo box was covered with steel. Its drivetrain
was the same as the Merchants Express panel. Photo: DaimlerChrysler
Late
in the 1929 model year the 45 horsepower 175.4 cubic inch four cylinder
engine became the standard engine for half and 3/4 ton trucks. The
four cylinder engine was from Plymouth and before that from Maxwell.
Maxwell was the predecessor company to the Chrysler Corporation. The
208 cubic inch, 63 horsepower Dodge six was standard for one-ton trucks
and the 241 cubic inch engine was standard for 1 1/2, two, and three-ton
trucks. In 1929 Dodge built 1/2, 3/4, one, 1 1/2, two, and three-ton
pickups in 6,7,9,10, and 12 foot body lengths. The larger models had
the dual rear wheel option.
Dodge powered
a 1 1/2-ton series in 1932 with the 196 cubic inch 4-cylinder engine.
The pickup shown has a 131-inch wheelbase with a 99 1/4 inch long
cargo box. A 212 cubic-inch 6-cylinder powered engine was an option.
The four sold for $695 and the six sold for $765. Photo: Don
Bunn
This 1932 Dodge
half-ton pickup was the last model of this type of truck. Actually
this style was sold early in model year 1933 before the new trucks
began rolling of the assembly lines. It was powered by the 196 cubic
inch L-head engine mated to a 3-speed transmission. Its cargo box
was only 5-feet in length. Photo: Don Bunn
During
the 1921 model year Dodge entered into an agreement with the Graham
Brothers Company whereby Graham would manufacture trucks of one-ton
capacity and larger to be sold exclusively through Dodge dealers.
These trucks were built in Graham plants using engines, transmissions,
frames, front axles, and front end sheet metal built by Dodge and
cabs and bodies built in Graham plants. This relationship worked so
well that Graham Brothers became a division of Dodge Brothers on October
6, 1924. In November 1925 Dodge Brothers bought a 51 percent majority
position in Graham Brothers. Late in 1926 the name plates of all trucks
changed from Dodge Brothers Graham Brothers (no change was made in
the product). As soon as possible after purchasing Dodge Brothers,
Mr. Chrysler changed the name plates on all trucks back to Dodge Brothers
-- early in January 1929.
