Fargo Panel Truck - Australia 53 to July 55 - New Member

Hi members, I have not made any posts yet, this is my first one now. I have read through quite a few posts since finding myself a Dodge Fargo Panel Truck, which I believe was built here in Australia.

Big thanks to all the members with posts about Dodge Panel Trucks, the info is great.

I'm hoping to find out more information if possible. Not sure if I should post the picture of the "serial number", as we are on the internet. But in any case, the Serial Number contains "108BF" in the number, and it has a GVW 5250 which makes it a 1953 to July 1955 Build going off the info from - http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/garage/garage.htm

Also has the original Registration Plate still on the Panel, so I'm hoping to find out more info if possible, but after contacting the NSW RTA / WRMS, I was told they only keep info for 10 years, so if anyone else knows what the rusty markings look like from the pictures, let me know what you think it could have been. I first thought Ambulance, but looking at 1950s Ambulance markings, the shape is different. I think it is also possible that it has had a few owners in that time too, so while it may have been a number of things, there is a splash of Red, some Blue and the last colour it was painted looks to be white (on the exterior only).

Going off what info the Seller gave me, it came from Albury / Wadonga area, had NSW Registration and possible it was a Bakery Delivery Van. Would also love to know from any Australian members what kind of trouble I might have if I want to Box some of the Ch***is, drop in an AMC 360 / Turbo 400 (from the donor car - 1979 Jeep Cherokee) and supercharge the motor down the track. Standard Diff any good? or are they weak?

I have a few pictures of the Panel Truck and hope to bring you updates and pictures as I rebuild it too. Great forum by the way, love all the interaction and info, Cheers

 

Howdy - I am not aware of panel trucks being made in Australia. Mine was made in Windsor Ontario Canada. Actually I have 7 of them of various years. I am happy to try and help.

Tim Kingsbury
fargopickupking@yahoo.com

 

Looks like the start of a great relationship. Post some pictures as you go Wickham, cool looking truck hitek.

 

Hi Tim, I'm not sure what year mine is now, some videos on youtube confuse me. It could be a 48, but the front clip might not be original, either way I've made some changes to my project and I've come back today to share updates. I can't remember where I read it, but I've read a few conflicting stories about the Australian Fargo Panels. One guy says they were built in Canada, then dis***embled and shipped in parts to Australia, then ***embled again in South Australia via the Chrysler Factory. Another story said they were built here from 48 to 53 and I thought I seen video of the factory but I might have been reading something else and just confused myself. Either way, the Australian model I have looks different from the USA / Canadian Panels. Hopefully someone comes across this thread and tells us what they know for sure and clears up all my confusion.

 

Hey thanks for stopping by.
Yeah I actually started the project about a month ago, got a video series happening on Youtube. I'll pop that in here under this reply.

 

A couple of thoughts.

Make sure you read and understand this:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/the-h-a-m-b-rules-guidelines.44274/

Also, as you are in NSW you will have engineering whoops to jump through for your build and rego. I would suggest you get in touch with and ASRF affiliated club and /or the state ASRF TAC and get a solid handle on what is required for the build/rego process. Homework now will pay off later. Every state has its own ways of doing things.

I say this because you ask about boxing the ch***is etc. so ***ume you are outside the rego/engineering loop in that regard.

 

**Hi Members, back for an Update**
So it's been a little over a year since I made this post, but a few things have changed since being here.
The Panel sat there for exactly one year with no changes, because of that thing called money. The only change? I needed cash, so I had to sell my donor car late last year. Fast forward almost exactly to the day.. a year after finding the Fargo, one day this guy comes in to say hi, you might have heard of him, Ken Mawby, Drag racer, world speed record holder on water with his jet boat etc. He has a buddy with him from QLD HotRod ***ociation and his buddy takes a look around the Fargo and tells me that he's seen worse come back to life from so much rust. I tell him I'm not in a rush to start the project, then maybe a couple days later, I needed to extract a broken bolt, so I visit a local HotRod guy "Webbys Speed Shop" in Newcastle, NSW.

Walking into his shop, I felt that bug snap inside me again, it's back just like that. I'm not really in any position to start spending money, but I do have the tools to atleast start doing something.. So check out my picks and talk soon.
Cheers

 

Hello X38, thanks for the update and the rego info, I was going to get to that in my post, but I'm not sure if I should continue after reading the HAMB rules again. I think I'll just post a couple of pics and leave it that. I'll edit what I need to to stay out of trouble and sit quietly in the corner, cheers.

 

As it sits now

 

The old Ch***is after lifting the body, not as easy as I thought it would be.

 

In the middle of stripping back paint

 

Lining up the body heights and lengths etc. This was just before I started applying the rust converting Gel and stripping paint with the Poly Wheel. Body is in quite a rusty condition, poor old girl needs a tonne of work to help restore her back to life.