Follow the restoration of a historic 1940s Dodge racing car transporter, ex-WW2 and later used by Dennis Poore - at Old Classic Car Forum
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Follow the restoration of a historic 1940s Dodge racing car transporter, ex-WW2 and later used by Dennis Poore
Oldclassiccar - visit the classic cars homepage (C) R. Jones 2009
 

Restoring a 1940 Dodge VK racing car transporter.

Historic Dodge racing car transporter truck
Vital Statistics
Dodge VK62B 3 ton 4x2
Chrysler Corp., Dodge Division, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Engine size: 331cu in (5.4l)
91bhp (100 gross) at 2800rpm
Compression 5.2:1
5 speed gearbox
Semi-elliptic leaf springs
Hydraulic brakes, servo
10 stud Budd wheels
Auto-Lite electrics, 6v
42mph maximum (governed)
Turning circle 68ft
This corner of oldclassiccar is going to document the rebuild of an old racing car transporter, a historic vehicle that began life at the Dodge plant in Detroit, USA, back in 1940. It was shipped over to Europe late in 1940, and spent its early years being used to carry bomber crews around a wartime base, 'somewhere in England', until being sold off to civvy street where it was purchased and began a new life hauling Dennis Poore's pre-war Alfa Romeo to sprints and hillclimbs.

In 1955, Poore's racing career ended, and the vintage transporter, along with the car it once carried and the trailer it once towed, were stashed away, not to see light of day again for several decades. The car went on to be completely stripped and rebuilt, but the Dodge did not. The photograph above, showing the Dodge with the Alfa, is a re-coloured version of a black and white picture, dating to the early 1950s.
The Dodge & trailer, 50 years on
Dodge VK
The trailer that the Dodge once towed
Dennis Poore in the Alfa

Plan for resurrecting this racing car transporter

In 2007 I decided to enlist the services of a restoration firm in Cheshire, the idea being to get the restoration moving along at a quicker pace than hitherto had been the case.

I don't really have the room at home to pull the old truck apart, and not much free time either, so the plan was hatched to get a local company on board, to do a sympathetic restoration of the old girl. It was moved on a low-loader to the workshop in April 2007, for work to begin.

As mentioned, the car went on to a new life in the USA, where it was stripped completely, refurbished, repainted, and put back on the track, to a specification similar to that it had when new in the mid 1930s. My plan with the Dodge is to re-use as much as is practicable of the original vehicle, to try and keep it as original as possible, and also (handily) keep the costs in check, without compromising the finished article in any way. If you have any information on these LHD US-built 3 ton Dodges (as opposed to the RHD Canadian D60 3 ton model), please get in touch, as I'm short of some spare parts.

This area of the website will tell the Dodge's earlier history, that of the team and the driver who owned it, the various racing cars it once carried, and follow the rebuild as it takes place, some 52+ years since it last drove on the road. If you can help with my search for items (pictures, parts etc) relating to this Dodge, the Alfa 8C-35, or Dennis Poore, please drop me a line.

Dodge heading pic

Dodge Information

Shortly to be added, history on the VK range of lorries, and the story of how this particular truck made it into the 21st Century...

History of this Dodge truck 1940-2007
Researching the Dodge's history, 1995-to date
Team sponsor logos & signwriting
New photos unearthed showing the Dodge in 1994
Links to other older transporters
Alfa Romeo heading pic

Alfa Romeo Information

More information on the cars that the Dodge once carried, primarily of course the Dennis Poore Alfa 8C-35, of which more below...

The Dennis Poore Alfa Romeo 8C-35

Restoration Diary 2007/2008.
The plan is to serialise the rebuild of this old lorry, as it happens. New instalments will be added below as and when:
1) things progress 2) I have a spare hour or two to get the photos sorted out. Some tasks will take place in parallel with each other, so some overlap as the 'bus rebuild takes place may occur! Early on, things moved very quickly, with the old truck soon dismantled and in a position where components could be restored, a piece at a time. Initially we'd thought that perhaps 12 months would see the project completed, but it will probably take twice that at least.

April 2007 Read more Transporting the Dodge to the workshops
May Read more Lifting the engine and gearbox from the lorry
  Read more Dismantling the rear bodywork, and removing both axles
  Read more Assessing the condition of the Dodge's bodywork after being removed
June Read more Stripping the Chrysler 6 cylinder engine to assess work required
  Read more Repairing the cracked cast iron cylinder head using metal stitching
  Read more Sanding down and de-greasing the Dodge chassis
July Read more Dismantling and cleaning the front and rear axles
  Read more Stripping the paint from the truck's cab areas
August Read more Re-furbishing the rear coach body frame begins
  Read more Fixing the cracks found in the iron engine block
September Read more Trial fitting the front end panels and other bodywork issues
  Read more Mention of other work done this month
October/November Read more Further bodywork, first coat of primer to cab, and chassis painted black
December Read more Front and rear axles re-fitted to the chassis, plus further body prep and primer
Jan/Feb 2008 Read more Newly made ash frame sections arrive, brakes are re-fitted, the clutch plate and transmission brake are re-lined.
March Read more HMG Paints Ltd help out with the analysis of the Dodge's original paint colour & type.
June Read more Hubs and wheels are re-fitted, then everything is moved to CRR's new workshop.
July Read more R & E Arnett Ltd work on the engine, crank re-grind, & re-metalling the bearings etc.
August Read more Work commences on fitting the new ash frame sections to the coachwork.
Sep/Oct Read more Throughout September and October, work on the rear re-panelling commences.
Nov/Dec Read more November & December see the roof being installed, along with various trim pieces.
Jan 2009 Read more January sees further engine re-assembly, and assessment of the doors.
Feb/Mar 2009 Read more Fuel tanks are restored, engine & box are re-united, and rear door work continues.
Apr/May 2009 Read more The engine, gearbox and some ancillaries are re-fitted, Dunlop tyres are sourced, and paint begins to be applied to the restored coachwork.
June 2009 Read more The dashboard and gauges are re-furbished, as are various other ancillaries and external lamps, prior to fitment.
July 2009 Read more The wheels are repainted and tyres fitted, fresh oil and batteries are sourced, and other parts restored as necessary.
Aug/Sept 2009 Read more Reclaimed Keruing timber is sourced and machined, prior to fitment in the back, and the window frames are installed.
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(This section replaces content originally found on these two other pages on oldclassiccar - 1 2.) Klassische Renntransporter