Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rusty

A mate called me up on Sunday to go and have a look at a ute he is thinking about getting, what I think is an immediatly post war Dodge , T.J. Richards of Adelaide body, Ausy ute style commercial (coupe ute) not the US style pickup. The Richards ID plate on the body would indicate Ozy manufacture so we are just wondering if anyone knows how many were made circa 1946/47 and how many may have survived.
This one is complete but has been sitting in the same place since the 50s, the pannels are excelent with no real rust or dents but all the timber in the ute floor has gone. All in all a real good project.
Unfortunatly we forgot to take a camera, but I am pretty shure he is going to buy it so I will post some pics when we go to pick it up.

See ya,
Graham

Manuel · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Send those pics mate. Love to see it.

Manuel in Oz

Rusty · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 7:23 am Post subject:

Manuel,
I nearly fell off my chair when I got a reply, its been so long.

Roger did get it and I took my camera but only got 2 photos on that trip before the battery went dead ! Digital cameras, I love em, but sometimes I could jump on it.

Here is the 2 picys I took of it on the trailer just after we loaded it.

The older chap in the middle with the white cotton hat is the original owner and the other one in the middle is Roger, the new owner. The other 2 blokes are Rogers brother and his nephew.

Manuel · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Thats a good looking ute u have there. They were an Oz only model.
Does it have the Kew engine?
Cheers
Manuel in Oz

Rusty · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:44 am Post subject: Re: Beaut ute

Manuel · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Hi Graham,
The yanks don't know anything about Kews.
Check the engine no.
Have a look at the electrics, eg, gen, starter motor, dizzy etc as some were made by Lucas.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22915 Location: UK

If it has a sidevalve six, it will be an American engine .. a unit that also saw service post-war in some of the UK-built Dodge Kew lorries.

Great to see the ute photos, I tried to buy one of those a couple of years back but came to nothing Confused

R
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Rusty · Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject:

Back many years ago the speedway racing types out here used to use what they called "Q" Dodge engines in the super modified class (sort of primitive sprintcars) You would hear them saying the "Q" model was the right engine but the "P" model wasn't as good. This always seemed strange to me as I thought the "Q" was actualy "Kew" and that they must have built Dodge engines in the UK for fitting into Kew made comercials, but seeing your post Rick did they import those engines in your "lorries" from the US or did they build them in the UK ? As far as I am aware what is known out here as the "Q" / "Kew" Dodge engines were all sidevalve 6s.

I will try and get a couple of different photos of the ute and post them in the next week or so, Roger hasn't started on it yet so it hasn't changed , but at least now its stored in a shed.

Manuel · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

The engine no should tell u whats in it.
I thought Kew was the name of the town the factory was located.

Manuel in Oz