Vintage Vehicle Club
of Australia (1919-1930) Inc.
1929 DA Dodge Roadster
Detailed History of this Vehicle
My “OLDCAR”
The advertisement read, “Dodge
Roadster 1929 40% restored, mint condition, 36,000 original miles full
history with owner’s manual”. All
it took was a quick phone call, then off to Narrabri to assess the project.
Seven hours later and several hundred kilometres, we arrived at Narrabri
High School to meet the owner, then off to see the Dodge.
Disappointment
At first sight the roadster was not as we had “imagined”. The car was completely stripped, e.g. basket
case. The body shell was covered in surface rust, the chassis was supported
on timber blocks, and various body panels lay around covered in red dust.
Disappointed we were, after all Narrabri is a long way from Harbord. Nevertheless, closer inspection was warranted, as it was indeed a DA
roadster.
Insect repellent was called for to deter the swarm of
mud wasps that called the old Dodge
”home”. Upon closer inspection the car was not as bad as it first
looked; all the original timber was in very good condition and the only rust
to be found was the rear pan where the dicky seat drained and the rear panel
behind. All the hinges, latches and pedals were in good order and the
original rubber panels were still on the floorboards.
The owner explained that he and his father were going
to restore the car back in the 70’s and as time went by the project was
shelved. A price was negotiated on the condition that the Dodge was
complete, which it was, including the original delivery paperwork and
owner’s manuals. The only parts missing were the crank hole cover and a
few tools. Checking the engine, body and electrical system serial numbers
from those on the delivery records to those with the car confirmed the old
Dodge was indeed very original.
Thankfully all parts, down to the last nut and bolt
that had been removed were labelled and stored.
The
DA’s History
From the delivery records and contact with the 2nd owners daughter we have been able to trace the history of the car.
On the 12th of April 1930 the roadster was originally purchased by Dr H J Taylor from Nowra. The car was purchased through Hardin and Johnson Country Sales. One of the conditions of sale was that the car arrived no later than the 30th of April 1930
and the car was to be delivered to the Coolangatta Public School near Shoalhaven Heads. The car was ordered as a Dodge
Brothers Special Roadster, colour Thorn Grey with a salt and pepper hood; extras included dash clock, holland side blinds,
bumpers and bumperettes.
The Dodge was then sold to Erwin Johnson in 1932. He
and his brother operated a dairy property at Gerringong on the south coast
of New South Wales. On a
weekend away we stopped in at the Berry Historical Society Museum where we
inquired regards any clues or leads about the old Dodge’s history. When we
arrived home the following day, one half an hour later we received a phone
call from the Berry Historical Society with a number to ring as to
information regarding the car. One quick phone call to Gerringong and the
second owner’s daughter has provided us with much of the history of the
car and some pictures while it was owned by her father.
The Dodge roadster was one of the first cars in the
district when here father bought it second hand from the family of the late
Dr. Taylor in 1932. Her father built a special garage to park the Dodge,
which still stands today. The Dodge was replaced as the regular means of
transport in the late 1930’s by a Hudson sedan at her mother’s request.
“Mum didn’t like the car because it used to blow her hair around” so
the car was only used from time to time to drive into Berry while the Hudson
was used as regular transport.
The car was then sold to the third owner who carted
milk for the dairy in the early 60’s. He and his son drove the car to
various early vintage car meets. They kept the car on the original
registration up until the early 70’s. When the registration finally
expired the roadster was taken off the road to be restored. During this time
the car was stripped and finally ended up in a shed in Narrabri. We bought
the car in early 1999.
Restoration
Time
Restoration of the roadster was started in mid 1999.
The chassis was pressure washed, new fuel lines were run, brakes re-sleeved,
fuel tank cleaned and shock absorbers serviced. The body and panels were
then taken to Impact Glass Bead Blasting at Blacktown to be stripped prior
to panel beating and paint. We manufactured a simple trolley type jig to
move the body around on during the various stages from start to finish,
prior to fixing back onto the chassis. The rust in the rear section was
replaced with new metal as was the drain tray and timber section attached to
it. Hours were spent panel beating the body and guards back into shape this
work was carried out in the garage. Next,
new running boards were remanufactured and a die made to remake the lower
radiator surround section. The body was then assembled, the required
adjustments made, then disassembled ready for paint. When we say the
required adjustments made you can have no idea how many required adjustments
were required.
Those
Chroming Blues
I am sure some gypsy put a curse on the radiator surround; the surround
was stripped and repaired with the new lower section being replaced then
taken to a company who supposedly specialised in show quality chrome
plating. Well they then subcontracted the work out to another person who
proceeded to destroy a perfectly good radiator surround. It took months of
chasing around before we finally received the surround back, only to be
told, “Don’t worry, no charge”. The surround had the edges ground
through and we thought it was a write-off. This surround, with another, was
sent to Albury Platers who somehow managed to repair the damage.
Finally the surround was finished only to be damaged again in a workshop
accident which ruined the original taillight and radiator core. Back to
Albury Platers again.
The next hurdle was colour selection. We must have
looked at hundreds of cars. Should anybody be interested in tracing the
original colours and paint codes for their cars a web side is available http://autocolorlibrary.com.
Finally the colours were decided, and then off to the paint shop.
Into
the Home Straight
Meanwhile the original motor was checked for
compression and reused without overhauling, as was the clutch and gearbox.
But overheating problems were eventually traced to a warped block so the
motor was stripped and decked, then fitted with 6 new exhaust valves, timing
chain, pistons and rings. The main bearings and rods were checked and
reused. While the motor was out the gearbox and clutch were overhauled.
An
interesting point to note was the inside castings of the engine and gearbox
were painted green, maybe to stop rust prior to assembly?
The gearbox case was taken to a local paint manufacturer who colour
matched the paint in machinery enamel. The rear axle is yet to be
overhauled. Problems with the water pump led to replacement of the old
packing gland and bush arrangement with roller bearings and seals.
New tyres were purchased and fitted. The body was then
fitted back onto the chassis. Many tedious hours were spent reassembling the
body and numerous fittings. The next task was the trim. This work was
undertaken by Bruce Gibbs at Wyong. The original hood frame had two of the
three bows replaced; the seat frames were repaired and reused.
Finally the car was nearing completion. A new wiring
loom was made and installed, instruments and lights refitted.
The last task was to bleed and adjust the brakes, a
few test runs up and down the driveway and finally the roadster was reborn.
Time
to Enjoy
The roadster has been on full registration for just
over 3 years to date and we have only just finished fitting the luggage rack
and wind wings to complete the restoration. A few problems have presented
themselves along the way but these have been overcome. We now look forward
to some active vintage involvement in our old car.
Driving the car down to Gerringong to visit the second owner’s daughter and her family to show them the car has probably been the highlight of the restoration.
Thanks to all the old friends and new who assisted with the restoration.
This article has been written by the owner, and presented here with his permission.
