1922 Dodge Model 30

Description

RHD; much loved example on the button; powerful tourer; ideal VSCC event car: over 100 years old and still going strong!

The Dodge 30 was Dodge Brothers first production car, although their engineering firm had been providing parts for the general motor industry since the turn of the last Century.

Their engineering was exemplary and the big Dodge won many friends, for it was very well designed, tough and powerful. Produced from 1915 until 1923, the Model 30 was followed by the modestly updated Dodge 4.

This 1922 example was exported new from Detroit to Australia in chassis form as a RHD car. It would have had local bodywork fitted in Oz to reduce import taxes and add local content - possibly by Holden of Melbourne who were general coachbuilders before they were acquired by General Motors and started production of their own.

Records on file suggest a 25th July 1922 build-date - one of 500 such vehicles produced on the same day! It now carries a boat-tail body, although we suspect that it may have had a 'ute' conversion at some point like so many cars of the period Down Under. This has been well executed and it comes with a Surrey-type hood for the occupants of the front seats.

A letter from the Dodge Brothers Club suggests that the 212cu in (3,475cc) four-cylinder engine is original to the car and that it is a July 1922 production.

It has been MOT'd as recently as 2017 and has a VSCC Buff Form on file which although not transferable, lists the car as Standard and no modifications have been made since.

The vendor has undertaken some minor recommissioning recently, including freeing of the gear selectors and it is now starting, running and driving a treat.

These are powerful, rugged and easy to drive cars which should hold no concerns for those new to Vintage motoring. They are extremely reliable too, so long journeys should hold no fear, as long as the journey is as important as the destination....

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