I got a call a few weeks back about a 30/31 Model A roadster for sale. Obviously I jumped at this (don't find many over here) and started trying to make a deal. I was dealing with a third party as the owner had emigrated. A bit of back and forth and it seemed that we were going in circles. The guy kept mentioning the '39 Fargo that was for sale and eventually I asked for pics. Liking what I saw I made an offer for the pair, and this past weekend I hooked up a rented trailer and headed out on a 1000 mile round trip with a good buddy of mine. The puny little Hyundai pickup struggled a bit through some of the mountains and I was getting worried if we'd bitten off a bit too much.... Arriving in J-Bay (surfer guys will know!) we found the A already stripped, and loading went really easy. An hour or so later we had it turned around and headed back. The return trip took a little longer: 2nd gear, 40km/h on some of the steep hills. Still the rig surprised me and we had no issues. We did have a lot of time to discuss plans, and much as I'd love to build the roadster, reality struck: There is no way I would get it built any time in the next few years, so I struck a deal with my buddy. He is going to build it, Mercury flathead and as many period bits as we can lay our hands on. I know there's going to be days when I will want to kick myself, but maybe I get some karma points in finding the 30/31 Coupe that I really want And in the meantime the Fargo keeps growing on me - Thinking I can make it into a really cool family wagon / tow vehicle.......
And just to get your juices flowing, these were standing in the store where we collected from. The owner is trying to export these to Australia - not for sale....
You scored with that Fargo I have a '42 and people always ask what the heck it is Check out: 39-47Dodgetrucks at Yahoo groups. Very friendly and Knowledgeable. Good luck with it.
Thanks guys - Fortunateson I'll check out that group! I had never heard of one before much less seen one. I don't like the windows that were fitted later (assuming it was used as a hearse at some point). I may close up the sides again, though I'm more partial to doing roll down windows similar to the CarryAll in the pic below. They do look a bit off though and if I go that route I would rather enlarge them a little to fill the area inside the recessed panel a bit better. And of course match up with the door window to look factory. Going to sit with it a while though and let the ideas stew....
I guess it must have been Austinrod... I spent about half an hour going through the body yesterday - most solid vehicle of this age that I have ever seen - no rust whatsoever. A little mud here and there, but it doesn't appear to be covering any butchered metal. There are a few patches on the rear flange of both running boards that are a little hack, but that is it. So nice to find something in such great shape!
Thanks Autodave - when it is working it is pretty amazing (even though my surfing abilities are limited to muddling along on a longboard in messy 1-2' stuff down the road from me)
No movement on this yet - I'll probably only be able to get onto it next year. The decision is pretty much made to fit opening rear windows like a Dodge CarryAll. Not comtemplating any other body mods, and I'll be getting it a little lower. I am throwing around running gear ideas - as much as I'd like to keep the flathead 6, I am hoping to make this a daily, but also capable of towing occasionally so a healthy mix of power vs. fuel consumption ( blasphemy for a hot rodder I know) I did pick up a free complete '72 C10 rear end, internals seem in good shape, 3.73:1 ratio. Width is spot on so I may go with this if the gearing works with whatever engine/trans I end up with.
Love that panel. Why is he exporting to Oz if not for sale? A lot of good bodies went to SA and NZ as we produced or own 'different local' bodies, not the US versions.
The Jalopy Journal
