Canadian Dodge, 3 ton 4x2

[Kevin Goodwin]

Hi all, things are slowly moving forward with the truck in preparation for collection, on one of the trips to the truck I removed the 2 data plates from the drivers side a post, the larger plate shows the serial number the same as the plate above the windscreen, the other small plate has the following numbers 4292-33326 does anyone know what these numbers relate to? This small plate is plain metal has no other details other than the numbers.
On the list of 'needs' are the 10.50x16 tyres I have had a look on the web for options, the only company I have found is 'Mittas' does anyone have any other suggestions ? There are agricultural implement tyres available but the speed rating is only 40kph (although the weight rating is approx 3.5ton per tyre)
Another thing I have been hunting online for is a picture of these trucks in service with the British, there seem to be plenty of Chevrolet's and Fords but no Dodges other than a few of the 'tipper' variant, has anyone else come across any other pictures?
Kevin

[Lang]

Kevin

Your truck comes from Contract Number 2677. Starting Serial 91063001 ending 91067000. The WD bonnet serial numbers are from L5405350 to L5407859. If you do a cross reference count you should get your original bonnet number for that truck (assuming they numbered them in order). The engine number you put up does not seem right - misread or replaced at some time?


Tony

This sheet indicates the 110 Dodges were shipped "Direct Overseas" for Mid-East and then Australian Forces. The manual has Contract SM 2458 on it because this was the first contract to those specifications. I bet the trucks coming 28 contracts later still had Contract SM 2458 on the cover of their manuals.

Mike

The Dodge vehicles on a W.D. Central Census to 23 November 1944 listing the Dodges delivered to that date all have WD numbers and WD Cat reference for each order eg

WD No From Z4613111 to WD No Z4613593 Cat Reference 8 Contract SM2029
Truck 8-CWT 4X4 Personnel (including shipped to Egypt) Model D8A

The 110 Dodges are shown in a total of 28 contracts including one annotated as AID-CHI 25 - I presume aid to China (Burma Road?)

All have WD number ranges and Cat references beside them EXCEPT for the Australian orders as attached. This coincides with my theory that they were direct Australian orders as they were not allocated a British WD number. You can see they were a mix of single and dual wheel (100 thereof).They of course would have been processed through the British ordering and shipping system alongside the British trucks but there seems to be pretty clear distinction they were not one group.

The very first 110 truck contract was SM2458 which was the Australian vehicles. The first British 110 were not until SM2666. Unfortunately the sheet does not show dates and they could well have been days apart.

Lang

[Lynn Eades]

Kevin, I don't know it all, but the 4 digit number on the plate identifies the body type or style and was important for ordering the right parts. I forget what the other number refers to.
As far as I know all Dodge trucks of the era had them

[Lang]

Her.e are all the Dodge 110 contracts and serial numbers.

[Mike K]

This is all interesting. The AWM have many thousands of pics of the AIF in the field in Palestine, Egypt, Libya and Syria and Lebanon and so on. During the earlier time period 1940-41 , seems the dominant vehicles in terms of the types seen the pics, are the Ford and Chev civilian pattern ( these were shipped over with the AIF from Australia) and then to a lesser degree British stuff like Morris which were , I think, on loan .

By 1942 , going by the pics, the vehicles in use with the Australians in the M.E theatre are more ecelectic with stuff like CMP's included . But I can't say I've seen many pics of those Dodge T110 trucks in the AWM pics, can't think of one actually .

Some cab 12 C60 Chev. did come back from the M.E .

[Lang]

Mike

There are pictures of rows of Dodge 110's in the vehicle park in Sydney on return 1943. Many still in desert colours. If you look up Ryde on Trove/AWM you will see them.

Lang

[Lang]

Here is a photo taken at Ryde.

Only a few Dodges in green, all the rest in desert colours. All have the roof hatch.

Lang

[Mike K]

The Ryde vehicle park would have been a sight to behold.

Maybe the cargo bodies on those T110L's pictured at Ryde give a clue to their origins ? Are they wooden GS bodies ? I can see the Aust. gallows type Bren AA mount just behind the pass. door. Is that a spare wheel cubby in front end of the GS body ?

One of these T110L turned up at Corowa around 1994 , a shed find , it had a quick paint job in a light blue livery. It was eventually sold to Peter Hebard. They are fair numbers of them surviving which would indicate that a fair number of them were imported .