1942 Dodge/Chrysler

[Jordan Baker]

Hi all

I'm looking for any info on the 1942 Dodge 4dr Sedan and it's use by the Canadian Army in WW2. If anyone has any pictures that would be great.

[servicepub (RIP)]

Jordan,

I have a number of photos that may include this model. Problem is that I wouldn't know one model from another if I tripped over them. Can you post a pic and I will see what I have that matches it?
Cheers,
Clive

[Jordan Baker]

Hi Clive.

This is the car here. I hope the link works http://ontario.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehi...dIdZ285590353#

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Jordan Baker

Hi all

I'm looking for any info on the 1942 Dodge 4dr Sedan and it's use by the Canadian Army in WW2. If anyone has any pictures that would be great.

Jordan..
If you bought that CHRYSLER and as original as it is you butcher it into '42 Dodge staff car//..you will be in my bad books for ever..!!
That old Chrysler is an Ideal off frame restoration project..all original...!!!
And it wouldn't be close anyway...
Get a '42 DODGE and do that..
The '42 Chrysler would be better off restored as a shiny black ,grey or blue senior officers (General and above) staff car with all the stars and markings and little generals or admirals flags
They did exist ...don't butcher it...
Alex

[Bill Kreiner]

Jordan:

If you're interested in sales data, I can email some scans to you. In addition to civilian and export sales, there is a separate listing for "war units" for 1942 in my Chrysler Canada sales document. 55 Dodge passenger-car "war units" (D20, D21, D22, and D23 models) were sold during 1942, and one in 1943. Though I'm sure a number of civilian units were impressed for military service as well. (Additional cars were exported -- presumably for military duty overseas -- during 1942-1943-1944.)

Alex:

That is indeed a Dodge sedan, and not a Chrysler. It's a Plymouth-based Dodge Kingsway. I suppose the listing calls it a Chrysler merely because it was built by the Chrysler Corp. The Chrysler brand itself did not use the Plymouth body-shell at all to make a Canadian-specific model. Dodge did. Desoto did, too, but these Diplomats were for export.

[Jordan Baker]

That would be great to get that info emailed to me. Im pretty sure the body data tag said it was a model D23c on it. I'll be able to confirm that when I pick it up.

Alex, I don't want to end up in your bad books but I do have a thing for flat green paint schemes

[Bill Kreiner]

29 of the D23C cars were sold as war units in 1942, and one D23C Special in 1943. There are of course more shown on the export and domestic sheets.

Send me a private message with your email address, and I'll send you the 1942-1943-1944 scans (the 1945 sheet has only trucks listed). I have them saved to my office computer.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Bill Kreiner

That is indeed a Dodge sedan, and not a Chrysler. It's a Plymouth-based Dodge Kingsway. I suppose the listing calls it a Chrysler merely because it was built by the Chrysler Corp. The Chrysler brand itself did not use the Plymouth body-shell at all to make a Canadian-specific model. Dodge did. Desoto did, too, but these Diplomats were for export.

Bill these Plymouth bodied Chrysler, Dodge and DeSoto badged cars were exported to New Zealand and other destinations during the 30's. The major differences between the badged models was the level of luxury and fitments in the interior plus some had chrome trim added especially to the grill area. There was also flatbacked or 'boot' (trunk) models. I owned 5 or 6 of these in New Zealand when I was younger including what was a rare 1939 Plymouth 2 door flat back sedan.

sorry no pics could not afford a camera as well as the cars because as an apprentice carpenter I was only earning $60.00 for a 60 hour week. Mind you it only took 5 bucks to fill my old 1959 FC Holden up

[Bill Kreiner]

Cliff:

Yes, indeed, that is quite true. I'm familiar with these vehicles. In fact, T. J. Richards was responsible for their assembly in Australia.

I'm not familiar with any Plymouths that were badge-engineered as actual Chryslers, save for the U.K. models such as the Kew (?). Perhaps some of these were also shipped to Australia. I know there were no 1942-style Plymouth-bodied Chryslers, but there were plenty such Desotos and Dodges.

I've learned that 24 brand-new (1942-style) Chryslers were delivered to the military in Australia in 1944. These were bought directly from Chrysler U.S.A.

Are you interested in the 1942-1944 sales documents as well? I can email them to you.

Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

You might be interested in this:

1938 LONDON MOTOR SHOW

CARLTON CARRIAGE COMPANY LIMITED
CHRYSLER WIMBLEDON "CARLTON" FIXED HEAD COUPE
SEATING 5 £535.

DODGE BROTHERS (BRITAIN) LIMITED (at Kew Works)
1. DODGE DE LUXE SIX 25.35HP 217.8 SIX 5-PASSENGER SALOON
2. DODGE SIX 23.44HP 201.33 CU INS 5-PASSENGER TOURING SALOON
3. DODGE SIX 19.84HP 17.4 CU IN 5-PASSENGER TOURING SALOON
4. DE SOTO DE LUXE SIX 27.34HP 228.1 CU INS 5-PASSENGER SALOON WITH DUAL POWER TRANSMISSION
5. DE SOTO CUSTOM SIX 25.35HP 217.8 CU INS DE LUXE 7-PASSENGER LIMOUSINE WITH AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
6. DODGE CUSTOM EIGHT 33.8HP 323.5 CU INS 5-PASSENGER TOURING SALOON WITH DUAL; POWER TRANSMISSION

CHRYSLER MOTORS LIMITED (at Kew Works)
1.8-CYLINDER CHRYSLER CUSTOM IMPERIAL LIMOUSINE 33.8HP 323.5 CU INS
2. 8-CYLINDER CHRSYLER IMPERIAL 4-DOOR SALOON 33.8HP 323.5 CU INS
3. 6-CYLINDER CHRYSLER ROYAL 4- DOOR SALOON 27.3HP 242 CU INS
4. 6-CYLINDER CHRYSLER WIMBLEDON 4-DOOR TOURING SALOON 23.4HP 201.33 CU IN
5. 6-CYLINDER CHRYSLER KEW TOURING SALOON 19.8HP 170.4 CU IN
6. 6-CYLINDER CHRYSLER PLYMOUTH TOURING SALOON 19.8HP 170.4 CU INS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++

I have seen a photo of a London-registered diplomatic '42 Chrysler Corp 4-door sedan taken in west London around 1948. The 'librarian' is still trying to find the shot..if only we could find it again! I think it was a Dodge but stand to be corrected.