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Col Riches and his Dodge DD


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#1 Fred.R

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 01:46

There were some photos of  Col and His Dodge in the Australian Photos the photos have long since disappeared , is there any more information about Col him self  and also  the Dodge ?



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#2 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 04:56

I'm sure I saw something a little while ago about him...

Pictures, one I can locate at the moment:

dodge-V8atportwakefieldlo.jpg

#3 cooper997

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 08:35

Fred, there's a small Riches Dodge feature and photograph in the Motor Manual/Keith Winser #8 Australian Motor Sporting Guide p34. Mentions specs and that it was used for Trials, then after the 1957 engine modifications Col started hillclimbs, road racing and sprints

 

If you can wait a little, I will photograph and put here.

 

Port Wakefield, Collingrove and early Mallala programmes will possibly have short writeups too. I have him listed a few times already on the computer and his entrant is usually listed as 'Riches Motor Co.' with the Dodge.

 

Stephen


Edited by cooper997, 11 November 2019 - 08:36.


#4 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 10:12

1957 was when he put the V8 in it?

It was a Poly V8 IIRC, at that time it must have been a 301 or similar.

#5 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 10:53

Even in the 50s it was not what you would say first choice for a racing car!

Though from what I have heard both on here and around the traps for decades it was fairly quick for its time and I suspect even faster with the V8. Though he may have found corners arrived quicker and then more work to make it steer and stop. The never ending battle!!

BTW. The FJ in the back of the pic is Clem Smith.

As a point of interest what is the suspension on those Dodges?  Parralel leaf or transverse.

I think my only experience with that vintage of Dodge is a 3 ton truck that I learnt to drive [self taught!] in when about 12 years old and that was  parralel leaf as you would expect a truck to be.

And the poor old thing used to cart about 4-5 tonnes of grapes from vineyard to winery. 

Though I know we had over 3 tonnes of grapes and water on board the Vanguard ute and 7x5 trailer once. I think the front wheels touched the ground occasionally. Picking grapes on Anzac day in pouring rain,, really fun!! 


Edited by Lee Nicolle, 11 November 2019 - 11:02.


#6 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 12:55

This was a 1930 model, Lee...

I think they went to independent for one year only in 1933, then it was back to the beam axles for another six or eight years.

No transverse leaf springs for Dodge once they lost their contracts to supply Henry Ford stuff for the T-Model. Which was when they started making their own brand - 1914.

It was Clem who loaned me that pic, actually.

#7 SJ Lambert

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 19:34

https://forums.autos...he-capricornia/

There may be images of Col & his Dodge on this thread, I’ve forgotten how to rehabilitate the images though.......

#8 Ray Bell

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Posted 11 November 2019 - 20:29

They're gone forever...

You need to upload them to Postimage and put them up again.

#9 Lee Nicolle

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 02:14

This was a 1930 model, Lee...

I think they went to independent for one year only in 1933, then it was back to the beam axles for another six or eight years.

No transverse leaf springs for Dodge once they lost their contracts to supply Henry Ford stuff for the T-Model. Which was when they started making their own brand - 1914.

It was Clem who loaned me that pic, actually.

Yeah, I reckon that pic among many other was in Clems office or even the tea room. And there was no coffee there!!



#10 cooper997

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Posted 12 November 2019 - 21:40

As mentioned in my earlier post.

 

Col-Riches-Dodge-TNF.jpg

 

Stephen



#11 Fred.R

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Posted 13 November 2019 - 21:44

Thanks Stephen, with this and a bit of detective work by Freduce it appears this car has survived and was sold at auction in Adelaide last month

#12 Ray Bell

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Posted 14 November 2019 - 13:35

Those dimensions indicate it was a Canadian 303ci version of the Poly engine...

This was also used in some American models.