Dodge Kew Fargo

The Dodge Kew Fargo was made at the UK Dodge works in Kew, London. Dodge & Fargo were Chrysler marques eventually merged with Commer & Karrier when Chrysler took over the Rootes Group. Production of this truck switched to Turkey where it remained in production for very many year.

Corgi Toys used the Kew Fargo cab for two trucks, No.484 Livestock Transporter and No.483 Tipper Truck, both with opening bonnets. Both were released in 1967, the Livestock Transporter in April and the Tipper in December.

484 Dodge Kew Fargo Livestock Transporter with Five Pigs

What a splendid Corgi this is, great modelling and some fantastic detail and features, the chassis with the prop shaft detail is excellent. Typical of Corgi to spend such a lot of effort on modelling a cattle truck so well. The opening tailboard and bonnet are the expected features - the detailed bright work and engine are extras, the novel feature is the detailed chassis which is really good. The back body is the Beast Carrier trailer re-cycled but the chassis-cab is brand new and very nicely done. The Dodge Livestock Transporter was added to the range in 1967 and was deleted in 1969. Early releases have spun hubs, later ones have cast hubs, this is the only listed variation and does not affect values. The usual issue with these is the missing pigs and their cardboard plinth.

483 Dodge Kew Fargo Tipper

I don't think it works so well as a tipper truck as it does as a livestock transporter - the balance is wrong, it's too long and low. However it has all the style and fine workmanship of the other version. The livestock transporter used the back body off the Beast Carrier, here we have the Farm Tipper Trailer painted blue. The Tipper always has a white cab and a blue tipping back. This truck remained in production until 1972