Yep, because clearly no roads in the USA were ever given improved surfaces without the intercession of the federal government. Same, same for any other public improvements you might name. Really?
I saw chain or rope wrapped around the drive wheels with plenty of ground clearance and chains cars easily did this they were light with good torque no power and plenty of ground clearance and the body was strong enough with timber framing to withstand the vehicles weight on its roof.
People forget roads looked like that everywhere after rain before paving became popular.
I’ll try to punctuate the above comment as best as I can:
“I saw chain or rope wrapped around the drive wheels. With plenty of ground clearance and chains, cars easily did this. They were light with good torque, no power, and plenty of ground clearance and the body was strong enough with timber framing to withstand the vehicle’s weight on its roof.
People forget roads looked like that everywhere after rain before paving became popular.
The Dodge Brothers were one of the first car companies to use all-steel bodies built by the Budd Company. Dodge bodies had no wood, timber or cellulose.
A clinic on the terrain that may be traversed with narrow tires, sufficient ground clearance and proper match of power to gearing. Note the lack flying mud in order to make forward progress.
Somewhere at sometime I heard a story about a dying man’s last wishes. In it he stated he wanted to be buried in his Dodge Brothers car as it had successfully dislodged him from every other hole it had encountered.
Impressive! I have heard a couple of old-timers who talked about how well those old cars with skinny tires could get through places where modern cars can’t. I would guess it is about cutting down to harder/drier ground several inches down from the surface.
Unlike a lot of other cars from that era, the Dodge Brothers cars had all-steel bodies and could take abuse better than anything with a timber-framed body.
Fishers did a test comparing wooden and steel framed bodies stopping both suddenly from 60mph both bodies leaned forward at the green house the timber framed body sprang back the steel body stayed bent forward. Steel was cheaper so became mainstream.
Great clip. It reminds me of the PR stunt relating to the 1934 Chrysler Airflow. They put it through a lot of test including flipping it and rolling it off a cliff
Well they had lots of clearance and skinny tires to maximise ground pressure. With chains on, these old cars were unstoppable in Quebec winters. The real issue was, of course, that the roads of the era were so uniformly dreadful that all cars had to have this kind of light, tall design just to go anywhere. In Canada, this was compounded with haphazard snow removal. It was only when roads improved somewhat in the 1930’s did we see lower cars with independent front suspensions. Heck Canada didn’t even had a Trans-Canada Highway until 1962. Even then many sections in British Columbia were not paved, nor had guard rails. There were many one lane bridges, too.
Did I see chains on the back tires? Don’t see how they could go through mud like that without ’em.
That was a hoot to watch!
Very cool…especially when they rolled it, righted it and went on their way like nothing happened.
This was America before the era of Big Government. The roads were a lot better then.
Yep, because clearly no roads in the USA were ever given improved surfaces without the intercession of the federal government. Same, same for any other public improvements you might name. Really?
Looks like we have one of those guv’mint haters here! Seriously, what a stupid comment!
Umm; I think he speaks in jest….
Paul, you know me well….
That was pretty funny… 🙂
I apologize Mr Canucknucklehead, sorry you got me with the super thick sarcasm that went right over my head.
No problem, ABB, your misunderstanding was surely yet another dastardly Liberal plot to deliver America to the New World Order.
I saw chain or rope wrapped around the drive wheels with plenty of ground clearance and chains cars easily did this they were light with good torque no power and plenty of ground clearance and the body was strong enough with timber framing to withstand the vehicles weight on its roof.
People forget roads looked like that everywhere after rain before paving became popular.
I’ll try to punctuate the above comment as best as I can:
“I saw chain or rope wrapped around the drive wheels. With plenty of ground clearance and chains, cars easily did this. They were light with good torque, no power, and plenty of ground clearance and the body was strong enough with timber framing to withstand the vehicle’s weight on its roof.
People forget roads looked like that everywhere after rain before paving became popular.
The Dodge Brothers were one of the first car companies to use all-steel bodies built by the Budd Company. Dodge bodies had no wood, timber or cellulose.
A clinic on the terrain that may be traversed with narrow tires, sufficient ground clearance and proper match of power to gearing. Note the lack flying mud in order to make forward progress.
Flying mud signals an incompetent who cant drive
Somewhere at sometime I heard a story about a dying man’s last wishes. In it he stated he wanted to be buried in his Dodge Brothers car as it had successfully dislodged him from every other hole it had encountered.
I can now see why.
Impressive! I have heard a couple of old-timers who talked about how well those old cars with skinny tires could get through places where modern cars can’t. I would guess it is about cutting down to harder/drier ground several inches down from the surface.
Unlike a lot of other cars from that era, the Dodge Brothers cars had all-steel bodies and could take abuse better than anything with a timber-framed body.
Fishers did a test comparing wooden and steel framed bodies stopping both suddenly from 60mph both bodies leaned forward at the green house the timber framed body sprang back the steel body stayed bent forward. Steel was cheaper so became mainstream.
Specious argument.
Up to a point thin wheels/tires are an advantage…. you cut through the mud and snow, not plow through it.
Exactly why we removed the 325-mm “cat-squishers” that the previous owner put on our farm truck and replaced them with normal-width.
Great clip. It reminds me of the PR stunt relating to the 1934 Chrysler Airflow. They put it through a lot of test including flipping it and rolling it off a cliff
Here is the clip of this
Well they had lots of clearance and skinny tires to maximise ground pressure. With chains on, these old cars were unstoppable in Quebec winters. The real issue was, of course, that the roads of the era were so uniformly dreadful that all cars had to have this kind of light, tall design just to go anywhere. In Canada, this was compounded with haphazard snow removal. It was only when roads improved somewhat in the 1930’s did we see lower cars with independent front suspensions. Heck Canada didn’t even had a Trans-Canada Highway until 1962. Even then many sections in British Columbia were not paved, nor had guard rails. There were many one lane bridges, too.
Did these have some kind of diff lock? Perhaps as an optional feature? It’s traction is amazing. Nice clip!