The Big Car Database

Fargo Trucks

 
Fargo FK2-33 Truck 1946
 
Australian Fargo De Luxe Utility
 
Fargo Power Wagon truck in Batey ha-Osef Museum, Israel

Fargo was a brand of truck originally produced in the United States in 1913 by the Fargo Motor Car Company.

Dropped in 1922, the name was reintroduced for a line of trucks manufactured by the Chrysler Corporation after purchasing Fargo Motors in 1928 Later, Chrysler absorbed Dodge and started producing its truck line, so over time Fargo trucks became rebadged Dodges, similar to the parallel sale by General Motors of its GMC and Chevrolet truck lines

History

The first Fargo trucks were built in Pilsen, Chicago by the Fargo Motor Car Company from 1913 until 1922. In 1928 Chrysler bought the business and created their own line of Fargo trucks. Shortly after its creation, Chrysler also bought the Dodge Brothers Company, adding Dodge and Graham Brothers badged trucks to its product line. From then on, Fargo trucks were almost identical to Dodge models, save for trim and name, and were sold by Chrysler-Plymouth dealers.

U.S. sales of Fargo trucks were discontinued in the 1930s, but in Canada the name Fargo was used until 1972 for marketing reasons to differentiate the trucks as Chrysler-Plymouth dealer offerings apart from the Dodge trucks sold at Dodge dealers. The Fargo brand lived longer in a variety of countries under the Chrysler Corporation's badge engineering marketing approach.

Manufactured in Detroit at the Lynch Road facility, Dodge trucks were also offered under the Fargo (or De Soto) names in most of Latin America, while in Europe and Asia they were mainly built in Chrysler's Kew (UK) plant and sold under either the Fargo or DeSoto badge names.

In Australia, both American and British Dodge models, along with locally assembled units, were marketed by Chrysler Australia with Dodge, Fargo or De Soto badges.

Additionally, heavy trucks made in Spain by Chrysler Spanish subsidiary, including a 38-tonne tractor and rigid four-, six- and eight-wheelers, which were sold in the UK as the Dodge 300 Series, were exported to several countries as Fargo vehicles.

Use of the Fargo trademark came to an end when Dodge pulled out of the American heavy truck business in 1976, and lastly in 1978 when Chrysler Europe was sold to PSA Peugeot Citroën.

  • A 1956 Fargo pickup

  • Fargo-badged version of the Dodge A100 van

  • Fargo pumper fire truck from Témiscaming, Quebec

  • Fargo fire truck in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Turkey

The Fargo brand existed in Turkey for years well into the 21st century, as Fargo and De Soto light and heavy trucks were made by Turkish manufacturer Askam, with no technical or business connection with Chrysler in the last years. However Askam was the descendant of Chrysler Kamyon Montaj Fabrikası founded in 1964 at Istanbul.

Apparently Askam went out of business in 2015, making the LDV Maxus van being the last Fargo badged (as Fargo Fora) vehicle offered in the world.