Fargo is a name long associated with Canadian versions of the Dodge trucks, but the truth is the Fargo name had its early roots in the United States as an automotive manufacturer.
The Fargo Motor Car Company of Chicago sold Fargo trucks from 1913 to 1922 and then Chrysler grabbed the Fargo name to sell trucks in 1928.
The Fargo trucks ranged from light duty commercial vehicles to semis during their early days.
A long courtship between Chrysler and the Dodge Brothers resulted in a deal where Dodge finally became a part of the Mopar family.
Suddenly Chrysler was overloaded with truck manufacturers and somebody had to go when the Great Depression wiped out the economy in the world. That somebody was Fargo, although the truck brand still existed in foreign markets, including Canada where it was built as a Canuck truck for Canadians.
The Dodge truck was also sold in Canada by the Dodge dealerships, so Canadians could choose between a Fargo from their Plymouth dealerships and a Dodge from their Dodge stores. The two brands were offered in Canada from 1936 until 1972 during an automotive era where an obvious distinction between Dodge and Plymouth was made by parent Chrysler Corporation.
This 1955 Fargo was built right around the mid-point of the 36-year run in Canada and it is a fine example of the Canuck truck. Its original owners were a farm family and the Fargo saw plenty of duty as a hard-working farm truck for them.
However, it seems obvious the original owners respected the truck enough to take care of it during its time on the farm because the truck is in good shape. Jacqueline and Keith Tagg are only the second owners of the Fargo and Keith was quick to note he “does not have the time or ability to work on vehicles”.
Therefore the Taggs prefer to buy original vehicles that are in very good condition to suit their limited restoration abilities. The Fargo does ride on radial tires and it has a newer tailgate, but it is an unrestored survivor from the mid-50s in most categories of originality.
They have owned the Fargo for about 11 years and usually put on about 400 to 500 miles per year behind the wheel of the old pickup. The Taggs don’t push the truck too hard and like to keep a steady 50 mph pace on the highway.
These are the golden years for them and the truck, so now they can all take their time in life at an easier pace. Keith pointed out he likes to “drive them just the way he found them” and a 1955 Fargo half ton was never found on a race track in its stock form.
However it would be unlikely the Fargo will ever be found at hard labor on the farm again because it has earned its way to a comfortable life of semi-retirement simply by surviving all these years.
Life with its second owners is definitely more laid-back for this Canuck truck.
Jim Sutherland
