Puzzle #139 - Solved! The Alexander Brothers' Dodge Deora

Otto Puzzell · December 17, 2006, 04:14:48 AM

Know what it is?

Please, respond below and let us know what car you think you see here. Looking for the ID of this custom truck and the guys who built it. ID both to be declared the winner of this puzzle.

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Thanks!

Rich · December 17, 2006, 06:39:52 AM

I believe it is a Deora, year unknown, but probably early/mid '60's.

I have a Hot Wheel around here that looks just like it....

r

MG · December 17, 2006, 07:56:49 AM

Ahhhh....whaddayou know. Its clearly a variant of the ugly but lovable Corvair pickup truck, of which upwards of 9 were actually produced.

Otto Puzzell · December 18, 2006, 01:43:29 PM

Remeber, I need an ID of the builders, as well.

(I had this HotWHeels model, too!)

MG · December 18, 2006, 01:52:07 PM

Oh, well. NOW it gets difficult. But I would hazard a guess that it is the product of one of the carozzeria houses of Italy.

Lessee: Bertone, Ghia, ItalDesign, Guigaro, PininFarina. Those are the onliest ones I can think of.

Not weird enough to be Bertone. Ghia worked mostly with Ford.

I am going to say PininFarina, because it was used from time to time by GM..

But it IS a Corvair chassis under that rather stylish body, right?

Ultra · December 18, 2006, 01:53:49 PM

Ridler award winner.

Otto Puzzell · December 18, 2006, 02:01:25 PM

Not Italian, and no Corvair bits.

Rich · December 18, 2006, 02:05:57 PM

George Barris?

Otto Puzzell · December 18, 2006, 03:34:27 PM

No sir.

Rich · December 18, 2006, 04:02:07 PM

Designed by Harry Bradley and built by Larry and Mike Alexander....or so the Google search pointed out....

cheater · December 18, 2006, 04:45:20 PM

I believe the year is 1966 and it is indeed the well-known Dodge Deora, designed by Harry Bradley and built by the Alexander Bros. The truck was built from a Chrysler A-100 van/truck unit.

Here's the full story:

http://www.bonediggers.com/1-2/deora/deora.html

Otto Puzzell · December 19, 2006, 02:34:51 AM

You are correct, Cheater. But Rich beat you to it.

In 1964, Chrysler commissioned Mike and Larry Alexander to customize their new economy pickup, the Dodge A-100. Based on automotive designer Harry Bentley Bradley's illustration, the Alexander brothers created a low, cab-forward design with a front-opening cab.

After a naming contest it was called the Deora®. The winning entry was from a 13-year-old boy, and is a technically incorrect version of the Spanish word for "golden."

The 1968 Hot Wheels® Deora® became a huge hit and an automotive legend.

News:

Puzzle #139 - Solved! The Alexander Brothers' Dodge Deora