Canadian Fords and Dodges

[Red Horse]

Just wondering if there was any real reason why  Ford rebadged their trucks as "Mercury" and Dodge rebadged as "Fargo".  Real reason other than some marketing guys thought it was a "brilliant idea".

Anyone have a clue?

[blackdog2]

[mowerman]

Sorry not a clue... bob

[Brocky]

Not really sure?? BUT I think I have heard it was part of import/export tariffs and local made content rules????

[GA_Dave]

Brocky has part of it right.  It had to do with tariffs and crossing borders, but Mercury Trucks were built in Oakville, Ontario, not in the States.

[Red Horse]

Brocky,. GA_D 

Thx guys.  Just think of  how expensive that was.   Same trucks and for a limited  number of  sales they had to duplicate the assembly process.  

[Hayseed]

2 hours ago, GA_Dave said:

Brocky has part of it right.  It had to do with tariffs and crossing borders, but Mercury Trucks were built in Oakville, Ontario, not in the States.

Correct GA_Dave,Here in Australia, member Countries of the British Commonwealth had far more free-er (if that's a word) Trade agreements.

Hence anything that came in through Canada (IE; Mercury) was substantially Cheaper than the same thing that came in from the U.S.A. 

[Licensed to kill]

http://www.mercurypickup.com/mercury-truck-history/

[mrsmackpaul]

I reckon Hayseed and Brocky are onto it

 

Anything from outside the British Empire used to have huge import tariffs 

I'm pretty sure stuff from the U.S. had at one stage 100% tariff

In Australia the higher the Australian content the cheaper the tariff, hence Mack, Volvo,  Kw, Scania, White and the list goes on were of Australian content early on

 

Paul

[fjh]

Does anyone know why GM still makes GMC / Chevy  same truck different trim !  Volvo/Mack Same truck Different Cab and hood! 

Marketing strategies I guess! Its been going on for years firebird ,Camaro , chevlle/ boulmont   just to name a few!

[h67st]

On 4/7/2021 at 9:25 AM, fjh said:

Does anyone know why GM still makes GMC / Chevy  same truck different trim !  Volvo/Mack Same truck Different Cab and hood! 

Marketing strategies I guess! Its been going on for years firebird ,Camaro , chevlle/ boulmont   just to name a few!

I think you're right about the marketing strategies--GMC advertises more of a "professional" angle, Chevy more like a personal truck. Pontiac aimed more toward comfort, Chevy the more basic cars. But as you say, same vehicle, different image.

[Brocky]

Seed, When did Chrysler of AU start building trucks?? And how did the Dodge/Fargo become a DeSoto down under???