55 dodge pick up pics anyone?

[leadsled1953]

i was offered 2 55 dodge pickups today[and a 66 chevy pick up].anybody got a pic of one with a chopped top?the price is right ...free. they used belong to John Jacob Astors son[Titanic fame]

[JamesG]

Here Holmes.....

Dodge trucks (http://www.dodgeclassictrucks.com/)

[JamesG]

?

[leadsled1953]

nice pics. thanks.

[JamesG]

The power of Google my friend. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[JamesG]

One more...

http://www.oldtrucks.com/readers/raul/55raul.jpg

[leadsled1953]

very cool looking rides.you dont see a lot of old dodge trucks around.[at least i don't].i figure the one of the old newports i have has a nice 383 and i bet it would fit.

[50dodge4x4]

Bet ya didn't know there are two different versions of 55 Dodge pickups, did ya? Mid way through the model year Dodge changed the location of the truck factory. Trucks produecd at the old plant were like the 54s. (the first one pictured is the old style, the second picture may be an International truck, at least the headlight trim is) The old truck body has the curved windshield with straight door posts set at an angle. The late model trucks also had a curved windshield, but the glass wrapped around the cab corner and the door post was almost straight up and down. The windshield, doors, door vent glass, and side glass, and headlinner are different between the two trucks, the earlier model being more rare. Mine is an early model, (actually a 54) but is unchopped. Although v8s were available, they sat real high and very far forward, installing any moderen V8 will require cutting the firewall for clearance. The good news is once the fire wall is cut, ANY V8 will fit with slight trimming of the inner wheel wells. Gene

[J Man]

If you get them would you be interested in trading one for a '55 Belvedere?

[JamesG]

How about this......Desoto p/u's?

South Africa and Mexico trucks.

http://www.dodgeclassictrucks.com/DeSoto3a.jpg

http://www.dodgeclassictrucks.com/DeSoto2a.jpg

This one already has a cool bed with fins!
http://www.dodgeclassictrucks.com/desotosweptside.jpg

[leadsled1953]

Gene thats pretty neat info.i'm not really sure if they are late or early 55.the one has a bad transmission.the other one was bought because it had a good trans.they have been sitting on Astors estate forever,the people who own the estate now were going to restore them but bad health stopped that.plus they said i could have the 66 chevy pickup too.[tree growing out of that one lol]

[50dodge4x4]

If you can post pics I can probably tell you if they are early or late. Hell, just look at the doors, if the front door post is straight up an down, it's the late version. Once you know the difference it's pretty easy to tell. Gene

[leadsled1953]

i guess i'll know next week .ive only looked at them close once a couple years ago.i see them every time i'm on the estate.but hopefully in the next couple weeks i 'll get them. did the early have a small rear window?

[50dodge4x4]

They all had the small rear window. The little curved quarter windows were optional and were a pretty popular option. If the truck(s) your getting have a big single rear window that wraps around the corners of the cab, I believe it would be a 56 model. However... Dodge trucks had a habit of making new options available during a model year run, rather then wait until the next model year. For instance, the V8 was a mid year option added in around May of 54, the truck cab changed somewhere around March of 55, the large rear window could have been an available mid (or late) year option in 55. Gene

[leadsled1953]

they must be late 55 maybe 56. they have the large rear window.does the vin numbertell me the year.the license plates are from the 70s so that tells you how long they are there in that spot.i have to bring the chain saw to get them out but thats ok

[rustynewyorker]

[ QUOTE ]
How about this......Desoto p/u's?

South Africa and Mexico trucks.



[/ QUOTE ]

Can I steal those pics for another site?

Think it will spark some discussion on a Mopar site I go to.. lol


FWIW I wouldn't be surprised if the sweptside used '56 Plymouth Suburban (2dr wagon) quarters, I know the US Dodge version (1957) used panels adapted from the Dodge version of the same wagon. Mopar did a lot of that swapping to make export cars, I've seen Canadian '57 Dodges that are a Dodge nose on a Plymouth body. Goofy cars. Some export Desotos were the same way. Anyways my point is it would be easy to make one of those if someone likes it that much - you're on your own for the DeSoto tailgate though.

[Rocky]

I had a late 55 shortbox stepside I really liked. Mine had the original flathead 6, 3 speed and it ran like a top. Brakes were junk tho...2 wheel cylinders per wheel...bad idea.
Mine was gray primer with candy flames and 15X8 chrome reverse all the way around...fun truck...
It's the one I bolted the little naked pissing chrome guy [seltzer dispenser] on the front of the hood and ran a line from the radiator drain to a valve on the dash and then out to the tube underneath him. I'd wait till Portland Christmas shoppers were crossing the street and I was waiting for the light to change...open the valve at the busy crosswalk and watch the shoppers scatter! The little chrome boy would piss a steaming stream off the hood, over the grille and onto the street... Hahahahaha! Really shook 'em up.

[leadsled1953]

desoto trucks were made in Turkey in the 70's i heard.and Israel used and made chrysler flathead 6 for use in their military stuff.

[leadsled1953]

i looked yesterday and one is a v 8.hopefully a hemi but what the hay the price is right lol.i just want to get them out as quick as possible cause the ticks are very bad there.[ we are no. 1 for lymes disease in the country].

[leadsled1953]

hey Rocky i know all about those 2 wheel cylinders per front wheel ...i just got all the brake parts for my 50 desoto.

[Deyomatic]

Leadsled, I have a quick way to picture any Chrysler made before the mid 60s. Just picture what the same type of car (full size, truck etc) would look like if you took the better looking features of the same year Ford or Chevy, and add something that is just completely way off and ugly, like a funky grill or hood. Something that just doesn't look right. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[leadsled1953]

hey Dayomatic, as a man who has a half dozen mopars i do know exactly what you are saying.