Art & Inspiration "Frog Eyes" Dodge trucks

I don't know the Dodge/Plymouth/Fargo trucks as well as I know Fords and Chevy/GMC trucks. We always called the old Mopar trucks "frog eyes" because of the way the headlights are mounted. Here's a picture of a '46 Dodge truck--what years did they build the "frog eye" trucks? I know they were the same for several years.

 

That same truck had the headlights mounted further inboard in 1939 and 1940. Maybe they were selling too well so they had to make them uglier?

 

I always thought Chevrolet and Dodge had similar styling back then.

 

At least Chevy put a nice taper on the back of the light housing to blend it into the fender and make it appear more streamlined . I often wondered how the Dodge designers could have stood back and looked at their final prototype and said- ‘Yep-that looks like a winner’

 

it probably went more like "looks like a winner, but something is missing....OH SNAP it needs headlights and the design is due in a half hour. Quick tack something on!"

 

I like them.

 

I always loved the overall design of the Dodge and Plymouth trucks- just the headlights seemed like an afterthought

 

Those "Job Rated" trucks went from '39-41 with the headlights really close to the hood on the catwalk and the '41-47 had them located on the crown of the fender. Dodge and Fargo all the way through but Plymouth only lasted until '41. Don't know about the DeSotas...

 

Thanks! Friend of mine is working on a '39 Plymouth pickup. It's the combination of shallow headlight buckets mounted on the crown of the fender that gives them the frog-eye look. As far as I know, they never made a pickup in the DeSoto line.

 

They did, but it was later and only sold overseas (South America? South Africa?). There's been a few pics posted here.

 

Put Guide headlights on mine. Relocated to where I like em.

 

For reason I do not understand, I think also Turkey! Some very interesting variations built for, or in, export markets. Both trucks and cars.

Ray

 

Oh yes they did but not for N America consumption.

 

That looks just like the placement on the '39-40s.

 

I always thought the tail lights on most brands of pickups with step side boxes looked like an "OH Crap! Throw these on there!" thought process. Gene

 

And there was a war coming on strong......should have a better design right ?

 

If it is a '39 then those front fenders have been replaced.

 

Heres a range from 39 to 42 with a 39 Plymouth thrown in.
Also a bonus "Ugly Duckling" that has nothing to do with this thread other than "eeekks"

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In the 60's I bought a 39 dodge pickup that a guy put a 401 buick nailhead in it . It was an unfinished project when I got it.
I put the seats in it and rewired it. It was a tire melting fun truck.

 

sold a nice cab & frt clip long ago

 

Relocated lights makes a big difference.

 

Funny looking Ford!

Ben

 

I like the lights on th efender crown mainly because my '42 Fargo have them there. If you want "unusual" look for pics of the same series truck built at the Long Beach CA (?) plant. Seen a couple and they are really weird!

 

Here's a concept I mocked up. Would love to try and pull this off one day. Replaced the bolt-on headlights with '39 Plymouth models. Chrysler or Dodge would work as well, but these square headlights are sooo cool. Also upgraded to the fancier passenger car front bumper. Thought about skirts but... it's a truck.

 

That's a perfect "solution" to that era of pickup.

- EM

 

As if old COEs weren't odd enough.

What is it?

 

Its a 1936 Ford C.O.E
Heres some more strange....even a frog eye C.O.E
And another Ford and a GMC.
Do a "vintage C.O.E trucks" search, there where alot of strange trucks back many years ago....and they were built for function not comfort.
Unless you previously drove a old model t open cab truck or a old chain driven solid rubber tired Mack truck then anything would probably be a upgrade.

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