1948 Dodge 100

Description

Lots of Ford pickups for sale, lots of Chevy pickups for sale, but you just don't see many early Dodge pickups, do you? This neat little 1948 Dodge 100 pickup truck has an honest look and surprisingly polished road manners, all at a very reasonable price compared to its competitors. With the pickup truck market heating up, wouldn't you rather drive a Dodge?

This pugnacious little bulldog of a truck is as ram tough as anything built today with a wonderful vintage look. A little more modern-looking than a comparable Ford or Chevy, Dodge was the first to roll out an all-new truck following the war. Clean flanks and a raised hood make it seem more modern and the bed is a no-nonsense box with fenders strapped on for protection. Hunter Green is always the right color on a vintage pickup truck and the finish is quite nicely done with a nice shine and few signs of forced labor following the restoration. There's a bit of chrome to dress up this handsome old truck, including a bold grille with three horizontal bands of stainless that tie in neatly with the leading edge of the hood, and with a little polishing, it'll stay nice and shiny practically forever. The door handles are probably original and show a bit of age, but again, for a pickup they're pretty nice. And unlike so many of its peers, this pickup offers a simple painted wood bed floor, which is how they were delivered new. Put it to work!

The basic brown vinyl bench seat is supportive enough for a day of driving, but the interior really is as simple as you can get. Rubber floor mats, a big steering wheel, and easy-to-read gauges are all part of the working class look of this pickup. There's a distinct familial resemblance to big brother Power Wagon, although these trucks are a lot more road-friendly and easy to drive. Aftermarket turn signals have been added to the steering column in the name of safety and while there's a big speaker grill in the dash, a radio was optional and is not included. It does, however, offer an accessory heater that's fairly effective and a big, airy greenhouse that makes it feel spacious inside.

The original engine has been replaced by a 1949 Plymouth passenger car engine, a 218 cubic inch inline-six which has proven itself time and time again. It's remarkably smooth and tractable around town, and gives the truck energetic performance and bulletproof reliability. It'll take an expect to notice the swap, as it still uses an oil bath air cleaner, 6-volt generator, and a downdraft carburetor, all of which work just as they should. The black engine block isn't totally correct but makes for a tidy-looking engine bay and serviceability is excellent. A 3-speed manual transmission is clearly made for truck duties, but it'll happily cruise at 50 MPH all day without complaint and the ride is reasonably good for a pickup truck. A single exhaust system with a glasspack-style muffler gives it a bit of a racy sound and the chassis is clean and neat, suggesting a life someplace away from snow and salt. Pretty cream-colored wheels with hubcaps provide wonderful contrast and wear correct-looking 6.50-16 Firestone blackwall tires.

If you're a Dodge fan or just want to stand out a bit, this neat pickup has a lot to offer and isn't afraid to go to work with you. Call today!