Here in my abode of Rhode Island, a local milk company still has a few vintage Divcos in its fleet delivering milk to local families. It’s a nice throwback to when the most convenience we sought was our milk showing up on the doorstep. Nostalgia aside, this 1949 Dodge Route van is a desirable short wheelbase example that the seller calls the “holy grail of step vans.” What do think – is this Dodge the four-wheeled Ark of the Covenant? Find it here on eBay with bids to $7K and the reserve unmet.
Vans like this Dodge were also referred to as being part of the “Pilot House era”, due to the large expanses of glass that surrounded the driver. We’re assuming glass replacement was a common repair these worker vans needed, but that likely didn’t stop these worker-friendly vehicles from fulfilling duties like the milk delivery I described above. This one is surprisingly still fitted with the types of racks a plumber or electrician might need to make in-home service visits a reality, a luxury we take for granted in the modern era.
The seller notes that the Route Vans are a bit more uncommon that the Divcos or Grummans, a point I agree with. But in addition to the period shelving, what really sets this Route Van apart is the shorter wheel base and an independent rear suspension. They came equipped with a 250 cubic-inch V-6 L-head (thanks to the excellent blog FCA Work Vehicles for the tip), and the seller says this van’s powerplant hasn’t run in 30 years – but he sees no reason why it wouldn’t just fire right up.
You can’t rely on that lukewarm “promise” that this Dodge will run, but that’s OK – in this instance. What you’re buying is a rare variant from an era in which worker vans were all the rage. Rodders love the short wheelbase designs like this Route Van has, and while I hope it’s simply returned to as-new / stock condition, I doubt it mightily. If you had to modify this Route Van, which direction would you take it in?
“Independent rear suspension”
or full floating axle ?
Very cool find…
I would put it on a Chevy S-10 chassis with V-6 & automatic transmission.
Can’t believe FOLKS are pricing all this SCRAP IRON so high!!!!!!!
It is not independent. It is DiDion. The final drive is mounted to the chassis, but the hubs are connected to each other with an I beam. U jointed axles and leaf springs.
L- head V6? Not really sure I ever saw one of those by Dodge.
The independent rear suspension was due to bad shocks. What ever input to the front wheels, the rear end would travel independently of the front end. Yeeeee hawwww.
The king pins on the front end were really independent from each other when worn.
Good find.
No such thing as a dodge L head V6. It was a straight 6.
https://www.allpar.com/mopar/flat.html
https://losangelesmachineshop.com/chrysler-251-flathead-inline-6-spitfire-engine-rebuild/
I would like to see this one up close and personal. The independent rear suspension is one question I have. I understood that Dodge used a lowered driveline and dropbox similar to what Binder used back then but independent suspension is new to me. The other is the V-6. I never heard that Dodge (Chrysler) offered an engine of this configuration until now. I’d like to see under the hood. Other than that it looks like it’s in great shape and should be brought back to original delivery condition then used as a parts getter/runabout. I could have a good time with something like this.
Very cool…holy grail is a little bit of a stretch. Good looks, swb…etc.
Maybe swap powerplants for a slant 6 or a “dirty diesel” with suspension and brake mods to be more driveable.
Tasteful paint job, a little chrome, a couple extra seats and some Detroit steel wheels.
Definitely rare truck, but I also question the V6 L-head, it seems like I would have heard about that by now.
It’s a flat head inline 6
Chrysler built an inline 6 flathead of 250 ci for use in Chrysler and Desoto cars. Most likely, there was a truck version of this engine and the later 264 ci 6 cyl. This looks like a great project vehicle for the van minded person.
The engine picture clearly shows an inline flathead.
Really quite cool, engine is likely a 230cid inline 6 L head which is a good engine that you can still get parts for from your local napa dealer. The engine finished up in cars in 1959 but carried on in various industrial applications up to as late as 2002. These were absolutely bullit proof engines with full oil pressure system with filter. I’d rebuild and keep the engine. This would be a fun restoration project.
Hi Mark. I read earlier that the engine in this was a V-6, which I’d never heard of. You mentioned a 230 and that would’ve been my guess. It would still be nice to see under the hood….
There is one shot and if you look close you can see an inline flatty.
“but he sees no reason why it wouldn’t just fire right up”.
Uhhhh, Ok. Cool truck but I can think of maybe one or two issues that could delay “starting right up”.
I always wonder, if this is/was the case why doesn’t the seller “start it right up” and sell it as a running vehicle.
Ran when parked…30 years ago!
robj
I restored one of these mechanically. Check out my instagram feed “dodgeroutevan” It has picks of the project from start to finish. The flathead in mine was a stock 235cid. Fun to drive it around town, top speed was 50mph, the rear end was a 4.89.
Wow, there it is, independent rear suspension.. I thought it was a mistake like the V-6 engine. My guess is that it was an attempt to provide a softer ride to make sure more milk arrived to the customers than ran out of the bottom of the truck after hitting a bump or pothole. Don’t forget those were the days of milk in glass bottles.
Actually Joe, they did it to accomplish a low step in height off the curb for easy loading and unloading. Also it provided for a flat interior floor for cargo. No tranny hump to trip over in the middle of the floor space.
Wow !
Interesting this independent rear suspension didn’t carry forward to other higher volume Dodge products… I imagine the universals were somewhat problematic.
Never knew Dodge had done it.
Here is another pic of the finish DRV.
And one more with vintage logos on the side.
I would have loved this for my business. A rolling billboard. Nothing like an attention getting vehicle to promote a business!
This could make a great little camper for one or two people and your dog/cat. Fancy tires and wheels, A/C and bed and Coleman stove. You could put a water tank on top with outside shower head. Just rambling on but just let your imagination go to work. Wow!
Looks like a blank canvas to me. Once
properly refurbished, I could almost guarantee you this truck would NEVER
run out of uses around my place! From
hauling newspapers to motorized wheel-
chairs, and everything else in between,
this truck checks all my boxes and I’d
be very proud to both drive and use it.
There you have it guys, the L head v6 is a misprint. No such animal. I think a 250 in line flathead was used in Desotos.
Keep it original and refurbish it.
Some more pics of the Dodge and ads from the by gone era.
Fleet vans
Ads from the 50’s
Another ad
Great stuff, thanks Richard.
Richard thanks for the information and great pictures about a vehicle I knew next to nothing about. My brother had a pretty cherry 1952 Dodge pickup in the 80’s. He parked his new car outside and garaged his Dodge, he had his priorities right. I love the simple as a stone aspect of old vehicles like this, yet they still got the job done. Points and carburetors won WW2.
Ended: Apr 15, 2018 , 9:45PM
Winning bid:US $10,000.00
[ 44 bids
I know it’s not one (my late dad who was a milkman owned a few of them) but the first thing I thought was ‘Divco’. I’ve got a few beautiful color slides of him and his white and yellow Bordens milk truck from about 1950 which I really ought to scan in sometime.
Would love to see those pics one day.