Sometimes we are too stuffy when it comes to our projects.  Everything has to be perfect.  New parts here.  Over restored parts there.  We kep up until our project turns into a jeweled garage queen that never sees a drop of rain.  To give us a break from that mentality, reader AMXBrian has presented to us the ultimate do what you want project.  Feast your eyes on this five window “pilot house” Dodge dually truck.  This thing is so rough that the seller on craigslist didn’t even tell us the model year!  My thinking that it is a 1950 model doesn’t matter.  What matters is the price.  Would you pay $875 for this beast of a truck and then go to Pittston, Maine to get it?

Ads like this provide us with a chance to imagine what we might do if provided with a project such as this.  A big Dodge like this would never sell for a price that would cover the initial purchase and the subsequent restoration.  There is not much of a market for large commercial trucks, and many languish on craigslist, in local papers, and beside highways with sun faded for sale signs in their windows.  Everyone wants something that fits in their garage and is fun to cruise around in.  Old trucks drive like trucks.  At least they drive like trucks built before the current trend of luxury trucks took over.  Without a payload, you are not going to mistake the ride for that of an Escalade.  There aren’t going to be any heated and cooled power seats to plop down into either.

Things like the heavy rear leaf springs, with the helper springs you can see above them, make for a bouncy ride.  Back when these were new, trucks pulled the heavy weights that these springs supported by having lower geared rear ends that were often equipped with two separate speeds to match the gearing to the load.  Travel speeds were slower than today’s usual madcap pace as well.  You won’t find air conditioning, power windows, power brakes, or even power steering on this truck.  Maybe it has a rudimentary brake booster, but that’s it.  It is purely mechanical from stem to stern.  Despite this lack of modern necessities, what we see in the pictures looks to be a fairly solid truck for the money.

While there are some dents here and there to go along with the copious amount of surface rust, there are few places where rust has penetrated the panels.  This would be a perfect vehicle for a beginning restorer to try their hand at refurbishing various parts and pieces.  If you mess anything up, used parts are available for that second try.  Furthermore, if you were just planning on fixing the truck to drive and enjoy, anything you did would have to make it look better than it does now!

In the cab lies the radiator and what looks to be a jumble of parts.  From what we can see, the floors and cab corners look great for a vehicle stored this way.  There is a hole in the cab behind the door that will have to be patched.  The seat may not be the factory item either.  The cover on it just looks too J.C. Whitney, and the boards in the frame aren’t helping matters.  The leaky windshield gasket, and all the other rubber pieces in the truck for that matter, will have to be replaced.  Otherwise, the dash looks to be in restorable shape.  Unfortunately, it looks like the radio has walked off.  One would hope it is in that jumble of parts and not driving some ginormous speakers in the back of some miscreant’s ride.

As you look at the flathead six engine for this beast in the picture above, take a look at the word “SPITFIRE” cast into the head.  On the p15-d24 forum, which is the best site on the web for forties and fifties Chrysler products, there is a discussion about these Chrysler only heads being placed in Dodge trucks that originate from the Windsor, Ontario plant.  Being that this truck is being sold out of the state of Maine, it is not a far leap to assume that this truck originally came from Canada.  At any rate, these inline sixes were torque monsters, and well suited for service below 3,000 rpms.  By the look of things, it appears that everything is there, and is in fair condition.  The radiator removal was likely due to overheating, which in turn is usually caused by a rusted up water distribution tube in the block.  We can see that the water pump is still bolted on, so whoever was working on this truck likely gave up before they solved the problem.  If the motor is not locked up, then it might be possible to get this truck running cheaply.

So, what would I do with it?  I’d put it in my driveway to annoy the wife and neighbors first.  Then, when that mission has been accomplished, I’d start stripping parts off of it and restoring it one piece at a time.  Focusing on getting it presentable in the cheapest way possible, I’d probably pick up some paint and primer during one of Eastwood’s sales.  While not the factory color, I’ve always wanted a truck in a dark blue.  Maybe do the bumper and wheels in some of that new chrome powder coat that is out there now.  It really doesn’t look like chrome when cleared, but the silvery color would contrast well with the blue.  I’d try to get the engine running without going to the cost of rebuilding it.  As for the rear end, maybe take it by the local shop for them to have a look see at what might need to be replaced.  Weld up a steel frame for a wooden stake body and make it my go to the hardware store truck.  Maybe even add a vertical stack exhaust for fun.  For an around town truck, I think it would be pretty cool to have.

What would you do with this old Dodge if it were gifted to you?  Tell us in the comments.