And you all thought I just wrote about GM products! Second Dodge in a row! Although my Dad always bought Chevy trucks for himself, he bought my Mom Dodges and Chryslers. ’63 Polara, ’71 and ’75 Chrysler Newport Customs. Big family cars with just 318s, but I remember them well. Dodge claimed that its trucks fit 97% of hauling needs in the ‘40s ads. It was “Worth Waiting For” a job-rated Dodge truck. The truck here is a 1946 Dodge D150 Short Bed that looks like someone’s proverbial dream truck project come true. It is available here on Facebook Marketplace in Coxs Creek, Kentucky, for what seems like a low price of $11,500. Once again, Pnut, “Good Bones” was a great tagline for this one; thanks for the tip!
Projects that have sat for decades, along with the stories that go with them, could fill volumes. Everyone has good intentions when they buy a project to work on, only to find that life has other plans. The truck is said to have spent the last 20 years in the garage, and the owner never got to do what they wanted with it. The engine in this D150 looks like the original 230-cubic-inch inline six, the standard workhorse for Dodge trucks of the day. It would have produced around 102 horsepower and 184 ft.-lbs of torque. The seller says it needs a coil, but it is still good; the 3-speed manual shifts, and it’s all original.
It looks to me like this project started with the interior. I am not sure whether the exterior was going to change color, but the red velour bench seat, door panels, and headliner look right out of the 1980s. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with that, and they look very new and plush. There is chrome treatment on the grille and running boards, and it looks like new front and rear bumpers. The body looks solid, and from the pictures, there don’t seem to be any crazy rust spots on the surface.
Now, the sad news is that this is not a Chevy Square Body from the 70s or 80s, or it could be worth a ½ ton of money. Classic.com shows that sales of 1946 Dodge D150 pickups average $37,983, with a low of $6,500 and a high of $106,000. The good news is that Dodge D150s can command higher prices in pristine condition. This one isn’t pristine, but the price isn’t ridiculous for what could be a fun project to tackle. Do you have garage space for a ready-to-complete Dodge truck project?
“..or if it could be worth a 1/2 ton of money.”saw what ya did right there, Kevin. Good stuff.
Check it out, run it and if it’s what it appears to be, get it home then use it like a truck is supposed to be used—but know its limitations.
Well,,,,thanks for the truck, 5 figures for anything like this is stretching it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice truck, lot of work done, but foolishly kept the original drivetrain. That will be a deal breaker right there. People today would love a retro truck like this, but not powered by grandpas old Dodge/war motor. I think with a plausible motor and automatic, and a paint job, then yes, 5 figures could happen. Like this, be lucky to get half what they want.