Unlike many of the elder trucks we see here at Barn Finds, this beautiful V8-equipped 1954 Dodge C-Series runs well, though its brakes need a rebuild (parts included!). It’s coming from a long-term owner in Evergreen, Colorado; find it here on craigslist for $2500. This is no lightweight; it’s a two-ton “H” chassis dually from the final year of the “Job Rated” design with a PTO-powered dump bed. The truck has a good title and plenty of other virtues. Thanks to Mike F. for finding this one for us!
The big news for the Job Rated series snuck up in 1953, when Chrysler finally introduced its hemi-head “Red Ram” V8. The V8 was used in its passenger cars, but the next year, Dodge brought out the 241 cc polyspherical “Power Dome” V8. Compression was around 7.5:1, and output came in at 145 hp. Torque was decent, but the little V8 also clocked pretty good fuel efficiency. This truck has a four-speed manual gearbox and the optional two-speed rear axle. The electrical system has been converted to 12V, the master cylinder is rebuilt, and the fuel pump is new.
The interior is all business, with an aftermarket instrument nestled into an improvised gauge set, a glove box, and a blanket-style seat cover. The floors are bare, the door panels are missing, ditto the rear glass, other windows are cracked, and while the headlights work, the tail lights do not. That plate on the dash across from the passenger shows how to operate the two-speed axle.
Dodge C-series trucks commanded only about 7% market share – a distant third behind Chevrolet and Ford – during their run from 1954 to 1961. Finding a “Job Rated” medium-duty truck in good condition is nearly impossible; even 1950s light-duty Dodge pickups are uncommon. Notwithstanding the lack of comparables, the seller’s price seems reasonable to me. What do you think about this beefy project truck?
Just when all hope was lost,,,Ms. Rand to the rescue. At Walmart today, usually grumpy, deli lady, “why are you all smiles”? Well, my favorite site featured a truck today. Yep, that’s all it takes,,,for some. I’m surprised at the seemingly low sales, if a rural setting didn’t have an IH, it had a Dodge. In fact, once IH was gone, Dodge became the farmers choice. Unfortunately, the sales weren’t in rural areas. Farmers usually bought one, and that was it. The gauges are classic farmer, possibly from a Valiant(?) and I don’t think you’ll be doing any “split shifting”, it appears the knob is missing off the 2 speed cable. It’s a ( broken) cable to vacuum 2 speed valve, and operation was iffy( think vacuum wipers) It’s a great find, once so prevalent, most forgotten in a field now, but a usable truck for around the yard. For the record, I believe it’s a C3 or 1 ton. Parts are surely available, and I wouldn’t drag your feet on this one. More trucks, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!
Waaaaaait a second, I don’t think this is a C series. I read the C series went up to 1.5 ton, and the 2 ton was a D series(?) although some sites say they made a G,H, J, and K models, so it was confusing. It’s heavy duty regardless.
Love it!!! This truly looks like a Barn Find too. I’m with Howard about the two speed rear, once you get it functioning, I wouldn’t shift it unless its stationary or needed. It would be neat to see this one restored back to its former glory. I did not know until reading Michelles write up about the little Hemi V8s they had in these. I always thought they were all straight sixes. Once again Michelle, thank you for the great write up, you got two guys smiling today!!!
Runs, drives and the bed works, that’s one cheap farm truck!