This is the fifth solid-survivor vintage pickup truck I’ve written about in the past month. And most haven’t been Fords or Chevys, but the “other brands,” including International and Studebaker. Now I can add a “Job Rated” 1956 Dodge to the list. Isn’t this a cool looking pickup? And the “face” on the front end reminds me a little of the Mater truck character in the Cars Movie. Located in Sonoma, California, this old green workhorse is for sale here on craigslist for $8,700. Another tip of the hat to tipster T.J. for sending us this dandy old Dodge.
The seller is very light on details about the Dodge’s history and what it’s been up to the past 66 years. It’s located in Sonoma and based on how solid and rust-free it appears, perhaps it’s spent its entire life out West. It’s all there, the glass and trim look good, it doesn’t seem to have been abused (I’m not spotting the usual dings, bumps, scratches or bumper dents), and the faded original factory green paint is awesome. I would’ve liked to have seen a photo of the bed, though, and those don’t appear to be the original wheel covers.
This Dodge feature’s a unique “butterfly” hood and it’s cool to see the now-familiar rams head logo on the front in a round medallion above DODGE. The seller claims the truck is “strong running with a Mopar flat 6.” Even thought V8’s were offered, the engine appears to be Dodge’s base flathead 230-cubic inch inline-six which would’ve had 115 horsepower when it left the factory. It is mated to a three-on-the-tree column shift manual transmission. Mileage is listed at “1000” and the seller says the pickup has “a pre-COVID” new battery and new plugs.”
There aren’t too many photos of the truck’s utilitarian green and black interior, but it looks like it has solid floors and you get to see the old pickup’s original shade of dark green paint. The bench seat has been reupholstered in a silver or gray material and you can spot a tear on the bottom of the driver’s side.
This pickup is part of Dodge’s C Series, which was totally redesigned in 1954 and would last until 1960. It reflects what was going on in the evolving look and function of pickup trucks in the mid-1950s with larger, roomier cabs, wraparound windshields, and creature comforts such as – gasp – armrests! 1956 was a banner year for the American-built half-ton pickup and I think this Dodge is just as attractive and functional as its better-selling counterparts, Ford and Chevy. This look like a good, solid survivor. What do you think?
Paint it robins egg blue and it would look like my first truck. Though it has a early Desoto Hemi transplanted into it. It was one of those transitional projects, finally got it running then had to sell it to make the down payment on the first house.
Lug bolts drove me nuts till I figured on each side turned in an opposite direction to get them off.
My 1968 Dodge Coronet had reverse threads on the drivers side too. I learned about them as an adolescent helping my grandfather changing into his snow tires for the winter.
not a big deal as some lead, simple as replacing them with right hand studs…
LOL U cant believe how many folks got screwed up with the left hand Threads! I feel your pain 86 vette! This would make a great truck for a transplant- baby Hemi, slant 6 leaning tower of power, 340- or leave. I wouldnt touch the body.
Good luck. The ugliness of the schnozz on this one makes it so attractive- Don’t see em at all in the rust belt.
Cheers
GPC
tisk tisk…
Butterfly hood is cool. Love the color. Boy, the rustic original trucks are just coming out of the woodwork these days…..
Wow runs and drives and they aren’t stupid high on the price
had a 58 for 43 years. Best truck ever. Sure didn’t get that kind of $$$ for it when I sold it . . . but we can all sing that song, eh?
Pretty unique- pretty rare, and pretty pretty. . All OEM. Hard to argue with the price. AND, in my own town! I hope somebody local buys it, and asks me to help restore it! HA!
Hey Jim:
I left a msg for the seller (Johnny). I hope he calls back.
Denny N.
Oregon
About 7 years ago while visiting a mostly Chevy private salvage yard I came across a ’55 Dodge pickup. It was sky blue and had the small displacement V8. Other than the rotted bed wood and missing steering wheel it looked to be a worthwhile project. Fix whatever and drive as is or rod it as I have a good running ’73 Dodge motorhome w/360 and automatic. The PU owner who is now around 85 years old would not accept my $1000 offer. It’s probably still sinking into the dirt. The salvage owner let the truck owner park several vehicles on the property, VW buses, 1960’s Buicks and this truck. They had a falling out as the old guy stopped paying rent. And the Chevy guy HATES anything NOT GM. When I’d come driving my ’01 Dodge 3500 he’d give me guff, to put it nicely. I had bought several items from him and considered him to be a ‘sort of’ friend. Well, I came to find out the Chevy guy (Dale Rice) passed away last year so his brother ‘may have’ taken over. It was a battle to just get in there before but now it seems impossible. It’s located a little southwest of Newton Hills state park in South Dakota, maybe 25 miles southeast of Sioux Falls. Google Earth it. Several tri-five Chevy pickups and late 60s, early 70s pickups as well as several dozen old cars. A ton of loose parts like doors, hoods and front clips, nothing newer than the 60s. I’m thinking an auction may be forthcoming and if so, I’ll share the info here if that’s alright.
Is the driver’s floor patched?
If you’re referring to the big “patch” that what you unscrew to replace the battery in the battery box.