I’ve never understood people who own cars and trucks whose engines turn over, and yet they blithely declare, “I never tried to get it running.” Why not exactly? Admittedly, this 1922 Dodge pickup, on eBay in Pittsfield, Massachusetts with 86,127 miles on the odometer and a $5,000 Buy It Now is not going to be driving around with just a jump start. But the owner appears correct in describing it as an “unmolested, unrestored survivor! This thing is really rare and a true conversation piece.”
OK, let’s have a conversation about it. The truck is sitting out, but from the looks of it may not have been there long. There’s surface rust galore, but no evident rust-through. The once-blue truck looks pretty dry. And just about everything is there. The right front fender has a big dent but appears repairable. The wooden wheels don’t look too bad, and the tires are holding a bit of air. The interior is shredded, but the seat frames might be saved.
Per the lovely blue badge, this is a Dodge Brothers truck, dating from before the acquisition by Chrysler in 1928. The Dodge brothers, Horace Elgin and John Francis, opened a machine shop in the early 1900s, with the Dodge Brothers brand emerging in 1914. The company became a supplier to other companies, including Ford for the Model A. Dodge was a World War I military supplier, too, with trucks a mainstay. But both brothers were gone in 1920, in which year Dodge was a sales leader.
Dodge became a major producer of light trucks, and in 1921 also started supplying commercial chassis to the Graham Brothers. The truck on offer appears to be a First Series Dodge Brothers model, introduced in 1921. The series was available with two inline sixes and two inline fours, and this truck is one of the latter. These trucks are pretty scarce but not all that valuable. Classic.com records only three First Series sales, with prices around $12,000 to $21,000.
The inline-four displaced 212 cubic inches and made 35 horsepower, but that was one of two fours available. Series One sales in 1922 were an impressive 98,310, with a total Dodge Brothers production of 152,673 that year.
All in all, this Dodge truck is a solid base for restoration. Speculators should look elsewhere, though—no killings to be made here.
Wow….soo cool but yet sooo far away…..somebody steal this truck !
I would love to “modernize” it with a slant six. Not sure I would be brave enough to keep the wood spoke wheels. Would be interested to hear what experience folks on this site have had with the wood wheels. Even when I was a kid that seemed like a bad idea.
This is not a 1922. Maybe around 1928 or 29.
It’s not a Buy-it-Now price, it’s the opening bid, and it’s not listed as a No-Reserve auction.
I think this guy knows he has something kind of special, even with a salvage title, and he’s not going to give it away.
I agree, not a ’22, I think the windshield/cab is the giveaway. Maybe a bit newer, a ’24 maybe? This truck did indeed spend most of its time under cover. It would never look like this if stored outside. Depends on how ambitious you are and its eventual purpose. From restore to as new, and it sits, or update with a modern motor, or best case scenario, just plop the body on a modern frame and be done with it. I realize the irony from my post on the Ford V8 one, saying I’m a purist, but realistically, an update is the only way to go.
This would be fun to try and get back on the road, I have never gotten the opportunity to Tinker with a old car or truck from these years. My truck doesn’t do well in the snow and there is lots of it between me and the seller making it difficult to go get it.
Hope it sells. The current owner is doing his best to destroy it by leaving it outside, covered or not.
“Engine turns over but I haven’t tried to get it running”. Been there. Why? I had an original ’29 Chevy truck a few years back that would have been simple to get running and I wanted to, but I asked the advice of a local shop / antique Chevy parts supplier locally (well known nationally). They said “DON’T”, recommending that I at least should first pull the oil pan on the 6 banger and clean out any crud before risking the 3 main bearings and antiquated oiling system. I took that as good advice but after planning to do that for 2 years I finally just passed it on to someone who wanted it more than me. Real shame, I’d love to have heard it run. Terry J
The Dodge marque was very successful but the Dodge brothers died within months of each other and left the Bank holding the bag. In desperation they turned to an up and comer named WP Chrysler that had successfully started his own company and was kind of the Lee J. Iacocca of his day. With very favorable Bank support and the massive dealer network that the Chrysler brand did not have, WP jumped at the deal and the rest is history. :-) Terry J
Cool old truck. Actually the Dodge Bros. supplied parts to Ford for use on Model Ts before they marketed their own car. Examining a T they decided that they could build a better car- and did. 1914 Dodge Brothers had a combination 12 volt starter/generator, among other advances. My brother in law restored a ‘15 Dodge Brothers Touring Car. Amazing vehicle for the era. GLWTS
Get it inside out of the snow and wet New England winter.
Isnt this like the one the Joads drove across RT 66 in The Grapes of Wrath? Had to change the babbits on the side of the road and then sold in the camp in Bakersfield?
Absolutely NOT a 1922. I would say it is no earlier than a 1928. The seller should get his facts straight before trying to sell it.
Sorry this is yard art not worth restoring
Maybe not a money maker, but worth reviving. Sure would be fun around town and local shows.
Again, early 80’s Mazda rotary, & a stiick.
FYI, the Dodge Brothers name was used until 1938.
UF-10 wasn’t even released until late 1930 making the first models 1931 models . Serial #, and when I zoom in on the engine # those two facts confirm it to be a 1931.
The good, it’s salvageable, most of the metal looks worth saving, has the correct engine (not sure about transmission, can’t see it), dash is correct, knobs and handles are right, wheels are right but will more than likely need new spokes to be safe due to the massive seperation. Possibly salvageable for a parade or yard truck.
The bad, a lot of work restoring the metal especially the missing section of the back of the cab (that’s not even close to original) and the bed is not original. Hardly unmolested… but hey, most folks don’t know that just be looking at a nearly 100 year old truck, but any perspective buyer should be aware of those details. Also, the radiator may be the wrong size or missing a trim piece at the minimum at the bottom. Headlights are from who knows what but they’re definitely not originals, original oval radiator cap is missing $200-300 part in decent shape IF you can find one.
Other than that… I’d say she’s a keeper for someone as long as they have the time and money.
Good call and great info! Would the roof of the cab originally been wood? You can see on this one what a nice curved shape it had;
https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1268546/1931-dodge-brothers-truck-for-sale-in-cadillac-michigan-49601
The one featured here is missing the original roof and had some metal crudely fitted on.
Definitely should have a wood roof. Here’s the description from a original sales booklet (can’t post photos here).
“Roof is molded fiber composition carried on a wooden frame with bows. It is padded and covered on the outside with black finish weatherproof fabric.”
So essentially bracing running front to back, then something like a masonite material over the bracing, covered in a black textured fabric like “long cobra grain” from Haartz.
The link Eric B posted has what appears to be original roof bracing when looking at the photo from inside the cab.
Here’s a couple of links that may clarify what the top cover material should be similar to:
https://www.haartz.com/longlong-cobra
https://www.haartz.com/vintage-restorers-guide/current-options-top-materials
I should clarify something,
a section at the corners of the back part of the cab do look original, but I believe the insert was added later as it sticks out too much, OR it’s just so beat to hell it looks wrong, either way it should be flush with the corners to avoid moisture entering. The seats are definitely original and have held up decent for their age considering the elements it must have been exposed to. Thankfully someone kept the windows up.
Here’s a small summarization of the original parts needed if anyone has the money to save it and if you can find the parts in good condition. Front bumper $150-300, radiator cap $100-300, correct bed $1000-2500, running boards $500-1000, tail light $100-250, headlights $200-500 set, the rest is pretty much there but needs complete restoration. The front emblem is roached and will be a around $300 to replace (if you can find one in great shape) or restore existing one for the same price. Original bed replication or finding one in salvable condition will definitely be the most costly item on the list.
I found one while surveying power lines in North East Minnesota. It had a Blue Ceramic label on the center fold hood that was pretty big that said Dodge Brothers on it. I have never seen one quite like it again.
From what I’ve studied, the larger trucks had the larger emblems which would make sense naturally.
Follow this link to see a description of the truck radiator badges and note the size differences in millimeters when comparing.
http://www.americanautoemblems.com/2019/10/dodge-brothersdodge.html
This link shows what the original bed looks like (same as the truck on Erib B’s link above)
https://momentcar.com/pic/get
Definitely newer than a 22, it has a fuel pump, earlier models had a vacuum/gravity fuel system, up through at least 1927. That’s a fairly modern aftermarket turn signal switch, the truck may have still been in use not too many years ago. The data plate says Manufactured by Graham Brothers, Division of Chrysler. Never heard of that before, learn something new everyday I guess. Too much too totally restore, the running boards alone would probably be next to impossible to find. I’d just do enough to make it drivable, and play with it on the back roads
Why does Eustace Haney come to mind?
Hook up the team and use her around the farm.