The story of the Dodge Brothers, how they got into the car business and how Chrysler purchased them later is an interesting one. Along the way, they got into the truck business, too, and the seller’s pickup is one of the models produced with Chrysler’s influence. This 1936 Dodge pickup has only had two owners and been parked under cover since 1980, so, it’s a project through and through. It can be found in Tacoma, Washington, and is available here on Hemmings for $3,500 OBO. Thanks, art, for digging this one out for us!
Since we don’t have much more information to offer about the seller’s truck and only two photos, let’s dive into the background of the early Dodge truck business. After making parts for other automobile builders, John and Horace Dodge went into business for themselves in 1914. They started out with cars and didn’t get into commercial trucks until after World War I. They entered the civilian truck business in the late 1920s after buying the Graham Brothers, who had been selling pickups to Dodge dealers already. Then came 1928 and Chrysler acquired Dodge and the first new product after this transaction was a half-ton pickup in 1929, which we believe is the basis for the seller’s offering. By 1933, Dodge trucks began using a Chrysler engine which was modified for durability. This was a 201 cubic inch flat-head six-cylinder good for 70 hp that would be used by Plymouth through 1960. (Source: History of Dodge Pickup Trucks, 1921-53)
By the mid-1930s, Dodge was on a roll and increased its truck offerings by selling 3/4 ton and one-ton trucks based on the standard ½ ton pickup. They also got into the large truck market in 1936, but that’s not applicable here. The big news for the 1936 Dodge pickups was that a synchronized three-speed manual transmission would become available alongside the un-synchronized one that was standard. We don’t know from the seller’s limited information if this is a half-ton or ¾ ton pickup. It generally appears to be in good salvageable condition and ready for someone to put in the effort and time to get it going again. The photo above is an example of what the seller’s truck could have looked like back in the day.
Seems like a good opportunity at that price.
With only two pictures it’s hard to tell much, but the right front fender seems to be missing. Still for the price this could turn out to be a good buy.
God bless America
With only two photos it’s hard to tell much, but the right front fender is missing.
God bless America
And good luck finding one.
Would make a nice hot rod for sure!! Enough good body parts to get it going but I wonder how hard it would be to find that passenger side front fender without getting some light gauge after market pos!!!
Have a partner who can fab up a fender in a few days. Last one he did was for a similar truck. Cost was $3,000. Not cheap by any means but if unable to source one what choice do you have?
Only two photos? Very interesting but more information please. I reckon you will just have to ask the owner themselves. Just like we used to do. Remember reading the classified ads in the newspaper, trying to make sense of the sellers description, decode their abbreviations and jargon? Finally just shrugging and calling the phone number and asking questions?
Anybody?
That was a lot of fun and you never knew who was going to pick up the phone on the other end! More Fun!
’37 and ’38 probably used the same fender. Easier to find?
Dog is my co-pilot.
Crying about a fender……try finding a nice truck for that price !
Good price for the condition that it is in, wish it was closer to Mo.
Good luck getting any response from the seller. Sent two notes through Hemmings, which is the only way to contact the owner. Don’t know if its sold, or what. Maybe in the junk file that nobody has checked.
yes……same non-response to me also.
That mint looking grill far outweighs the missing fender.
Ever been to Carlisle? Mountains of fenders.
Made a good offer for this truck, but as you said, can not talk directly to owner so no idea what is happening with it
Never got a reply to if I pay you the $3,500.00 asking price, since you said or best offer, I would like that total to include the shipping it down here to Santa Rosa, California.
Thanks
I sent asking for more pictures and information about the fender never got a reply