I try not to romanticize, but wow, a 1958 Dodge D500 dump truck in front of a gen-u-ine quonset hut shed – does it get any better? This old gal is looking for a new home after many decades of regular use. Can you picture this truck, radiant after a restoration, in a slot at the ATHS National Show? Purpose-built farm trucks mostly didn’t survive their life of service, so you would probably be the only kid on your block heaving down the road in a Class 5 dump truck. This one is listed in several places: I found it at one of my favorite “guilty-pleasure” sites, Machinery Trader. The seller is asking $5500, the dump hoist still works, and it’s located in Edinburg, North Dakota.
Dodge’s D500 was a two-wheel drive version of its W-series, introduced in 1957 as a submodel of the Power Wagon. Nomenclature was unusually confusing around this time, with the C-series and military wagons produced at the same time. Either way you slice it, this is a big daddy, with a GVWR of 16,001 to 19,500 lbs. A 318 cu. in. V8 powers this truck, about well enough to lumber up to 40 mph. But highway aspirations were not the point – these big trucks hauled heavy loads over short distances in low gears. This one has a four-speed manual and a two-speed axle. The PTO has been removed to repair a u-joint; other than that, the seller notes it runs and drives well!
Given its age and duties, the cabin is in decent condition. The steering wheel is cracked, the rubber mats should be replaced, and I’m pretty sure the upholstery has seen better days, but the glass is good, and someone has obviously cared for the old gal. Ok, the ride is going to be rough, and operating that gearshift will be no treat, but in its way, this big Dodge broadcasts a majesty that sets it apart.
Close-ups of the tires reveal cracking rubber, so before you take off for home, please buy a new set. That’s a single axle back there, but it’s a dually, so budget accordingly. Rust seems minimal – but nothing beats a personal inspection. Wish I had the space for this – it’s a great example of the workhorses that helped build America.
This is pretty cool, and I wish the site would feature more of this. I’ve sent in so many vintage trucks I thought would be of interest. For whatever reason, they never make it( but $800 Chevy Corsicas do). Thing is, with these types of submissions, we get to hear from folks like Geomechs, or Jim R., or me( cough) that have real world experience with these. Lambos not so much.
Anyway, the author is correct, Dodge had confusing model names then, but this truck was literally all new for 1958. Part of the “Power Giant” makes. Unlike the restoration picture shown, a ’57, the cab was new, and used all the way to 1975 with the ill-fated, but extremely cool, the Bighorn semi. The motor, a 315, ( 314.6 to be exact) not 318, was new for trucks and I believe the hemi was available for the heaviest models. Seems moot today, but going from the old flattie 6 to a V8 was a huge bonus. I’m sure it’s a low mileage truck, any road truck, those step wells would be gone, and I can assure you the speedo is probably inoperative. They used an electric gearbox on the speedometer with 2 speed rear ends, that changed the speed with every split shift. They broke and were never repaired. This truck led a cushy life, and is a beast. If the speedo does work, it represents a lot of trips across the field, ask me how I know. The tires do look bad, but for around the farm, they will last for years. I just wouldn’t be putting 20 tons of sand in the box.
It’s a beast, no way to sugar coat it, every farm had one. The shift lever alone speaks volumes. Farmers, including their daughters, made excellent truck drivers from cutting their teeth on trucks like this. I happen to know, when mom and pop went “into town” on Saturday night for that new Clark Gable movie at the Bijou, the kids took turns seeing how fast they could get the dump truck going,,,,I sure miss those times,,,
Great background, Howard, thanks! … Note that the advert claims this is a 318 but you’re right that most sources say orig eqpt was a 315 and yes the hemi was an option.
I searched high and low and it appears that very few folks have restored these old Dodges. The ’57 was the closest I could come. That would make this truck a hit even if a guy just did the minimum, at a show….
As for the 315 and 318 situation. Thats a very modern air cleaner and housing , like one you’d find on a modern 318. Wouldn’t this have had an Oil Bath air cleaner on it for circa 1958? Maybe they repowered it? I’m no expert on 1950s Chrysler engines, but that may be a 318 from something newer. ( Good Lord not a LEAN BURN SYSTEM!!!! Just kidding, but it does look modern. Just a thought.
No, no, THANK YOU, Dave is sharp, I think it may be a 318. The air cleaner is spot on, they did have oil bath ones, and I read, the 315 had a different intake manifold, and I think I see some blue, indicating an early 70s motor. and it has an alternator. 318s were a dime a dozen, and by 1970, the 315 could have easily been shot. The ’57 the author shows is special as well, as it was only made for 1 year.
If you have an interest in old trucks, I highly recommend the ATHS show Ms.Rand mentions. Last one I attended was Milwaukee, 1993, when I was a member,,by gar, it’s been a while. You shan’t be disappointed.
Howard is correct, thisengine appears to be a 1975 or newer 318 2 barrel out of a car (Dart?) with shorty dipstick, center sump oil pan (with the obligatory big dent from the straight axle), egr valve on the intake and osac valve on air cleaner, etc…
Michelle… First off I want to say great write up!!! And Howard, I’m always learning something from you. I never knew about how the speedometers worked in these with the 2 speed rears. I really enjoyed your write up and your comment Howard. Thank you both!!! I love this Dodge. ( and Michelle before you ask…. Yepper, just add this one
to my barrel). ( Michelle is saying barrel?? Were just going to start looking for a nice dried up lake bed at this point for Dave). I really appreciated your image of the restored Dodge too. This truck needs the right individual to buy it and restore it faithfully in my opinion. You just dont see Dodges like you do Fords, Chevys, and GMCs. I totally agree with Howard about the tires on a farm, just not too much weight. I’ve seen some pretty sketchy tractor tires where we used to live but they worked. Again. Love this write up and can’t wait for people like Geomechs to chime in too.
In regards to the speedo these were the days before yearly safeties and dealerships refused to stock parts to repair them because most truck owners and fleets didn’t repair anything they didn’t have too. They often failed in ether the high or low position and the driver was just expected to adapt.
It was the only time you could “bury the needle” when the speedo was stuck in low range. If you think how many times those gears changed, it’s remarkable they lasted as long as they did. I believe them sitting was worse.
For age and use this old gal is in really nice shape! The 2speed is a really nice option that most trucks this size didn’t get. If it were mine I wouldn’t do anything but clean, clean, clean ‘er up and be sure to park it in a shed when not on the road. Only thing that bothers me is they “pulled the PTO to replace a u-joint”? You have a driveshaft from the gear box on the side of the transmission to a pump, pull that shaft, run down to the NAPA store for a joint (no, not that kind of joint!) and you should be back in business in thirty minutes or less.
Hey Jim, I thought you might like this. From what I remember, the PTO was on the side of the gearbox, and a shaft leading to the pump farther away mounted on the frame. Maybe the only way was to take the PTO off. Now they use a combination PTO/pump with much better results. Why didn’t we think of that??? :)
Hey Howard, married pump? What fun would that be! Here’s Dr. Suess’s take on PTO shafts
I have fixed them cold or hot
I’ve fixed them on a parking lot
I’ve fixed them lying in the snow
When the temperature was 10 below
I’ve fixed them laying in the mud
cleaning up after a flood
fixing u-joints ain’t so tuff
just make sure you charge enough! :)
Very nice shape! This body style was appealing to the likes of me. It seemed like everyone was taking a break from those rounded-off shapes to more boxy–until they started to round them off again.
These had a presence out in the Chinook Belt but they fell short of what came out of GM, Ford and International. Nothing wrong with them; I actually liked the looks of them and sure wouldn’t kick one off my driveway. Sure wouldn’t know what to do with it though.
Definitely an engine swap in there. The original unit would’ve likely been a Poly-head 315/318. Considerably bulkier and heavier than this one. But in 1958 you weren’t likely to encounter an alternator (1960 for that from Chrysler) and you wouldn’t see a hot air door in the air cleaner snorkel until the late 60s. Chrysler revamped its small V-8s in the later 60s. Nothing wrong with that; they still performed very well. From a mechanic’s viewpoint, the newer engine had more of a tendency to crack heads. When they came into the shop pushing coolant out the overflow, you could resign yourself to at least one new doorstop.
Nice to see these still out there. I would love to see this one preserved/restored and NOT having to sacrifice its cab to some other project. If it came my way, I’d try to source out a more original engine…
Truck is a 1959 with the gauge cluster and the front grill agreeing with me also the engine should be a 318 poly with a 2bbl carb unless it was replaced in the past
Nice, I just passed on a 70s load stare for $600 bucks it needed a new battery and carb gasket. I should have got it but I couldn’t figure out what I would do with it after fixing because I don’t know the market on grain trucks and I don’t really have a need for it.
I still like the wrap-around windshields from the late 50s and early 60s. And oh how I miss vent windows! I had a 78 Silverado with broken vent windows and found a pair at the local pull-a-part. Sent the truck to 800-Junker heaven for $350 (I paid $300, rebuilt the 305 myself, and put about 100K on it hauling all sorts of umm, errrr, things). I still have the vent windows and frames, as well as an NOS floorpan and battery box. Some day I’ll find a use.
Chris beat me to it, but the data plate, grille, and the interior show it to indeed be a ’59.
I have a couple myself, including a 9 foot box Sweptline and a low mileage Sweptside which many sources claim less than 100 were built in the month and a half they were made in the final year of ’59.
This is definitely one which I would love to add to the group and it isn’t that far from me up in potato country. Am thinking it may well have hauled a load of spuds or dirt from the process thru the years…..
YEP!!! Just clean and clean, then give it tune up and check the brake lines and you have an excellent all around the hobby farm workhorse.. At local car shows and cars and coffee this truck will definitely be a conversation starter!! Bias tires weather a lot better than radials so with a few side wall cracks your are OK if you do not overload it.. If you are worried, With some careful measurements you can find RV wheels, with tubeless radials, that will fit the Dodge bolt pattern. As to truck shows the ATCA national show in Macungie PA on the Friday and Saturday of Father’s Day weekend is the better of the two national shows with in excess of 1000 antique trucks.