This will likely be the last shots I use from Tim Finn’s upload to the Cohort from the “Corvette Days” car show in Portland. It’s about as polarly opposite of a Corvette as possible. And if I’m reading the details of the grille right, this is a 1939 Dodge 1/2 ton pickup, as compared to the ’40-’47 models, which generally all looked very similar.
Too bad Tim didn’t get a shot of the engine compartment. Given that this is Portland and from the looks of the truck and its driver, I feel safe in saying that a venerable flathead six is hiding in there. If it’s the original engine, it had all of 201 cubic inches, down from 218 in 1938. Why? We’ll probably never know.
It may well have had a later version of that august family of Mopar sixes swapped in at some time in its long life, but we’ll apparently never know that either. Mysteries to live with. And I could sure live with this truck.
My mom told me that she learned to drive in a “1940” Dodge pickup during the war (WW2). She would point out similar looking trucks when these were a lot more common on the roads. Looks like this one is still going strong.
I had never noticed that grille distinction before between the 39 and the later versions. I like the look of these more and more the older I get.
It was a close match to the ’39 Dodge ‘Luxury Liner’ grille treatment. As far as I can tell, all 39 ChryCo passenger lines used the same front clip design, if not actual stampings, with modified trim pieces.
Down from 2018 to 201, that’s a huge drop in cubes! 🙂
We got them in all sizes badged Dodge or Fargo Where my dad worked they had a 2 tonner badged Fargo ex lend lease that carted tractors it was finally retired in the 70s when Massey Fergusons out grew it, My uncle drove a 39 bus as a school bus everyday for years it finally retired in the late 70s, there are still some pickups on the road, great old trucks, I missed out on a 1/2 ton at an auction a few years ago it was being let go from food truck duty and still ran well with the original flathead.
Great find and pics! Nice weathered appearance on all the paint work.
A nice looking survivor .
-Nate