Dodge advertised its 1940s truck line as “Job-Rated,” and this 1946 Dodge WC half-ton panel started as a working vehicle for a San Francisco plumbing repair company. Today, this truck is still working for another San Francisco business.
This line of “Job-Rated” Dodge trucks debuted in 1939 as the T-Series. It became the V-Series in 1940 and the W-Series in 1941 and 1942. Half-ton models on the shortest 116-inch wheelbase were WC. Three-quarter and one-ton models were WD, and heavier trucks were called WF. Dodge continued building some for the Army after civilian truck production ended in April 1942, and then put them back in civilian production with almost no changes in December 1945.
Like a lot of early postwar models, this was basically a 1930s design, with distinctive Art Deco looks. The interruption of the war probably kept it around longer than Dodge expected, but truck design changed slowly back then, and if a look was to last, this was a good one. (It was replaced by the all-new B-1-B line in 1948.)
I believe the current owner, John, has owned the Dodge for six years. As you can see from the livery, he uses it for his heating and air conditioning business. I had already seen this Dodge a year or two before at the Danville Cars & Coffee gatherings. Back then, it was very original, with 78 years of patina. However, rust was showing up in the rockers, and the owner decided to have it repaired, while keeping it as original as possible.
Word is the repair shop pulled out buckets of leaves from the rockers. Then, the paint job applied served against rust damage, keeping all the dents. Now all four fenders had visible damage, and it looks like a dolly and hammer were used to bang out the dents. Replacement body panels for these trucks aren’t easy to come by.
The wipers were vacuum powered back in the day, but I wouldn’t blame the owner if they were upgraded to electric.
I love how it says Made in the U.S.A. at the bottom, as if there would be any doubt in 1946.
The Dodge “Ram” head? I know their trucks are called Ram today, but when I saw this detail I didn’t realize how far back the concept went, and that it first appeared in 1932.
“Dodge” streamlined lettering.
Notice that the van still carries its original plate with a current 2027 tag.
Now for add-ons. John added turn signals front and back, which make daily driving easier in this old working truck.
To take a look into the interior, I opened the passenger side door (If you noticed earlier, the driver’s side is locked by plastic piping). There does happen to be a GPS screen to find locations, which makes sense. However, faithful Thomas Bros. maps come into use when the signal gets lost.
Pure basic, old-style hardworking quarters.
Oh, what is that little blue tag on the dashboard’s lower left? Those are the auxiliary fuel pump indications, which you wouldn’t want to forget how to operate. However, if one forgets about it, worst case is the truck will coast to a stop (unlike on a plane, which does happen, with very different results if you’re up in the air).
The blue tape on the door’s sides has done a lot of work keeping up with maintenance and operation notes.
Wonder what’s powering the van nowadays? Looks to still be the original 218CID flathead six these came with.
Through 1941, only the heavier WD trucks used this engine (the WC used a 201CID version), but the WC got it for 1942, raised to 95 HP and 172 lb/ft gross, and that’s what these WC trucks used in 1946 and 1947. Dodge also published net ratings for this engine, which were 78.5 HP and 166.6 lb-ft in 1946.
I saw when the van’s owner drove off, and all I can say is that there wasn’t much to hear; unlike other attendants revving their Mustang engines before leaving.
Now, did I say this was a work van? This Dodge has plenty of space for that purpose.
I’m told that is the original wood bed.
Tools of the owner’s trade and, as you can see, many are quite vintage. Tin snips, wood level, drop light, and block and tackle.
A few more:
Pipe cutter.
Working ladders on top.
And then there’s this roof installation done by the previous business long ago. No working truck remains in stock condition, right?
Last, let’s not forget first aid, and from the W.P.A. in this van. Whether you are a Seabee or someone dealing with ducting and piping, you’re bound to get scrapes and cuts. Don’t worry, this kit has been refilled, and it’s full of the 21st century bandages and ointments one might need when occupational hazards occur.
Related CC reading:
1946 Fargo – It Doesn’t Dodge From Work
Love it! Tons of admiration for the owner for keeping it mostly original, with only the sort of homemade upgrades that anyone on a budget could do. I hope it keeps giving him good service for a long time.
These Dodges weren’t beautiful, honestly, but they had the kind of homely, honest face you wouldn’t forget, without the intentionally intimidating mien of many trucks today.
I looked at that 1st picture and said “There’s no way that’s actually a working van. Maybe the owner drives it when he needs to give an estimate on something. It’s too clean to be hauling that ladder and dolly off of the roof all of the time”. But the other photos convinced me. Not only is it earning it’s keep, but it has all of the scars and dents of a proper truck. Kudos to the owner for keeping it on the road and not relegating it to a garage queen. There aren’t enough trucks being trucks any more.
2 phone numbers are posted in the logo —
This one caught my attention:
MUlberry 9 – 1993 — with no area code ….. left over from 1946 ?
We (“of a certain age”) can write a long list of the picturesque “exchanges” in our phone numbers past.
– – – BEverly 5-
– – – DAyton 9-
– – – TUlip 2 –
Wishing another 80 years to this spectacular truck !
Beautiful
*VERY* nice ! .
I especially like the unrestored aspect, clearly it gets worked but just as clearly it’s current owner cherishes it and takes care of it .
No mention is made of 6 or 12 volts, generator or alternator up grade .
For those who have and enjoy touring in vintage 6 volt vehicles, Garmin works fine on 6 volts, no modifications necessary .
The device on the right rear appears to be a pipe vise and bending tool .
Long may this fine old rig survive and prosper .
-Nate
Wonderful, and a brave owner. Wouldn’t this thing be a bit scary on CA freeways, with 70-odd horses and approximately brakes? Maybe he somehow keeps to smaller roads with that satnav.
I have vague recall of our local greengrocer delivering to our house in a cream stakebed one of these in the early ’70’s, though it might’ve been a Chev. (Yes, Ficaro’s was still a place where mum went in and ordered whilst they packed, paid – quite probably on their credit – and we walked back to the car!)
I had no idea of that ram history. I presumed it was an awful, aggressive marketing name from the ’90’s (?) for silly 10mpg utes with 11 foot high grilles.
Congestion on Bay Area freeways is so bad that average speeds are not usually that high except perhaps in the middle of the night. I’d be more worried about the brakes than not having enough power, most of the time.
No, that is only during commute or heading towards San Francisco on the weekends after 10:00 AM. I drove down 680 this morning, from Concord to Lafayette at 70 in the AMC, I was being blown off the road by cars at 80+ at 8:15 AM which is very common on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A friend of mine comes across the San Mateo Bridge Saturday mornings at 80 mph and it routinely blown off the bridge by cars at 110-130 mph heading east.
I like it, dents and all.
Saw the owner today and showed him his truck. He was unaware of Curbside Classic like so many others. Had an interesting conversation of how houses were kept cool back in the days before A/C all of which made great sense till we got spoiled by technology.
So the Dodge still uses it’s 6V positive ground system. The 2 speed wipers are still vacuum as he knows how to maintain them correctly. He told me this as we stood next to his 1940 Chevrolet Special that is a parttime daily driver. He has driven the car down to Mexico. Also discussed his 1938 Dodge pickup and 1941 Packard. Oh, he says the truck, here, is 1947.
I only have one nit to pick (because I’m a license plate collector): The ’47 plates on this truck are passenger car plates, and they should be commercial plates, with a stacked “PC” (for pneumatic tired commercial vehicle) in the first position. When the DMV clerks okay vintage plates for YOM use, they usually don’t have a clue.
But that’s pretty inconsequential in the grand scheme of things- I love the look of this truck and the fact that it is still a working truck!