Projects Found a '53 Dodge Panel w/ 30K miles

Since I sold my 3-W coupe I have been looking around for a winter project. Found this 1953 Dodge Panel truck(supposedly all the same from 48-53) just 5 miles from my house in a little one-stall garage on the west side of town. The man who has it bought it 15 years ago from a Florist Shop that no longer needed it. It is all original with 30K miles. It has just two spots of rust on the exterior. The interior looks like it is new yet. I even asked if was reupholstered! It has the original flathead 6 cylinder with 3 speed on the column. No radio but a factory heater, stock 6:50 X 16" tires and wheels with original caps. Original bumpers, grill, etc, not a dent in the body anywhere. It has no brakes right now but the former owner says it had leaky front wheel cylinders for the last two years when he drove it occasionly. I pick it up tomorrow afternoon and will get it home to fix the brakes. With any luck with parts, I should have it driving by next weekend.

 

cool

 

Man, that thing is cool.. great score....

 

that will be a great project very cool

 

It would be a shame to change it. Very few trucks survive so intact, most were beat to death and worn out. Even fewer panel trucks.

That one belongs in a museum or, lovingly preserved not restored. If ever a truck deserved to be kept original its that one.

 

that is a beautiful truck indeed! waaaay jealous over here.

 

This is a hot rod site not a museum site, I say chop it up!!!!

 

Very cool.

 

That thing is awesome! I love it

 

Sweet!

 

some of us have all the luck.

 

cool...sold my "Greyhound" equip (windows) awhile back....damn old flat 6 will run and run and run...

 

Man that is sweet, lower it and get it goin highway speed and call it done!

 

Cool old truck. I just finished a 53 Dodge pickup I bought on the HAMB from Texas. if you ever get tired of your beauty, drop me a line. I would love to ad it to my collection. original work trucks have a soft spot on me. my friend has his dad's all original 35 chevy panel delivery ,and his 55 chevy first series 1/2 ton[national show winner] his father bought both new. right now I have a 47 ford 1/2 ton. was retored in 1998. A 57 CHEVY 14 FOOT bodied bread truck[ that i drove all over the country in my hippie days . 1969-1989 , my fathers 1936 dodge N.Y. telephone pole boom trucK, a neat 46 dodge 1/2 ton that needs tlc. thanks for posting the pictures. Cadillac Dave

 

Damn! Nice find. Would like to get a panel one day. Keep us updated.

 

Here is the plan...keep it all stock and drive it. Only change I may consider making is switching it to a dual reservoir master cylinder. Needs new tires too and I will do that but retain stock wheels and caps. I nned a new water pump if anyone has one!

 

Cool survivor.


Look in the door jamb to see if it has the tag with the serial number. Id so, you can run the number to see the build date.

I thought the trim ring on the wheel was a 52 only thing. I have a 52 dodge truck, but it was originally titled as 53. Check it out just so you know what you have.

I dont think you can buy a direct bolt in dual port mc...the pilothouse truck forum has details on the mod you need to make to the mount.

I think you can get a new pump at napa.

 

http://www430.pair.com/p15d24/mopar_forum/forumdisplay.php?f=8

Link to the pilothouse site

 

Very cool truck. It would be reconditioned to the point of being safe and become a daily driver if it were mine.

Frank

 

Dan, Thanks for the help!

 

Fix it up the way it is and just make it safe. Great find and it would be a shame to cut it up.....

 

My neighbor (the shop across the spur tracks next to my shop) stored a new aquisition for a customer of his for 30 days.

I went over to assist neighbor with a problem, noticed the Panel truck sitting in the rear of the shop. It was a Heavy 3/4 ton panel, (long body) '37 Ford, 85 H.P. with std. 3-speed. Still black & green, with fresh 7.00X16 Firestones all around...the panel inlays still bore the name of the business it had belonged to: "Navlett's Florist, San Jose, Calif."

Truck had 21K original miles, and the new owner shared a basic ignorance for all things Early Ford with my neighbor. I asked, neighbor replied: "It's old, probably worth something..." This was the truck to die for! Always garaged, no dents or dings...
It was gone before I could get ahold of it...

 

thats a pretty cool score , an original shape makes it even cooler

 

nice find. You can swap for disks in the front for better braking, something to think about.

Here is a link: http://www.scarebird.com/index.php?id=1

 

I love survivor finds. Enjoy the ride........

 

Got it home, here are some more pics. Even drove it around the yard with no brakes. Runs great, good clutch, just no whoa!

 

I have decided to name this truck "Herman" after Herman Munster. It seems like it has a large forehead and and is big, ugly, and clumsy...just like Herman! Seems like a good fit to me. No offense to any other HAMBERS that have a similar truck.

 

You know I'm going to like it.

 

Those flower pedals arent as rough on things as 2x4s ! Those pedal pushers kept good care of that one for ya . Extra cool because its something different .

 

Herman is about as cool as it gets. Man I love these panels and this one is ultra sweet. I like your plan for this rare bird, rock on and keep on smilin!! ~Sololobo~