Now, this is something we don’t come across every day: a restored dump truck, looking for a new owner to put it back to work. And it’s not doing it in some obscure corner of the Internet, but through the sales channels that usually land Camaros and Corvettes in the hands of car collectors.
Not many of us remember this now, but there was a time when Dodge itself (not Ram) made dump trucks. The first run was in production from 1939 to 1946, and three variants were made: the T, V, and W series. Together, they became known as the Job-Rated family.
The one we have here is a 1.5-ton W series made in 1946. It comes with a functional short-sided dump body at the back and a body restored close to the original Art Deco shine of many decades ago.
Now, why would anyone do a “full nut-and-bolt restoration” for a truck that is not exactly show material is anybody’s guess. Yet here it is, trying to sell, but for the moment without great success.
Powered by a 331-ci (5.4-liter) engine, the largest available for the Job-Rated line back in the day, the truck is capable of developing 128 hp. That may not seem like much, judging by today’s standards, but it seems to be more than enough for any job this machine would have to perform today.
Lacking visible rust areas and sporting a remade interior (quite a nice-looking one, if you ask me, even if it lacks modern amenities such as a radio), the truck is listed on Hemmings with reserve. We have no idea how much the reserve is, but the $3,500 someone offered for it does not meet it.
Then again, there are seven days left in the process, and one of the six bidders that placed offers really seems to want it.
The one we have here is a 1.5-ton W series made in 1946. It comes with a functional short-sided dump body at the back and a body restored close to the original Art Deco shine of many decades ago.
Now, why would anyone do a “full nut-and-bolt restoration” for a truck that is not exactly show material is anybody’s guess. Yet here it is, trying to sell, but for the moment without great success.
Powered by a 331-ci (5.4-liter) engine, the largest available for the Job-Rated line back in the day, the truck is capable of developing 128 hp. That may not seem like much, judging by today’s standards, but it seems to be more than enough for any job this machine would have to perform today.
Lacking visible rust areas and sporting a remade interior (quite a nice-looking one, if you ask me, even if it lacks modern amenities such as a radio), the truck is listed on Hemmings with reserve. We have no idea how much the reserve is, but the $3,500 someone offered for it does not meet it.
Then again, there are seven days left in the process, and one of the six bidders that placed offers really seems to want it.