3 Fargos And A Dodge...

[Kato659]

Hi all,

 

First off I wanted to thank everyone who contributes on this forum.  I've pored through and searched the forums, and got lots of good info from the website.

 

In the last 2 weeks or so, I've gone from 0 pilot house trucks to 4, as seen in the attached picture.  They're all 1 tons; 3 1950's and a '51, 3 Fargos and a '50 Dodge.

 

My plan is to rebuild them into 2 registered, plated vehicles and a parts/water-go-getter truck.

 

I'm going to be posting photos as things go along and try to cement exactly what's going where and what it's going to look like.

 

Cheers, and thanks again!

[ggdad1951]

Welcome!  You have some NICE vehicles!  I look forward to your progress.

[Plymouthy Adams]

they like eggs..they cheaper in the country.....good luck in your venture

[Don Coatney]

Good looking collection but I did not see any pilothouse trucks in your collection.

[B1B Keven]

Good looking collection but I did not see any pilothouse trucks in your collection.

 

I see 4.

 

Welcome!

[Don Coatney]

I thought a pilothouse truck was a truck with rear 1/4 windows in the cab?

[B1B Keven]

I thought a pilothouse truck was a truck with rear 1/4 windows in the cab?

 

Nope. Any '48-'53 Dodge truck. Corner cab windows were an option.

 

See, it was worth getting out of bed today, ya learned somethin'.

[Don Coatney]

I may have learned something that I dont understand. The trucks got the name pilothouse due to the high cab and visibility the same as the pilothouse on a boat. A three window cab does not have the surround visibility.

[ggdad1951]

just like everything marketing in the world...it doesn't ALWAYS mean you get what the advertise for the base price

[Merle Coggins]

I believe that is correct Don. And like Mark says, you may not always get what is marketed.

I also believe I read that the Canadian built trucks never did get the corner windows. That wasn't an option up there?

 

Merle

[1952B3b23]

Welcome and thats a nice looking collection you got going on.

 

-Chris

[RodFru2u]

Welcome to the fun, Nice bunch of trucks you picked up.

[Desotodav]

Welcome to the family Kato. You have an impressive fleet of vehicles. I look forward to following your restoration journey.

Edited June 15, 2013 by Desotodav

[fargodeluxe]

Good looking fleet, I believe in Australia all Pilothouse trucks got the corner windows (except the deluxe which is a different shape back of cab).

[Jeff Balazs]

Hi and Welcome to the group. You don't mess around do you?......four truck in two weeks has to be some sort of a record.

I thought a pilothouse truck was a truck with rear 1/4 windows in the cab?

I have to agree with Don. If you take the time to read Mr. Bunns book.......the only time the term Pilot-house is ever used is in conjunction with the quarter windows and enhanced visibility for the driver. Take away the quarter windows and you no longer have a Pilothouse. It is a terminology thing to be certain. B Series is a far more appropriate general moniker.

 

Jeff

[1950 Special Deluxe]

Good to see another member from Saskatchewan. There are a couple of us here already.

[MBF]

Nice looking fleet you're building.  Good luck with your projects.

 

If you compare the view and space from inside the cab of a W series (39-47) to that of a 48-53 you'd see that they're all pilothouses.  The PH cabs have a much taller windshield and wider cab than the predecessors.  I've got one of each (std and deluxe cabs) but they're both Pilot Houses.  

Edited June 15, 2013 by MBFowler

[Kato659]

Thanks for all the welcomes!  Jeff, I've actually got Mr. Bunn's book in front of me.  "Dodge's Pilot-House Safety Cab pickups came close to being all-new trucks... The Pilot-House cab was higher, wider, longer, fully weatherproofed and provided excellent vision through its large, non-opening windshield."  (p. 62-63, Dodge Pickups History and Restoration Guide).

 

Anyhow, terminology aside, thanks for the warm welcome, all (I think I'll just use B-series in the future  ).

 

Nabbing the 4 units was kind of accidental.  The blue '51 I bought at auction (plated it and drove it home), the yellow one's owner was moving and needed it gone (blew a head gasket a couple of years ago, not currently running), and the last two were a package deal from an area farmer.  His father had bought the Dodge new and years later picked up the Fargo, which by then was already beaten up a bit.  Both engines are in running condition, though.

 

 

Hi and Welcome to the group. You don't mess around do you?......four truck in two weeks has to be some sort of a record.

I have to agree with Don. If you take the time to read Mr. Bunns book.......the only time the term Pilot-house is ever used is in conjunction with the quarter windows and enhanced visibility for the driver. Take away the quarter windows and you no longer have a Pilothouse. It is a terminology thing to be certain. B Series is a far more appropriate general moniker.

 

Jeff

 

Edited June 15, 2013 by Kato659

[Frank Elder]

Nice trucks...have fun with them!

[Kato659]

Here's a couple of shots of getting the old girls home.  Dually on the '51 was added by the former owner.  They auctioned the original wheels seperately, but I snagged 'em for a song.

[Kato659]

These two came home the same day.  The Dodge was in better than expected shape, the Fargo's extensively dinged and dented, and the box is really rough, but it's also the only one with door vent windows.

[1952B3b23]

I believe that pilot house is a term applicable to all '48-'53 trucks regardless off the cab corner windows. This new styling was not only identified with the addition of the five window cab but also of the increased space inside and the three on the tree shifting in some models allowing for an extra passenger in the middle, along with other changes. Any who the more I look at your collection the more I want to own a couple more PH.

-Chris

[bach4660]

nice collection, this also confirms something that we have always believed, "Prairie folk don't use mirrors".

 

signed

BC

[Kato659]

Right?  I think it has something to do with the odds of someone else being on my highway vs. the odds of knocking the things off pulling into the shed.

 

nice collection, this also confirms something that we have always believed, "Prairie folk don't use mirrors".

 

signed

BC

[Dodgeb4ya]

On 6/15/2013 at 2:30 PM, 1952B3b23 said:

I believe that pilot house is a term applicable to all '48-'53 trucks regardless off the cab corner windows. This new styling was not only identified with the addition of the five window cab but also of the increased space inside and the three on the tree shifting in some models allowing for an extra passenger in the middle, along with other changes. Any who the more I look at your collection the more I want to own a couple more PH.

-Chris

Some factory literature on "PilotHouse".....

Bob

Edited August 4, 2017 by Dodgeb4ya