Three bumper guards on 1949 B1B?? Looking for history lesson.

[Mr.Dids]

I recently purchased the truck in my profile pic and it came with three (two small and one large in the center) bumper guards. The only info I've been able to find online is that it was typically found on heavier trucks or something earmarked for commercial use (wrecker, fire truck, etc.). I was about to scrap pile the center one until I noticed people trying to sell them for just stupid money.

Was this a factory option on 1/2 ton trucks, a dealer added option, or something the original owner scraped up and installed later???? I'm not really a fan of them but if they were some rare option, it kind of adds a coolness factor for me.

[Jeff Balazs]

Yes factory option on the earlier models including 1/2 tons. 51 on do not use these center pieces as license plate was relocated. If you really want to get familiar with this sort of stuff the best place to start is with Don Bunns book on these trucks.

 

Jeff

[B1B Keven]

Very rare, dealer installed option.

[wallytoo]

rare on the smaller trucks, not as rare on the larger trucks.  mine has three, and they are not the same size as the 1/2, 3/4, or 1 ton versions.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Just don't run into anything with them... they are not very beefy.

[JBNeal]

here's an example of some bumper guards

[wallytoo]

pic

 

 

[Jeff Balazs]

These gaurds were available as a factory installed option ($5 for a 1/2 ton for all three) according to the option lists in Don Bunns book page 145. This seems to be supported by a couple of photos of them being delivered to dealers. It seems reasonable that some dealers added them as well. At any rate they are relatively rare and as already mentioned not really meant to take much abuse.

 

Jeff

[Todd B]

These gaurds were available as a factory installed option ($5 for a 1/2 ton for all three) according to the option lists in Don Bunns book page 145. This seems to be supported by a couple of photos of them being delivered to dealers. It seems reasonable that some dealers added them as well. At any rate they are relatively rare and as already mentioned not really meant to take much abuse.

 

Jeff

According to the internet $5.00 in 1950 would be $41.65 today.  Seems very cheap for an option today.

[ebruns1]

While we are on the subject of bumpers...I found 2 '53 or '54 junk yard trucks with decent front bumpers while I was looking for a replacement for my 1949.  Does anyone know offhand if they used the same bumper?  Sure looks the same.  Mine has a welded up brush guard that I don't like if someone is looking for one but it's all one piece and would be heavy to ship.  I want to install the stock plain bumper if they are indeed the same.  Tks.  I"ll post pics of the junkyard trucks if anyone is looking for front grill bars, they looked fairly decent too.

 

Jim T

[wallytoo]

bumper changed for '51-on.  '48-50 had no "center mount" license plate indentation, but the '51-up do.  probably fits earlier trucks, though.

[Dodgeb4ya]

The 1951-53 two front guards on January 18, 1952 cost $4.44 for 1/2 thru 1 ton models.

The F-K trucks optional bumper guards(4)... (1-1/2 thru2-1/2 ton) were sold as a set of four package and cost $7.40.

They were bigger than the 1/2-1 ton guards.

The last series trucks R,T,V and Y (2-3/4 thru 4 ton) aslo could be ordered with the optional bumper four guard package which were even bigger in size than the F thru K trucks yet cost the same at$7.40 for all four guards..

This info out of the January 18th, 1952 Dodge Truck Facts Booklet.

[Mr.Dids]

Just don't run into anything with them... they are not very beefy.

Haha, yeah I was surprised just how tinny they are. To look at them they look like they belong on a log truck but they really aren't that substantial. Apparently when a previous owner hit something, they did work well enough to pivot the bumper upward and make two large dents in the stainless trim. Doh!