skip to Main Content

1949 Dodge B1-B Shop Truck

Panel Shop Truck

Our 1949 Dodge B1-B panel truck. All the creaks and clunks keep us smiling and thinking back to the days when we learned how to drive old Farmalls, John Deeres, and Studebaker trucks on the farm. The sound the pedals make, that thud when they spring back, and the hum of the flathead-straight-six reminds us of our Dad, uncles, and grandpas who worked hard and kept machines like these running.

Our graphic design business (Wilkinson Bros, Inc.) is based on the hardworking, blue-collar approach to serving clients. We roll up our sleeves and aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty. So, in the spirit of the hardworking people before us, cement contractors, electricians, truck drivers, and maintenance men, we’ll put this Dodge to good use at the shop and remember the hard work they put in for their families during the era of the truck’s heyday.

Dodge Wilkinson Bros

Wilkinson Bros

Wilkinson Bros Dodge

Panel Truck

This Post Has 3 Comments
  1. +1 The old flathead sixes had a cool sound as I remember on my first car a 54′ Plymouth station wagon made in Evansville. Glad you are giving the old Dodge a good home!

  2. Y’all have brought up some grand memories!

    In 1949, my great aunt and uncle purchased a small resort with eight rental cabins at the base of Mt. Meeker here in Colorado. An old (mid-thirties?) Chevy station wagon came with the camp. In 1956 it was replaced by a 1950 Ford 3/4 ton stake side truck with the reliable Ford flathead V-8 and a four speed gearbox. 1st gear was what Dad called “grandma low” as it hit top RPM’s at about 10mph. The synchros in the gear box were shot, requiring the driver to do the double clutch dance on the upshift and to match the engine RPM to the gear speed on the downshift.

    There were two floorboard switches, one engaged the starter, the other turned the high beams on and off. Along with the mechanical choke, worked by a knob on the dash, there was another knob that allowed the driver to set the engine speed by adjusting the throttle linkage. When the old beast was set in low gear, the driver could set the throttle to allow the truck to creep along to match human walking speed. It was a great way to allow we nephews and nieces to gather dead fall aspen and toss it into the bed as uncle Bob slowly guided the old beast up the rocky terrain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains.

    I recall that the cab of the truck had a particularly male mix of fragrances. It was a blend of petroleum products, Sir Walter Raleigh pipe tobacco, Red Man chewing tobacco, hound dog and honest human sweat. And yes, there were sounds and movements that are peculiarly reminiscent of the flathead engine, tranny, solid axles and leaf spring suspension.

    Enjoy the Dodge!

    1. Hi, Stephen.
      Thanks for sharing your memories and experiences of a time and place most people can only imagine. These old machines and their stories will always be fascinating to us!
      – GSG

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Back To Top
×Close search
Search