Custom Built Frame Up Resto 500ci Hemi Engine Hydraulic Tilt Up Bed

1948 Dodge Pickup

Did you ever wonder what's happened to the old classic pickups that seemed to all but disappear? It's a rare moment when you come across one that is not been sitting in a farm field rotting away with the only saving grace is it makes a great photograph. Back in the day there was heavy competition for the "work truck" and manufacturers were scrambling to pile on features that would one up the competition, and Dodge was no exception.

For consignment, a 48 Dodge truck built by noted drag engine builder William "Biddy" Windward of Newark Delaware, who built engines for notables such as Don Garlits, Bob Casseday, Walt Kingsley, Ray Marsh and Joe Jacinto. After this career, a desire to stay active led to a trophied Sprint car stint, engine building career and restoration. On a back road trip, he came upon a photographic scene as described above, and decided this would be his next project. We give you the remnants brought back to life!

Exterior
Dousing the almost gone, but not forgotten steel panels, a pilot cab which was painstakingly rebuilt and restored where able, is Sherwin Williams Red Pearl. A few goodies were added on the way by narrowing '54 truck rear fenders 6 inches and taking 4 inches out of their height. The hood was one pieced, antenna frenched in, and '50 Pontiac taillights put on. A remote tilts the replanked bed skyward, to show it off a bit, and reveals the gas filler, which is also remote operated. Swan neck mirrors stick out on either door panel and add more highlight as well as allow you to see the other traffic disappearing behind you.

Interior
Giving the interior new life, the original dash was filled with Auto Meter gauges, a tilt GM column, Camaro steering wheel, and a Lokar stick shifter. A custom fawn leather bench stretches between unique door panels, sits under a neat headliner, and is flooded by square weave carpeting, all pristine and allowing the cab to smell like a dream of leather, and look like a fantasy of chrome. A custom roll bar has been added just to stick a little tongue out to the original work truck concept and is now quite the different story.

Drivetrain
The original 392 Chrysler Hemi has been machined, and bored and stroked to now a 500ci Hemi monster. Some other go-fast goods were added such as a Delta Crank linked to Howard rods topped with J&E pistons. For the fossil and air delivery an Edelbrock dual-quad intake sports a pair of Edelbrock 750-CFM carbs, sparked by a Mallory Unilite Distributor. A Biddy custom air cleaner is complimented by finned aluminum valve covers. Custom headers suck the spend gases out to Flowmaster mufflers. Get up and go is pushed through a Mopar 727 transmission from Independent Transmission.

Undercarriage
The original frame was blasted clean, and tubular cross-members have been added. For that on the rails handling, Corvette IFS was put on front, and out back a Corvette IRS was installed and packaged with 3.50:1 gears. To throw out the hooks a Corvette dual -bowl master pumps fluid through stainless lines to 4 piston discs on each corner. For its stance 17" Fisk Profil 10 Wheels in silver wrapped with Dunlop performance rubber on the rear, and BF Goodrich rubber on the front.

When you spend the majority of your past tinkering with nitro fueled V8's that the big boys are using to rack up Wallies, you have an A game that you become accustomed to. This build done in the afterlife of that thrilling time, shows all those experiences flowing out to make one absolutely awesome classic truck with an adrenaline shot of Hemi, and an ear covering sound that will definitely grab eyes.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 300 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.