1956 Dodge C3-R8 Two-Ton Flatbed

The current trend of “bigger is better” marketing for mammoth 4×4 crew cab pickups as daily freeway crawlers pales in comparison to this 1956 Dodge Model C3-R8 Two-Ton Flatbed Stake Truck, meticulously restored and converted from its original firetruck iteration by the seller. While a new Ram TRX may impress, it’s easily outshone by this vintage Dodge flatbed when parked side by side at the big-box home improvement store. The seller succinctly summarizes this truck by stating, “It runs and drives excellently.”

Exterior:

According to the seller, this truck retains “all its original sheet metal” and underwent a professional repaint in its original red color, resulting in “excellent condition with no blemishes.” The current paint job was meticulously applied using a basecoat/clearcoat system, exhibiting no swirls. The seller attests to the glass quality being “excellent,” free from cracks or scratches, with seals showing no signs of water leaks. Remarkably, the truck shows “no rust,” and all lights are in working order, as per the seller’s account.

Interior:

Featuring new two-tone gray vinyl upholstery, the interior is described as “excellent” by the seller, who also notes the impeccable condition of the headliner and the functionality of all interior lights. A rubber mat replaces carpeting, and while there’s a working heater, there’s no radio installed. The large-diameter steering wheel indicates non-power steering, requiring “armstrong” strength.

Powertrain:

Powering this truck is a 331 cu. in. Hemi OHV V8 engine, purportedly original to the vehicle and not rebuilt, as confirmed by the seller. The engine starts smoothly with its manual choke and shows no signs of smoke or leaks. The transmission is a non-synchromesh five-speed, necessitating double-clutching for gear shifts.

Chassis:

The seller reports minimal play in the manual steering and assures that shocks and bushings are in “very good” condition. Brake issues are non-existent, and the truck’s low mileage has negated the need for suspension servicing. Equipped with front Sumitomo ST727 radial tires (size 9R22.5, with 2017 DOT codes) and rear BFGoodrich ST230 radial tires (size 10R22.5, with 2011 DOT codes), the rear axle boasts a dual-wheel setup.