Originally Posted By poorboy
According to the book "Dodge Pickups, History & Restoration Guide 1918-1971":

Because of a heavy commitment to military trucks, (from foreign alies) civilian trucks took a back seat in 1942.
On March 4, 1942, a "stop manufacturing" order was issued by the War Production Board to all civilian truck builders. Canada followed suit 10 days later. Civilian truck rationing began on March 9, 1942.

Dodge's total truck production for the year was 169,837, of which were 22,572 1/2 tons, 77,694 3/4 tons, and 1,138 1 tons. The government bought a total of 96,649 military trucks, 19,600 1/2 tons, 77,046 3/4 ton and 3 one ton trucks. (If you subtract the government purchased trucks from the total production numbers, there were not may trucks that fell into civilian hands.)

Civilian truck production resumed in April 1945 and were built continuously through the end of the year. 1 one ton was built in Nov, and 139 more 1 tons were built in Dec. No production numbers were available as to the break down of the body type, but it is suspected most pickups were only cab & chassis. Most of the 1945 production was concentrated on 1 1/2 ton models, and many of these were CEOs.

No civilian trucks were built in 1943, but already in in 1944 a limited number of 1 1/2 ton trucks deemed necessary for critical civilian use were produced.

I love this book! Gene


Gene, any 42 Plymouths squeak out?


69.5 A12 Bee, first purchased in 1976, car 169 on registry 69 Coronet R/T 440/4 spd 69 Coronet 500 Conv H code 383 4bbl/auto 37 Plymouth PU Find your spot on earth and ride it.