Dodge Screen Side Panel

Interesting vehicle, in the early teens of the 20th century, Dodge Brothers was a commercial body builder.  This vehicle is a 1917 Chrysler frame and running gear, engine, transmission and so on.  Dodge Brothers, which were not a part of Chrylser at that time built this commercial body and the model was know as a screen side panel.

This example started out life as a bureau of mines truck up in the high sierra mining area around Porterville, California.  When Gene Gong, the restorer found the hulk, it was in an old garbage dump in the mountains and had a 26 inch diameter tree, about 50 feet tall growing right through the middle of it.  He was able to remove the truck and haul it home to Fresno and set about the work to build it back to a runner.

Gene went through it all, redid all the roof framing details and rebuilt all the mechanical.  It runs well but has been stored  in our reception area for about 10 years.  It is good to look at but drives rather like a farm tractor.  In it's day though this was very high tech!

More Information about the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Company is available at:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Brothers_Motor_Vehicle_Company#Founding_and_early_years