This is a 1948 Dodge B1B108 ½ ton 4x4 Woodie – Wood body by J.T. Cantrell & Sons - 4 Wheel Drive by Murty Four Wheel Drive Company. It has a 4 Speed manual transmission with compound low 1st gear. This woodie is equipped exactly as it was delivered to its original owner in early 1949 with four-wheel drive and the Skid-Master Road Sander. It is in its original unrestored condition, with normal maintenance to keep it running over its 75-year life span. Watch the attached video to hear the original 218 ci L-head engine running.
It is unknown how many Dodge truck woodies were produced, but only 25 or so have survived. Only 4 or 5 of the survivors are four-wheel drive, and this the only civilian four-wheel drive version.
ITS HISTORY
A lady rancher from northwest Oregon in 1948 wanted a rugged and versatile four-wheel-drive vehicle for her everyday use, summer and winter, rain or shine, and a visit to the local Dodge dealer saw her request fulfilled. In her pursuit of a practical yet tough rig she was able to order and receive a truly unique Dodge truck, and one that was quite functional and featuring a look all its own.
The standard Dodge Woodie (called the commercial station wagon back in the day) started out as a rolling chassis with windshield cowl and was then fitted with a wood constructed body by J. T. Cantrell and Sons of Huntington, NY. These wagons were standard two-wheel-drive models and intended for light-duty applications. During World War II the Dodge factory provided the military with high numbers of Weapons Carrier (WC) vehicles (predecessor of the Dodge Power Wagon) that did feature 4WD, however, these big cumbersome, flat-fendered machines were not really marketed or suitable for civilian use.
When the inquiry came to the Oregon Dodge dealer of getting a standard commercial station wagon in 4WD form, there was an avenue available to providing the customer with what she wanted: a custom blending of military-spec WC 4WD running gear to replace the standard civilian front and rear suspension of the woodie wagon! This was accomplished by the fitting of surplus Army spare parts that were packed away after the war, protected with rust-preventative Cosmoline gel and installed by a local 4-wheel-drive outfitter in Oregon named "Murty Four Wheel Drive."
With the addition of the transfer case and 4-speed manual transmission, replacement of the stock front end with heavy-duty 4WD equipment plus the replacement of the standard rear differential with the WC unit (including the heavy-duty lift leaf springs on all four corners) the station wagon as delivered to the rancher was now more than equipped to handle whatever it was presented with. The low-geared wagon could now easily climb the stratovolcano Mount Hood in nearby northern Oregon or simply haul a few bales of hay through a muddy remote part of the ranch. It sat up some 6-inches taller that stock and no matter from which angle it was viewed, it was obvious the special-built wagon was not the normal woodie wagon of the day.
Another unique aspect of this vintage off-roader is that is was equipped with a "Skid-Master" traction-aid sanding system, an aftermarket item that was originally manufactured in St. Paul, MN, and sold through specialty shops for adverse weather applications. Essentially what it did was provide a system where, at the touch of a control lever at the steering column, sand spray was applied in front of each rear wheel to give improved road grip in wet and icy conditions.
