Why Dodges

[mopat]

My 1st vehicle was a '38 Dodge 1/2 ton pu and my 2nd was a '53 Plymouth. My uncle worked for a Chrysler dealership and raced dragsters back in the 50's and 60's. So I was a MOPAR guy from the git go! Dodges were all my father ever owned (except for Jeeps).

[W_A_Watson_II]

My aunt worked at the Dealer and my Parents drove them. The only Chevy we had while I was growing up crapped out as soon as the warranty was over and until a year ago my parents never went back. My Pop's favorite Truck was a 71 Heavy Half in Super Banana Yellow with the Black Vinyl Top. The 68 with the Auto on the Dash was great also. His first PW was a 78.

[Cheyenne Dave]

Isn't the Heavy Half a...ahem..Chevy package?

[W_A_Watson_II]

I don't know, the Dodges my Pop always ordered were 1/2 ton's with extra GVW capacity, and he always called them heavy half. He wasn't into the 3/4 tons back then they way he is now, but out trucks always hauled more than other any other 1/2 tons in the area.

[Cheyenne Dave]

Ah..thats what confused me. Chevy used to have a decale on the box of their 70's (?) vintage 4x4 1/2 ton pickups..."Heavy Half".

DAB

[MoparNorm]

Just to add....

Originally posted by Cheyenne Dave
Isn't the Heavy Half a...ahem..Chevy package?

gm never had an original idea, just as the Sunburban is copied from the early Plymouth Suburban Wagon, the "Heavy Half" is a term from the Sweptline Era, you will find Dodge half tons with more rating capacity than either ferd or gm 3/4 tons. You'll find 3/4 ton axles with 8 lugs and a frame and drive train identical to the 200 series Dodges on early 100series Dodges.
MN

[Cheyenne Dave]

What year is the Suburban wagon you speak of? Guess I'm not familiar with it. I know the Chevy Suburban goes back to 1940.

As far as original ideas...you know the staggered rear axle shock system everyone uses now? GM introduced that one.

You know the Plymouth Voyager mini-van? That name plate was used on a Mercury station wagon before anyone heard of a min-van.

Toyaota's LandCuiser?...sorry, Studebaker had it first. Even the Power Wagon gets half it's name from REO.

So whats the point?

Exactly...there is none. I find it tiresome and small minded that there are those that are so one-brand loyal they can't see the good points of others. You can go on and on with all this but you'll be doing it alone.

Enjoy

[MoparNorm]

Gee Dave.....

...since I was out all week, I guess you were going it alone...
What put a burr under your saddle? Hope you're over what ever was bothering you.

The Plymouth and Dodge Westchester Suburban Station Wagon was introduced in 1933. However the Screenside Panel from which the Suburban came, was first introduced in 1918. The Suburban name plate was used from that time until Dodge discontinued it in the 40's. That is when gm jumped upon the name and started using it on their panel trucks.
I wasn't denegrating gm, they can do that themselves, I am however rather irritated when gm claims something that is a lie such as their TV ad about the history of the Sunburban.
I'll continue to set the record straight with factual knowledge whenever I see an error.
I mistook your comment as a question and I was just trying to clarify the origin of the Heavy Half, if I decide to bash gm it will be a long and unmistakeable tirade in article format.
I had no intentions of ruffling your feathers, just trying to inform. Brand loyalty, for me, is not a matter of blind allegiance, but a decision based upon 50+ years of experience, knowledge and information, real world application and real world pocket book repairs. Some people go through life with luck in their brand of vehicles, some have problems with every brand and some ignorantly pay too much for too little, without a care in the world.
Some might take it personal that you just called them ignorant and small minded ..... but I'm just considering that you somehow misread my post......
MN