SEPTEMBER 2019 - 1950 DODGE ISSUE - COVER 2

ISSUE 9TB

SEPTEMBER 2019

WCM66.COM

THE STORY OF

“THE AMERICAN MUTT” Photography by; Mike Caplan

PICTORIAL SHOWCASE OF THE AMERICAN CAR CULTURE

We make every reasonable effort to ensure the best accuracy and reliability of the information provided in Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com. However, like any other publication or news provider, we offer our articles, news, data, graphics, press releases and any other information, on an "as is" basis, without any endorsement of the views or opinions published on our pages, any predictive claims, any warranties, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy of any content provided.

Neither Wicked Car Magazine nor our website WickedcarMag.com or our third party content providers shall be liable for any errors, inaccuracies or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon, or accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from inaccuracies or omissions.

To keep the highest standard we can achieve, we reserve the right to make corrections as and when necessary, without any prior notice.

Our pages in the magazine or on our website may point to other websites that may be of interest to you, but we do not endorse or take responsibility for the content on such other sites.

Advertising is shown on our web pages and in our magazine as an information about new products, services or offers from quality brands, without any endorsement of their contents or claims. Once you click on an advertiser's link, your relation becomes with this advertiser, fully and directly, not with us in any way.

Content on Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com is not appropriate for the purposes of making a decision to carry out a transaction or trade. Nor does it provide any form of investment advice, or make any recommendations regarding any company or product.

All brand names and logos mentioned in our sites belong to their respective owners. We are not endorsed by any automobile company.

We ask permission when necessary to reproduce content by contacting the author and give full credit in the editorial, Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com reserves the sole right to publish images at its own discretion.

Any product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks or images featured or referred to within the Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com and/or on any social media forum-group-page are the property of their respective trademark holders. These trademark holders are not affiliated with Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com and/or on any social media forumgroup-page. These trademark holders do not sponsor or endorse Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com and/or on any social media forumgroup-page.

Further, Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com and/or on any social media forum-group-page are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any particular automobile manufacturer.

We declare no affiliation, sponsorship, nor any partnerships with any registered trademarks.

Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com and the publisher reserves complete right to publish or not publish anything they deem necessary. All materials whether digital images or ad copy submitted to Wicked Car Magazine and our website WickedcarMag.com and/or on any social media forum-group-page may or may not be used in publication in whole or in part. Volunteer article submission may or may not be published and/or can be edited for content. Volunteer articles or images submission is done without any financial compensation or promises. All rights reserved Š 2019 Wicked Car Magazine and WickedCarMag.com

The Wicked Car Magazine was born to bring to its readers the true Americana Car Culture. We want to showcase the brotherhood it brings with it along with the open highways, corn fields, farms, swap meets, cruise nights, and historic locations.

The magazine is not about how much advertising can be cramped into each page but more about showing our readers where we go and what we capture.

Along the way in this journey, we meet interesting people, visit unique places and try our best to bring you their stories and provide you with informative and practical articles.

Editor Mark Rashid

CLUB

PHOTO SUBMISSIONS BY OUR FANS. YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR HIGH RES PIC THRU OUR

THE STORY OF

“THE AMERICAN MUTT” Photography and Story by; Mike Caplan

MODEL: Marissa Anne TRUCK: 1950 Dodge B Series Pickup OWNER: Doug Sampognaro

When you’re only in your mid 30s and you’ve already owned more than 20 vehicles, it’s fair to say you qualify as a “Car Guy.” Doug Sampognaro is in a totally different league. He’s bought and sold more than 70 cars and trucks! But he’s finally found one he plans to keep forever.

This perfectly-tarnished beauty is a 1950 Dodge B Series Pickup. Back in the day they earned the nickname “Pilothouse” because the high-visibility windshield resembled a similar feature on some ships. Original equipment on the truck included a flat-head 6 and a three-speed mounted to the steering column.

Doug found his dream truck on Craig’s List last year. Terry Dean of Franklin Park had owned it for 38 years but never even had the chance to drive it. When Doug made the trip up from his home in the southern suburbs, he found out why. The truck was basically in pieces in the Dean’s garage. There it had sat since the Carter administration, waiting to rumble to life again. Because Terry was in failing health, his brother Brad sold the jalopy jigsaw puzzle for $1700.

Doug is a raging Mopar fanatic like the rest of this family. But to piece this Dodge together would require him to break from brand loyalty for the good of the truck and his bank account. Luckily he found a newer Mopar power plant on line. He pirated the screaming V-10 out of a Dodge 3500 dually-a significant upgrade from the small-block engine he originally envisioned for the truck. All that gloriously-distressed sheet metal needed something to sit on though. For that, he defected to the bow tie. A Chevy S-10 chassis now serves as the “skeleton” for the truck. Turns out there’s even some Ford blood in her too.

Thank a retired “Explorer” for the improved rear differential and disc brakes that help the truck stop and go. It took Doug with a little help from his dad and a buddy more than half a year of nights and weekends to bolt, weld and “will” it all together. The final result a rolling rusty relic that captures almost as much nostalgia as attention.

It’s no surprise then that Doug calls his truck “The American Mutt.” And this dog can hunt.

Case in point-the massive cloud of smoke that arose to a chorus of cheers during the burnout competition at this summer’s Mopar Nationals in Ohio. When those ten cylinders come to life, rubber stands no chance. Of course there is a penalty for all of that displacement. Gas. Doug prefers to rate his fuel efficiency by smiles to the gallon, not miles.

If that’s the case then Doug will see plenty of happy faces because “The American Mutt” is not destined to spend more of its life forgotten in a garage. Doug drives the Pilothouse almost every day. And people are noticing. This truck will be featured on next year’s calendar for Bumper to Bumper. She shows off mighty nice next to a pretty model too!

There’s only one regret Doug has about the entire transformation. When he bought the truck from the Deans, he promised to give Terry a ride and chance to drive it for the first time. Sadly, Terry passed away just weeks before Doug was able to finish the truck. But Terry’s long relationship with the truck will soon be honored. A memorial plaque bearing his name is being given to Doug who will stitch it permanently into the cabin of the Pilothouse.

Based on a dealer’s sticker still affixed to the truck, Doug believes The American Mutt may have spent its entire life in Chicagoland. We will likely never know how that story began 70 years ago, but with Doug at the helm of this Pilothouse many exciting chapters lie ahead.

COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES •Alignments •Air Conditioning Systems & Components • Batteries • Belts • Brakes • Check Engine Lights • Courtesy Local Shuttle Service • Electrical Shorts • Emission Issues • Engines • Exhausts • Fleet Maintenance • Fuel System • Heating/Cooling Systems • Hoses • Oil Changes • Pre-Purchase Inspections • Rental Cars through Enterprise • Roadside Assistance • Scheduled Maintenance • Steering • Suspensions • Tire Repairs • Timing Belts • Towing • Transmissions • Pre-Trip Inspections • Tune-Ups • Water Pumps • Windshield Wipers and Washers Shockwave Customs is a family owed business of over 20 years, offering the Chicagoland area the best in quality automotive customizing. With work consisting of audio, video, custom fabrication, wheels and tires, vertical doors, suspension, window tinting, performance and so on. Come by Address: 22359 S. Center Road, IL 60423 ofPhone: Fax: 1.815.469.6774 Shockwave Customs and sit downFrankfort, with the prodigies the car1.815.469.6722 world to plan your next build.

Hours: Monday thruW Friday 8amHWY to 5pm and Saturday 8amPH: to 12pm Shockwave Customs 9565 Lincoln Frankfort IL 60423 815-469-9141 24-hour Towing Night drop Available Visit us at shockwavecustom.com or check us out on Facebook and Instagram