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This is a very solid, good running, and fairly highly modified 58 W300. I purchased it in October, 2007 with just over 16,000 original miles on it. The Daybrook Speedlift pto driven hydraulic dump was added to the truck when new in 1958. Springs were added between the cab and frame to allow for more flex and a smoother ride, this required all of the wiring and hydraulic lines running out of the cab to be re-run so as not to be pinched between the cab and frame. There are massive reinforcing plates rivited to the center of the frame rails, the wood bed floor is covered with 1/8" thick aluminum sheet and the tailgate was modified to swing open at the bottom like a dump truck. There is an old hydraulic trailer brake control unit on the column, the sole purpose of which seems to be actuating the brake lights as there is no connection to hook up a trailer. All modifications were made by the original owner (an engineer working at Sandia National Laboratories near Alburqurqe,NM) in the late 50's, early 60's when the truck was fairly new. I have a rather entertaining letter from him to the Chrysler Corporation stating in no uncertain terms that he is not at all pleased with his purchase and will not be having anything further to do with Chrysler products, except for their Lawrence Welk show which he does enjoy. In spite of the surface rust on the body the truck appears to have been meticulously well maintained and functions flawlessly with the exception of a slightly erratic temperature gauge. I have hauled several two yard loads of sand and rock without incident, so the modifications seem to have overcome any defeciencies that the truck may originaly have had.
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