Fantastic all-steel truck. 408 stroker, automatic, A/C, power steering, disc brakes, stereo, and more. Fully sorted, very fast and comfortable, best parts used throughout. You couldn’t duplicate this truck for less money even if they gave you the truck for free!
Its compact dimensions give this Dodge a muscular look, stock or not, and the clean front end was the most modern in the industry. This particular C100 is 100% steel, including the rear fenders, and someone spent a huge pile of money making it look as good as it does. None of the sheetmetal was altered beyond shaving the emblems and door handles, so it retains its 1950s look while still standing apart. There’s a custom tailgate and roll pan that carries LED taillights, a drop-down license plate frame, and it frames the twin oval exhaust tips quite neatly. The paint is Hugger Orange, and yes, that’s a Chevy color, but there’s really no better orange to use and it looks dynamite on the hunky little Dodge. Fit and finish are excellent, better than anything in this price class has a right to be, and we especially like the butterfly-style hood and neat little Ram emblem on the nose. The bed was finished with lightly distressed oak planks, and it’s a look that really works.
Twin buckets from a late-model are incredibly supportive in a way that the original bench never could have been, and they flank a custom-made center console. Tan and orange ultra-leather covers almost every interior surface, including the matching headliner and door panels and the tan carpets add just the right contrast so it isn’t overwhelming. The original dashboard remains, and even the factory gauges are in place, although they’ve been supplanted by a trio of aftermarket dials down on the console, as well as a column-mounted tach and a transmission temperature gauge on the shifter. We suspect that wood-rimmed Grant GT wheel is perched on the original steering column and it has ice cold A/C working through a Vintage Air under-dash unit on the passenger’s side of the cab. A Hurst V-Matic shifter manages the TorqueFlite underneath and there’s a Pioneer AM/FM/CD/Bluetooth/iPod stereo that powers a set of Kenwood speakers between the seats and in the doors. Wipers, seat belts, and even cup holders are part of the package, making this a truck that’s ready for a cross-country haul.
The 408 cubic inch stroker motor is based on a Magnum 360 block and is filled with a Wiseco K-1 crank and rods, plus a matched set of Wiseco aluminum pistons. Comp Cams supplied a custom-grind bumpstick, as well as a set of roller rockers and hardened pushrods, then it was bolted together with ARP hardware. On top, they chose a set of lightweight Edelbrock Performer RPM heads as well as an Air Gap intake manifold, all of which shave pounds off the nose. Edelbrock also supplied the water pump and fuel pump, while the carburetor is a Street Demon 750 cfm 4-barrel. An MSD coil lights it up quickly and easily and it exhausts through a set of ceramic-coated Hedman headers. It was dressed for show with a set of Mopar finned valve covers and lots of chrome and polished aluminum, as well as a Hemi Orange block. Drive it gently and it’s happy to idle along with the A/C cranking, but if you put your foot on the floor, you’d better be sure it’s aimed where you want to go!
Underneath there’s a Fatman Fabrications front suspension with stainless A-arms and rack-and-pinion steering, so this Dodge feels anything but truck-like. The 727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission is enhanced with a shift kit and Hughes 2500 stall torque converter and feeds a gigantic Chrysler 9.25-inch rear end with rather docile 3.23 gears inside. The rear suspension uses custom mono-leaf springs that improve the ride, as well as a pair of chrome traction bars that make a lot of sense (you’ll understand once you drive it). A custom fuel cell hangs inboard of the frame and a custom Thrush exhaust system was ceramic coated satin black to help blend in under the truck. Power front disc brakes are probably a very good idea and you’ll note that the cab corners, floors, and rockers are in outstanding condition with no signs that this was ever a rusty truck. That perfect stance is accentuated by traditional chrome steelies with baby moon hubcaps and staggered BFGoodrich T/A radial tires that totally fill the fenders.
We’re obviously very impressed by this Dodge. It gets everything right, has all the features that make for a very usable truck, and it’s flat-out gorgeous in every way. If you’re a Mopar guy who’s sick of the Brand X trucks getting all the attention, this little orange hauler is a fantastic choice. Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
