Sometimes a vehicle hits you (me), either because of what it is, or because of how well it’s presented. We have to use what’s given to us in often really bad online vehicle listings. That isn’t the case with this 1965 Dodge D200. This beauty is listed here on craigslist, just north of Phoenix, Arizona, and the seller is asking $11,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Tony P. for the tip!
Maybe it’s because I make a living as a photographer, but photos are a big part of Barn Finds. I’m not saying I’m a guru or anything, but we see thousands of bad craigslist ads here, and every once in a while, one stands out. This is one of them. You know you have a standup seller when they actually take the time to move a vehicle around to make sure to get photos of it with the sun shining on it, rather than just posting photos of it with one side in the shade. A big AAA+++ to this seller for these photos.
The second-generation Dodge D/W-series pickups, at least for the 1965 model year, could have either four headlights as the first-gen trucks did, or just two headlights as this truck has. There was enough of a crossover in the production timeline that it can make it a little confusing if you see a four-headlight truck and automatically think it’s a first-generation truck. 1965 was the first year for the second-generation trucks, and they were made until the end of 1971. For something similar but different, here’s a fun brochure on the 1965 Dodge Fargo trucks for the Canadian market.
Here’s what it looks like in the topper/cap/shell/back. The seller even included two photos of the back of the bed, unreal. I love the little curtains in the windows back there; that’s something my mom would have done after my dad added the paneling. What would we have done without paneling several decades ago?! It was such an important, popular, and profitable product that there was even a chain of 70 lumber stores in the Midwest, originally called Plywood Minnesota that sold a ton of it.
The D200 was a rear-wheel drive 3/4-ton model, as most of you know. A W200 would have been a 4×4 3/4-ton, and that would have added to the value of this one. This was originally a Eugene, Oregon truck, and that area gets maybe two or three inches of snow a year, so unless a person really needed 4WD for some other reason than winter traction, a D-Series should work just fine for most folks there. The seller bought this Turf Green truck from the great-granddaughter of the original owner, and we don’t know how long it’s been in sunny Arizona. You can see the 4-speed shifter here, very cool. The entire interior looks great to me for being 61 years old now. The seat has clearly been recovered, but it looks good, and I’m sure it’s comfortable in the Arizona heat compared to a vinyl one. You can see some rust popping up in the crevices around the doors, though.
An engine photo in a craigslist ad?! For the love of all that’s good and holy! The 225-slant-six was standard, but this is Dodge’s 318-cu.in. OHV V8, which was rated at 200 horsepower. Backed by the 4-speed manual sending power to the rear wheels, the seller says it runs and drives great and has 88,000 miles. Hagerty is at $7,300 for a #4 fair condition truck and $13,200 for a #3 good truck. How much is this one worth?
Unless great gramps worked for the forest service, he didn’t buy it new. The 4 speed, municipal style rear bumper, trailer brake control, tube wheels in back, a wise choice converting to tubeless, no power nuttin’, and the green paint indicate forestry dept. to me. In fact, I read, the forest dept. had this color reserved for them, “Forest Service Green”( duh) or “Federal Standard 34350”. Nice truck, if you can drive it, that is. I think the kid better come back to reality on the price, but just a good old truck, and how most will see this today.
Funny, the author mentions plywood, ( out of the blue?) and in Wisconsin, it was paneling. Paneling was huge, and I hauled a LOT of paneling. Just think about it, every rec. room in America had paneling. That industry has since dried up, and these towns in Wisconsin are literally ghost towns now.
I wouldn’t get too sold on the government angle. Very few government vehicles would have a V-8. Most had the slant six. Just saying.
This color was also used by Bill Harrah for his service vehicles. We did service work on his lawyer’s (retired) vehicles. (I also kept his 429SCJ Cyclone “blown out” for him as he loved the car but was too frail to keep it exercised properly. His words, not mine.) And one of the vehicles was a CJ5 this color with an orange hard top. It was gifted to him by Mr. Harrah from his Tahoe fleet. And according to my customer all his vehicles (at least at the Tahoe location) Were this color green and possibly with orange trim/2 tone.
A 1955 CJ-5 and now this great rough and tumble but well attended truck! A good utilitarian showing today.
A good point Scotty about the time taken to show a rig in its best light, literally. We get a real 1st impression from most of these ads by the photos shown; the ones where the seller won’t show their machine outside and all the way around tells much of the how motivated the seller really is to put effort into really trying to move it
This is just an honest, solid, old workhorse. I wouldn’t change a thing. The 318 4 speed is a great combo too. I’d absolutely leave the cap and wood paneling and curtains right there. Nie one Scotty!!! Thank you.
Although these weren’t as well represented as Ford, GM or International, Dodge always had a presence out in the Chinook Belt. My former co-worker had a neighbor with one very similar to this one with the exception that it was equipped with a heavy duty 3-spd. I’m thinking that it’s a Warner T-87 which is about as heavy as the average 4-speed. It’s powered by a Poly-head V8, just like this one.
My co-worker was in the right place at the right time. He saw the truck a couple of houses down, parked in a long since used garden patch. One day he was strolling down the alley and saw the old widow out in the backyard. He got acquainted and asked if the truck might be for sale.
“How quick can you get it out of here?” she responded.
“Give me an hour.”
“Good; it’s yours.”
So he moved it over to his backyard and proceeded to work on it. Motor was stuck but he’s determined to get it rotating again…
Good write-up SG. Looks like an honest old Dodge. Amazing what a few good pics can do for an ad. Love the shift lever. I vaguely remember from when I was a kid this “Turf Green” color on Dodges, and it is listed on the paint chip chart, and we didn’t have any Forest Service trucks in our area.
This is just an honest, solid, old workhorse. I wouldn’t change a thing. The 318 4 speed is a great combo too. I always liked the body lines on the rear fenders too. I’d absolutely leave the cap and wood paneling and curtains right there. Nice one Scotty!!! Thank you.
I own a ’65 D100 in red. It is a Custom Sport Special with black racing stripes, black bucket seats, console, and special trim, dash, and door panels unique to the CSS. They really have a comfortable ride if one considers the other makes at the time also had a good ride compared to what came before in earlier series. Power steering and brakes were often times missing on the work horses of a more lowly option ranking; air conditioning was really uncommon.
This looks to be a really nicely cared for unit and shows a type of patina relegated to those from the northwest and soutwest. I would not change a thing, just love it
It’s refreshing to see tires that size instead of all wheel and no tire
i personally have never cared much for this body style of Dodge truck but this one is in great condition and i hope the new owner enjoys it
Looks like a well cared for truck. The price ain’t bad . Too bad is 1,500 miles away. Maybe a anti slip gears. A strong pulling truck. My dad had a 68 225 .
When I was a kid, we had a 65 F10 with a camper shell. It had paneling and curtains also! What a great memory!
That poly engine is a real torquer
I wish this was still in Eugene. Although, a person could fly down and drive it back. Bring a sleeping bag and a pad and camp on the way home. Maybe the seller would throw in a sheet of plywood to smooth those bed ridges.
looks very solid. upgrade the tire/wheels and drive it. i would lose the car though but that’s just me
Scottie, another great write up about a neat old truck. As others have said, give it a bath and a check over and drive it!!! A good solid truck to have as a second vehicle / weekend work horse, and an excellent entry level vehicle to the antique / historical truck hobby. It is still in very good condition to make into a local show / Cars and coffee conversation piece.
I’m not a Dodge guy, but I like this truck. Remove the shell and drive!