Eye-catching in bright yellow is just the beginning of a person trying to describe this 1977 Dodge W-150 4×4 utiline (stepside) short bed 440 V8-powered four-speed pickup with factory AC. I know, it has it all! The seller has this bright box-checker posted here on craigslist in Wrightwood, California and they’re asking $12,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to jonny for sending in this tip!
This truck hits every nerve for me, I can’t think of anything I would add or take away, other than maybe some more original-looking wheels and tires. They say that it has a straight body but they don’t mention rust at all – I don’t see any glaring issues, do you? Although, it’s impossible to tell from photos as you all know. They say that it has been repainted and it’s flaking off in spots, and in case you were wondering, this was a factory color.
This is a third-generation Dodge D/W-Series pickup and most of you know that D = rear-wheel-drive and W = 4WD. The 150 designation is reportedly for a heavy half-ton in this era, although Dodge still offered a D/W-100. It was a transitional era for Dodge and in 1981 their trucks would be known as Ram trucks. We don’t see the full view of the shortbed innards, but it looks like it has a wooden floor? Or maybe that’s some sort of rug or other covering, now that I look at it again.
The interior looks pretty good, with a replacement seat cover and steering wheel cover, hopefully protecting a nice steering wheel rather than covering up a bad one. This truck has a four-speed manual transmission, mucho macho for sure. The hair on my knuckles starts growing just looking at this truck.
As if a bright yellow 4×4 short box stepside (Utiline) with a four-speed manual isn’t enough, this one has a honkin’ 440-cu.in. OHV V8, which despite its size, would have had 220 horsepower. This wasn’t the early-1970s anymore, but still, if a person can handle the MPG, this looks like a nice example. This truck has a ton of new parts, including “carb, coil, distributor, brakes, shocks, fuel pump, new exhaust from headers back, push rods, rebuilt cylinder heads, and a ton more. Vintage American Racing Vortex wheels with BF Goodrich tires.” Hagerty is at $15,300 for a #3 good-condition truck in this configuration, what’s your offer?
Honest rig. Hell, if the A/C works well, I wouldn’t even quibble about the $12K.
That gas bill would really hurt, but for a weekend toy truck it wouldn’t hurt too bad.
In short, this’d work.
As jrhmobile said, this would work! The wood bed planking might be the biggest expense, but tack down a 1/2” sheet of plywood over the wood until you decide to breakout your Woodsmith and then go to town.
My high school buddy used to pull the front wheels off the ground with his CJ-5 in low range with a 304 V8 under the hood I wonder if 440 6 pack would do the same?
Truck likely has a 400 big block engine, not a 440. Factory only offered automatic transmission with the 440 option. A/C is dealer installed. Top radiator hose is on the passenger side with A/C equipped big block engines. Large diameter brake booster shown here is used on all engines except the 440, which uses a smaller diameter unit so the valve cover can be removed without first removing the booster. The fifth VIN character will tell which engine it was built with. may even be an original small block truck. Very clean though, and definitely worth the asking price.
At 12 k take the win and be happy as the new owner. If I lived closer it already be in my garage. And yes a fabulous weekend truck. Plus a bonus of a 4 speed stick!
It’s a miracle!!! A factory A.W.D. Dodge WITHOUT locking hubs!!!
Glad someone understands the concept.
Nice to see an A.W.D. truck left that way, and no lock outs!
It’s a miracle!!!
Oops, sorry for double comment.
No problem Karl catches everyone. Good comment and i cant believe a 440 was offered in a half ton chasis lol. Wild little rig. Great stuff. 👍
Oh oh, someone bought it, which of you was it?!