Single-cab pickups really stand out to me, I rarely see them anymore except for contractors and other commercial use. It’s rare to see one being used by someone as just a pickup, something to drive around, commute with, haul things in the back, pull a boat, etc. This 1990 Dodge Power Ram 250 Diesel is listed here on eBay in Happy Valley, Oregon, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $24,900.
The single cab is accentuated by the full-length box/bed here. This is what a pickup looked like when I grew up. I don’t ever remember seeing a crew cab pickup as a kid or even into my teens and 20s. Dodge did away with both the crew cab and their version of the “stepside/flareside/fenderside,” which they referred to as the Utiline bed, after 1985. This truck has what Dodge called the “Two Tone Paint Package APC” (in Daytona Blue Metallic) with the accent color (Light Spectrum Blue Metallic) on the bottom below the trim and also on the top, hood, and along the top of the bed sides. It’s pretty sharp if you ask me.
1993 would be the last model year for this style of the Dodge Ram, formerly known as the D/W-Series. D = rear-wheel drive and W = 4WD. The Power Ram was this model’s moniker for the 4WD example, and you don’t need the Power Ram name to know this truck is a 4×4. Dodge still refers to this model as the W250 in brochures. The familiar seller says this truck was owned by one elderly gentleman since it was new and has always been in the Pacific Northwest, so it’s solid. It does have a few dings and scratches from being driven over the last 35+ years, though. The bed has a spray-on liner, and it looks perfect overall. Is the rear bumper hanging down a bit, or is that a trick of the camera angle?
A lot of us were hoping for a 5-speed manual inside, but this truck has the optional four-speed automatic. It’s strange that the single-cab W250 didn’t even show up in the chart on page 8 of this brochure, only the W250 Club Cab. The transfer case shifter is the only one on the floor here. The interior looks almost like new, as expected, despite the 165,482 miles on this rig. The seat looks new, other than a tiny tear on the bottom side of the blue vinyl.
The big deal, other than the overall nice condition, is the Cummins 5.9-liter turbocharged cam-in-block, six-cylinder diesel. With direct fuel-injection, it has no glow plugs to worry about. It was rated at 160 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque when new, and is backed by the automatic and transfer case. Power is sent to all four wheels as needed, and this one is said to start and run great, and has been maintained by the single owner. Would any of you buy a single-cab pickup of this vintage, or do you need more interior space?
Love the old brochures SG. Dodge offered alot of nice paint options.
This is in incredibly great condition. Definitely believe the older gentleman history. Just by looking at it, I’d venture a guess it was garage kept. I always preffered the Cummins with a manual trans. But thats me. Great color combo and ditto to what Stan said, I really enjoy the old brochures. Boy do those take me back!! Thanks Scotty!!!
These were about as good as they could get for this body style. Engine is virtually bullet proof and will go a lot of miles as long as a particular dowel pin in the gearcase doesn’t work loose and get between the timing gears.
The biggest problem with these has been the injection pump. A lot of learning on the part of Bosch when this version of the VE (Vertweiller Einspritzpompe) pump came out. They’d been on VWs since ’76 and companies like International and Volvo had been using them on industrial/agricultural machines by the thousands.
Enter Cummins and high injection pressures and shortened injection intervals (Read: ridiculous emission regulations). Bosch was immediately subject to the internals of their beloved pumps turning into tempered steel mush when the rollers and cam plates started to chip and disintegrate.
A lot of upgrades on the springs, rollers and cam plates. We had exchange pumps on the shelf but there was always some trackstar who found a brand new one on E-bay for 19 cents. I just told them that they get what they paid for and many times those same people would have either their spouse or a friend bring the mess in to have it fixed–for considerably more than I originally quoted.
Karma isn’t a nice lady.
Contrary to the comments from another party I wouldn’t set one of these over 180 hp. The higher injection pressure causes the rollers and cam plate to chip. And, boy! Do they ever fail quickly after that!
36 year old die$el.
It doesn’t have a 4 speed automatic, the overdrive didn’t come out until late 91, it has a 3 speed 727, bullet proof transmission but without overdrive your top speed on that if you’re lucky is 55mph, I know because I’ve had them…
Beautiful truck and great shape!
I agree with you Scotty on what used to be the regular sized bed and standard cab. These were the way pickups were supposed to be, and the reason most people didn’t drive them. I remember guys buying the Cummins when they came out in the Dodge pickups. I also remember guys without their Dodges as they spent weeks in the shop due to the injector pumps.
As far as your last question Scotty, I would buy a standard cab regular bed pickup of that vintage. My daily driver…I am ruined, it has to be a crew cab and sometimes it becomes a one seater.
Ended at $500 💁♂️