The death of the small, cheap, affordable pickup truck: much has been written and opined about this topic, and for good reason. We’ve seen the small truck market absolutely decimated over the last 20 years, and while some lighter-duty models have returned to domestic lineups, they are not cheap to buy and are still often overladen with technology and driver assistance features. This 1987 Dodge Dakota Pickup is a comforting return to better times in the domestic truck market, and it looks like it has turned up at a popular eBay seller lot that processes donation vehicles. Find the Dakota here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the tip. This is about as base it comes, as it’s a single-cab, 2WD Dakota with manual windows and locks and poverty-spec hubcaps. It does sport the 3.9L V6 and a sweet bed topper, however, so the original owner didn’t go completely without. But that’s the beauty of older trucks like these: you could avoid luxury or upgrade features of almost every kind while just adding the equipment you needed most, like a torquey V6 engine. Check out the sunset license plates: this Dakota has been in California for quite some time, as the rust-free condition would suggest.
The seller claims 65,000 original miles, and I’d say based on the interior that the figure is accurate. A clean bench seat with no visible deterioration to the seat fabric, and the same goes for the door panels. Despite being in California, the dash ins’t cracked and even the steering wheel is still in decent shape. I’ll bet if the carpets were shampooed it would present even more like a truck with half the miles shown here. There’s always some questions when a vehicle like this turns up with no history, but it seems likely there aren’t too many skeletons in the closet here.
The carbureted 3.9L V6 was good for 125 horsepower and 235 lb.-ft. of torque. Nothing crazy but certainly enough to get the job done. The seller notes it runs and drives and still passes smog, which is positive sign. The matching paint inside the engine bay and door jams all point to the exterior being the factory shade, despite some sun fading. The asking price seems downright reasonable for a clean, presumably-strong runner of a truck, especially when you factor in the low miles and the California history. Would you buy a bare-bones truck like this or spring for something more luxurious?
I find the mileage indicated hard to believe, but 6 digit speedos rarely lie. I had this truck, only a 4wd. It had a slew of miles, and a worn transfer case, but the motors are as stout as it’s cousin, the 318. I have an older than me gentleman at my apt. complex, drives a ’64 Chevy C10, looking at my Jeep motor, he says, “4 cylinder, eh? I said, yep, you know, the 6 cylinder with s2 back cylinder chopped off. He looked at me with a puzzled look. I said, Dodge 3.9 V6, same thing, 318 with back 2 cylinders gone, although some say the 3.9 was always a V6. He couldn’t believe that. He said, been around cars all my life, never knew that. Great motors. I say this truck has way more than 65K, but still a great find regardless.
👍 Howard
If it doesn’t need much,this could turn out to
be a really good deal.These older Dakotas are
really good & comfortable trucks.
I went to the local Toyota dealer to go to the
parts department,& one of the salesman stopped
me on the way & asked me if I wanted to sell mine.
I told him that I’m hoping to keep it for the rest of my
life,& have no intention of ever selling it.
If I ever did,what could I ever replace it with,for
the same money?
I knew a guy that had a small car lot, bought one of these at the auction. Same year but 4WD with a stick. It didn’t look bad at all, a quick look at the dash and saw 45XXXX on the od. He didn’t look close enough his mind was thinking 45XXX, thinking it had 145 thousand on it. After he bought it someone said “you know that has 450,000 miles on it?”. It took a while to sell that one, and I don’t think he made anything on the sale. I had one of these about 25 years ago with the V6, 4WD and an automatic. I really liked the size of it, mine had an 8 foot box, but was a little thirsty. With only a 16 gallon tank I had to fill it twice a week. For runs to Home Depot this would be a perfect 2nd or 3rd vehicle.
Kinda surprised its still available at this price appears to be one you can fly out and drive it home for a basic little work truck it checks most of the boxes.. Get rid of the canopy
These and the Magnum equipped models were the best Dakotas. This is just right.
I own two 1987 2wd Dodge V6 auto Dakotas. Both are on the road. One with an eight foot bed and a cap, and one with a six foot bed, originally my Father’s first and only new vehicle. Both great trucks. Not huge in power, but good torque, and around 18mph. The only carburetored Dakota truck (1987), so no check engine lights! A little bigger than the Japanese imports at the time – you could fit three across on the front seat. Also, imports at that time did not offer any but a four cylinder engine. FYI – the truck shown does NOT have poverty dog dish hubcaps – it has full wheel covers – so it is not a stripped down model. Stripped down models came without a rear bumper, and an anemic four cylinder engine, manual transmission!
I had one of these, a ‘92 I think. I bought it with a salvage title but it looked good. It was a 4 cylinder, manual transmission truck. It was pretty gutless but did everything I asked of it. I traded for a new ‘98 that was 3.9 and also a manual transmission. It was a much nicer truck.
A friend of mine had one of these and went thru 3 auto transmissions before he gave up and got rid of it. I liked this size of truck but am still driving my 2000 Sonoma 4×4 xcab with 63,000 miles and wishing they’d make them again!
87 Dakota, 3-9 w/standard tranny, best little P/U I’ve ever own!!
Jeff, Where Is It?
Bought a brand new 89 with a 4 cylinder and stick for $6100 total. Had vinyl bench, rubber floors and poverty caps. They felt bad for me as a young squid and put in an off market cassette player to seal the deal. Was a tough but gutless little truck that got me where I needed to be. Honestly looked like a power or gas company truck that was not picked up.
I have a friend that has one just like it except for the color. He wouldn’t sell it for the world no matter how much $$$$$ he would be offered. The way they build vehicles now adays, NOM WAY!!!
I own two 1987 2wd Dodge V6 auto Dakotas. Both are on the road. One with an eight foot bed and a cap, and one with a six foot bed, originally my Father’s first and only new vehicle. Both great trucks. Not huge in power, but good torque, and around 18mph. The only carburetored Dakota truck (1987), so no check engine lights! A little bigger than the Japanese imports at the time – you could fit three across on the front seat. Also, imports at that time did not offer any but a four cylinder engine. FYI – the truck shown does NOT have poverty dog dish hubcaps – it has full wheel covers – so it is not a stripped down model. Stripped down models came without a rear bumper, and an anemic four cylinder engine, manual transmission!