Decades In New Mexico: 1971 Dodge D100 383 V8

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Coming from three states known for having mostly rust-free vehicles, this 1971 Dodge D100 pickup has a sea of surface rust on the top surfaces but appears to be in really solid condition otherwise. The seller says it’s a California truck that was driven to Washington state as a commuter vehicle, and it’s been sitting in Los Lunas, New Mexico for decades. They have it listed here on eBay.

I have a friend who totaled a brand-new SUV in New Mexico after hitting a deer a few years ago. I’ve hit two deer myself and it’s always on my mind, especially if I have to drive at night. I’m fairly certain that this monstrous grille guard would keep this Dodge D100 safe from most animal incidents this side of a rhino hit. Having been a “commuter” truck from California to Washington state, this truck has two accessory 20-gallon gas tanks, that’s a nice feature.

The second-generation D-series Dodge pickups were made from 1965 through 1971. This is Dodge’s famous and beautiful Sweptline bed but they also offered a Utiline, their name for a stepside-style bed. We don’t get a photo showing inside this Styleside bed, unfortunately, or any underside photos. You’ll have to get in touch with the seller for any additional photos if you’re a serious bidder. As of now, the high bid is just $2,247 and the reserve isn’t met. Hagerty is at $9,200 $7,800 for a #4 fair-condition truck so this one isn’t quite there yet.

I love seeing the cracked seat rather than a blanket thrown over it, so you can see what it looks like. Fixing the seat is easy stuff, and there is more cosmetic work to do inside. There is no headliner and my little Dodge pickup with a missing headliner is like sitting inside a snare drum as Keith Moon is working his magic. The seller says the interior is original, along with almost everything else so that’s great.

One thing that isn’t original is the engine. While this truck originally had a 383-cu.in. OHV V8, it now has a replacement 383 from a 1968 Charger. It sends power through an automatic to the rear wheels and the seller says it needs the usual routine maintenance, probably due to sitting for so long. You can’t drive this one home. It sounds great in the seller’s video and this would be a great weekend project. How would you restore this one? Back to looking like new or get it working great and keep the “patina” look?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. Pat LMember

    Nice find Scotty. That front bumper would be perfect for Toronto’s traffic jams. With regular gas selling for around $6.00 a U.S. gallon, filling up would send me to the poorhouse!

    Like 7
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      You’re in Toronto, Pat?! I did not know that. That’s one of my favorite cities in North America, I’ve been there many times for photo gigs. It’s always nice and quiet on Sunday mornings so I can lounge on my favorite bench downtown…

      Like 6
  2. Kenneth Carney

    Oh my God that bumper! Just what you want when you’re driving down 95
    or Malibar Road here in Melbourne and some dumbass cuts you off while doing whatever they’re doing
    INSTEAD of driving! Yeah, keeping
    this thing fed will be a challenge, but
    that’s why we have a BJ,s discount card. Think we got gas the other day
    for $2.79 a gallon, but not all that sure. Only thing I know was it was cheap! Now to get Sis on board with
    this thing. I could just see her playing
    Bumper Cars on Palm Bay Road! Hell,
    when the other drivers see that bumper, it’ll be like the parting of the
    Red Sea as they scramble to get out of
    the way. Think I might want some air
    horns just to scare the crap out of the
    guy ahead who’s texting after the light
    turns green. With a truck like this, you
    just can’t lose!

    Like 5
    • Edward PacificarMember

      In Florida, you’re probably going to want AC. Looks like the only things left of the system are the holes in the firewall and the dash vents.

      Like 1
    • Wademo

      Do you still call those “Bongers” down there?

      Like 0
  3. Kenneth Carney

    …And if she says no, where the hell can I get one like that for our K-5???!!!

    Like 1
  4. Kenneth Carney

    …And if she says no, where the hell
    can I get a bumper like that for our K-5!!!???

    Like 2
  5. John EderMember

    You can tell that this was originally a California vehicle- the front bumper guard was standard equipment on all Dodge trucks with an initial delivery destination there. It is listed on the build sheet as “Freeway Defense Package”.

    Like 4
  6. Kenneth Carney

    (Insert laughter here) Somehow I believe that John! Ya sure they didn’t
    offer that package in Florida too?

    Like 2
    • Rick

      Is there any place nowadays where a package like that isn’t required to stay safe in traffic?

      Like 1
  7. Rex Kahrs Rex Kahrs

    Wow, Hagerty says $7800 for a #4 example of this truck? Number 4? I guess I’m now priced out of the beat-up truck market.

    Like 3
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      Shoot, my apologies, I had the base value for a 225 slant-six version! Sorry about that. If $7,800 wasn’t bad enough, Hagerty is at $9,200 for this truck in fair condition with a 383 V8.

      Like 4
      • Wademo

        That’s insane.

        Like 0
  8. John EderMember

    It looks like the dashboard has factory air conditioning- I didn’t look in the engine compartment for the rest of the system. If so, it is a fairly rare option on this vintage of Dodge trucks, I believe. I’ve looked at a lot of Dodges and have seen very few with this feature (dealer installed or aftermarket are more common).

    Like 3
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      Good eye, John! I bet it was all removed when they replaced the original engine, that’s a shame.

      Like 2
  9. Kenneth Carney

    Are you tired of being cut off by some
    inconsiderate A-hole that drifts into your lane while talking on his phone?..
    Then you need the bumper Cars crash
    and smash bumper kit by Ronco!! Turns any vehicle into a 4-wheel battering ram in a matter of minutes
    Just follow the simple instructions, and watch as terrified drivers fight each other just to get out of your way!
    Just install it with simple hand tools
    and you’ll be amazed how courteous
    other drivers can be. The Bumper Car
    Smash And Crash bumper kit is just $19..95 and comes with a money back guarantee! But wait…order now
    and we’ll send you the complete road
    rage kit for the same low price of $19.95!!! You get the Smash And Crash bumper kit along with a Mr. Microphone and a loud speaker for your car so that you can really tell offending drivers what you think of them!! But order now, supplies are
    limited!! Makes a great Christmas gift!! The Bumper Car Smash And
    Crash bumper kit by Ronco!! Here’s
    how to order!

    Like 2
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      HA! That’s perfect, Kenneth! I seriously need one of those, Ron Popeil would be proud, what a marketing genius. I still have a Pocket Fisherman that I got for Christmas decades ago still with the original box.

      I drive around 40,000 miles a year and post-2020, things have gotten so much worse on the roads it’s not even funny. The left lane is now the texting lane so drivers can lounge over there, not have to worry about merging traffic and be on their phones without someone looking at them through the driver’s window. It’s a 99% safe bet that if you see someone with their left hand draped over the steering wheel, their right hand is on their ##$%! phone. I see it hundreds of times every day when I’m on the road driving 10-12-14 hours a day. It’s not just annoying, it’s illegal and unsafe. Sadly, neither of those last two things matters anymore since there are no rules or laws anymore and most drivers don’t care about anyone else – not to generalize… Wait, what were we talking about again?…

      Sorry, I got off on a tangent there. By this time of the year, I’m so overwhelmed with road time, and seeing how horrible things are on the roads compared to the previous year, that I’m ready to lie on the couch for four months.

      Like 0
  10. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

    Auction update: this truck made it to $4,550 and no sale, unfortunately.

    Like 1
    • scrapyard john

      I saw that too. Reserve not met at $4550. I had seen the truck on Ebay before I saw it here. I’d like to own one of these old Dodge’s, but honestly would prefer a 318 and a manual trans. $4500ish seems like a fair price, to me. I mean, they are getting hard to find, but I don’t think many people are specifically looking for them. I could be wrong, but judging by the reserve not being met, maybe I’m right.

      Like 0
      • Wademo

        You are absolutely right!

        Like 0
  11. Kenneth Carney

    Thanks Scotty! I saw the truck with that huge bumper on it, and my imagination took over from there As a young man in the ’70s, I’d see their ads most everywhere I went back then. And it was amazing just how they managed to sell you stuff you
    never knew you needed. And speaking of that, how can I get my
    prints shown here on BF? I’m thinking
    of opening my shop again and would
    like to get my stuff out there for all our barn finders out there to see what
    I can make with my own two hands.
    And as for driving, I sit in the right seat and watch in awe as I watch Sis
    drive us around without getting into
    an accident! Seems like traffic is getting worse every day. Dunno how
    you sighted folks do it, but you do. The more we dash, the more accidents and carelessness we see on the road each day. Makes me wanna go out and buy a Bumper Cars
    Smash And Crash Bumper and road rage kit from Ronco or Ktel!

    Like 0

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