Barn Finds reader Brian V. spotted a Dodge D200 with perhaps one of the more colorful histories I’ve ever seen for such a vehicle. A top fuel team used the rig here on craigslist as their tow/support vehicle in the 70s and 80s. Originally your run of the mill slant six-equipped, step-side crew cab, its personality changed quickly at the hands of the J&S East Valley Garage.
NHRA history can be hit or miss, meaning sometimes a drag car’s involvement with the organization adds significant value to the price; other times, it has little significance to the particular car. In this case, this Dodge sports so many custom enhancements in order to be the perfect tow rig and track-side vehicle for drag racing events that I feel its affiliation with the glory days of the NHRA is a major selling point.
The truck sports a 440 iron stroker with forged pistons and two Paxton superchargers! Transmissions include a four-speed SM456 transmission with a Brownie 3-speed overdrive behind it, and the truck also features a custom-made clutch and pressure plate. All said and done, it churns out over 1,000 lb. ft. of torque on race gas, which must be an absolute riot in a vehicle that weighs over 9,000 lbs. wet.
But it’s not all about big power being channeled through the dually rear wheels. Functional A/C with a roof-mounted cooler and fan helped keep drivers and mechanics cool, while the camper body over the bed featured bunk beds and full carpeting. The seller claims the black paint job will come back with a simple buffing and that rust is near non-existent. This truck would be the ultimate trackside support vehicle – who needs a tow rig?
Holy carp. Both the Want-O-Meter and the WTF-O-Meter are pegged on this one.
I wonder how many gallons per mile it gets.
But think of the smiles per gallon!
Let me flip this coin….buy cool ass truck or divorce?
looks like the rh blower pulley has only barely tangential contact with the belt, transmitting only modest input to that unit.
I think it’s got a double pulley on it that you cannot see from that angle. I think both blowers have close to 180 degrees of wrap.
The RH Paxton has a double pulley and drives the LH Paxton. You can see the belt offset in the photo.
There’s buried treasure if you can find your way to the end of the shift pattern…
That shift pattern could be a sobriety test in itself.
So, from 8th to 9th you go right, down, left, down a little, left again, down, right, up, left and down.
Seems simple enough.
That is wrong on so many levels….
Where can I wire funds?!
To be fair, I have a new-to-me Lexus LS 460 L with some goodies, so I’m good on DDs for a while. The ’98 5.9L ZJ was eating me alive on fuel…still like it, though.
One question: I thought huge efforts went into making dragsters light…so why did they need (ok, scratch that, no one NEEDS this) that kind of HP to tow with?
I’m envisioning towing your own tanker of 100 octane and using this to win the Cannonball Run…. ;-)
Lmao
No such thing as to much power. Ask Tim Allen.
Because we can!
Hi Jamie, perhaps I can shed some light on this unit. If it was used to pull a dragster around, one must remember, in the 60’s and ’70’s, drag racers didn’t have these behemoth motor homes like today ( and separate “shop” trailers), this was it. Before smaller diesels came of age, this is what it took to get a gas motor to pull this truck, probably a 30 foot trailer, with the dragster and shop and gear inside, it was probably quite a load. OK, I’ll admit, the 5×3 trans. setup is pure California and this truck could probably do 3 numbers out in the desert, but a modern diesel could put out as much hp as this does, only more civilized. I’d like to hear what geomechs sez about this. Bet this truck hauls a$$. ( and has a BIG fuel tank)
I just love America!!
Well this beast is crazy cool, but the presentation leaves me cold. For sale, but no price. If it’s so simple to charge the batteries, give it a bath, and top off the fuel, why haven’t the sellers done it? Seeing my reflection in the paint is much more credible than you telling me I will be able to….after I do the “easy work”. It drives great, how bout a video? This thing is way too complex to just hope it all works.
Tell you what. I.ve been in that situation several where I just want something gone and have absolutely no time and there is no detail shop that will come out and on and on. Sell it like it is. Someone will step up and buy/haggle with me and it is gone. Those who are reluctant to see a purchase through may be the real losers of a great deal. But you have to try because they’ll never come to you. Just give a call and with the money you save, have someone haul it home.
Maybe Jeff but in my experience you get more response when you list a price. It’s a starting point to any deal. Or it could be he’s clueless but I doubt it.
He only needs one buyer……….
He says he has an offer of $16 500.
Just go and buy a dodge with a cumins diesel and you’d have a better truck and way less hassles then you’d have with this one. I pity the poor fool that buys this lump of $h!t. What an excessive redicules build that will empty your wallet every time you start it up. Thumbs down me if you want on this truck but I know I’m right.
Right? To you maybe.
hey we CAN’T thumbs down on you…and you have a good point… ;)
All original except I installed 5 speed O.D. NP 540
Beauty! Love the color
No price listed – or did I miss it?
Lot of complaints here. Let’s just face it. This truck is super cool. I’d love to have it. MPG? Who cares! This is a one of a kind; rare and unusual with mad power is a no brainer.
I think that is officially the third best thing I’ve ever seen.
When I see amazing things like this I just shake my head at all the rich idiots buying yet another black Porsche. THIS is what being wealthy is for!
Hardly a valid point for some.. Maybe… But if it’s got “80’s Ford Dually Fenders”– what rear fenders were on it in the 70’s? I doubt this saw much time as a tow vehicle…
Now that’s what n call a motor great truck/camper
This is awesome. I’m pretty sure it has shortcomings. But it’s a great showcase of yestertech and ingenuity! Reminds me of a way more over the top version of an International crew cab I should’ve bought last year.
“80’s Ford Dually Fenders” on a D200 (3/4 ton) originally fitted with a slant six … maybe because the dually conversion was done by the race shop. If so the big question is whether the Dana 60 has DRW hubs or if a D70 or 80 was swapped in. Easy to tell, but need to see the rear.
Gotta love the louvered hood !