Reportedly an ex-Air Force Academy truck, this 1963 Dodge D-100 Sweptline pickup with topper, cap, or shell – depending on what region a person is from – looks like a perfect pickup for just about anything a non-commercial user would need. Having that cap/topper/shell on the back makes it a no-brainer for weekend fishing or hunting trips and a small V8 under the hood makes it powerful enough to get back to those remote lakes. Thanks to T.J. for the tip!
The seller mentions that this truck was originally Dove Gray, but the 1963 Dodge pickup gray would have been officially called Mustang Gray, oddly enough, right before the Ford Mustang galloped onto the scene at the 1964 World’s Fair. They said it was then painted white for private ownership and was driven between Cripple Creek, Colorado, and the Air Force Academy – over an hour each way according to Google Maps – for work over the next four decades. This truck has Yosemite Sam mudflaps, for something fun. Hagerty is at $13,200 for a #3 good-condition truck, as a general reference.
The first-generation Dodge D-series pickups were made for the 1960 model year through 1965 and are characterized by having four headlights. Although, Dodge truck fans will know that in 1965, production on the second-gen pickups was underway and those trucks had just one headlight on each side so there were 1965 trucks with both two headlights and four headlights. Inside that topper/cap/shell is bare-bones now, but it wouldn’t take much to make it a comfy camping spot for folks who don’t mind roughing it a bit.
Other than a reupholstered bench seat, the interior is reportedly original, but was the dash also painted when the body was painted? The doors and other parts inside look like they’re painted a tan color, or maybe it’s the Mustang Gray that the exterior was originally. This truck has a three-speed manual with a column shifter and it brings me back to reading vintage camping magazines as a kid, even though they weren’t vintage back then. I can picture this truck parked by a lake with a campfire going and someone fishing with a red plaid jacket on, and probably smoking a pipe. Ahhh… the good ol’ days.
The engine appears to have some original turquoise paint, which would have been the color of Dodge’s 318-cu.in. OHV V8 with 200 horsepower. The seller says the original air cleaner comes with the sale and there’s a new master cylinder, fuel pump, Optima battery, dual exhaust, brakes, and everything works. They have it posted here on craigslist in Littleton, Colorado and they’re asking $12,500 or best offer. Here is the original listing.
Oh god is this ugly enough?
Not ugly at all.
Al Camino,
You never fail to amaze me with some of your completely un-thought-out-ful completely un-natural suggestions of ugly.
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.
I kinda like it. Grew up in the bed of a very similar truck.
Same guy that got banned using another name now….
Yes. It’s just the right amount. I like it. That front end looks like a third grader’s drawing of a truck. It’s awesome.
This would probably get better gas mileage pulling a 5th wheel than that 2000 lb. camper shell. It would look better too.
We are looking at 1963 vehicle and your bringing up gas mileage,buy a Prius if thats the first place you go..
How do you come up with 2000 lb camper ” shell” ?
That shell weighs less than 500lbs. For years I had one taller than this and fully outfitted it, total weight was just shy of 1000lbs.
I like it, because I did 30 years in the RAAF, so ex air force academy speaks to me. Not to mention the 318.
Scotty, you speak of regions, over here the topper, shell, cap, is simply called a canopy, and the pick up or truck is just called a ute.
Hopefully, as an ex-military truck, we can focus on the great post, and not derail it with war stories, that I somehow seem to perpetrate.
The truck is typical of a govt. issue, and Dodge seemed to get all the countries municipal/military contracts. These trucks generally led a cushy life, carrying implements of construction, like picks and shovels to mundane daily peacetime endeavors, by the time the next war came around, Dodge was out, and it was all Kaiser. These were sold to the public at auctions. The colors were always the key, Gray was always Navy, Blue was for A-F, Forest Green for Marines, and Olive Drab for Arm, pale green for forestry. Rarely did one see those colors in civilian life and when they did, it was clear where they came from. Perhaps it was forbidden for the public to have those colors? Since civilian purchases were rare, this is about the only way you’ll find one today. Again, the stick will be the deterrent for the future, and Yosemite Sam was by far, my favorite Looney Tunes character!
Yosemite Sam? Me too. Lots of these trucks made it to the farms out in our part of the world. We had a strong Dodge-Chrysler dealer who also sold John Deere farm equipment. Farmers came in for a new piece of equipment, or parts, or to bush for a soda, or all of the above. They would spot a new pickup out front, or in the showroom and they’d buy that as an afterthought.
No….your wrong again….where do I start – your first sentence ?
You left out State road Dept yellow.
Lots of these truck were orange if the city, county, or state owned them, at least in MN. Later most turned quite brown with rust worm. This one is a beauty.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,this is a beautiful truck as trucks were meant to be. Not a yuppy mobile.
My friends cousin had one looked almost identical right down to the color. I don’t remember much about it other than the steering had an excessive amount of play
Well built trucks I will say. just picked up a 1963 Dodge D100, 2-wheel drive Town Panel, an Ex-Sheriff’s Paddy Wagon and all original. I was told these Town Panels are hard to find and not many made which I have no idea how many were produced.
The only bummer was when entering the driver side, you would whack your right leg knee on the protruding section of the cab body that was very unthoughtful on the designers part.
The same if you were the passenger. Your other leg tho.
The worst “knee-knocker” I ever drove was my ’60 Pontiac Catalina.
My 1965 F-350 has the hand brake right inside the door – when it’s on – it’s up….it’s not on the transmission like most – it’s a cable.
When I was in the air force these trucks were everywhere. I drove these all over the flight line
Great looking pick up. But it would be great…pulling the drivetrain and updating it. Gen-3:HEMI 392 with a 6 speed manual. Wildwood disc brakes and Dana rear 3:73 gears. Then you really hauling the mail. 😂
Quick comment on the “hauling the mail”,,,I used to frequent a trucking site, and knew I was no longer in the loop, when I used that term, and someone came back, “the USPS freight is way down these days”,,,