Ralphie from A Christmas Story loved his trusty, reliable official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot, range model air rifle that he affectionately called “Ol’ Blue.” Here’s another “Ol’ Blue” for your consideration, but in the form of a no-nonsense 1984 Dodge D150 short bed pickup truck. (The seller doesn’t tell us if the truck has a compass on the dash and a thing that tells time, or how it handles creeping marauders burrowing through the snow.) Located in Brooksville, Florida, this ’84 Dodge Ram is for sale here on craigslist for $4,900. A big thanks goes out to Rocco B. for sending this tip our way. Thanks, Rocco!
No history is shared about the truck and I wish there were more photos and descriptions, but based on what is supplied, it looks like a solid truck. Although two-tone paint and other higher trim options were available, this one is a solid color (I believe it is Santa Fe Blue Metallic) with pinstriping. I’m guessing it’s still wearing its original paint and it presents okay for its age. The badging is missing from the driver’s front fender and the seller describes the exterior as “Solid body with some dings, dents, and scratches as we all do at this age.” The minimal bright work is presentable and I’m not spotting rust. Undercarriage photos are supplied but none of the Ram’s rear bed. Based on an ’84 Dodge Ram brochure I found online, these do not look like the original wheel covers (I’d prefer dog dish hubcaps myself).
The basic “Ol’ Blue” theme continues inside and overall it looks good for a 39-year-old pickup truck. The seller says it has a “higher optioned interior’ but doesn’t go into details. The original vinyl bench seat is wearing a nice-looking seat cover and other than some paint and normal wear on the driver’s door panel, the rest of the interior including the instrument panel, dash top, carpeting, and the round white-knobbed 4-on-the-floor appears to be in good shape.
Under it’s blue hood rests Chrysler’s legendary 225-cubic inch Slant 6 engine that’s paired to a 4-speed manual transmission. This reliable workhorse enjoyed a 27-year-run with Chrysler vehicles (1960-1987), gaining a reputation as one of the most rugged and dependable engines ever produced. I wish more photos and information of the engine were included as it appears to be missing the exhaust and air cleaner and there’s no mention of how it runs. The pickup shows 37,764 on the clock, but we’re not told if it’s original or if it’s gone around once. The truck also has power steering and disc brakes. There are questions to be answered for sure, but on the surface, this appears to be a solid, no-nonsense Ol’ Blue survivor. 
Good basic pickup,it’s a stick!
Odometer has gone around at least once good rig to have
This truck would have 95 HP, not 145 as mentioned. Tough engine but woefully underpowered.
I thought that trucks got easier emission controls, am I wrong? 1983 was the last year for the SS in cars, I think they were only 90 Hp Net. A good 1970 had like 110 Net, I think.
From 1977 to 79 they had a 2 barrel “Super Six” which put out 110 horsepower and the 1 barrel 100. After that, it was only the 1 barrel ranging from 85 to 95 hp in cars. Hopefully, this truck has a little more.
my 84 van has 90 hp , 225 ci .
This is what trucks used to be. No 16 way power seat w/ memory, No rain detecting windshield for automatic wipers, No power windows, No power locks, No climate control, No sound system with 20 speakers compatible with your smart phone. How did people drive these? JK I wish you could still buy them this way! this will go fast at this price, somebody may even put it to work. That’s what trucks were used for back in the day.
Okay geezerglide85 you just pushed me off of the proverbial fence sir! after too many years of procrastination I just signed up to be a member of the Barn Finds community ! I could not agree with you anymore wholeheartedly when it comes to your comments about the beauty of the simplicity of times in the not to distant past ! I bought a 1991 1/2 Dodge 350 SE diesel dually from a friend who is a renowned Mopar Restorer here in the mountains of western north Carolina in 2005 after my 1989 d350 se was destroyed in an unfortunate accident ! I won’t go into the details JUST SAYING ! I will never sell it or trade it BECAUSE I would never be able to replace it !
That is amazing since my Dad had an 85 long bed with the 6 and 4 spd. He lived in New Hampshire so it was rusting bad in 10 years, as everything does there. ( All spot welds started popping in the bed too) His Slant 6 was all black, stock so this looks weird to me. Replaced with a 95 F-150 with the 300 cui 6 and 5 spd. Had more power but Rusted as bad again in 10 years..
From back in the days when you could buy a new truck
for a lot less than a new car.
I had one of those that I bought new. Used it on the farm and years later put a camper shell on it when my oldest was in scouts. I abused that truck hauling and pulling trailers. It was a workhorse and it got great mileage. I did regular maintenance and that engine never failed me. Best truck I ever owned. Had way over 350000 miles. Just got tired of it!
Yes I think this motor will run. These are almost indestructible
Recent memory tells me the flooding in Fla. that washed out Sanibel Island, may have floated this truck. That being said, a slant six is like an Ak-47. If you can get it to cycle once, it will run. Perfect truck to work, or survive the zombie apocalypse. Factory tool kit was a pair of vice grips, and a screw driver.
Slant 6 was a great engine until they smoged it that was the demise You can see the cat converter just below the manifold and more are located underneath Take that stuff off lean it out and make Dodge great again
Brooksville is a ways from Sanibel and not on the coast. That area also did not get impacted directly by the storm as Sanibel/Ft Myers did. Still, all Florida has low areas so would bear an inspection.
I love these type of trucks and would drive over if I didn’t already have too many old things in my driveway.
power steering, very nice. My ’77 was similar but three-on-the-tree and no pwr steering. Mine was durable, even with the heavy use it was never designed to get. I really enjoy tooling along with a straight-six at just the right rpm’s