As the forebearer to today’s Dodge Ram, the Dodge D200 pickup was an innovative platform in its day, serving as a test-bed for features not often found in a truck. Fittingly, today’s Ram brand has endeavored to make the modern Ram pickup one of the most luxurious and feature-rich trucks on the road. This 1963 “Sweptline” here on craigslist may be simple by comparison, but with only 24,000 miles, it remains an appealing survivor.
From using an alternator instead of a generator to the introduction of the crew cab body design, modern truck owners owe a tip of the hat to the Sweptline. Although this particular example sports a manual transmission, the D-Series trucks of the era also introduced a new 4-speed automatic, a novelty for the day considering many vehicles still relied on units with fewer gears. The interior of this example looks tidy, and in line with the mileage.
Fitted with a six cylinder, this is most likely the standard-issue 225 pushing out about 140 b.h.p. This era of Dodge’s most versatile truck also featured the introduction of another “first” for truck owners: a hopped up version, known as the Custom Sports Special, which allowed shoppers to check a box for a variety of performance enhancements executed via visual and mechanical upgrades. Not for this example, though – it’s just a straight-up working truck.
With no rust and an impressive list of recent maintenance items addressed, this D200 looks like it’s ready to roll. A new water pump, fuel pump, valve job, wheel cylinders and a master cylinder are included on the list of recent repairs. The tires are still original, however, so you’ll want to replace them on this low-mileage specimen. For $7,400, this isn’t the cheapest D200 out there, but it may be one of the cleanest.
Hmm, I never knew Chrysler made a yellow 225, but there it is, late ’63 to ’69 trucks only. Engine looks kinda cruddy for just having a valve job, but I do see what looks like a new water pump. Neat truck, grossly overpriced, ( I’m seeing a trend here) and you can make your own determination on the mileage claim.
I was thinking a HPP/CSS clone with a 426 Max Wedge (with cross ram intake) and a push button Torqueflite. And steel slicks on the back and Torq-thrusts on the front for the strip and dog dishes for the street
‘course it’s had all that attention – 20 years ago – I cannot agree with the modern driveline idea, at all…..saying that, pushing this thing around in modern traffic would be absurd – weekend warrior – conserve & preserve
Plain Jane truck priced like a Little Red. In it’s current condition I’d be in at $4000 tops.
This past year one of these showed up at several Good-guy’s events, competing for some sort of truck of the year award. It is an absolutely gorgeous truck, which might be fueling the fire on the price of this truck. I always say if you want to build a certain car start with the best one you can find, and this might be it.
I live along cranberry bogs, some of the irrigation pumps are powered by commercial versions of the Slant 6. They’re yellow.
Hi Mark, the cranberry marsh I just got done working at, all their stationary motors were diesels. But the slant 6 did get around. Turning a generator here, it appears.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lcj-Od38FrQ/UVGB2VNYs3I/AAAAAAAAAag/gfLLy4flU-4/s1600/Picture+1.png
Here’s my D200. What do you think?
Big Andy- I’ll bet that one was built with wrenches and not chopsticks!
I’d like to here about that 4spd. automatic.
Me too.
Sweet looking truck Big Andy. I replaced a windshield and gasket on a 64 similar to yours several years ago. The customer brought it up from New Mexico. He told me those crew cabs were used for railroad workers back in the day.
I too am curious about that 4 speed auto. I did a little research and came up zero.
i own a 66 D200 Sweptline Fargo, Love it.. check a few pictures out here https://d200fargo.com