I just about jumped out of my skin when I saw this 1979 Plymouth Arrow Sport pickup, it looks almost exactly like my 1980 Dodge D-50 Sport, a tiny truck that I wrote about here on Barn Finds seven years ago and ended up buying it for a whopping $2,000. Remember when nice vehicles used to be somewhat cheap to buy? This Plymouth Arrow Sport truck is even nicer than mine, other than the interior, but that’s easily fixable.
As with the Dodge D-50 trucks, Plymouth’s Arrow line of pickups were rebadged Mitsubishi Forte trucks and the Arrow was made from 1979 to 1982. This truck is in unbelievable condition, it looks like it either just rolled off of the showroom floor in 1979 or was restored. Or, the body, that is, the interior needs some work. The underside makes me weep it’s so clean and solid, as do the solid and crisp rocker panels, and the bed floor looks almost like new. How is that even possible after so many years?
I don’t know if I’ve seen one with a topper/cap/shell on the back before, but it’s another thing that reminds me of my Dodge. The bumper is somewhat the same but mine is chrome. This one has much more usable, practical side mirrors, the tiny side mirrors on my truck are basically worthless even with the little stick-on convex mirrors that I always put on my vehicles.
The seller says this is a one-family-owned truck from Texas, which may be the reason my truck’s interior looks almost like new and this Plymouth Arrow Sport’s interior needs a lot of work. There isn’t much heat in northern Minnesota (here’s my truck’s interior) but there is in most parts of Texas. As with the Dodge version, the Plymouth Arrow Sport received a fancier interior with bucket seats, a tachometer and other gauges, and a five-speed manual, along with a bigger engine. They all came with standard front disc brakes and power brakes were standard. I wish mine had power steering, it’s a tough one to steer even though it’s so small. The seats will be an easy fix, and as for the cracked dash, JustDashes.com can fix that, but it’s not inexpensive.
The non-“Sport” models received a smaller 2.0 engine, but the engine here is Mitsubishi’s 4G54, a 2.6-liter “Silent Shaft” (balanced crank) SOHC inline-four with 105 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque when new. The five-speed sends power to the rear wheels and these are fun little trucks to own and drive. This engine looks much nicer, or at least more stock than mine does. I love the original air cleaner. The seller has this incredible truck listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Sterling, Nebraska and they’re asking $6,995. Here is the original listing. Would any of you have the need for a pickup this small?
I remember test driving a dodge d50 version of this in a off white paint color and automatic transmission in Vermont with a bench style seat. I really liked the little truck but it had barely no brakes otherwise I would have bought it.
Mine has great (standard power) brakes, CarNutDan, it’s the non-power steering that’s giving me Popeye forearms and a tough time backing it up into the corner of the garage so my wife can use her parking spot.
Standard cab, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, 2WD is exactly how I like my trucks, though I’d prefer a Toyota; and we’ll never get them that way new in the US again, so I think this is worth it. I don’t know if constantly hearing “a Plymouth truck?!?” is a plus or minus.
Folks, if this guy jumps out of his skin, we should all take notice. That doesn’t happen often. Seeing some of the submissions does that to me too. Someone just had to lambast me when I said I thought Mitsubishi was the best of the Asian offerings, and while I still think that, it’s probably splitting hairs. These cost about $4800 new, $100 more than the Toyota. A paltry 27,000 were sold in ’79 compared to a quarter million Toyotas. Not sure what this is worth, no takers after a week may suggest a bit too much. It’s a fantastic find.
Many years ago my son bought a new Mitsubishi Lancer and ran that thing to death at 186 k miles,gave it to a guy who needed a car and he kept driving it.Good engine and auto transmission.
Wow. I remember these as a kid growing up. I have to admit that the Plymouth version was rare as hens teeth back then, you definitely saw more Dodges ( or Dodge version) like what Scotty has. I went to high school with a kid who got a Mistubishi ( Dodge D50) from his grandfather, same generation as this one. Did body work and painted it. It was a great fun little truck. And I agree with Andy. Regular cab short bed stick shift 2WD was what I liked then and now too. This truck is a time capsule for sure. Its just going to take the right person with the right budget to buy it.
I always leaned towards Mistubishi mote than Toyota myself, but in hindsight I think Nissan, Toyota Mitsubishi and Isuzu were all great trucks.
mirrors are to small,learn to drive,look at the size of the mirrors on buses
Thanks, ron. After 46 years, zero accidents, and driving 40,000 miles a year, I think I have a fairly decent handle on driving. The mirrors are too small on my truck, not on this Plymouth truck.
I never knew, at least I don’t recall ever knowing, that the Arrow was available as a pickup. I only remember the little coupes.
They pretty much just moved the Arrow model name/badging from the coupe to the pickup, IMO an odd choice as they shared little in common other than being manufactured by Mitsubishi and the top-spec versions having the 2.6L Astron balance-shafted engine, and there was about a year of overlap between the two.
Gorgeous looking ute, I had one similar (Mitsubishi) King cab
What I like about these “little” utes, is the tray is long enough to sleep in, unlike the utes of today.
My only criticism is the rims, chrome would look a lot better.
Holy Moly Scotty, HUGE similarly to your Dodge. Color, stripes, wheels. I remember the day you snagged it here on Barn Finds.
This here is a rare bird. Reminds of the 70s Ford courier you had listed a few weeks ago. I didnt know that Ford and Chrysler and others rebadged Mitsubishis like this in the day. I dont ever remember seeing one of these and shes clean as a whistle except interior. Rare find.
Ford rebadged Mazdas, Chrysler rebadged Mitsubishis, and Chevy rebadged Isuzus (also Suzukis later as well, eventually giving rise to the Geo sub-marque).
Here’s another rarity:
I just saw an Isuzu P’up while watching a 1984 episode of The Price Is Right on Buzzr network.
It’s great to see these old episodes – I am better at guessing the prices of cars from that era than the ones of today.
I just never realized how much the big US Three, GM, Ford and Chrysler, subbed out or rebadged its cars like this with Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Isuzu back in the 70-80s. Never too old to learn.
Mine was equipped like this one but the paint was dark brown… what an amazing little truck.! Fast, nimble, easy to maneuver in traffic, stopped on a dime. Put nicer rims and bit wider tires on it and looked badass….. enjoy.!