The name “Sunrader” may not mean that much to you, but in the context of oddball pickup trucks, it’s actually one of the more notable aftermarket companies. It is perhaps most famously associated with building some truly innovative camper conversions with Toyota and Datsun pickups as the basis for the conversion. Needless to say, Sunrader historically placed an emphasis on airy, light-filled fiberglass modifications that didn’t necessarily do much to enhance the driving experience but certainly transformed the looks. Find this claimed 1-of-2 Plymouth Arrow Sunrader listed here on Richmond Auctions with no reserve.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader Tony Primo for the tip. With this being 1 of 2 made, it begs the question as to who decided it was worth the cost of adding this huge fiberglass cab extension to an otherwise unremarkable pickup. That being said, with the popularity of the compact Toyota and Datsun pickups, Sunrader may have assumed the Plymouth Arrow (and its Mitsubishi twin) wasn’t far behind in terms of becoming a popular pickup alternative. While its bread and butter was modifying pickups to accept clever slide-in camper shells, this unusual Arrow showcases its ability to create a cavernous cabin and intriguing widebody.
The added space inside certainly made the cabin more usable, and ultimately created a true four, if not five, seater out of the otherwise tiny pickup. The added width also incorporated fender flares and a dually-style rear axle. All of this is to say, why? I suppose there were consumer behaviors being observed at the time that indicated this would make for a compelling option that the OEMs were not yet committed to producing. The other question I have is where do you find replacement glass, or seats, if you somehow destroy the equipment shown here? Was it sourced from conventionally-available materials? The windows appear to incorporate a shade or sliding vent option.
The engine is likely the original Mitsubishi-sourced 2.0L, 4-cylinder, good for about 93 b.h.p. That’s not much pulling this pickup around town, but at least it has three pedals. The engine bay looks quite clean, and I suspect given the overall high state of preservation, this rare pickup has been part of a private collection for some time. The Sunrader is part of a broader collection offered by the Savoy Automobile Museum, and there’s a lot of interesting vehicles and automobilia to check out if you’re looking for a new ride that isn’t a Plymouth Arrow with a Sunrader conversion.
Why?
Exactly and a valid question – it’s so fugly that you can’t stop looking…
Where did they think converting a 93 b.h.p compact pickup into a dually, makes absolutely no sense. Load the bed up and see how fast you get to nowhere. The whole concept to me is a big waste.
Pretty sure that engine is the 2.6L “Astron” 4G54 engine, which had 114 hp and 146 ft-lb of torque. Which still isn’t much, but still 22% more than 93 hp!
As for what use it is, I’d reckon these were prolly devised to tow a fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer. Being unsafe and illegal to have the trailer occupied underway, the cab extension provides a place for the family or crew to ride before setting up camp upon arrival. However, I’m not seeing any coupling or hitch in the cargo bed for that, nor any sign one had been there but was removed.
With only two of these ever made, most likely they were prototypes made on spec to see if they could sell the idea, maybe shop them around to travel and/or horse trailer dealers to see if anyone would bite. Evidently nobody did.
“Naturally aspirated (NA) upgrades: With a good intake, exhaust, fuel system, and ECU tune, you can typically see 120–130 hp (about +6 to +16 hp) from a stock 114 hp baseline.” (Now we’re really getting somewhere! lol!) And seriously, considering a 350 in a 1975 Corvette only had 165 HP, it’s not that horrible! I’d run it!
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I wonder if “only 2 built” means “two Plymouth Arrow-branded conversions” and they made more (if not many more) Dodge D-50 versions with the main bulk of them being on Toyota or Nissan/Datsun chassis. Still talking total numbers over several years topping out at around a hundred.
@Fant – Trouble with mods like that to raise high-end peak HP, they also tend to trade off low-end torque, which is what you’d want to prioritize for hauling and towing duty, and I doubt anyone using this for that sort of duty would want to keep the engine screaming at high revs to take advantage of that peak HP.
That’s 2 too many.
What happened to the other one!!!
Do you really care?
No good luck finding parts.
At the risk of possibly receiving the verbal thrashing of a lifetime for saying this on here, in public…..
It’s different. And I kind of like it. I’d never haul anything in it though. It would absolutely start some conversations at any Cars and coffee you go to. I’m just wondering what they did the extend the frame. And how much the suspension could actually hold.
Thanks for writing it up Jeff.
I have all the same questions, and about the same feelings. Is it good on some absolute sense? Nah. But it’s super interesting, and is a facet of what made this time period so interesting. People were trying all sorts of stuff with admirable disregard for convention. We got turbo rotaries and instrument.clusters that moved with the steering wheel and everyman coupes with four wheel steering and spare tires mounted on top of the engine. Once the early ’90s wrapped up, most cars started looking and acting awfully similar. Things got a lot less interesting.
I’m with you. I think it is great. Yes, it needs more engine but that is an easy problem to solve. About 5 years after this was produced, I was seriously considering placing a second cab backwards in place of the bed on a Toyota.
4 doors, and a cover (hood) over the trunk/bed. Not much different than the short bed crew cabs that are available today.
How do these any the toyotas like them work? I must be missing something. Don’t they seem outmatched to almost any heavy hauling task?
I love it!
This is great. There are two videos so watch them. It is bigger in the videos than it appears in the photos. If this were local, I would be very tempted. You would be a contender at any Radwood.
Very nice. It’s too bad so few were made. Not everyone needs or wants a Ram 350 Cummins. Unless I’m towing a 30′ 5th wheeler, or powering a 30′ motorhome, that’d be way too large.
No disrespect intended, it’s looks like a hardtop popemobile.
It does, doesn’t it?
If I were a White Sox fan I’d put White Sox logos on it, dress up like Leo XIV and stand in the back seat.
Where’s the Savoy Automotive Museum?
IDK but this truck was part of the McCandless collection in North Carolina.
Thank you; I should’ve Googled it.
I live close to the Savoy and have been wanting to go there for a couple of years now.
I will check their website about this auction.
Wow, lots of great vehicles up for auction over the 2 days, including some Kindig-it specials.
Links to the 2 days:
https://bid.richmondauctions.com/auctions/4-MGZ5GO/inaugural-fall-spectacular-at-savoy-automobile-museum-day-1
https://bid.richmondauctions.com/auctions/4-ML2MYC/inaugural-fall-spectacular-at-savoy-automobile-museum-day-2
Beautiful red ’87 Dodge W100 there…cheap!
Glad there are only two. It’s quite an eyesore.
With all that glass, hope it has a healthy AC unit, you’d broil here in FL
Uglier than a bucket of anal orifices.
Wow! All that modification just to add a second row of seats? It looks like it’s over 20 feet long or something like that.
I think it would be a different story if maybe this was turned into a camper or something like that, but this seems like a lot of effort for very little result.
Nice support vehicle for adventure bikes or off roading.
Nice support vehicle for adventure bikes or off roading.
Nice support vehicle for adventure bikes or off roading.
You can say that again!
I wonder where they attached the sail to it! That poor anemic engine needs all the help possible!
Seems I remember Toyota pickups with that aftermarket extended cab design.
Also, dually Toyotas were somewhat popular in early ’80s.
No good luck finding parts.
I would think mechanical parts can be found, I don’t know about everything else. If I had the money, I would’ve had a Mitsubishi Turbo Diesel engine installed.
Sure it looks goofy.
Remember your prom tux?
Sure it’s goofy looking.
So was your prom tux!