Dodge has had many special editions and equipment packages over the years. I would guess that they had more special editions than any other brand of truck, but I don’t know for sure. This 1979 Dodge D-150 Palomino is a rarely-seen special equipment package and this one can be found here on craigslist in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, home of not only Leinenkugel Brewing Company but the birthplace of the father of supercomputers: Seymour Cray. Fun-facts-a-plenty. The seller is asking $7,000.
The photos are oddly-hazy for some reason but they show what appears to be a nice pickup in original condition and without any major visual faults, other than normal wear and tear. I don’t see any rust at all in the photos other than some in a few seams and crevices, maybe just normal Midwest climate stuff. If there is no bodywork, this truck must not have ever been driven in a Wisconsin winter. If it would have been driven in Wisconsin it would look more like this.
This is the only photo that shows some slight rust in the bodyline at the bottom. The seller says that there is no rust and this was a Montana truck originally. That would make sense with the Palomino equipment package being related to a western theme and horses. Apparently, the Palomino package was available on both 2WD and 4WD Dodge D-Series pickups in 1979 only, in both short-wheel-base and long-wheel-base configurations.
The western theme continues on the interior with the “western motif” seat fabric and that was about it inside. The thick carpet was pretty luxurious for a pickup and the interior looks like it needs a bit of freshening up. I wonder why the driver’s-side window crank is taped? This truck has cruise control, tilt steering, and AC.
The engine is Dodge’s 360 cubic-inch V8 and the seller says it runs and drives great. This truck also has dual-gas tanks which are perfect for those long stretches between gas stations in Montana. Have any of you seen a Dodge Palomino pickup?
I immediately thought of a Smokey and the Bandit scenario, where I go to Wisconsin, buy this truck and fill it full of Leinekugel’s, get a CB radio and haul ass back to Tampa with the beer.
Eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin’. We’re gonna do what Rex says can’t be done…
Chippewa Falls!! I just looked it up… your right on Rex. Load up with summer shandys.
Make it their excellent Oktoberfest instead!
Great truck and should be fun (and thirsty) with the 360! Dual tanks are a must! Should be able to fill up on Sun and ride all week on $1.89 gas.
Buy off Montana CL cheap, where these clean trucks are plentiful, then re-sell in the rust belt where demand is higher, for a premium. Car-bitrage, it’s been going on since the oriental tea trade.
Pretty sure on Montana craigslist this was listed for about half of flipper’s asking price. Not worth anywhere close to the $7k!
I looked at this truck when it was for sale locally in MT. It was purchased new in Glendive MT (Eastern MT) and was later moved to Townsend, MT, 20 miles south of Helena. It is an original truck and was probably not used much in the winter (2wd). When I looked at it in June 2017 it was parked outside and had not run in couple of years and the mice were well established inside and under the hood. IIRC the owner would not budge off $2500 and of course he claimed he had many buyers at that price. It was in that same spot until at least the fall of 2019. I guess a WI carpetbagger finally took the bait and got it running. I would expect a lot of electrical and mechanical bits that do not work and there is also a large hole melted on the HVAC box inside the cab–I could not figure out how that happened.
I know a guy here in Ca. That has like 6 or so of them In all different configurations: SB 2wd, SB 4×4, LB 4×4 and other LB’s 2wd’s and parts. The SB 4×4 is Completely restored and is awesome. There’s pictures of it online. They look beautiful when redone, But it obviously takes $$$ to redo. I believe this guy is asking alittle to much. If it was half that price, then it would be a good deal, like it was originally bought for $2,500-$3,000 in MT.
I had an 1987 version of this truck it was an LE model with a 318 cid. Being a LE it was chromed right up bumpers, wheels, side trim, two tone paint silver grey with a red interior. It also had cruise control, A/C, tilt wheel, and power windows. I bought it from a customer at the shop I worked at it was his dads truck it was like new inside and out. I only payed $3000.00 for it and I kick myself for ever selling it. The only reason I did is that it was as mentioned above it was hard on gas. This truck is no where near as nice as mine was or as well equipped as mine was so I’m going to have to say this is over priced by about $3500.00. Nice find.
Pretty cool looking truck.
I owned a 1979 Plymouth Trail Duster – basically a short wheelbase 4×4 Dodge pickup with a covered back end like a Blazer. It had the 360 engine. Ugh, what a dog. I loved the truck but that 360… I had to de-smog it – removing the air pump and plugging the air feed lines, and removing the idle limiter screws so I could make it idle on all cylinders. Adjusted the timing some and it was good, but on unleaded premium it got 10mpg around town and 15 on the highway. TOPS. And it was not very powerful, to be honest. My new F150 gets 18 and 23 mpg and goes like a sonofagun. The old Trail Duster, which I actually bought brand new, was still a nice truck if only it hadn’t been assembled by a bunch of drunks waiting to start their vacations. The dealer ‘could not figure out’ why the ammeter didn’t work; I found out it was because there was no hole in the firewall for the wiring! And the do it yourself car wash took off some of the two-tone paint job. There were a few other issues but at least it drove and handled nice.
I have a palomino it’s getting a makeover . I’m in ga mine isn’t really that bad nothing major . I’ve had it about 4 years just started working on it recently. Put a 4barrel and some headers . I’ll get it further along and post some pics . Rare truck . Mines 2wd automatic short bed .
I have one too. Its my dathers but I am now working on it. No mechanical issues outside of the timer. Only 50K miles. Need to update the inside though
I also have one. Seats are perfect. Wisconsin has hit the bed… putting a stroker kit in the 360 as we speak. Think it’s then a 408? Tons of other stuff ready for when I get it back. 2wd longbox