With some of the fine muscle the Dodge boys were producing in 1970, one might think an offering with a name like “Dude” could be packing some serious extra punch under the hood. In reality, the Dude was only an appearance package, but it was a fun one, featuring a black or white C-shape decal along the side with a logo above the light on the quarter panels. These pickups are surprisingly sparse, with an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 produced in 1970 and 1971, the only two years the option was available on the D100 and D200 pickups. The ’70 model here on eBay is a project, but it appears fairly solid overall and probably well worth the effort needed to get it going again. This truck is located in Custer, Wisconsin, with the opening bid of $2,000 yet to be placed.
A fun fact is that Dodge hired none other than Don Knotts to promote the Dude in marketing campaigns, with the famed actor referring to it as “another tough truck from Dodge”. It was sort of a strange pairing, considering that Fords were the predominant autos used on the set when The Andy Griffith Show was in its heyday. In any event, the seller says this one has been sitting for a long time, but much of the body still looks reasonably sturdy, with the cowl area showing the most rust on its sides. There’s also a dent in the driver’s quarter and some damage to the rear bumper, plus a few other random bruises here and there. Some sheet metal work will be facing the next owner, but hopefully, many of the panels will be salvageable.
A 318 engine is under the hood, but the seller hasn’t attempted to start it, which is probably a good thing since that radiator looks like it’s been dry for years. There’s no word on whether or not the V8 will still turn, so it might be beneficial to consider installing something larger, unless you’re a stickler for originality. That’s OK too, because the transmission is a three-on-the-tree shifted manual unit, which is always a fun way to change gears, so that component may be worth preserving.
The interior is not confirmed to be original, but it’s looking mostly stock, and I doubt much refreshing has ever been done inside. There’s a rusted-through area of the floor towards the back, so some additional steel repairs will also be needed here. While this one will certainly need some work, it doesn’t seem too bad for the most part, and may be at a decent starting point. The Dude is one of the rarer pickups from the period, and I don’t recall ever seeing one in person myself. Is this 1970 Dodge D100 Dude a worthwhile project?
Oh, it’s a Badger truck, alright, actually, one of the better ones. That rust is from the 80s, and not sure how the box escaped that, usually the first thing to go. Don’t let the tires fool you, this truck was sitting for a long time, and the “Dude” moniker, obviously a Don Knotts fan, is the only thing that saved it. Let’s call a spade a spade, while I always liked Knotts jittery demeanor, it had gotten worn by 1970. In fact, aside from some minor roles, his career had gone flat. I heard his “tough guy” policeman was enough to convince Chrysler he should be the spokesperson for this pickup, when in fact, Dodge was poorest selling pickup at the time. Since IH was fading, Dodge catered to rural hooligans, and Knotts seemed to fit the bill. I think he pitched Dodge vans too. It did little for pickup sales, however. I read, the 1970 Sweptline cost about $2700 new. This was still a pretty basic truck, and can’t find what the “Dude” package added, if anything.
$500, get it running, get 1 or 2 brakes working, be a great wood hauler. You’d be nuts to do anything else with it. Don Knotts would approve of that, and would never get past “Checkpoint Chickie”.
I didn’t realize how many sport trucks dodge made in the 70s, there was the
Dude 1970 – 1971
Warlock 1976 – 1979
Li’l red express 1978 – 1979
Top hand 1978 – 1979
Macho power wagon 1977 – 1981
and there was the Plymouth trail duster that looks cool.
I do like the dudes the paint on the sides remind me of a 1970 super bee,
I might be a little off on the years.
Don’t forget the Custom Sport Specials from about 1964-1967(?).
The link appears to be broken. But if someone sells or buys a “D Series” Sweptline/Utiline pickup, ALWAYS provide/ask for a picture the Build Data Rating Plate riveted to the driver’s rear Door Jamb, to see what build configuration it had when it left the factory.
And the Prospector , basically a high line truck with a wood grain interior trim, Volare steering wheel , and different body moldings. I had a 78 and it was also a two tone, with headliner and a tilt column
Opening bid of 2k should be the closing bid.
The radio won’t play The Eagles, though.
Hahaha, I got “The Dude” reference
Not for me, does not have a radiator cap.
hmmmmmmm ~~
Would like to see this in Tommy Toybox’s garage.
heard of them but never seen 1 till now. kind of cool
There isn’t $2,000 worth of scrap metal there.
sorry joe, but someone will buy it , just cuz how cool these trucks are !!
Stellantis needs to resurrect this name, in a Ram 1500, with the Hellcat motor. Immediately!
If they did, they’d actually be wise to change the name to “Bro”, to fit better with current times. Which are……interesting.
I’m at the age where I consider the term “bro” to be an undergarment specifically designed for men, by Frank Costanza and Cosmo Kramer.
A Ram Bro! My friend I think you’re on to something there!
Dodge had a “The Dude” concept truck at this years SEMA, green with black graphics similar to the original. No Hellcat engine, but it did have a 5.7L Hemi. There are several 3 to 4 minute videos on YouTube featuring the truck.
Steve R
Very nice truck, best looking pickup from this period in my opinion.
Would love to have this as my daily.
Unfortunately on the other side of the pond.
Good luck to the new owner!
I noticed the white cowboy hat above the Dude name. Was this a white hat special from the Dodge Boys? Lots of projects here on BF today. They all look like they would make great rat rods for the right builders. I don’t see any of them being restored to original.
Hi Carbob, I don’t think so, as the “White Hat” specials ran from ’65 -’71(?) and didn’t include trucks, that I saw. Part of the “Dodge Fever” campaign and “see the good ol’ boys at your Dodge dealer” with white hats, unlike black hats for the bad guys.
“Jeff Bridges Edition”?
Even rarer, in Canada here we had the Fargo Dude pickup.
I bought one outta Denver musta been 25 years ago red with a white C-stripe 383 auto. Ran damn good too. Best thing about the stripe it eliminated the need for stainless/chrome hanging on the side,mostly though missing on this generation and I might add the next also. Rarer than a Dodge Dude is a dodge truck with every piece of chrome it was born with.
383 truck would be great…wish I had one in my Ramcharger…maybe someday!
Drove these old Dodge pick ups on an AF base I was at. I can still hear those Mopar starters from back then with their distinct grinding whine.
They called those starters, “High Torque” starters. Just bought one for my 05′ 5.9 Cummins. Sounds like the old day starter.
I thought they made their distinct noise because they were gear reduction.
Steve R
That’s right – and they even put them on the slant-six. They would spin that engine so fast in the dead of winter our Valiant would start when others failed.
This is a sweptline pickup. These trucks have a huge cult following. They actually had some attractive design on them Not the “box” GM or the twin I-Beam weak kneed Fords. They were tough work trucks that had life. A little underpowered with the 318 2bbls but still pretty bullet proof trucks.
The rare 383’s were strong. Got two now, setting the custom short bed up with a big block Road Runner 383. weighs about the same as a Road Runner,so should be a fun driver.
You could get bucket seats and a counsel on these that came straight out of the 63 Plymouth Sport Fury parts bin! I have a 63 Sport Fury and have seen an original Dude so equipped!
Does it come with DUDE Wipes…
Friend of mine had a Dodge pu back in the day that was about this year, this color, and came with a 426/Torqueflite and buckets. I vaguely remember side stripes. Guessing it was a “Dude”. He said that it surprised a lot of people at the stoplight.
Sounds like A Custom Sport Special, with the High Performance Pickup option.
Rare. That’s a Big Money find today”
Aj my cousin had a 79 ram charger with a 400.
A friend in High school had one. Pretty cool truck. Then in the Air Force we had the 6 packs. We drove them down the ‘Strip’ in Lost wages NV. Went to Nellis AFB 9 times for Red Flag. Marc.
“6 packs”. Drove them too. Took half the flight line to make a U turn in one.
There was a new ‘Dude’ at SEMA this year. Lime green, double cab, Black wheels.
in 1970 they made very few of these ,and being a 318 3 on the tree is probably rare too,it would be cool seeing this next to the new dude that they might be building in the near future, i think this truck is super cool !! hope someone will bring it back to life again, i see its up on e bay again , cuz of non paying buyer