As we have seen, certain pickup trucks have really developed a market for themselves – early fifties Fords come to mind, as do Chevrolet/GMC “Action Line” members from ’67 to ’72. And others are coming into their own such as late ’60s/early ’70s Ford F-150s and Chevy GMC “Square Bodies” (’73-’87). What about Dodge? Old (’50s) Power Wagons attract attention, anything else? Well, I’m not sure, but today we do have an interesting Mopar to review. It’s not really a pickup but it is a 1990 D250 flatbed that has undergone extensive mechanical improvement. It’s not your standard find but it certainly is unique, so let’s check it out. It’s located in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $10,000 with the reserve not met or here on Barn Finds Classifieds.
So this one is a D series, three quarter ton model with a diesel engine, specifically, it has a newly rebuilt Cummins 5.9 liter, in-line six-cylinder engine that has been bored to 6.1 liters. It comes with a one-year warranty that commenced this month, March 2023 – total mileage: 100 miles. This 4X4 utilizes an Allison three-speed automatic transmission attached to a two-speed transfer case. There’s no mention of how it runs and drives but an inquiry will answer that question.
The seller mentions that the cab and front clip of this D250 was repainted “John Deere Blue” ( I thought green was the John Deere shade) and from what can be seen, it looks pretty good. There’s no sign of rust or crash damage and this truck is definitely ready for rough and tumble farm work – it has a front rammer and a grille guard as opposed to just a simple bumper. The suspension has been jacked 3 inches and the flatbed’s wooden deck measures 8 feet. There is also a 1/2-yard dump bed that will bolt to the bed if the new owner so desires – and it’s free. As the seller states, “This is a farm truck that has done work. It ain’t no trailer queen. It had more than 250k on it when it was rebuilt…“.
The interior is not described though the front seat is wearing an Indian blanket (covering a “farmer’s divot”?) so expect worn upholstery. Beyond that, it’s a standard single-cab environment. The seller mentions that there is a 760W Pioneer Amp with two 350W Pioneer 10s – you can probably serenade your hearing away with a setup like that, and, oh, yeah, a gun rack is included.
The list of features for this Dodge is extensive, please be sure to review either listing it to get a complete picture of all that is here. This truck will be capable of a myriad of tasks – my thought is that it will be perfect if, and when, the zombie apocalypse starts, right?
Allison is a much better tranny yes, but 250k, the engine is just broken in, also engine does not need to be bord any more, these are the best engines and 24 valve, I have had many and do not dump 10grand a year or nothing near that, they will go 600k easy with regular maintenance.
D250 equals 2 wheel drive
w250 is 4 wheel drive
I believe D means 2wd and W means 4×4. So this would be a W. The D has nothing to do with the engine… Also, Allison 3 speed? Interesting…
You are correct. Dodge has used D for 4 x 2 models and W for 4 x 4 models stretching as far back as the mid to late 50s. They used to be even numbered (W-200 or D-200), ranging from 100 (1/2 ton) up to 800 or 900- I forget. After 1971, they went to 150, 250, etc. So, you could have a diesel powered W-250, etc.
Appreciate the clarification but how come this D series is a 4X4? The seller claims it to be original.
JO
Jim-
I’m confused- the eBay listing has several references to it being a “W-250”. So, unless the listing text has been edited since this was posted to BF, then ??
I have had many Dodge 4×4/4×2 trucks through the years, including one that started out as a D-200 4×2 crew cab, but was a W-200 4×4 when I purchased it thanks to “junkyard engineering”. In those days, all the 4×4 running gear would bolt right into a 4×2 chassis. So, while the data plate said “D”, it was functionally a “W”.
Also, the “D” couldn’t have referred to the engine type back in the 60s, as there were no Diesel engines available from the factory in the “light duty” Dodge trucks, except for a rare few that had a Perkins (?) diesel installed in them (usually one tons- D/W 300s). The Dodge/Cummins collaboration occurred later, but I don’t follow that vintage so I can’t comment on them. For me, 1962-1971 are the “golden years” for Dodge trucks. Open the hood to 90 degrees, climb into the engine compartment and sit on the inner fender to work on the engine (but watch out for rust in the cab…).
This is indeed a W-250. The listing is a flaw in the ebay form that forces the title from the VIN, presumably to prevent misrepresentation.
This isn’t the dodge Torq-flite automatic?
Looks like a competent work truck in nice shape. Unfortunately, this era of Dodge truck has a reputation for being rattletrap. My Dad owned an ‘86 D150. Good serviceable truck, but the cab was kind of a tin box full of big plastic chunks flying in loose formation. BTW- No such thing as a late ‘60s- early ‘70s F150
This truck runs and drives great, it’s a daily workhorse. All the bearings and u-joints and suspension components have been replaced so it runs well with no problems.
The color is from John Deere’s 1971 foray into the Custom Colors market, commonly called the “Patio Series”; the color is Spruce Blue. Deere also owns Patio Red, Sunset Orange, and April Yellow.