The D100 was the 2-wheel drive version of Dodge’s ½ ton pickup from 1961-93. When equipped as the narrow-bed, step-side edition, it was called the Utiline. These trucks would precede Dodge’s well-known Ramcharger series. This survivor from 1961 has been mechanically refreshed with a bunch of new parts but needs cosmetic work to finish the project. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rick for turning us on to this truck. It currently calls Aline, California home and is available here on craigslist for $6,250.
First-generation D100’s ran through 1965. Utilines were offered with beds in lengths of 6 ½ and 8 feet and the straight-sided bed versions of the truck were called Sweptlines. Commonly offered engines were the 318 V8 and the then-new Slant-Six with displacements of either 170 or 225 cubic inches. One of these two sixes is in the seller’s truck and – while most of these motors are known for being painted red or blue in color, yellow was chosen in the truck’s earliest years, according to the Slant Six Forum. These would feature the industry’s first use of alternators in pickups.
This truck’s motor has been rebuilt, with little or no use since. In addition, the following items are new or have been refurbished: radiator, slave cylinder, carburetor, electronic ignition, hoses, cables, battery and taillights. There is a new tonneau cover over the truck bed, and it’s shown as being on during all the photos, so no pics are provided of the bed itself.
The body looks solid with just a bit of rust here and there, including a small area behind where the hood opens. The green and white paint is rather dated, and a fresh coat would dramatically improve the appearance of the truck. The seat looks to have been previously recovered and doesn’t match the rest of the vehicle, but it needs to be redone again anyway. I get the impression this truck hasn’t moved recently given the tire blocks or race ramps under all four wheels.
With a new coat of paint and some interior work, this truck could be worth from $9-18,000 according to Hagerty, so there is some upside potential with this truck. The seller says he’s listed the truck for sale due to life changes and the need to focus on other things, so he’s hoping to find someone to buy it who wants to opportunity to own a “piece of history”.
What a cool old truck. This was an era when trucks were driven by the real guys building houses, instead of the poser douchebags in their monster pickups trying to act like tough guys.
Those guys should all drive ‘Gentlemen’s pickups’ (Utes). They still serve their purpose of hauling. In fact, I see a lot of the construction builders driving S-10s and other small pickups. You know it would save them a little money too. Those Ford Raptors and the such are outrageously expensive.
Agreed, Rex Khars; this is a good looking vintage pickup. I really like the front end styling, especially the grille. This is a pickup that deserves a good restoration. Fix the rust, attend to the dings and dents and then give it a fresh coat of paint. I’d toss the bed cover, source a rear bumper, freshen up the interior and just enjoy the ride. As far as new pickups go, I wouldn’t be caught dead in one. They’re too big, too expensive, have too many doors and the beds are too small. Perfect for the soy-boys that drive them. Or poser douchebags.
For most folks a minivan will carry everything a truck can. Remove the seats and building materials go right in without weather worries. Get everything unloaded and take the kids for ice cream. Pickup truck plates aren’t cheap here in Pennsylvania but minivans pay the much cheaper station wagon rate.
Funny, 1st person I thought of was you.
Nice truck for the money, especially since he’s taking offers, drive it as is and enjoy. It’s an inexpensive way to get into an old vehicle that hasn’t been neglected for decades.
Steve R
Cosmetic work? Na! Make the seat comfy and I’d drive her as is.
Indeed.
Big back window nice. Cosmetic work? Na! Make the seat comfy and I’d drive her as is.
Indeed squared.
Toss the tonneau cover in the garbage, get her running and drive it as is.
There’s one in the weeds in my area with the small back window. I’ve been trying to figure out what year it might be with no success.
Reupholster the seat, fix the brakes and drive the wheels off of it. Windows down on a spring morning, back roads, fishing pole and cooler of beer. Maybe a little Hank Williams on the AM Radio.
Now THIS is what I’d want in a truck!
All dressed up and ready to work. My
Uncle Paul had a ’61 Sweptline pickup
when I was a kid. I thought then it was
the ugliest thing I’d ever seen. But it
kinda grows on you after awhile. Like Rex, I remember when trucks were driven by painters, contractors, and other working class types. God forbid
you ever saw one parked in front of
someone’s house! My how times have
changed. Seems like everybody and his
brother has one today. I’d trade my ’01
Ram 1500 project for this one. As for
the engine, it looks like a 225 to me.
Looks like it’s missing the wipers and all the parts that go with it.
Were they still vacuum operated at that point?
All Chrysler products had electric wipers as far back as 1950 as I recall
Many vehicles in Ca. Dont have wipers because it just doesnt rain often enough. Three to four inches of rain a year not warranted. Most run wiper exclusion kits.
Many times the wiper blades fry and stick to the widshield.
Love the way the hood goes all the way up on this one for easy engine access.
Also cool are the correct yellow with black numbers commercial plates for this year
Totally new didn’t mean success, as Dodge truck sales hit rock bottom this year, trailing #3 International for a number of years. The 62s shed the ugly mesh grille and sales went on the rise. This one’s a nice find, and definitely worth saving, 61s are not a common sight.
A great find, I think it must have been some forestry dept. One just didn’t see green stepside Dodge pickups, and it’s spartan options might confirm that. Dodge was never a player in the 60’s truck market, they did use this cab for the larger semi trucks, but nobody, in the private sector, bought a Dodge pickup. I believe the 1st alternator was on the 1960 Valiant, but didn’t take long to be adopted industry wide. Speaking of new Ram pickups, on any given highway, I guarantee one will be on you axx in no time with this, but for a short ride to Wallymart, you won’t find a better or simpler truck. It really is refreshing driving an older truck, and listening to horror stories of new truck owners, take it from me, you don’t have to put up with that, and right here is why.
it took 2 years after Chrysler before GM started using alternators
This cab was never used for Dodge’s heavy duty truck line. This cab and the one that followed it were both used for their medium duty truck line, but their heavies used the late ’50s cab, right up to the very end.
That would be correct.
I saw this truck on C/L before e-bay ad, and all I could think of was how cool it could be. I really wanted it, I tried to convince some friends of mine in the area to go look at it. It went off C/L and I was sure it sold. I can’t believe it hasn’t. Makes me wonder if I have bad taste or everybody else does and I am right. Quein Sabe?
Right, it was featured on here already ages ago. All I can think is that Cali is so full of cool stuff for sale, this is just another one amongst a sea of them? Doesn’t make sense. If I lived there and it all checked out, I’d give them what they’re asking.
Early slant six engines were blue for 170 and red for 225
Yellow color probably comes from the rebuilder
Yellow is the correct color for the slant six engine in this truck.
My dad’s 1961 dodge had the slant 6 painted green. He bought new
Chrysler built engines in stage 1, 2, 3. That is light, medium, and heavy duty motors. It would make sense that they would be different colors so the production lines could tell the difference.
luv the 4WD step side short beds (M/M/Y do not matter). This one pretty close. Wonder if this make ever had the 40 yr produced 225 slanty in that livery? If so I’d do the Uncle Tony mods to the motor and have a low rev hi tq-er that did not spin tires off road !
Not one thing you said makes any sense.
My dad had one when I was a kid. The green paint was lighter in color and it was powered by a 318.
It hauled everything for our ranch including the sand for my sand pile where I put millions of miles on real metal Tonka trucks. Alway started in bitter cold with the help of a 100 watt lightbulb under the hood for heat. Good times….
If that area behind the hood is rusted through. Then under the dash at the fresh air vents has to be very bad. Leaves and debris would gather under the wiper cowl. Throw in some rain water and rot. Lot of rot. Trust me. That was my winter project on my own 62 Sweptline. As for the yellow engine. My truck is bone stock with 33K miles and a yellow 225 /6.
Deja vu. This was on here a long time ago now. Only in Cali could something so cool go unsold because it’s amongst a sea of other coolness.
I mailed about it for the heck of it. They sold it today. About time.