The “Forward Look” was not just reserved for automobiles – the half-ton Dodge Sweptside flaunts finned rear fenders, hooded headlamps, two-tone paint accented with chrome, and triplet tail lamps, everything a buyer could want in the era of gaudy decor. This dressed-up Dodge was the company’s answer to bold styling introduced by Ford and GM. Rather than leaning on Virgil Exner directly, Chrysler’s Special Equipment Group customized the new D100 using body panels from its station wagon. Grafting those panels onto a pickup body involved considerable sheet metal work and finesse with trim lines. The Sweptside entered the market in 1957, but sold in minimal quantities. This rare example is listed here on facebook Marketplace for $29,000; it runs and drives and is located in Oregon City, Oregon. It’s probably a couple blocks from my office, SO! if anyone is interested in this truck, contact the seller, then ping me and I can go see it for you. T.J. sent in this tip – thanks!
Though Chrysler had installed its famous Hemi in several vehicles before this truck hit the road, the factory gave a 315 cu. in. Poly V8 to the Sweptside. Output was around 200 hp. The transmission in this example is Chrysler’s three-speed pushbutton automatic, which Dodge marketed as “Magic Touch Control”.
Dodge’s D100 pickup offered a few optional upgrades over the previous C-series, including better visibility out the windshield, power steering and power brakes. The hood opened more fully, for ease of servicing. This example needs new upholstery and interior door repair at the least, but after that, the cabin is tolerable if a new owner wants to keep expenditures under control. Speaking of expenditures, close examination of the photos suggests there may be rust in the rear fenders, along a horizontal line that suggests a previous repair, as well as at least one lower door edge.
Dodge didn’t keep records showing Sweptside production, but estimates for the three year run hover under 2000 copies. Nowhere near that many survived however, assuring that the Sweptside will remain one of the most collectable trucks in existence. Values have skyrocketed in tandem with the likes of vintage Ford Broncos, the Chevy C/K series even International Harvester’s Scout. A market peak in 2018 brought six figures to sellers of these pickups. Current values approximate $60k for excellent examples. We would all rather pay less for a project pickup; do you think this Sweptside’s rarity justifies the seller’s asking price?
Whaaaaaaaa? An automatic,,,smelling salts, please. This was without question the coolest of Dodge pickups, before they became much less attractive. I believe this truck was in response to the Chevy Cameo, that Ford seemed to miss, grafting auto panels to a pickup. This, like the Cameo, had a limited following, and few folks were willing to cough up another almost $400 bucks over a regular pickup for one. It’s a cool truck, but California pricing will sadly leave most out. Thanks a lot, California,,
You’re welcome,
California
Of the three builders who brought out those special customs I definitely have to award Dodge for the most gaudy one. Personally, I prefer the ‘57 International A100 Golden Jubilee/ ‘58 Custom as my favorite. Of course I wouldn’t kick any of them off my driveway.
3 speed automatic? I don’t think I saw a Dodge truck of this vintage with anything but a Powerflight 2-speed, six or V8 power. I sure won’t argue it…
Now here’s an International Golden Jubilee model. IH’s new inhouse designer, Ted Ornas, came out with this one, and it made a lot of miles…
When I was a kid a friend of my Dad worked for IH and gave me a model of one of these – gold and all. I thought it was cool then- still do!
The 3 speed in ’57 Dodge trucks was called LoadFlite, which was basically a beefed up TorqueFlite.
’56 had the 2 speed PowerFlite.
Since the pics leave something to be desired I decided to drop this one in. Interesting enough, the Hallmark Keepsake truck, a couple of years back was based on this same truck…
And while we’re at it, might as well show the Chevy. I’m sure that there are fans to each of these on this page…
Geomechs, for me, on a personal level. I’d have to say between GM and Dodge, GMs bed design looks more like it “belongs” on the truck, not an afterthought. Dodge, which I like the fins, you can just tell they look like they were grafted on. At least to me anyway.
I could be wrong, but I think the c steering column and steering wheel may be out of a mid 60s Chrysler. Maybe they lifted a 3 speed 727 Torqueflight out of one and transplanted into the truck. Just a thought.
BTW. I’m a huge fan of old Internationals, and Studebaker trucks too. Honestly I like them all, and would love to have any old truck in my driveway.
Thanks for all the good comments here. Nice stuff; all of them.
I like the “oddball’ stuff and have minor connections to several of these stylized pickups. My brother bought the 56 Cameo shown above in about 1972 currently tucked away in one of his garages awaiting restoration. A brother in law bought a 57 Swept side from the original owner on about 1976. My dad was an International Harvestor technician and I at a VERY young age remember him bringing the shop’s Golden Jubilee pickup home to use for some home project.
One thing that’s always bothered me about the Sweptsides is the 2 tone treatment. Every time I see one it looks like it’s been high sided on the middle. If the two tone lower divider was lower and level from front to back, seems to me the truck would look more like it was designed that way and not just tacked together. Still wouldn’t kick one out of my garage. My brother in law’s truck is also awaiting restoration, has to wait until he’s done restoring his 66 Chevelle convertible.
Enough rambling – love to see the unusual stuff on Barn Finds.
Not being too familiar with the Dodge version of this type of car/truck, it looks to me like this was a station wagon that someone cut down and added a pickup bed to, based on the way the lines of the tailgate don’t line up at all with the lines of the rear fenders. I can’t believe Chrysler Motors Co. would not at least make a tailgate that lined up with the fenders!
Basically you are correct. Dodge took their pickup box and grafted station wagon quarter panels to it.
It was a good idea, I believe they were trying to save money by doing it that way.
The rear quarter panels were from the very rare 2-door wagon. I agree the tailgate looks very odd.
I think Driveinstyle might be right about the steering column. It still has the column shifter on it. I know nothing about these trucks but it seems all had the push button controlled automatic and this one still has those controls on the dash.
Be careful there Phil. I am only right about once a week. Today is a Monday , if I am right about the steering column, Im pretty much shot the rest of the week!!!
When I worked at Iowa State University, I used to see one of these (red/white) parked every day. It was apparently someone’s daily driver. I wish I could have talked to the owner! I love these.
These are highly desirable trucks but as we see it is already overpriced, for 29,000 you can get a pretty nice car or truck? Unless you have a fat bank account it may not be as rare as this model but you wont be in the poor house… this is part of what has ruined this hobby of car collecting people asking too much money for there vehicles and / or ones that still need quite more money put into them. if you look at what is out there you might be surprised what is still out there Remember just because something is rare does not always mean that it is valuable, dont forget the orphan cars- hudson,studebaker,kaiser, just to name a few that were good cars and today can be picked up at a more reasonable price than this truck. with that being said not all of us have unlimited resources as some others do there are many other things that take priority??? Remember this is only a hobby dont let yourself get out of control