For a guy who was basically hired to write about vintage Japanese vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, vintage EVs, and other oddball things, I’ve been getting into vintage pickups over the last few years, and here’s another interesting one. This 1973 Dodge D200 Adventurer can be found here on craigslist in Boardman, Ohio, and the seller is asking $10,900. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Jack M. for the tip!
The third-generation Dodge D-Series pickups are the last Dodge pickups that I really like or would like to own, other than an SRT-10 with two doors. This D200 (3/4-ton) has a 400 V8, but I wonder if a Viper V10 would slip in there? Of course it would. I’d keep the 400. 1973 was the first year for the Club Cab, and that’s always a nice feature, but this one is a regular single cab, of course. Here’s a brochure showing some of Dodge’s 1973 pickups.
They offered an Adventurer, an Adventurer Sport, and an Adventurer SE. Hopefully, one of you Dodge Experts can tell which version it is. The third-gen D-Series trucks were made from 1970 through 1993, four years longer than Henry Ford offered budget-minded and first-time car owners the Model T. I have never owned either a Model T or a real Dodge pickup, other than my rebadged Mitsubishi D-50 Sport. Here’s what it looks like inside the bed, and here’s an underside photo.
I would have bet that this truck has been repainted, at least partially, but the seller says this one is wearing its original paint. It could be just used as a nice truck as it looks now, or the next owner could always go at it and fix a few things, repaint it, and have a show-stopper of a Dodge pickup. The interior photos were a little small, so this one is pixelated when zoomed in; my apologies. The original owner sprang for bucket seats and a center console, very cool features, but there aren’t any specific photos showing those areas, which is a bummer.
This one is being sold by a dealer, so it’s a little unusual to see such a dirty engine compartment. Then again, sometimes when they’re overly cleaned with a spray-on-shine product, that looks a little fakey, too. This is Dodge’s 400-cu.in. OHV V8, the biggest one available for this truck in this era. I believe it would have been factory-rated at 185 horsepower and 305 lb-ft of torque. Backed by a three-speed automatic, power is sent to the rear wheels, and the seller says it has new wheels and tires and is fun to drive around town. Any thoughts on this ’73 D200?
Nice, honest truck here Scotty. Not sure I could make a case to be happy spending $10,000 for it but it’d get done what needs doing and that’s what a truck like this is supposed to be all about.
Interesting thing about which version it is: was with some friends a bit ago at a local car lot helping them find another car. We came across a 15 year old truck with very low mileage so it got the eye. It was the entry model work truck but the previous owner, I thought oddly, had loaded it up with all the high end features. Why a stripper work truck ordered from the factory with all this when it’d been cheaper to buy the Unobtainium model on the lot?
Then it occurred to us that a standard cab longbed wasn’t offered in any of the versions you’d buy off the lot.
Crazy stuff.
Man what memories. I remember when these were new. It’s just nice to see all original rust free sheetmetal, and if thats the original paint It’s in very good condition. The million dollar question…… What do you do with it? It would look phenomenal resprayed in its original colors. But then you lose the original paint. I’d keep the motor and those original wheels and hubcaps right on there. Scotty, I’m glad you branched out to pickups too. I think we all are.
I had an 86 D150 half ton, Royal SE. 318.
Sweet little truck. I was the 3rd owner. I shouldve kept it. Guy I sold it to let it rust away. These trucks you can work on yourself, and wil last almost forever with basic maintenance. This seems like a solid truck, fairly priced
The 440 was an option up until 1978.
Gary, I was going by the brochure that I provided a link to in the article, but you’re right, according to Wiki.
https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/1973-Dodge-Campers.pdf
There’s no mention of a 440 being available on the brochure, but Wikipedia shows a 440 being available from 1972 to 1978. Thanks for catching that.
I don’t think that the 440 was available until 1975; I know it wasn’t in ’74. My Dad had a ’76 D200 Adventurer SE Club Cab with the 440. A guy I knew bought a similar truck but with 4×4; his had a 440 but it seems to me that it was a ’75…
Well, for someone who was hired to feature anything but these, they sure show up a lot with the authors name. In fact, ANY Dodge pickup will probably garner Scottys name. I say it’s a repressed fantasy he lives out here. Not to limp on a an old biking injury, but as time drifts by, and the subsequent passing of the owners, these are literally coming out of the garages across this country. A familiar ring, “what do we do with dads truck, I don’t want it”? It’s literally a gold mine of vehicles for us older folks, that sadly aren’t much better off than the original owners, and therein lies the rub. Most here would love a truck like this, again, but we’re at the end of our truck/vehicle days, and no real interest. The prospective buyers are like the same folks selling it. It doesn’t fit in todays lifestyles. So many were sold, I think these will surface for years to come. It’s a great find, none better.
Lovely truck. I’ve always loved Dodge trucks of this vintage. I hope it goes to a good owner, someone who will enjoy it while also taking care of it.
Does it have a 400 or a 440? I’d prefer the latter. Always liked the ’72-73 models with the stamped “DODGE” in the tailgate – later models were all appliqués. Looks as if the owner has raised his price to $12+K.
This is a very nice $6,000.00 truck
Scotty, Welcome to the wonderful world of antique / historical trucks!! Join ATHS and/or ATCA or at least subscribe to Vintage Truck magazine and get a lot more information about the section of the older vehicle hobby. This truck will make a couple with no children a very handy workhorse. Back up daily driver, weekend hauler, add a slide in, or pull a boat/camper trailer. Do anything a person would want at a lot better price than today’s plastic junk.
Yes, you certainly do masses of enthusiasts on the pages of Vintage Truck and Wheels of Time. A lot of daily drivers out west with gas-pots and carburetors; and diesels with for-real diesel injection pumps and injectors. They drive them everywhere, much to the dismay of the Electrolux jockeys and tree huggers…
Also add ATCA Double Clutch Magazine to your list.
boy it sure went from a cool truck into expensive category ! Seller should be pleased .
Surprised this truck hasn’t ended up at Tommy’s Toybox.
Thanks for writing this up – and all the other great old trucks.
Especialy the Dodges, Studebakers, Jeeps, Internationals, Powells …
I do feel exactly the same about the third-generation Dodge D-Series pickups.
+10 for a Powell mention, RAR!
+10 for the stuff you choose to write up!
Junk call 1 800 the hook
Caddy, There is an old saying: Each to their own!! If you are one of those who read Barn Finds to look for modern fancy loaded with options vehicles FINE!! But please do not disparage those of us who enjoy older, quaint, useable, Historic vehicles.
My Father own a 1974 Dodge Camper 9000 with a 360 4 barrel Automatic transmission and 4.10 gears. It had the Center seat/ storage box so you could seat 3 comfortably. The Camper 9000 was a 3/4 ton PU with a heavier Suspension, my dad added side pipes to it it really was loud when you punched it.
Ohhhh’OOOOOOHHH’ohhh, the seller deleted the listing, this one must be sold!