Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

Rare 1978 Dodge Factory Diesel D100 Pickup [mitsubishi 243 Cu In Diesel] on 2040-cars

Year:1978 Mileage:48000
Location:

East Lansing, Michigan, United States

East Lansing, Michigan, United States

Rare 1978 factory Mitsubishi diesel equipped D100 1/2 ton pickup.  243 cu in straight six diesel. Perfect project for a Mopar fan who wants something rare or for a tow vehicle for your classic Mopar.  Or just something none of your buddies at the car show own or likely have ever seen? 

Running and drivable but the old Dodge pickup body is rusty and in need of some TLC [better yet a full restoration].  The value of this truck is the factory installation of the 6DR5 243 cu in Mitsubishi straight six and the engine is in very nice shape.  Starts and runs better than my 06 Jeep CDR diesel.  With the block heater plugged in it started easily every time in -0F weather this last winter. Engine is completely original except for a rebuilt water pump and new fuel cannister [the old filters are impossible to buy so I installed a new filter canister. Original one comes with the truck.

Less than 2800 or so of these rare Mitsubishi 6DR5 diesel equipped Dodge trucks were manufactured in a short-lived attempt to offer a high MPG pickup for the American market. 

The other part of the story was that Dodge made these to fulfill the consumer market requirement to bid for the US Military vehicle contract. [Dodge lost out and the Dodge M880 and M890 military vehicles (pickups) were replaced by the Chevy CUCV (the blazer)].  

A quote from a motor press article "The 1978 saw also the introduction of the first Diesel powered Dodge pickup truck. Available as an economy choice in the light duty trucks was Mitsubishi 6dr50A 4.0-liter inline 6-cylinder naturally aspirating diesel, rated at 105 hp (78 kW) at 3500 rpm, and ~230 Nm (~169 lb·ft) @ 2200 rpm. The diesel used standard Dodge manual and automatic transmissions via specially made adapter plate which had the LA V8 bolt pattern. This rare factory option, VIN code H, was the result of fuel crisis and the collaboration of Chrysler and Mitsubishi. "  

You can Google other info.

Here is a video of the truck with the engine running.  http://youtu.be/zutkFx6u-AI

Great mileage and torque and longevity but only 105hp and top speed of about 65 mph. So most of these trucks were sold to Fire Departments and for similar uses. This one shows all the signs of having been a Fire Dept truck [Red, covered in bureaucratic labels and warnings, roof plug for what must have been a bubble light, etc]

48,000 on the clock.  It might be original.  Truck shows signs of having been allowed to sit for most of its life.  I've only put abut 6,000 miles on it in 15 years. This truck comes from Northwest Indiana where I bought it near LaPorte in 1999.   Holds together and doesn't flap in the breeze but drivers floor is rusted out.  Rusty rear wheel wells and some rust on quarters. Windshield is cracked just like the day I bought it in '99.  Bed is surprisingly intact. 

Comes with the factory manual for the truck and one for the Mitsubishi engine.

I drive the truck on a regular basis. Starts, runs, drives, stops.  Lights work.  Brakes are fine.  I use it for short runs to the lumber company and similar.  But I have not gone more than 15 miles from home with it since 1999. 

I always intended to restore this beast.  Never happened.  Just remarried and time to sell off some old toys and projects.  

Bring a truck and trailer.  I would *not* drive it home unless you live within an hour of Lansing Michigan and also have a trusty friend driving a trusty pace car next to you with some tools.  No use doing damage to this old gal by running it to bits on the highway in some insane attempt to get to Jersey or Texas.  These old diesels are slow and loud.

The Spyder Motor Wheels in the photos do NOT go with the truck.  Had those since 1980.  

Auto Services in Michigan

Z Tire Center Of Grand Haven ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Tire Dealers
Address: 17278 Robbins Rd, West-Olive
Phone: (616) 846-1600

Williams Volkswagon & Audi ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, New Car Dealers, Used Car Dealers
Address: 2845 E Saginaw St, Haslett
Phone: (517) 484-1341

Warren Auto Ctr ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Gas Stations
Address: 6330 W Warren Ave, Ecorse
Phone: (313) 361-7417

Warehouse Tire Stop ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Tire Dealers, Tire Recap, Retread & Repair
Address: 1100 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Clyde
Phone: (248) 332-4120

Van Dam Auto Sales & Leasing ★★★★★

Used Car Dealers, Used Truck Dealers, Wholesale Used Car Dealers
Address: 2050 112th Ave, Hamilton
Phone: (616) 392-5008

Uncle Ed`s Oil Shoppe ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Auto Oil & Lube
Address: 3715 Stadium Dr, Kendall
Phone: (269) 372-3281

Auto blog

Watch 1,414-hp worth of Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat do stereo burnouts

Tue, 08 Jul 2014

When Dodge announced that the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat would produce 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque from its supercharged 6.2-liter V8, automotive enthusiasts were shocked. The company had promised us that it would be powerful, but no one expected for the muscle car to post even larger numbers than the range-topping Viper.
Car and Driver recently got ahold of two new SRTs and decided that the only proper way to show them off was by lighting up the rears in stereo. With a combined 1,414 horsepower, the pair of them make burnouts from the Hellcat V8 look as easy as breathing. The tires start spinning at the slightest provocation and just don't stop. If you buy one of these, it looks like you and the employees at the local tire store are going to be on a first name basis.
Scroll down to watch these two Hellcats to lay down enough smoke to alert the local hook and ladder trucks.

Dodge Journey gets more SUV-like look with new Crossroad model

Fri, 31 Jan 2014

Looking to play up its aging three-row crossover, Dodge will introduce a new model for its Journey franchise at next week's Chicago Auto Show. The 2014 Dodge Journey Crossroad will be a new trim level positioned between the SXT and Limited, and it will be distinguished from other Journey models thanks to a handful of styling add-ons.
Plucking a page right out of the appearance playbook of the Ford Explorer Sport, the Journey Crossroad gets a meaner, more SUV-like demeanor. The Journey has often straddled the line between tall wagon and crossover, but this new trim goes a long way toward skewing its visuals toward the utility vehicle end of the spectrum. That's thanks largely to the Platinum chrome exterior trim on its roof rails and side sills, unique fascias, smoked headlights and taillights and, of course, those black 19-inch wheels. Inside, the Journey Crossroad will get a similar treatment, with darker, Liquid Graphite accents throughout the cabin, and the model will also come standard with leather seats (which Dodge says are a new design), and Chrysler's giant 8.4-inch Uconnect screen.
The 2014 Journey Crossroad goes on sale this spring with a starting price of $24,995 (*not including $995 for destination) for the four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive model, but Dodge says that the model will also be offered with more power and capability from the optional 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 and all-wheel-drive. Scroll down for the full press release, and check back next week for our live coverage from Chicago.

Chrysler recalls 350k vehicles over ignition switches

Thu, 25 Sep 2014

Chrysler has announced a recall covering 349,442 vehicles due to ignition switches that can either become stuck or move without warning. All of the affected vehicles are from the 2008 model year, and were built before May 12, 2008.
The automaker has learned that ignition keys on some vehicles "may not fully return to the 'ON' position after rotation to the 'START' position during engine-startup," the company said in a statement. Additionally, "an ignition key may not fully return to the 'ON' position after rotation to the 'START' position and may inadvertently move through the 'ON' position to 'ACCESSORY' or 'OFF.'"
Chrysler says it is unaware of any related injuries, and notes that while reduced braking, engine or steering power is possible in such instances, the airbags are not affected. The later stands in contrast to General Motors' recent rash of high-profile recalls, and it's an important distinction that Chrysler (understandably) felt necessary to call out in bold print in its press release.