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

1968 Dodge A-100 Pick-up One Owner 43 Years on 2040-cars

Year:1968 Mileage:84960
Location:

San Bernardino, California, United States

San Bernardino, California, United States
Advertising:

One owner for 43 years!

 

1968 Dodge A-100

Original California black plate truck.

 

This truck belongs to my wife’s Uncle Russ.  In December 1971 Russ purchased this truck from Van Nuys Chrysler-Plymouth in Van Nuys, Ca. for personal transportation and as a run-about for his manufacturing business.  The A-100 was just what he needed with adequate hauling capability and excellent visibility with windows all around.  The only thing Russ didn’t like was driving a stick shift around Los Angeles that didn’t have synchro in 1st gear.  The solution was to install a 318CI V8 and automatic transmission.  Much better!  The A-100 actually did come with a V8 and automatic so the transplant took advantage of stock parts without modification.  The differential was also changed to match the V8 automatic. This A-100 is original with the exception of the drive train, which was installed more than 40 years ago, and is correct for the period.

 

Russ is 86 years of age now, and his definition of retirement is that he only goes to work 3 days a week, and he doesn’t drive the Dodge anymore.

 

The A-100 was used as a shop truck for a number of years, and then in the 80’s the shop-truck work was turned over to a Toyota T-100 and the A-100 just sat.  In the early 2000’s Russ decided to refresh the A-100.  The red and white paint showed its age and use, plus the truck was not reliable mechanically, and there were some other cosmetic issues.

Early in 2001 the engine and transmission were removed and taken to Mazzolini Racing in Riverside, Ca. Mazzolini’s were not expected to make the A-100 into a racing machine like the “li’l Red Truck” but to make it run well.  Following is a list of work done on the engine in addition to the normal rebuild job

Align bore

Deck Block

Balance

Turn and polish crank .030”

New valves

New valve springs

Hardened seats

New valve guides

New Pushrods, Rocker shaft and Rocker arms

2 sleeves

The 727 transmission was rebuilt at the same time. 

Following is a list of NEW items that were installed as the truck was being made ready for the road.

Master cylinder

Head liner

Wheel Bearings- Rear

Exhaust System – Complete

U-joints

Speedometer cable

Tires

Paint

Wheels  15X7 Magnum 500 x 4

King Pins

Oil Pump

Break Lines

Weather stripping

Edlebrock intake manifold

Torque converter

Flexplate

Carburetor

Electronic ignition kit

Starter

Battery

Brake shoes

Shocks

Brake Hose

Wheel Cylinders

Lug nuts

Motor Mounts

Radiator core

Heater core

Thermostat

Rear Springs

 

In August of 2001 the A-100 was entrusted to Julio’s Auto Body and Paint in San Bernardino for the bodywork and paint.  Rust was NOT an issue as this A-100 spent all it’s time in Southern California and had no rust. The truck was repainted with the original Red and White.  The windows were reinstalled with new rubber. New weather stripping was installed on the doors.  The Dodge looked pretty, sounded healthy and just needed some sorting-out to be ready for Route 66!  But things at the shop changed (the business got real busy!) and the final sorting-out did not happen and the truck was put in a shed.

 

In April 2013 Russ decided to sell the A-100.  Obviously he was not driving the truck and no one was enjoying it.  I helped Russ pull the truck out of the shed (it was covered with dirt) and we got it started, but it would not draw fuel from the tank.  A new tank was fabricated and installed the fuel pump was replaced and the carb was rebuilt. 

When the transmission was rebuilt a shift kit was installed, but Russ didn’t like the way it shifted, so that was adjusted so it shifts firmly but not violently. Now the goal of having a vehicle to enjoy has been achieved.

There are 2 things that Russ decided to let the new owner decide.  The chains that fasten the tailgate have not been installed, and a door in the heater has not been installed.

All The gauges work, but the fuel gauge seems to be backwards (When the new tank was installed), the lenses and reflectors are all in good condition, but I’m not sure of the operation of the back-up lights.

The original AM radio is in place, but you must be prepared to Sing, Rap or upgrade.  It does not work. I drive a vehicle with power disc brakes, the A-100 has no power drums, so it's harder to brake.

If you would like to talk to Russ about the truck call 909 815-9771 Pacific time. 

 

 

 

 

Auto Services in California

Zenith Wire Wheel Co ★★★★★

Automobile Parts & Supplies, Wheels, Tire Dealers
Address: 818 Cristich Ln, Brookdale
Phone: (831) 425-7770

Yucca Auto Body ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Truck Body Repair & Painting
Address: 56132 29 Palms Hwy, Pioneertown
Phone: (760) 365-9410

World Famous 4x4 ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Restoration-Antique & Classic
Address: 75 E Palm Ave, Alhambra
Phone: (818) 816-0121

Woody`s & Auto Body ★★★★★

Automobile Body Repairing & Painting, Truck Body Repair & Painting
Address: 22920 Lockness Ave, East-Rancho-Dominguez
Phone: (310) 784-3820

Williams Auto Care Center ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Inspection Stations & Services, Auto Oil & Lube
Address: 18380 Highway 12, Sonoma
Phone: (707) 996-1056

Wheels N Motion ★★★★★

Auto Repair & Service, Automobile Parts & Supplies, Tire Dealers
Address: 961 E Holt Ave, Chino
Phone: (909) 622-1232

Auto blog

Dodge Dart Registry helps you crowdsource money for your next ride [w/video]

Wed, 23 Jan 2013

To be honest, we're surprised something like this didn't pop up sooner. Chrysler is riffing on gift registries for couples getting married or expecting babies and cross-pollinating it with a social media funding website like Kickstarter to help customers buy its 2013 Dodge Dart. The Dodge Dart Registry allows people to build and customize a new Dart exactly how they want it, then let other people purchase some or all of the components as gifts.
The registry lets you add features like dark headlights, dual exhaust, various wheels and even interior options without choosing a specific trim level. This sounds a lot like the system Scion uses to let its customers configure cars, and this could be a great idea for Dodge. Of course, this system has the added benefit of being a social media affair for you to share with your friends... you know, so they can help pay for some of the parts, too.
The best thing about the registry is that you can configure your dream Dart from the comfort of your home computer, which strikes us as much better than walking around Bed, Bath and Beyond for the better part of an afternoon with an electronic scanner. The one thing that Dodge doesn't offer? "Thank You" cards. Those are on you.

2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition celebrates an icon

Thu, Aug 15 2019

Fifty years ago, Dodge commissioned Creative Industries to build the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona as a homologation special to satisfy NASCAR rules. The extraterrestrial-looking coupe conquered at the race track, broke records, and frightened any onlooker possessed of a weak constitution; it's claimed that even the carmaker's general manager at the time, Bob McCurry, considered the Charger Daytona the ugliest car he'd ever laid eyes on. Time having worked its magic, Dodge is celebrating the now-iconic Winged Warrior with the 2020 Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Anniversary Edition. The new model goes without a nose cone and vertical stabilizers, but it does loose 717 horsepower from its 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which is 10 more than the standard car. The grunty sedan will be available in four colors: Pitch Black, Triple Nickel, White Knuckle, and B5 Blue exclusive to this model. B5 was the original paint code for a Blue Fire Poly hue available on Dodge and Plymouth products built between 1969 and 1972. Evoking the original as well as highlighting the decklid spoiler on the new Charger, the black, nickel, and blue sedans get white "Daytona" decals on the rear quarter panels and a white spoiler, matching white Hellcat badges on the front fenders. White cars get blue "Daytona" decals and spoiler, and Hellcat badges in a bright finish. Twenty-inch Warp Speed wheels finished in Satin Carbon on all-season Pirellis and black Brembo brakes complete the exterior overhaul. Inside, heated and cooled 12-way adjustable performance seats are trimmed in Nappa leather and Alcantara, with blue cross-stitching joining seatbacks embroidered with the word "Daytona." The flat-bottomed, suede-wrapped steering wheel with silver stitching and "velour-bound" floor mats will only come in this model, the festival of special appointments also including the dynamica suede headliner, carbon fiber instrument panel and bezels, light black chrome trim pieces, and blue stitching on the dash, shifter, center console armrest, and door panels. Dodge will only produce 501 units, said to match the number of cars necessary for NASCAR homologation at the time, and each wears a plaque identifying it as "X out of 501." NASCAR rules in 1969 demanded 500 units, actually — the car Dodge built in 1968 to race was called the Charger 500, in fact. Also, Creative Industries built 503 1969 Charger Daytonas for the U.S. and another 40 for Canada, but who's counting?

Mopar teases a big Hemi crate engine for SEMA

Wed, Oct 24 2018

Mopar has released a new video teaser hinting at the release of a large and powerful crate Hemi engine at SEMA later this month in Las Vegas. The video functions like a lesson on symbolism in an English lit class. It opens with smoke and settles on a pair of backlit, large-clawed paw prints that look to be feline in origin. Then we hear earth-shaking pounding sounds of something larger than the paw prints that stomps over them. Then cue an overhead shot of what looks to be a vintage-model Dodge Charger and its growly Hemi engine entering the frame and then gunning the engine. Mopar already offers three crate Hemi V8 engines, topped by the 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat, good for 707 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, found in the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat and marketed for pre-1976 classic muscle cars. So promising that "Something big is coming" is really saying something. Could it be a crate version of the 808-hp Hemi 6.2 that was found in the Dodge Demon, which was rated at 840 hp on racing fuel? Or is it something different? Curiously, Mopar says its reveal is planned for Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the odd time of 4:26 p.m. Could that time be a reference to the 426 Hemi — and specifically the Generation III 426 Hemi "Elephant" that Chrysler made several years ago? That technically qualifies as "bigger," and it would also align with both the muscle car-era Charger and round, earth-shaking footprints shown in the video. Time will prove whether we were right. Related Video: Image Credit: Mopar SEMA Show Chrysler Dodge Performance Classics dodge demon dodge charger srt hellcat