1978 Dodge Other Pickups

D100 Pickup Truck

243 Mitsubishi diesel [factory]

Automatic

Clear

Diesel

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.