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Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion	Message format

catman

Posted 2013-09-29 9:15 PM (#400460)
Subject: 1961 Dodge D-100

Elite Veteran

Posts: 781
500

Location: Montreal, Canada

Hello everybody,

I am starting to have a real interest in the 1961 Dodge D-100 truck.

This truck was, of course, developed and introduced as the last truck of the forwardlook area. Although I am very found of the 55-60 trucks, I love its clean and wide look.
Since I am starting to learn about this truck, anybody here has stories to share? Maybe somebody owns one?

Please share the info.

Thanks.

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(1961_Dodge_Ram-1.jpg)

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Foto.JPG (125KB - 188 downloads)
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Foto 1.JPG (39KB - 180 downloads)
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1961_Dodge_Ram-1.jpg (53KB - 1131 downloads)

horace

Posted 2013-09-29 11:34 PM (#400486 - in reply to #400460)
Subject: RE: 1961 Dodge D-100

Extreme Veteran

Posts: 471
100

Location: MN

My dad sold Dodges through this era & other eras. Trucks were redesigned in a more modern way including the competition Chev-GMC in 60, Ford in 61 which included a failed unibox. The new Dodge design started 61 as you know but was held too long into 71. As I recall they were good selling pickups @ least our area, a town of 5000 & county of 15-20,000 rural with lots of farming. I belive many were sold as slant 6's. I owned 1 used one in 69 a 65 D100 318 auto which was pretty snappy. The very weak point in these trucks was the interior body where the seat mounted, rusted through.
The mid 60's brought Custom Sport Special with bucket seats & engines from slant 6 to 413 or 426 ci. As I recall some had a stripe running from the roof through the hood. Ah, the days of comfort. Later the Adventurer package was added along with cloth seats, hurrah. There was a promotional DUDE with a longitudinal stripe with a cowboy hat included within in the decal offered in the late 60's.
Within the time span 61-71 the were 5 grilles used by Dodge to liven up their product. Can you believe there was a fake "vinyl" a flat black dimpled product as an option? In this era Dodge launched a successful Snofiter package suppling a new 4x4 available with a snowplow!
My dad had a customer who had moved to Alaska who would buy a new 4x4 then drive it up there, sell it then back the following year. Later, he'd buy 2 @ a time. Dad had another customer who started with a 57 Dodge Power Giant Power Wagon(which I own) then had a 66 & 69, plus buying a another total of 14 trucks NEVER taking more than 15 minutes to buy! He was a successful professional bullhead fisherman, how's that for an occupation. There were 3/4 ton wreckers using Dodges,as well. One Tavern owner used to tell stories of pulling a neighbor home with his Dodge . The 2 trucks were hooked back to back by logging chain, Dodge to Ford in an almost survival of the fittest mode, the Dodge always won. Dad had another customer a fur buyer who always used Dodges D200's to buy & haul fur. In this series the 1st 1 was 61 a black slant 6. Another owner, an implement dealer used Dodge D100's having a few of this series always overloaded with dairy or barn cleaner equipment. The Ford dealer kept after him to try a Ford for a couple days, he replied, "It would have to be a Ford F200 to equal the capacity of the the Dodges" That dampened the Ford guy

Edited by horace 2013-09-29 11:37 PM

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2013-09-29 11:42 PM (#400487 - in reply to #400460)
Subject: RE: 1961 Dodge D-100

Location: Parts Unknown

catman - 2013-09-30 6:15 PM

I am starting to have a real interest in the 1961 Dodge D-100 truck.

==================================================

Out of curiosity, what's the attraction ?

catman

Posted 2013-09-30 12:02 AM (#400495 - in reply to #400486)
Subject: RE: 1961 Dodge D-100

Elite Veteran

Posts: 781
500

Location: Montreal, Canada

Great story Horace.

This is exactly what I read, when the 61 came out truck sales picked up.
I am sure your father has great stories !!!!!
Please feel free to share.
I wonder if the slant six was big enough of an engine
for the truck. I have heard nothing but great reviews about this legendary engine.
I was able to find some parts sellers for these trucks, but not very popular.

catman

Posted 2013-09-30 12:12 AM (#400496 - in reply to #400487)
Subject: RE: 1961 Dodge D-100

Elite Veteran

Posts: 781
500

Location: Montreal, Canada

Doc,

To me, these trucks represent why I was attracted to forwardlook vehicles, they
are a unusual and unpopular in a way. I couldn't go for a Ford or GM product. I'd rather go for the
unusual. I would rather go for a Spartan trailer than an Airstream. I have never see a 61 + truck
in Montreal. I am sure they are fairly rare. A pick up truck is so practical. Make it a Dodge and we have a winner !!!!!

60crossram

Posted 2013-09-30 12:19 AM (#400498 - in reply to #400460)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Elite Veteran

Posts: 836
500

Location: Layton, Utah

I remember a friend had a mid 60s Power Wagon that he would four wheel and beat the piss out of it, he spent a lot of money fixing it. One winter here in the Utah mountains as a passenger I would watch the front fenders cut beautiful vertical paths as tall as the hood as we barreled through the deep snowy roads twisting up the canyons. Awesome ! As trucks are concerned, I have looked at the styling of them all and the 60-71 Dodges are beautiful/tuff looking trucks. I have a rust free 69 Power Wagon in Desert Turquoise, 440, manual with ARB air lockers Unstoppable ! I also have a 63 W500 and a 70 W500 with Rockwell drive train and 6.80 diff gearing. They will pull out trees. In granny 4x4 they will idle up hills. You chose the correct truck for sure.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2013-09-30 1:51 AM (#400502 - in reply to #400498)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Location: Parts Unknown

They are unusual, both in appearance and regularity. The early ones caught my eye as a kid
(they were new at the time) for the triangle standing on a point front light configuration. Personally,
I never got too excited about Dodge truck looks until the 72-75 version came out, but that's just me.

These days, the early 60's ones have taken on a whole new "cool" for being so unusual.

If you want one, they are not too hard to find out west. I will keep my eyes open for you.

firedome

Posted 2013-09-30 11:37 AM (#400561 - in reply to #400460)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Expert

Posts: 3155
2000

Location: NY & VT

I've always liked em, and have my eyes open for one, even have a low mile poly 318/727 to drop in if I ever find one. I like the oddball industrial styling, no froo-froo here.... the '79 3/4 ton we used for horse shows was a great truck , but we never had one of these early ones, though we almost bought a '68 with slant 6 & stick off a used car lot in the '80s.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2013-09-30 2:57 PM (#400597 - in reply to #400561)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Location: Parts Unknown

So, tell me guys, what year/version do you prefer ? 1/2 ton ? 3/4 ton ? Big truck ?

I will try and hook you up.

Chrycoman

Posted 2013-09-30 4:04 PM (#400618 - in reply to #400597)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Expert

Posts: 1819
1000

Location: Vancouver, BC

Ah yes, the 1961 Dodge Dart pick up truck. First year for the slant six (225-cid) in a truck.

Although sales were higher than 1959-60, the styling was not met with overwhelming approval. The front end looked like it was done by the same guy that gave us the 1961 Plymouth front end.

The 1961 grille was a one-year only deal and it was not until 1964 that sales finally got back to the early 1950's levels. As Chrysler cleaned up the styling, sales rose and put Dodge back into the #3 slot by 1968. In 1961 Dodge was #6, behind Chevrolet, Ford, International, Willys and GMC.

(1961 Dodge Dart Truck - Slant 6.jpg)

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1961 Dodge Dart Truck - Slant 6.jpg (144KB - 502 downloads)

Powerflite

Posted 2013-09-30 4:08 PM (#400619 - in reply to #400597)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Expert 5K+

Posts: 9701
5000

Location: So. Cal

One of the reasons that these trucks aren't more popular today is that there is no good power steering option for them. The original power steering assist wasn't very reliable and is very rare. If you want power, as many people do, the best way to get it is to adapt a box to your original column, but that is quite a bit of work.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2013-09-30 6:00 PM (#400646 - in reply to #400618)
Subject: Re: 1961 Dodge D-100

Location: Parts Unknown

I always thought the front end looked home made, like someone crashed it and just
screwed some flat plywood together and poked headlights through it.

catman

Posted 2013-09-30 9:40 PM (#400696 - in reply to #400460)
Subject: RE: 1961 Dodge D-100

Elite Veteran

Posts: 781
500

Location: Montreal, Canada

I find the styling to be very attractive, almost industrual. I have always look at Dodge truck as tough and reliable vehicule.
What I really like is (beside Doc's great styling description :bleh:) simple and almost brutalist (the plywood styling).
This truck remind me of an old Meccano kit. I love the rear end styling as well.

Doctor DeSoto

Posted 2013-09-30 10:22 PM (#400700 - in reply to #400696)
Subject: RE: 1961 Dodge D-100

Location: Parts Unknown

Pure "utilitarian" styling.

However, the little dip in the side body crease toward the rear
is oddly "stylin'" and a holdover from the 59 DeSoto.

For most new cars, the "facial" styling took a wierd, kind of austere, or "harsh" tone in 1961.
Just think about different makes and how they looked in 1960 vs. 61. So, this truck's front end
is not THAT far out of line with what was going on at the time. I always saw it as "bad", because
it meant the end of the era I liked best. But on a larger scale of observation, they are cool in
their own right.

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