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.

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Auto blog

Motorweek goes retro with '80s hot hatch shootout

Mon, 03 Nov 2014

Motorweek's decades of history on television make it the perfect medium to look back into the automotive past and see how things are different now. It recently added old road test videos to its YouTube channel of the Acura NSX and Toyota Supra, as well as the Ferrari F40. For one of its newest flashback clips, Motorweek has exhumed an affordable five-car challenge of 1986's premiere hot hatches.
By today's standards, this is an eclectic field that features fondly remembered classics like the Volkswagen GTI 16-valve and Acura Integra. However, it also throws in some nearly forgotten contenders like the Dodge Colt Turbo and Ford Escort GT. The angular Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S rounds out the group.
It's fascinating to watch Motorweek run the quintet through the slalom, down the drag strip and on various roads. What's most striking in this clip is the difference in the definition of a performance car between then and now. With its 16-valve, 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the GTI is the burliest of the contenders with 123 horsepower, but it still takes 8.8 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour. By today's standards, that would make it a plain-jane economy car, and not even a particularly quick one.

Chrysler extends fuel tank warranties on LX cars, NHTSA ends probe

Tue, 18 Feb 2014

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ended its investigation of 153,817, 5.7-liter and 6.1-liter Hemi V8-powered 2006 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum models after reports of stalling. Chrysler has responded by granting a lifetime warranty on the fuel tanks for these vehicles.
NHTSA received 299 reports of engines stalling while the models were stopped or driving at low speeds, and began an investigation. The government agency found that the control valve shutoff float in the V8s' 19-gallon fuel tank could malfunction if the fuel had too high of an ethanol content. In many cases, the valve would break in the open position, allowing the tank to be overfilled, which would then cause the cars to stall. However, there were no accidents reported, and the vehicles could be restarted immediately.
There will not be a recall on these vehicles because, "the condition represents a low risk to motor vehicle safety and is adequately addressed by Chrysler's extended warranty," NHTSA said to The Detroit News.

Ranking Dodge's Charger Hellcat with the fastest sedans in the world

Thu, 14 Aug 2014

"This is a car that most brands would never bring to market." - Tim Kuniskis
Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis had reason to be confident, perhaps even a bit cocky at the reveal of his brand's newest halo car, the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. As he said simply, it's the "quickest, fastest and most powerful sedan in the world."

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

Dodge Other Pickups for Sale