Classic Dodge Trucks! All About 'First Gen' Dodge Pickup Cabs 1972-1993

As you may know, I'm a Dodge freak, a hoarder, and absolutely a glutton for punishment. For these reasons, I always have at least a couple tin grille Dodge trucks around. On today's episode, I take a unique opportunity to compare the three different classic Dodge pickup truck cab styles. The three trucks in question also happen to feature the three different bed styles that were available for the majority of this range of production. This video also counts as a sendoff for my '79 step side truck, which peeled out shortly afterward and headed for Wisconsin. You can see video on that awesome truck now at @stage0garage

[michaelnault]

I had an 82' short bed stepside. The cab interior was all utility. It's what I needed at that time. The bed was absolutely practical for hard continuous use.

[timsherman]

Great video! As we are new to Dodges, this helped us learn a little more about the one we just bought. It is a 76 D200 US Forestry Service supervisor truck, single cab with the 318 and 33k miles. Was parked in a garage since 1992 and luckily has pristine interior and exterior with no rips or rust.

[michaelstrafello]

As a former 78 Lil red truck owner I agree on the step side truck being the best looking truck bed

[mrsmith]

When I was in highschool my buddy had an 83 stepside with a slant six. It was an old gas company truck. Always liked that thing.

[noahknowhow]

That is so interesting about the differences of the roof and fender/door lines! I've literally have had dozens of these trucks, more 70's than 80's but I still have never even realized that!

[kellismith]

I love the old dodge trucks, I was always around fords and chevys of that era but never much dodge. One of my friends bought brand new in 1979 a dodge lil red express, I was so jealous I loved that truck, they are still my favorite

[kensanders]

My dad bought a new PG&E surplus 1972 W200 crewcab short bed with a 360 and 4 speed, 4.10 Dana 60 rear gear.
We had it refurbished at the nearby auto tech program in the community college, and towed a trailer from Silicon Valley to New Orleans for the 1984 World's Expo and back.
I miss that truck my folks sold it when it was cutting out on the freeway, and my mom told me if she knew it was foing that due to the ballast resistor, they never would have sold it

[oliwerkaarre]

This was a great clip, I recently bought a 73 W100 club cab short bed, been fixing it up

[kencooper]

I've always loved Dodge trucks, had several and drive a 2022 RAM now.

[Roosters_Restos]

Bird bath hood. Out here they are called the rain catcher hood. As for step side vs fleet side most prefer fleet side. If I get one it's sold in a day. Thus why I never will part with my 79. Also 79 was the only year with 4 head light set up. I also wish I would have bought the fleet side warlock 440. Guess it's very rare. It also seems dodge made trucks for all occasions too. Surfer special, mocho package, top hand for Texas guys, and the Californian to name a few. Something about having a d100 with1100hp streetable just gets me there. Not sure why it just does. My first was a 72 d100 long box with a 440 I used to pull a car trailer. Ya it was factory. Second was a 71 lifted 4x4 short box fleet side 383 4spd. I traded a 69 charger for. I was stupid. But the truck got lots of looks. Why did I do that I ask myself that a lot. Today want want to find a 86 to 89 short box and do a 5.7 hemi swap as a shop truck. Trucks are addictive and ddg is a support group called the inablers. It's all your fault, prudence told me so.

[powerwagon]

I have a 1980 W150, 318, 4 speed, short bed, factory lock outs, two gas tank Power Wagon. I love the bird bath! Rusty and trusty.

[donmcindoo]

The blue 74 bird bath hood and the wheel openings look like a 71 satellite/RR/GTX. Love the style

[youngtiger]

Thanks for sharing the video of your 10 dodge trucks. I too felt warm and fuzzy inside but saw stars outside 🤣

[rameybutler-hmnx]

I got a 77 green LWB d100 ADVENTURE CUSTOM. It has all the options...a heater, windows, and a floor.
Yep fully loaded.

[richjordan]

My first new vehicle that I saved for two years to get was an ordered 1990 W250 Club Cab long bed, 360 engine with the A518 transmission; my family nicknamed it the 'farm implement'. Daily driver for 12 years. Its only problem was that if you hung a 2000 lb trailer on the hitch (well below its rated towing load) it did not want to go up hills without slowing down a lot and downshifting. Was not fun going back and forth across the Rockies. I miss it but would love to pick up a nice Ramcharger...

[gb-ejwh]

Cool old trucks. They were all common when I was growing up.

[ezekielmoorejr]

My first truck was a 73 D100 with a 318 and a 3 speed manual on the column, toughest truck I ever had.

[daveallen]

You probably know, but I remember the original reason for going from F100, D100, etc. was a dodge (heh) to get around smog; seemed if hauling capacity was raised to a certain point, they could escape through a loophole in the smog mandate. Thus, the Heavy Half Chevy's etc.

[daveallen]

I had 75 stretch cab 3/4 ton with the 8 foot bed and a 440. You simply could not carry on any conversation climbing hills; the moan from the Thermoquad wide open was terrific. And, yeah, the wheel arches got beat to shit. What a great truck; only reason I sold it was to make room for the kids - those little seats just weren't cutting it any more as the kids got bigger.

[ih]

People who work their trucks tend to appreciate the extra volume of the fleetside bed.