Slideshow: 10 of Our Favorite Limited Edition Trucks
These trucks may be gone, but they are not forgotten. How many do you remember?
1. 1970-71 Dodge D100 The Dude
During the height of the muscle car era, Dodge decided to dress up their bread and butter D100 pick up truck to get a few more sales. The Dude package added muscle car style stripe package and decals to the basic truck, along with most of the bold colors currently offered on the cars, and a contrasting roof. Only about 2,000 trucks were sold with The Dude package in 1970 and '71, and these days they are fairly sought-after collectibles. Perhaps their low production numbers were partially the fault of Don Knotts/Barney Fife not being the ideal rough and tumble cowboy image they were going for? The best way to spot a real The Dude truck (repro decals are available here for just $199) is the flat tailgate without the word Dodge embossed on it.
2. 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 Indy 500
In 1996 Dodge had the Viper as the official pace car of the Indy 500, but they also had Ram trucks as safety vehicles for the race. In order to capitalize on this, they created a special batch of Ram 1500 regular cab short beds with the same paint and stripe package as the Viper and special decals. All of the so-called Indy Rams also got the 5.9-liter (360 cubic inches) V8 motor, SLT sport package, 17" alloy wheels and body colored trim and bumpers. About 2,800 of these trucks were produced in all for 1996.
3. 1977-81 Dodge Ram Macho Power Wagon
Later in the 1970s, when the custom van craze was in full swing and the fuel crisis and smog laws were ruining everyone's fun, Dodge produced the Macho package for 4x4 trucks and Ramchargers (also Plymouth Trail Dusters). These packages consisted of tricked-out interiors, special exterior trim, a fat bed mounted "roll bar", and of course bold colors and decals. Perhaps the most famous Macho Power Wagon was the one that Rick drove in the TV show Simon and Simon back in the '80s. They made these trucks with different variations of the stripes and equipment for five years, and no one has an accurate count of exactly how many left the factory.
4. 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10
Perhaps the most powerful pick up truck that will ever be offered for sale to the general public, the Ram SRT-10 installed the V10 motor out of the Viper in the regular cab short bed truck. The next year, a slightly milder version was offered with an automatic transmission (instead of the 6-speed manual), extended cab, and the ability to tow your Viper to the track. The Viper had often been accused of having a truck motor, since the cast iron version of the V10 was indeed originally designed for the 3/4 and 1-ton versions of the Ram, so this truck did make a certain kind of crazy sense.
Many of these trucks left the dealer in Viper colors with matching stripes, just like the Indy Ram and SS/T trucks before them. No matter which SRT truck you choose, you can get to 60 mph in about five seconds. About 9,500 of them were produced in total, but there were special editions within this special edition: 52 Viper Club of America editions in 2004 (red with white stripes), 500 Yellow Fever editions in 2005 (yellow paint, black stripes, yellow interior accents), 200 Commemorative editions for 2005 (white, blue stripes and interior accents), and 400 Night Runner editions for 2006 (black with special wheels).
5. 1957-59 Dodge Sweptside Trucks
For this special truck, you have to go way back to the over-the-top chrome and fine styling of the '50s. In 1957, Dodge took the rear of one of their full-sized wagons and bolted the fenders to the sides of their short bed truck to create one of the most stylish pickup trucks ever produced. The wagon fenders were not applied on the assembly line, but rather on a special shop on the grounds after the rest of the truck had been built. It was a kind of slapped together package, and if you ever see one up close you can tell everything doesn't quite line up, but it sure is distinctive. Over three years, only about 1,200 were ever made, most of them in 1958, and they are almost impossible to find today.
6. 1972 Dodge Yamahauler Van
It really is hard to pin down how many Yamahauler vans were made. The original was a Hot Rod magazine project van that was customized and given away in 1972 as a promotion, as seen in the picture. But afterward there may have been a limited run from the factory, or else dealer-created replicas, with the slot mag wheels and distinctive muscle car style stripe decals. Full-sized vans and motorcycle racing go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it is no surprise the Yamahauler was a hit. Since the decals are available in reproduction today, you have to wonder what a 2016 Ram ProMaster Van customized like this would look like.
7. 1989 Dodge Shelby Dakota
Carroll Shelby had a relationship with Mopar back in the '80s, though it typically meant tricking out turbocharged front-wheel-drive economy cars. In 1989, he struck a deal to build a special version of what was basically the smallest, lightest rear-wheel-drive vehicle Dodge made at the time: the Dakota midsize pickup truck. Out came the 3.9-liter V6, and in went a 318 cubic inch V8 with nearly 200hp and 300ft-lbs of torque. That may not sound like much, but the Mustang only had 30 more horsepower, and five extra lb-ft of torque. Perhaps the best thing, besides the word "Shelby" in several places, was the proper V8 noises coming out of the exhaust. Less than 1,500 of them were made, mostly in red, but 1/3 of them were white, the only other color offered.
8. 1977-79 Dodge Ram Warlock & Lil' Red Express
The Dodge Ram Warlock was another of the Dodge Adult Toys of the late '70s, along with the Street Van and Macho Power Wagons. This was a mildly customized truck, with more chrome and decal stripes and special wheels, plus real wood in the bed. Inside, you got a sport steering wheel, bucket seats and a continuation of the gold stripes across the dashboard. It came in black, dark green, orange or red, and in two- or all-wheel-drive. It is impossible to say exactly how many of these Warlock trucks were made, as well as the later Warlock II, which was the same truck under a new name for 1979.
The Lil' Red Express was a further customized version of the Warlock and included a high performance 360 cubic inch motor, chrome exhaust stacks, and a lower rear end gear (higher numerically). All of this, plus a specially tuned automatic transmission, combined to make it one of the fastest production vehicles available at the time. But it was just one last hurrah before trucks had to add catalytic converters to meet smog laws, too. About 2,000 of these were sold in 1978 and another 5,000 in 1979.
9. 1989-90 Dodge Dakota Convertible
The Dakota Sport Convertible is the only soft top convertible pick up truck offered since the Ford Roadster Pickup in the 1920s. This truck was basically the Dakota but with a simple folding top and integrated roll hoop. Nearly all had V6 motors and the Sport trim, but could be had with two- or four-wheel drive and a manual or automatic. Over the two years, they were made, Dodge managed to sell about 3,000 of them, though how many remain is a mystery since the soft top leaked almost from day one.
10. 1977-80 Dodge Ram Top Hand
The 1977 Dodge Ram Top Hand was a collaboration between Dodge and Vic Hickey, an off-road racer and aftermarket parts maker. These trucks got tricked out with a ton of his parts, including a push bar, brush guard, bed mounted roll bar, driving/fog lights, and wagon wheels. The biggest change visually is the wild stripe package. Fewer than 500 of these trucks are said to have been made, though that may not include the similarly equipped Ramcharger and Plymouth Traildusters.
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