(first posted 11/25/2014) Some of the more popular hunting seasons are upon us. As I write this, deer season will be starting tomorrow, and anytime you hunt larger game a pickup provides a high degree of practicality in your endeavor. Hauling larger bagged game in (or on) an Accord or Camry is far from impossible but can be highly problematic in a number of ways.
There are those people who are simply not enchanted with the size of pickups these days. Modern pickups can do a lot and are capable of many things, but doing so with a minimum amount of physical space isn’t their forte. A smaller pickup is just the ticket for some, although in the United States the number of products from which to choose has dwindled the last few years. The recent re-introduction of the Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon twins has them in competition with the Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier for the small pickup market.
image source: www.hobbytalk.com
The need for pickups, regardless of size, has always existed. Back in the days of yore, it was quite common to convert cars, particularly luxury brands that had a few years of age, into pickups and tow trucks, such as this 1928 or 1929 Cadillac.
It was a smart idea. You already had a stout chassis powered by an engine with abundant torque. Since the vehicle was a few years old, nobody was clamoring for it so it could be acquired rather inexpensively.
As time went on, and regular pickups became available, the need for such conversions was certainly lower. Sure, there continued to be the professionally built pickups used by funeral homes, but these were specialty pieces.
image source: www.rennslist.com
For a long time, many of the conversions of a car into a pickup were a novelty creation. Google searches reveal a multitude of one-off creations, with such examples as first generation Mustangs, all manner of Rolls-Royce, and late model Volkswagens. The quality of these examples ranges from outstanding to what one would expect from a beer fueled chainsaw operator.
So what could one derive from this Dart pickup? No, Chrysler never made any in the United States; perhaps they should have jumped onto the Ranchero and El Camino bandwagon. A few extra sales can make a difference between using red or black ink on your bottom line.
Upon first seeing this Dart while driving down the road, my level of intrigue was sky high. Let’s face it; this Dart is much more memorable than the W-body Impala parked next to it.
image source: www.wikipedia.org
Our example is left-hand drive, dashing any fleeting hopes and curiosities about it being Australian in origin. The concept of a Dart (or Valiant) based pickup isn’t some abstract concept, as evidenced by this Chrysler Valiant AP6 ute which was released in March 1965. However, this ute has a frontal appearance similar to that of the American Plymouth Valiant, also from 1965, making it newer than our two-tone Dart.
The Dart had been on a downward spiral in size since the name was introduced in 1960. In its first two years, the Dart was a full-sized and lower priced companion to Dodge, all in three series of Seneca, Pioneer, and Phoenix sitting on a 118″ wheelbase.
1962 was a year for a major blunder by Chrysler when the full-sized cars shrank and styling was memorable for all the wrong reasons. This would mark the last time when the Dart was a derivative of Dodge rather than a model.
Dart’s were placed on a 111″ wheelbase for 1963, and it was now the compact Dodge. Every Dart for 1963, regardless of series, was powered by a slant six of either 170 or 225 cubic inches. That would change for 1964.
This Dart likely started life as a sedan and, like a caterpillar, underwent a significant transformation sometime in its life. The quality of this conversation is quite good; this is no malt liquor and saws-all conversion. Sadly, but not surprisingly, various google searches reveal nothing about any commercial Dodge Dart conversions.
Identification of model year for this Dart wasn’t easy for my untrained eye. The grille differs from original, likely to make room for the fog lights. Going by the shape of the front bumper is what derived the 1963 model year designation, although this buggy has had quite a bit of alteration. However, I can say with certainty it has a three-speed manual transmission and white shag upholstery.
Using the shag upholstery, combined with this opera window (or maybe porthole is more apt?) I would wager a guess this was converted sometime in the 1970s. Apart from the paint begging to be buffed, this Dart is in terrific shape and it was likely driven to where it is currently parked.
It even has an empty bed floor awaiting your deer, plywood, mulch, or whatever else you can throw in it. In a country where full-size pickups reign supreme, a little Dodge Dart pickup like this can truly demonstrate how much fun it can be to plow your own path.
Wow, like lipstick on a pig!
Very smart. Portholes aside it looks like a proper catalogue model. Full marks to whoever converted it.
Interesting find Jason, always good to see a ute conversion. A few years ago I saw one done on a first-gen Valiant that was only sold as a sedan here. That Cadillac is interesting too, with a Victorian registration plate. I wonder if it still exists, if so most likely it has been restored as a sedan or phaeton.
No doubt an interesting conversion. Although I can’t say I like it, as I’m generally opposed to extreme customization of any type.
Elegant. It must have been commercially produced in some quantity. Look at the inner wall of the tailgate with indentation for lever and hatch to access the mechanism. That’s not the work of a one-man welding shop; it was stamped.
I love the front end. The lights repeat the pattern of the big ’63 Dodge, and the whole thing resembles the IKA Torino. Seems to be a badge in the middle of the grille that might identify the maker.
That tailgate was mass-produced.
It looks like a cut down, modified version of the 1962 Dodge Dart tailgate.
Those look like stock wire wheels doing the heavy lifting on that Cadillac. I’m impressed.
Your not going to believe this but I found something VAGUELY similar on a local Craigslist….a 1984 Ford Tempo pickup truck. It appeared a few days ago and unfortunately isn’t finished to the same….level as this Dart. But then again, the interior is “factory” stock.
If I were able I’d have linked the ad here.
Because I like Valiants, having owned a 69, and also compact pickups (I owned a 94 Ranger) I would love to own something like that Valiant ute. Just something besides that Dart.
How About a Mercury Topaz pickup? http://crazyoldmanwtf.blogspot.com/2009/07/is-it-mercedes-ute-is-it-ford-tempo.html
Or a Lincoln Continental pick up? http://jalopnik.com/5790452/rancheroized-lincoln-continental-is-half-car-half-truck-and-all-luxurious-oddity
If you want to be fancy you can have a Mercedes Benz pick up, http://www.csfpollino.com/jcsf/images/stories/fioriera1.jpeg
Or very fancy, a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow pick up! http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/14/pricey-pickup-1969-rolls-royce-silver-shadow-truck-for-sale/
I actually like the Rolls Royce one myself! 😛
Re: The Rolls-Royce pickup. Travis McGee would approve wholeheartedly.
Reminds me of the movie, Crocodile Dundee , which was partly filmed in Australia. There was a Dart pickup waiting for the woman reporter. I also like that truck they used for the ride into the bush. Looked like a modified International pickup, judging from the windshield.
The Crocodile Dundee ute was a 1967 VC model Chrysler Valiant Wayfarer ute. The truck is listed on IMCDB as a International C1300, and the IH badge is visible in one picture. They were available as 4wd and it appears this truck may be 4wd, which would make sense for a vehicle operating in that terrain. I don’t think they would ever have been offered with a pickup body, typically a much longer wheelbase as a light-medium duty truck. The same body & chassis was also used by Dodge for their truck line.
Oz Valiant ute was called a Wayfarer, you can see the badging at the base of the c-pilllar. I think with the VF (69) you could also get them as Dodge utes, same body but more strippo.
This helps.
In researching this, I used the Australian cars website you mentioned in a comment some time ago. This was the only Chrysler ute from this era that was I was able to find on there, which surprised me. Thank you for this.
Valiant utes were never as common as their Holden and Falcon rivals. The Dodge version was even rarer; I’d guess fewer than 1 in 10 was the Dodge version. Most people would think of them as Valiant utes, as the Wayfarer name was used on the earlier Chrysler Royal utes.
Jason apparently there were only 2000 of the first AP5 model ute built, out of 49,440 total production
Call me crazy, but I think that ElDarto has a 1973 Chrysler Newport grille!
That looks fantastic. Someone did a really nice job on the conversion as it looks factory. The grill gives it an almost Italian “big Fiat” type look. Great find.
Nice, the way a one off should look. Ain`t too wild about that T Bird “porthole” but all in all, its pretty cool. Not a vehicle you see everyday, that what makes it unique.
Somebody really put a lot of effort into this. Whether you like the results doesn’t matter. Someone took what they had and made something they wanted or needed. Not that long ago that I saw a 57 Chev that had been El Camino(ized). Probably from a 210. Looked sweet but I haven’t seen it since or up close.
It’s a shame that neither Cadillac, Dodge, nor Plymouth, built regular production, even if it’s limited production. It would’ve given the Chevy El Camino, and the Ford Ranchero some competition in the coupe utility market.
Here’s how we do it in Kenosha. The El Camerican.
Very nice!
Now that is nice!
please send me some pics all sides of car
Looks very nicely done. The finishing on the tailgate does make me wonder if this was professionally done somehow…though the portholes in the b-pillar sure do have a homebuilder feel about them! Not for lack of finishing, but because they just don’t seem to belong. Nonetheless I like it, and it’s a great color combo/scheme.
You do see some oddities from time to time. Like this one that I found a while back and posted to the cohort:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cohort-sighting-vw-quantomino/
Forgot the image:
Nice job! I think the only false note would be the little porthole window in the awkwardly shaped rear pillar. To me, this needs a full sized rear quarter window.
I have to admire the workmanship here – this is a very nicely done Dartamino/Dartchero.
Great find Jason!
I don’t go for pick ups much, and then I see something like this!
porthole (and may be the rear window profile) aside this looks almost like a production series conversion.
“this Dart is much more memorable than the W-body Impala parked next to it.”. Quite.
The late 1920’s Cadillac tow truck conversion is built on a 1928 Series 341 or Series 1929 341A, looks to have been a Fisher roadster or phaeton body beforehand. The engine was their next generation V8, 341 ci L-Head.
The Cadillac 368 ci V12 OHV came along for 1931, being a twelve cylinder version of the 452 ci Sixteen introduced the prior year.
Thank you. I used this as presented where I found it; I’ll get it updated.
Being a ardent Dart fan (particularly 63s and 64s) I see that you have the year right. the taillights give that away. The car appears to have no license plate. Curious as to if it is on some lot. No sign on it. I’m wondering if the car was originally a station wagon. The model is very clear from your shot of the hood, a 170. There were three model lines, the 170, the 270, and the GT. I have a 270 2 door sedan with a 383 and 727 push button sitting inside. I also have a first year Dart, 1960, with a 383 and four speed. The rest are running the slant six. Wondering where this conversion is parked. Mine are in Colorado.
It’s parked in Freeburg, Missouri, about 20 miles south of Jefferson City.
In the late ’90s there was a guy driving around Tacoma, WA in what looked like an Edsel pickup. Never figured out if it was a ’58-ish Ranchero w/ Edsel front end or an Edsel really converted into a tail-finned pickup. It looked absolutely factory-made, at least to see it pass in traffic. Nice pics of that Dart.
I like this truck ! .
over the decades I have seen many home made pickups from 1928 on wards , few were this well done .
I nearly bought a ’48 (IIRC) Buick Super made into a tow truck once , it had a Dynasquish tranny and I hate those plus , I have no real need for a Tow Truck anymore .
-Nate
This also begs the question is Dodge, now a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, ever going to offer a small Rampage sized pickup, perhaps with the assistance of Fiat? Or, will Dodge ever offer a Dakota replacement for those for whom a Ram is simply to large for their needs? So far, Ford has done nothing to replace the long-lived Ranger. Perhaps both are waiting to see how well GM does with the replacement for the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon. Even VW has a mid-size pickup they could potentially sell here if they could capture enough sales to justify the enormous cost involved in bringing it over.
This conversion is beautifully done from the outside… better than the Chrysler Australian utes IMHO. Those were not as sophisticated as earlier versions, having a bit of a chopped off look to them. What always attracted to me to the Aussie production utes previous to the Valiants was that their greenhouses were finished off properly, so they never looked homemade.
One wonders about headroom, though. Your head might bump the rear window in some situations.
This is extremely similar (same year and all) to a Dart Pickup I discovered 20+ years ago in my uncle’s junkyard. It was in rough shape back then (I’m sure it’s long crushed now) but had many of the elements this Dart has – including the insane back window shelf.
Picked up on this thread today (7/27/18) after undertaking a google search for Dodge Dart pickups.
I was in the Benson Ford Library, part of the Henry Ford Museum, today looking through what they had for Dodge truck literature in their Truck Literature archives.
In a 1961 press release the introduction of a Dodge Dart pickup was discussed. I had never heard or seen one. I wish I had asked for a copy of the press release. There were no photos or sales literature.
I will have to find the press release when I get back to the Library; likely late November 2018. US production, if any, must have been very limited.
The Dart pickup existed as a factory-built model, but not this way; the “Dart” name was applied to the new D-series pickup in its first year of 1961 (only). See for yourself.
This ’63 Dart build-a-ute has a lot to recommend it. The roofline and backglass were thoughtfully crafted; same with the side rails and the tailgate. That round porthole doesn’t work for me; I’d rather see a triangle there, or the 5-sided quarter glass from the ’63-’66 Dart 2-doors. And that frontal defacement doesn’t live up to the rest of the craftsmanship. It looks thrown together with a shrug, and those rubber-housed little round sealed beam utility lights, straight off a warehouse forklift, shouldn’t have missed their date with the rubbish bin. I’d like this much better with a stock ’63 or ’64 Dart grille.
Here’s a cruder but still credible u-build, as presented in the June 1987 issue of “Slant Six Quarterly”:
I see a first gen Neon around here that the owner turned into a pickup.
Well I like it, the conversion is very well done with good asttention to detail, conversions remained popular in NZ despite the Aussie factory utes being available they werent as easy to get for a long time and many a panel shop converted rolled over sedans and wagons bought as insurance write offs, wrecking yards also did conversions but usually not to the same standard of finish, in the later 60s finance and import restrictions softened and people bought factory models more but some converted cars still turn up as finds.