Here's how the Dodge Dakota was the first mid-sized pickup
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
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In this episode I provide the history of the Dodge Dakota, launched in 1987 to compete with the compact Chevy S-10 and Ford Ranger, but was larger in size than both, officially making it a mid-size pickup. Sales were strong during its first two generations, moving to a more rounded shape for the second gen to match the look of many Dodges for the 90s, but went to a more squared off look for 2005, as the compact pickup market shrunk, and forced the cancellation of the Dakota in 2011, soon after it officially moved to Chrysler's new Ram division, which split off the Dodge trucks from their cars, minivans, and SUV's. Since then, the compact pickup market has gone back up in popularity, especially with trucks like the Ford Maverick, so Ram may be bringing the Dakota back as a 2024 model, which old Dakota fans are eager to see.
A video on the Jeep Comanche would be really cool, it's probably the most underrated pickup truck ever.
i agree, i had one. it had the straight 6 and the 5 speed. it's downfall was the antiquated front suspension: solid axle even on the 2wd
Still got mine
@@stevem268 solid axles are perfect for use as a truck
August 1987....Dad is searching for a truck to pull his boat and get around snowy winters....and he was on a budget....so he found a base model Dakota with 4 wheel drive. It has what I think is the Prospector Package based on the options....light, gauge and brightwork package. This had the 3.9 with the Holley carb...which was replaced by TBI in 1988. He drove it for 18 years and gave it to me in 2005...I have it still.
You are a lucky man!
Upgrade that carb
I thought they dropped the Prospector package with the first 73 body D series update?
Check the RPO code
Hehehehehhehe
Nice, they are good trucks
Please Do a video on the Ford Explorer sport trac pickup
It feels weird to say Ram without saying Dodge first.
You forgot the Dodge Ram 50 when you discussed Dodge’s earlier attempts at a small pickup.
That was a dodge in name only. Probably why it wasn't mentioned.
Also, there was the Omni-based Dodge Rampage car-pickup. Oh, I see they did mentioned it.
Ahh yes, the Dodge Ram 50. It was a rebadged Mitsubishi Mighty Maxx
@@12yearssober The Ram 50 did have a Torqueflite transmission option
Came here to say this..
Dodge should start making these again, since Ford and GM already have with their mid-sized trucks.
I agree. Hopefully, we won't have to wait until 2026 or 2027 before we get the return of the Dodge Dakota.
I had a 1987 "Dakota Express". It was sort of like the like the one shown at 5:19 but with the 87 styling and different stripe package. It was probably pretty rare...I should have kept it.
Please do an episode on the Mitsubishi L200/Dodge D50/Plymouth Arrow truck, Mitsubishi Mighty Max/Dodge Ram 50. I had a Ram 50 and it was a great little truck.
I learned to drive in a bright red mid-90's stick-shift Dakota. I loved driving that truck and felt so cool. The truck seemed so big when I was driving it until I was stopped next to an F150 or other full sized truck and I suddenly felt like a little girl in a little truck.
Proud driver of an ‘89 Dakota Sport Convertible. It is slowing falling apart around me despite preventative maintenance and being garaged half the year, but still has many miles left in it!
In 1992 I had a new extended cab long bed Dakota with the 5.2L & used it as a daily work truck until 2012 when I finally sold it with 375,000 miles on it
The original Dakota was small. The more popular mid 90's, even available with a v8 wasn't that small. But those smaller, boxy pickups look so much better than modern trucks.
You should have tied in that dodge in the 80s offered a small SUV derived from Mitsubishi called the dodge raider also a pickup the ram50
I have a 2003 Dakota R/T, lowered on Belltech suspension with 96 Viper wheels. I love this truck
In South America there's also the RAM 1000, a rebadged Fiat Toro that is closer to the Maverick in size. It also offers AWD unlike the 700/Strada
I bought a 1990 Dakota brand new. I loved it.
Hopefully, the new Dakota pickup will be as good as the Original one.
It won't. Planned obsolescence.
🤣😂
I see less and less of these every year 😢
Unlike anything made by Chrysler today, the first and second generation Dakota were some of the most reliable, longest-lasting trucks ever made. This is especially true of the second gen with the V6. The four cylinder models could be powered by either AMC engines or Chrysler
I've had three so far and sold them with over 250,000 miles on them.
Have a 98 with the AMC 4cyl sitting in the driveway. Odometer shows 270,000 but it's the second or possibly third odometer on the truck so who knows the actual mileage. The little truck is still the most reliable vehicle I own
Modern Chryslers are such steaming shitpiles after you put some miles on them.
@@aaronbryan5095my charger is still rolling with over a quarter mil on the clock
@@aaronbryan5095 I bought a 2009 grand Cherokee with bad head gaskets. I replaced them and the engine started knocking. Decided to beat the piss out of it thinking it would blow up in an hour. Literally went full throttle everywhere for a year/50k miles. Out of 500 vehicles it’s the most reliable I’ve ever had by a mile. I’ve had 15 civics and only one made it past 5k miles.
These are used cars btw
I had a 2004 Dakota with the 4.7 V8. That truck was awesome. I was disappointed when they did away with it. But they basically priced it out of the market.
I have a 2001 quad cab, bought new. Original owner V8. Keep it in the garage drive it daily. Except for the scratches I put on it the paint looks new. As long as it keeps going I'll keep it. I get compliments quite often.
Had a hand in the V8 conversion assembly line in 1989 in Whittier, 1500 units, any color you like as long as it was Red or White.
I never knew Ram was its own brand until I got a car brand trivia question wrong a couple of weeks ago.. I admit I never noticed the switch, and consider myself a car guy.
I had a 2005 Dodge Dakota, and we had it for 16 years before it blew a head gasket
I remember when I started sales with Dodge in 2010 a Quad Cab 4x4 V8 Ram 1500 was $7000 less than a V6 4x4 Extended Cab Dakota. They literally priced it out of the market, at least here in Canada
Same thing happened with Chevy Silverado and the Colorado. Ended up with Silverado single-cab for Same price
I daily a 93 Dakota LE 3.9L 5speed and it's never let me down. I'll drive it across country if I had too.
The '96 5.2 I bought 8 years ago with 130k now has 250k, and I have only ever replaced the radiator.
It is incredibly reliable, makes long trips/hauls, tows, off roads, and lives outside. Best $3,000 I ever spent. I will never sell it.
What are some hiccups to look out for on these? I'm buying a 96 sport 5.2 regular cab, is there any particular quirks they have?
I had a former neighbor that had the first generation with an eight-foot bed, and it was a great thing to see every morning.
I like the 8 foot bed, but it wasn't available as a club cab. I've thought it would be good to extend the frame and use the club cab and see if anyone noticed
Please do the dodge Lancer Chrysler LeBaron dodge shelby
I see Lebarons listed for saleI see some '61 Lancers up for offer - the model with the slant six , but never the K Lancer.
This was awesome 👌 I use to had a 87 v6 dodge dakota with 99k miles
I sold the final generation of the Dakota. We barely had any to sell and most were base models that it's biggest problem was that the steering column didn't move, and thus turned off tall people. People wanted the fuel economy of the Dakota but all we had were Rams. This was 2008.
While they started marketing Rams separately from the rest of the Dodge lineup around 2009, I think it wasn’t until a few years later when Ram officially became its own brand, right after the Dakota was discontinued. Many official sources still called it the Dodge Ram for a few years after that.
I had a 2012 Ram 1500 which said Dodge on the dashboard. At that point, I think they were just using up all the left over parts.
There was the Ram 50 pickups. But I think they were just Mitsubishi pickups rebadged
60-64 Studebaker Champ pickup was a small truck in it's day....like a Ford Falcon Ranchero.
The dakota with the 5.9 magnum was a beast of a truck. Mayne do a series just on the dakota R/T?
The dakota with the 5.9 magnum was a *beast* of a truck. - You Misspelled *"TURD"*
Bought mine new in 96, still driving it now daily. Great truck, under rated. V8, 4x4 5speed short bed standard cab. Does everything, pulls, tows, plows, awesome truck. Should last me till I die, which is another 30 years or so.
nice truck ya hav sir can i ask how many miles it has ?
@@katieb777 Got to almost 300k and I rebuilt the engine. So I'm probably around 100k in from that point.
@@tomc8157 wow !! nice truck you have sir
I think the last generation Dakotas styling is really under appreciated and I think it’s one of the most handsome mid size trucks.
I love dodge dakotas i have 2 both 1987 one long bed one of them short bed both amazing trucks
Ram also have a midsize truck in some markets. The Ram 1200 which is a rebadged Mitsubishi Triton.
As someone born in the late 70's, they will forever be the Dodge Ram trucks to me. And I have a Maverick Lariat Hybrid, and it's amazing. Perfect size, utility, and comfort. I think this size pickup market will stick around this time.
The other three were the Chevy S-10, the GMC S-15 and the Ford Ranger, which came about some two to three years earlier!!
yeah to me the best looking was that 2nd model, the first of the smooth. The one like the big Dodge.
When Chrysler gets around to actually making it likely the market will be done with mod sized trucks.. it's typical of Chrysler. Especially these days: too little, too late.
Well done, sir! Totally worth the wait and persistent requests.
We have the new Ram 700 here in Ecuador. It should be classified as a “micro” truck because it is tiny….even by the Ecuadorian car market standards. Marketing materials are very generous with scale and wide angle shots! I see more Ram versions on the streets than I do it’s Fiat twin. I think it being an “American“ brand helps, as other American-branded cars are very expensive here.
Had a 1991 with the 3.9. Was a great dependable truck.
WHen I first started driving I wanted a 5 speed Dakota with the 318.
I bought a new Dakota in 1988 2wd and 8' bed and had that 10 years. We lived with 1 car for a while, but I bought a used 1998 Dakota SLT 2wd and 8' bed. I would see very few with the long beds on them. They were perfect for hauling motorcycles around especially the '98, the bed height was very low compared to the full-sized models. Sadly, it rusted away and got traded off.
I got a 99 long bed and u r right about the bed height. Great truck but cab is a bit small
The second gen Dakota was a nice looking truck and I remember once seeing lots of them.
Another truck video I'm waiting for is the Chevy Avalanche with its GMC and Cadillac cousins.
Just saw a base convertible at the store a couple weeks ago. Had forgotten about those. It was in upstate NY. Rare find indeed here
When shopping for a used pickup, the Dakota, which I still considered a Dodge, was the only pickup for the Chrysler. Unforunately, the number was very low at the time, so Ford Ranger and Toyota Tacoma were the main choices. Still, the Dakota was interesting.
I have a 93 Dodge Dakota SAS 5.9, 36's at one time. I love this truck.
Never ever get rid of that one. All the best.
Have and still drive an 01 Dakota. Probably the best vehicle I've ever owned
I had a 88, 98, 99 and 2004 loved everyone of them still have the 99 and 04. I was very surprised when dodge stop production.
2005 I think they look ugly
One thing you forgot to mention was the Mitsubishi built Dodge D50/Ram 50
Because it wasn't built by dodge.
@@12yearssober I know it wasn't, that's why I said Mitsubishi built
Buy the mid-90s, Chrysler would retire the boxy K car platform that Lee Iacocca introduced in 1980
The convertible was classic!
Please
Next Chrysler episode be the Dodge RamCharger/Plymouth Trailduster
The International Scout Terra pickup was the first mid size pickup, introduced in 1976. 188" wheelbase, 11 cu ft of storage behind the seat and a 6 ft bed.. And two years after it's introduction, they offered the first diesel available in a passenger vehicle in the USA.
3rd gen Dakota was absolutely hideous - especially the interior.
agreed, and kinda applies to most mid 2000's chryslers products too (the chrysler 300 was somewhat of an exception)
Indeed, the original Dodge Dakota pickup killed the compact pickup. But, look at what's happened since then! Now you have more choices than ever; as trucks and SUVs have mortally wounded the sedan. You even have crossover CUVs that have spawned pickups, the return of Dakota (as a RAM product soon) plus the highest prices known to mankind for anything on wheels, and so the compact pickup has risen again! Karma is a double-edged sword! ⚔!
🐰
Different As A Dakota.
I worked with a guy that bought a Dakota when they first came out and he traded it after 6 months. He didn't like it.
Day ??? of asking for a video on the Volkswagen Fox
I'd like to see a video on the Fox too!
How about a video about Dodge B-series fullsize vans? You hardly hear anything about them, but they were built for decades and are still seen on the road despite the end of production in 2003.
The 1976-1980 International Harvester Scout Terra pickups were mid-sized, available with 4 and 8-cylinder gas and 6-cylinder diesel engines.
Even earlier Studebaker offered a Champ truck in 1960 that most consider a mid size ..
@@NorcoRules Yes, I actually have some Champ pickups ranging in years from 1960 to 1963, and the cabs are approximately 6-inches narrower than the other manufacturers pickups. However, beginning in 1961, they were equipped with a full-size bed that was made from the tooling of the 1957-1960 Dodge pickups. Mid-size cab with a full-size bed perhaps makes it a 3/4-size pickup. ;)
Dropping the Dodge from the trucks is still so stupid.
Speaking of mitsubishi, they still make pick ups. Their L200/Triton is a best seller world wide. They even sold it as a RAM in some markets, talk about reversals!
Mitsubishi needs to build a version of the Triton (L200) in the United States. Since pickup trucks are big deals now, this would help Mitsubishi greatly.
Mini trucks have now become mid-sized and now companies like Ford and Toyota are offering smaller trucks to sell alongside their former mini trucks.
I would love to have either the Dakota convertible or the Shelby Dakota. Either one would be a great first vehicle for me.
Owned a convertible Dakota myself for about 8 years. I wanted one baaaaaad when I was younger and then when I actually got the opportunity to own one, it became more of a hassle to own over time.
I did like the smaller dakota....but they rusted very fast.....very quickly the front bumpers would dissolve
If all Chrysler trucks are Ram the ram promaster, potentially Ram Dakota are the full size pickups Ram Ram 15/25/3500's
I bought a new 1991 Dakota. Then I got a used 1997 club cab. Then I bought the last Dakota 2011. quad cab ran it until it had 75,000 miles on it
It said that Chrysler ended the Dakota Pickup, And there are some other version of Dodge Trucks in places like Mexico or many other Parts of the world like they do with Ford & GM.
Today, @ramtrucks is sleeping in response to competition from Ford & GM. Making RAM a separate brand is a baffling decision.
best do it all truck 327k on the 94 318
I have a 1989 Dodge Dakota convertible. It's an awesome little truck.
I bought an ‘88 dakota in oct of ‘87. That thing was the biggest piece of crap i’ve ever owned. I traded it in after a year for a new toyota pickup, a world of difference between the two.
That was the only year of the carbed 3.9
I loved the looks of the Mitsubishi Raider. Would love to find one!
Thank you for another fantastic video, sir! I listened to the podcast immediately afterwards and thoroughly enjoyed that as well, thank you for posting the link. 👍
To this day in 2022 I still hear a lot of people calling the ram trucks “Dodge Ram”
Chrysler needed to have put a diesel engine in the Dakota I always wondered why they didn't do that a smaller version of the Cummins
Should do a video on the Ford probe or Mazda millennia with the Miller cycle engine
ACTCHUALLY, the extended model of this truck is considered to be the smallest of the full size truck category. I know because I have one 🤓
Extra brownie points for including the Malcolm in the middle episode at the end!😎
i have a 2007 mitsubishi raider. it gets all kinds of attention
I am sitting in 2009 Dakota V8. Great truck.
Just listened to the podcast. You're a good human, Pat.
Omg I learned something knew today! I consider myself pretty nerdy when it comes to cars and never did I notice or maybe paid much thought to the ram devision😂 I always assumed it was a dodge I guess
If you haven't already done it. I'd love to see a deep dive into the 90s Dodge ramcharger. Only made and sold in Mexico.
Those things are sick
I’ve seen a few Ram 700’s in San Diego.
Can you do a video on the Nissan sx cars?
Thank you for this episode
The Toyota Stout was a pickup the size of a Dakota with a 1.9 4 inline
so was the peugeot 402 pickup from the 30's
like the V8 4x4 club cab
I'm a proud Dakota owner. I have a 94 sport. S. O. TRUCK
V8 5 spd. Bought it new and loved it every minute. It's still my daily driver and just now about to hit 200,000 as she gets to spend part of the year parked and gone over . Maintenance and makeovers every 2 to 3 years . If i had known how food truck was going to be I would have bought 3
I still drive Dad's special order 1996 Dodge Dakota 4x4 3.9 liter five-speed with 299,000 miles and counting.
I love these videos. 😇👍
How was it the "first midsize pickup" given that it didn't come out until 1986, decades after things like the Toyota Hilux or the Mitsubishi L200?
Once again, Americans thinking that America is the entire universe.
2005 and on we're good vehicles but extremely ugly, and everything in Chrysler Corp lineup became extremely cheap, thanks to horrible mercedes management!!!