At present’s Good Value or No Cube Dodge Dakota wears the R/T badge which, in MOPAR quarters, means there’s one thing good cooking underneath the hood. Let’s see if this scorching rod pickup comes with a value that spoils our urge for food.

The quantity 3 has all the time been thought-about fortunate. We even say issues like “third time’s a appeal,” and Schoolhouse Rock taught us that “Three is a Magic Quantity.” If solely that magic utilized within the automotive world. Yesterday’s 1984 Tri-Hawk 304 had however three wheels, though that made it much less magical and extra of an odd duck at the moment. Its quirky nature didn’t translate into affection, both, which, in flip, did not generate a lot help for the Tri-Hawk’s $10,000 asking value. By the top of the day, the trike had fallen and it couldn’t rise up, in a 90 % No Cube loss.

Now, I’ve finished some due diligence and might confidently affirm that at this time’s 2000 Dodge Dakota R/T does have absolutely 4 wheels. 5 if you happen to rely the spare. That’s begin. This truck represents Dodge’s try to inject just a little efficiency into its mid-size truck line and provides the corporate one thing to compete with the Camaros and Mustangs of the day within the pre-Challenger period. This was additionally the period when the vans have been bought underneath the Dodge identify and never ‘Ram’ so it’s acquired that going for it.

Owing to price and utility degradation in towing and weight capability, the R/T proved to be not all that in style, with fewer than 17,000 bought over the six years it was made obtainable. In fact, this truck laid the groundwork for the Viper-powered Ram 1500 full-size truck that adopted so we must always give it its due.

The Dakota was already obtainable with Mopar’s 5.2-liter V8, giving it a leg up on different mid-sized and compact pickups, and that made wedging within the 5.7-liter within the R/T version all the better. In truck tune, that made 250 horsepower and a fair extra spectacular 345 lb-ft of torque.

Different efficiency package deal updates included a reworked suspension that drops the truck 19mm, greater brakes, a limited-slip differential within the again, and a few extra sturdy internals for the four-speed automated. These all rolled on fatter 255/55 17 tires giving the truck some dealing with cred. To avoid wasting weight and preserve the price down, the Dakota R/T was solely provided in 2WD.

This one appears to take all of that after which flip it up a notch with the addition of a ProCharger centrifugal supercharger that the vendor claims ups the ante to 500 horses. The advert additionally says the truck has a 6.7 liter V8, so clarifications should be made.

Dodge provided the R/T in 4 colours: black, blue, amethyst (yeah, yellow), and like this truck, Flame Pink. Physique-color trim and large badging accomplished the package deal. This 70,000-mile truck has all that however in some unspecified time in the future alongside the best way it has traded its manufacturing unit alloys for some aftermarket ones that, at the least aesthetically, aren’t essentially an enchancment.

The bodywork and high coat look to be in wonderful situation, as do the lights, trim, and mattress, with the latter jauntily sporting a ducktail spoiler. The vendor additionally touts an accident-free historical past and a complete lack of rust as two of the truck’s plusses. We don’t get to see the inside in any respect, so we’ll simply must assume it’s in comparable situation to the outside, and never stuffed with rabid raccoons or something.

This can be a one-owner truck and it comes with a clear title, plus what the vendor says is the documentation for all of the “excessive efficiency enhancements.” What would possibly one thing as rowdy as this probably is herald at this time’s market?

The vendor asks $22,000, and actually, no different Dakota from this period would deliver something near that. This R/T, nonetheless, is comparatively fascinating and has some efficiency tweaks that probably make it much more partaking than its already amped-up manufacturing unit degree. What do you assume, is it price that $22,000 asking? Or, at that value, is that this an R/T that’s DOA?

You resolve!

Dallas, Texas, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.

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