Tesla’s Cybertruck may be the most out-there, off-the-wall design ever produced, but it’s far from the first funky pickup. Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Dakota isn’t as polarizing, but with a convertible top, it’s almost as unique. Let’s see what you’d pay for it.
Think for a moment about the few notable things that have survived relatively intact since the 1980s. There’s The Simpsons, which squeaked under the wire with its December,1989 debut, and then there’s, well, the 1987 Mitsubishi Starion ESI-R we looked at yesterday. I’m sure there are a few more iconic survivors, but none springs readily to mind at the moment. At a $16,500 asking, the Starion seems to have worn out its welcome, though. That resulted in a 71 percent No Dice loss, making it the latest in a string of downvotes.
Are prices really that crazy? Or do we all need something with a little bit of inherent craziness itself to make us all say it’s OK to break out the wallet?
Today’s 1990 Dodge Dakota convertible might just fit the bill. Based on the fairly freshly minted Dakota mid-size pickup, the oddly endearing drop-top was an official offering but was converted to open-air duty by American Specialty Cars (ASC).
Dodge dealers offered the model for the ’89 through ’91 model years, with sales peaking at 2,842 the first year. Buyers lost interest in the model following that. For 1990, just 909 were sold, while in 1991, only 8 made it out the door. That makes this a fairly rare bird. The model was fairly heavily laden with features, including the largest engine for the time, a 3.9-liter V6 which was backed up by a standard a five-speed stick. The only options available were A/C and automatic transmission.
Thankfully, this one has the standard transmission and the A/C. It also has a factory blue respray, new Torq Thrust wheels wrapped in fresh rubber, and a new tonneau for the bed. The 131,000 miles on the odometer are sort of Mama Bear middling, but the truck doesn’t look beat up for even those.
It’s also claimed to run and drive excellently, and the ad promises that everything on the truck works as it should. It should be noted that the V6 is an oddball design, basically being a 318 V8 with two cylinders lopped off. That means it’s a 90° design instead of the more optimal 60°, but there are no horror stories about the engine’s usability or durability. Dodge made enough of them that parts availability shouldn’t be an issue either. In this model year, the engine makes 125 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque, so don’t expect it to win any races. At least it will look cool/weird when making the attempt.
Oddly enough, the ad says that the rear bumper has been removed, although all the pictures show it in place. Regardless of the discrepancy (those might be older photos), it will come with the truck in the sale. The only other issue noted in the ad is what is described as a “couple of minor flaws” in the cabin. Those aren’t detailed, and nothing pops out in the pictures, so they must be really minor.
The title is clean and the seller has set a $13,900 asking price for its sale. They are not open to trades, but according to the ad, might entertain offers.
What’s your take on this top-dropping truck and that $13,900 asking? Does that feel like a deal to get your Dakota on? Or does the price, like the top, need to go down?
You decide!
Boise, Idaho, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to TheBlightofGrey for the hookup!
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