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For several years now I have been confused by the 79 - 80 year model D series. I have noticed that the 79 and 80 year model trucks seem to have both dual round or quad rectangular head lamps. For a long time I just assumed people confused build dates with model year but that's not it. What's the reason for this? or more accurately what don't I know?

I think both types of headlights (round duals/rectangular quads) were offered both model years. This was the first & last time (to my knowledge) that Dodge ever offered two set-ups during a model year.

They may be linked to a package (i.e.Adventurer,Prospector,Custom), not sure.

I don't think it has anything to do with 2wd vs 4wd.

Bucky

You may be on to something there. The 79 Little Red was the Adventure package and it had quads. I'll make it a point to look for that as I see them.

Just did a web search and it held true for two wheel drive trucks. The power wagons seem to be hit or miss.

I had a 79 W200 club cab that was Adventurer & had quad lamps.....but the entire body had been swapped from a D200 club cab, so can't say about W series.

Bucky

1979 and 1980 trucks were available with both round headlights and Quad headlights. Does not matter if D or W series or Lil Red. Lil reds were available in 1979 with both round or quad. bench seat or buckets. I had a 79 Ramcharger with round headlights. Parted a 79 D200 with quads. Had a 80 SL 6 4 SPD A833 OD Short box truck with quads and a 79 318 A833 OD Shortbox also with quads. 79 Had shiny grille and 80 had black center area of grille. It was a trim level available for all trucks.

Wasn't this about the time when manufacturers were switching from round to square headlights? It may have something to do with Chryco having trim and round lights in stock that they needed to get rid of, use or eat the cost.

I have never seen a 79 little Red with round head lamps. Not to my knowledge anyway. The 78's yes but not the 79's.

It was dependent on trim level. The Custom models had the round lights standard and the Adventurer SE had the stacked lights standard. The Adventurer and Adventurer Sport may have had options.

MadMC63 wrote:I have never seen a 79 little Red with round head lamps. Not to my knowledge anyway. The 78's yes but not the 79's.

I may have erred on the 79 Lil Red with round headlights, But my others were correct. 78 Only came with round headlights.

Yup the rounds were standard on the el cheapo model. I'm not sure which trim level the quads were standard but most likely Adventurer. My factory literature is packed away somewhere, I'll see if I can find it. I kind of think the quads were a separate option on the Custom too if you wished to order them. The grille blackout pattern was different 79 to 80 too. The 80 grille had more blackout. With having to stock all these different parts it's no wonder all automakers got into trouble in the late 70's, that and their crappy electronics and poorly conceived emissions systems.

Sheldon

Lil reds were available in 1979 with both round or quad.

78 had round lights and 79 had quad square.. no round on the lil red in 79..

the adventure trucks had quad square.. a 79 custom had round.. not sure on the other models..

Easiest way to tell is the hood. 1978 is the old style, 1979 is the later (through 1993) style. The '78 has the single h/l per side with the t/s to the inside of that. The '79 will have the squarish headlamps. I'm looking at models of both right now.