D100 - Right Hand Driver, Anyone ever seen this?

[FlatTop]

I ran across this D100 Utiline this past week, where a neighbor had grabbed this off of his in-laws property.
While I was not able to verify the year, believe its early 60's, but the oddest thing on this truck is
the steering wheel is on the right (passenger's side), as well as everything else. I have seen a lot
of old Dodge trucks, but never one setup like this from the factory. Was this a special government
issue or mail truck. The truck is for sale, as the guy has no plans to do anything with it, but
thought it was too unusual to let it sit and rot in the woods, but unfortunately its pretty far
gone already, unless someone has a lot of time / patience on their hands.
Anyone got any info, or know what this might be, please chime in.

[Jims68]

Now I have to ask.... don't you think that would be a very cool truck to own? AND drive?

[mopardwh]

Oh cool! Yeah I saw one this summer at the Mopar Nationals.
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31047&hilit=mopar+nats

My guess would be mail truck. That one looks like a 65 or 66.

[wally426ci]

Hey FlatTop, are you a prospective buyer? If not, do you know how much he wants?

I'm 2 hours from you and may be interested in it.

[FlatTop]

I am looking for a 69 - 71 parts truck, but an older model would do.
However after looking at what this is, feel that while its in rough
shape, still bit of a ''funky chicken' to be parting out, and I have
a 71 Sweptline and 70 Coronet that keep me busy enough, so
was not looking to pick up another project.
I did tell the guy that I would post it here, as it most likely
would generate some interest. So, No, I'm not looking to purchase,
even though I agree with Jim, would be a super cool truck to drive,
head hanging out the window, tongue waggin and all .

[nytemuvr]

One of my relatives back in the OK state had a right-hand drive in the 60s, as he was the rural mail carrier, (barber and preacher, real small panhandle town). Pretty neat to drive when you're 11 or 12. After that truck was used up, the USPS gave him a Furd Comet with right-hand drive. He would have to turn in his mail vehicles back to the USPS, guess they were auctioned off with many thousand miles. It would be cool to have a right-hand drive pick-up or car, always a head turner.

[Hobcobble]

The spare tire fender is the same as a left side drive Sweptline. That light duty
Utiline bumper is a nice hard to find piece. That tailgate doesn't look bent up or
rusted through either. I'd see if the guy would part it out if its too far gone to
put back on the road. In most any cab, you'll see the "punch outs" on the floor
for the right side drive, if memory serves. I'd get the
dash too!
John

[wally426ci]

John, I plan on calling the owner to get an idea of what he wants.

My plan would be to drag it home, yank the bumpers/grille and any other useable pieces and then hang that dash on the wall. A left hand steering box must be hard to come by as well.

[Txas2step]

A left hand steering box must be hard to come by as well.[/quote]

Maybe it's mounted backwards.

[JimE]

Check with the Australians. Jim

[Hobcobble]

and then hang that dash on the wall.

That's exactly what I'd do too Shawn.
John

[Jims68]

My plan would be to drag it home,...

EWW... why not use a trailer or tow it?

[WD]

I'd fix it up, no matter how cruddy it currently is. If nothing else, the market for vintage American trucks is expanding in Europe and Australia, somebody would buy that in a heartbeat. Easier to get through yearly inspections with it set up correctly for their roads.

Me being me, I'd probably cut down everything to fit in my Pilot House (1949) just to mess with people at the rod run...

[mopardwh]

Fix it up and drive it to the NOPI nats. Say, "its JDM YO!"

[DANEX18]

Could be Aussie or south African, i'm in the U.K. and round the corner from me there is a 67 Ford F series pickup righthand drive the guy told me it has a straight six and was from South Africa.

[soopernaut]

Could be Aussie or south African, i'm in the U.K. and round the corner from me there is a 67 Ford F series pickup righthand drive the guy told me it has a straight six and was from South Africa.

I think Mopar did build trucks in South Africa but I don't think too many would be imported to the USA. The VIN plate would have the country of manufacture. I wonder in there are any SERT numbers?

[Oxdodge]

I'm not sure about a mail truck, I seen one of those in the junkyard in CA and it had a steering wheel/pedal conversion for the other side and was an automatic. However, the truck you found is similar to the Australian model. I suppose the determining factor would be if it had any Australian made parts on the engine if you can't find any stampings that say where it was manufactured. I believe the Australian models had a different intake/card setup.

[wide65]

Sweet!!

[soopernaut]

However, the truck you found is similar to the Australian model. I suppose the determining factor would be if it had any Australian made parts on the engine if you can't find any stampings that say where it was manufactured. I believe the Australian models had a different intake/card setup.

Austrailia didn't build Sweptlines. Their Dodges were based off of Internationals and looked completely different.

[wally426ci]

I haven't had time to contact him. Probably scrapped by now?