Customization of classic trucks continues to be
a hot trend in the aftermarket world, so Mopar designers rescued a 1968 Dodge
D200-series heavy-duty pickup truck to transform it into the Candied Delmonico
Red and Dairy Cream Mopar Lowliner Concept for this year’s SEMA Show.
Designers fully boxed the original C-channel
frame of the rear-wheel-drive truck, substantially lowered the ride height and
lengthened the wheelbase for a more dramatic stance. They also made a custom,
power-tilt front end to showcase the legendary 5.9-liter Cummins diesel engine,
which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission with a floor-mounted shifter.
The front axle of the Lowliner is moved three
inches forward on the frame, pushing the front wheels closer to the front
corners of the truck to achieve better proportions. A custom air suspension is
added to the front and rear axle with three modes: low, driving height and
driving height plus.
Custom designed wheels with a “smoothie” look mimic stamped steel wheels of the late â€60s. In the front, the Lowliner wheels are 22 inches by 9.5 inches and ride on 285/35-22 tires. The rear wheels measure 22 inches by 11 inches with 325/35-22 tires for a more muscular appearance.
To package the air suspension components and
relocated fuel cell, the floor of the truck bed is raised six inches by welding
in a replacement floor from a current Ram 1500 pickup. The wheel wells in the
concept truck were widened five inches per side to house the rear tires.
Designers streamlined the exterior to reinforce
a smooth body appearance, simplifying graphics and eliminating elements, such
as door handles, badging, fuel-filler cap and radio antenna.
The original headlamps have been replaced by
seven-inch LED headlamps. The back of the Lowliner features custom taillights
with integrated backup lights, reinforcing the modern take on a classic
truck. The Mopar Omega M logo has been ghosted onto the front fenders and
a vintage Dodge graphic is ghosted onto the truck’s tailgate.
Inside the Lowliner, the original bench seat is covered in an orange-amber Blazing Saddle Tan leather with a distressed look. The headliner is also leather with a Mopar Omega M logo stitched into it. Custom-tailored tan carpet adorns the floor. The original 1968 steering wheel has been retained with the original Dodge fratzog emblem on the horn ring cap. Instrumentation is reworked with seven custom Mopar gauges mounted to a unique “engine turned” aluminum panel. The floor-mounted shifter is topped by translucent metal-flake shift ball with the Cummins logo, reinforcing the retro appearance of the truck.
