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Let’s face it, customization is sick. Resurrecting trucks is a hot trend in our world and the designers at Mopar have gone over the top with their 2019 SEMA project. They have rescued a 1968 Dodge D200 Heavy Duty pickup truck to transform and here you have it. This has been smothered in a candied Delmonico Red and Dairy Cream paint, and it looks absolutely incredible.
These 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.
This may be one of the best looking trucks at the entire show. We can't wait to see this in person.
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 1960’s. In the front, the Lowliner wheels are 22-inch by 9.5-inch and ride on 285/35R22 tires. The rear wheels measure 22-inch by 11-inch with 325/35R22 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 The original headlamps have been replaced by seven-inch LED headlamps.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.
This year’s SEMA Show is looking to be one of the better ones over the last few. We’re in route to Las Vegas to cover the most exciting diesel-powered action Vegas has to offer. To stay up to date with the industry’s latest parts and information, stay tuned to Diesel Army. What are your thoughts on this build from Mopar? Let us know in the comments below.
