The A100 is a range of compact vans and trucks manufactured and marketed from 1964 to 1970 by Chrysler Corporation under the Dodge marque in the United States and the Fargo marque in Canada.
| Dodge A100 | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Dodge A100 Sportsman | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Dodge (Chrysler) |
| Also called | Fargo A100 (Canada) |
| Production | 1964–1970 |
| Assembly | Warren, Michigan, United States (Warren Truck Assembly)[1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact truck Compact van |
| Body style | 2-door pickup truck 2-door van |
| Layout | FMR layout |
| Platform | Chrysler A platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 170 cu in (2.8 L) Slant-6 I6 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6 I6 273 cu in (4.5 L) LA V8 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8 |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | SWB: 90.0 in (2,286 mm) LWB: 108.0 in (2,743 mm) |
| Length | 171.0 in (4,343 mm)[2] |
| Width | 78.6 in (1,996 mm)[3] |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Dodge Town Panel |
| Successor | Dodge B-series |
The A100 competed with the Ford Econoline, Chevrolet Van, Chevy Corvair Greenbrier, and the Volkswagen Type 2. The range included a pickup truck and van, both with a "forward control" design. Placing the driver on top of the front axle with the engine between the front seats, just behind the front wheels makes it a "cab over" vehicle. The unibody vehicles used a short 90 in (2,286 mm) wheelbase. An A108 was also available from 1967 to 1970, with a longer 108 in (2,743 mm) wheelbase. The A108 was popular with camper conversion companies.[4] A substantially modified, Hemi-powered A100 wheelstanding exhibition pickup called the "Little Red Wagon" driven by Bill "Maverick" Golden was a popular drag strip attraction from the 1960s to the early 2000s.[5]
Engines
editL-Series trucks
editFrom 1966 to 1971, Dodge built L-Series medium-duty Cabover Engine trucks with a tilting forward-control cab based on the forward body of the A-100.[6][7]
In popular culture
editThe Dodge A100 was featured in the American television series That '70s Show episode "Red's Last Day", as Michael Kelso's new van.[8] It also appeared in the movie Cars as the character Dusty Rust-eze, in the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, as well as the comedy Stealing Harvard. An A100 appeared in many different colors in the 1960s Batman TV series. More often than not, it was the preferred getaway vehicle of each episode's villain.
The Dodge Little Red Wagon was a famous exhibition drag racing truck introduced in 1965 based on the A100 pickup.
Gallery
edit-
1970 Dodge A108 (LWB) van -
A Canadian Fargo camper conversion on the longer, 108-inch wheelbase -
An A100 modified as an emergency vehicle -
Dodge A100 Pickup -
A100 Custom Sportsman
References
edit- ^ "Dodge Truck Vehicle Serial Numbers". The '61-'71 Dodge Truck Website. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- ^ "Dodge A100 Dimension Chart". Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ "Dodge A100 Dimension Chart". Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ^ "Dodge A-trucks". allpar. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- ^ "Little Red Wagon". allpar. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- ^ -L- No real name given. "Flickr Photo of a Dodge L-Series fire engine owned by the Bytown Fire Brigade". Flickr.com. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- ^ "Dodge L-Series". Old Dodges.com. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
- ^ "1965 Dodge A-100 in 'That '70s Show, 1998-2006'". Internet Movie Cars Database. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
External links
edit
- Dodge L600 and L700 (Old Dodges.com) Archived July 30, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- Dodge A-100 History (Sweptline.com)