Some trucks transcend their brand, their model, their color, and their options on the coolness scale. This is one of those trucks. The 1968 Dodge D200 dually you are looking at was once the tow rig of Jay Roach and Arley Langlo, two California guys who ran top fuel their way on the budget of a gifted machinist and a mailman. This truck racked up many miles with an overloaded Chaparral trailer behind it with their top fuel car and whatever else they could wedge into it. Through the 1970s and the 1980s this is how they rolled and frankly it could have been a lot later than that.
Beyond the cool looks, the fact that the thing is in near mint condition, and the fact that it has that race car hauling history, the real coolness here is what lies beneath the hood and behind it. The engine is a 512ci Chrysler big block stroker that uses a former top fuel crankshaft. Feeding the engine are a pair of Paxton blowers, and backing the engine is an SM-465 transmission with a three speed Brownie Overdrive trans added for extra cruising greatness. The truck can haul 80+ gallons of fuel through a system of tanks and pumps and while the mileage must have been horrendous the fact that when loaded with gear it weighed more than 9,000lbs meant that it had an excuse.
The headers are custom built pieces with 5″ collectors. The clutch is a one-0ff, the air conditioning works and has been converted to R12. Perhaps the best part of the whole thing is the fact that the truck was bought from a government surplus auction for no money with a slant six engine and then the build began.
Jay Roach built the truck as well as the dragsters that lived in the trailer behind it. The guy was someone that truly hardcore racers and fans respected but never got lots of love in the top fuel world because the cars were run on such a shoestring they killed lots of parts. We’re not sure that Jay Roach would loved to have been remembered for this truck but holy cow is it a bad ass testament to a guy who really knew how to build awesome stuff!
Check out the photos below and then hit the link to see the Craigslist Ad for all of ’em
Me thinks I’ve seen this here before, some time in the past.
Yes, two months ago. But they went into more detail last time.
They recycle lots of stories. Too bad we all notice..