Air Force Crew Cab

[@JosephSieling-cl3js]

God bless America when you can wake up and watch a show like this first thing in the morning thanks for another lesson in your outdoor classroom great job Steve

[@fastinradfordable]

Come to the west coast Everything comes out ‘first thing in the morning’ W

[@benpeacock]

Let us all praise the FSM! The ONE TRUE GOD! All may partake of it's creamy noodles, savory sauces and scrumptious bread sticks! And as always, pirate motif is optional but highly appreciated! R'amen

[@samholdsworth420]

​@@benpeacockwtf

[@samholdsworth420]

Any relation to Drew peacock? Lol

[@googleusergp]

Yes, 1972 model year and yes, a US government vehicle at one time. We got the VIN, we win: W for 4WD conventional cab, 2 for 3/4 ton rated 200 Series, 5 for Crew Cab with Utiline box, B for 6,001 to 10,000 # Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, E for 318 V8, 2 for 1972 model year, S for Warren Truck #1, Warren, MI asssembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Warren Truck facility opened in 1938 and still operates under Stellantis today. It was known as "Dodge City" for several years. No, "F" code in 1972 would be a 360, not a 318, which was code "E" as noted. I know a man (now retired) that was on detail in the White House during the tenure of a few presidents. I asked him to confirm if "The Peanut Man" was nasty to agents assigned to him. He would indicate that Mr. Carter was "aloof". One time he got called into his office by his secretary who wanted to know why the sample of the first quart of oil pumped from the Alaska pipeline whch was on the shelf in the office was lower than it had been. What the secretary didn't know was that the detail took photos every night and the photos proved that none of the agents did anything and the level in the jar had not changed. This person I know then got invited to the on site theatre with the then President and his family. Some time later, he was coming out of his office (which had an outward swinging door) when Amy Carter was skating down the hall. Not knowing she was in the hall, he swung the door out and knocked her on her rear end. He just picked her up, apologized and off she went. LOL. The internal vehicle number starting with "72" no doubt is for the 1972 model year and the rest of it is likely the vehicle type and the number in order of acceptance or purchase on a given contract. That is typical of government vehicle registration numbers. Yes, back then, broadcast radios were not often ordered, but today, even the most basic government vehicles have a broadcast radio of sorts and many work trucks have them, including the likes of Kenworth, Freightliner and others. I believe Chrysler had a deal with Warn on their hubs back then. No, Superwinch is in San Dimas, CA. Warn is in Clackamas, OR. Chrysler had a deal with Meyer for their plow equipment, so yes, it's possible that it was installed by an upfitter on the contract or by the Navy or done later on when the salter body was added. No tag, can't brag, but possible DT8577 Medium Blue exterior paint (originally) although, there is a good chance that the US Navy had their own paint color codes as many municipalities and government entities often do.

[@ddellwo]

Looking at that brochure Steve was flipping through, how many children of the 70’s got the experience of driving down the road inside your parent’s truck bed camper while laying in the over-cab bed area? I distinctly remember sitting up there flipping through my JC Whitney catalog or Boy’s Life magazine and peering out at the highway from my high perch……..!!!!! To California housewives everywhere - yes, children actually survived without being helmeted and bubble-wrapped any time they went out……..😂

[@googleusergp]

I remember going to VA on vacation around 1975 or so and standing almost the whole time behind my dad as we drove along in our 1967 Dart GT. Even though it was a "Leaning Tower of Power", the minute my Dad put a for sale sign on it, a guy driving down the block said, "Take the sign down. I've been waiting for you to put the car up for sale." Gone that same day.

[@eugenepolan1750]

I heard that when the rest of the truck had nothing left to give the 318 wouldn't stop running and they had to pull it out of there and beat it to death with a big stick.

[@aaroncone6778]

I'll bet dollars to donuts, that truck spent its life at Westover AFB. It was probably born as a shortbed crewcab. I don't believe the Fisher Speedcast snowplow would have been installed when it was new, because larger trucks would have been doing the snow removal on the air base. Once again, Great video Steve!

[@googleusergp]

Chrysler often used Meyer plows as factory equipment, so yes, it could have been added afterward.

[@cornbinder]

I love the Cornbinder next door

[@randslites]

My grandpa had one of those trucks for his construction company. I learned to drive on it. He sold it after I stopped spending my summers with him. I wish he still had it.

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

I’m appreciating that Bernardstons Junk is 6 hours/400 miles from me, so that I can talk myself out of attempting to get this beautiful rig.

[@LongIslandMopars]

You should get it and make it a "finished project". 😎

[@UnfinishedProjectDartSport]

@@LongIslandMopars Dang it, I’m sending an email now.

[@LongIslandMopars]

@@UnfinishedProjectDartSport Keep us posted 😁

[@tomwesley7884]

~

[@DeadInsideButStillSmiling]

Been seeing that painted lady lurking around in the background of your recent vids Steve. Been hoping you'd get around to showing her to us. Hey don't knock the rattle can paint job. Somebody put a whole Saturday and a case off beer into that. Lol!

[@rickinmi]

Oh, baby! What a beautiful truck... I had a '74 Sno-Fiter, which was great, but I'd love a 4 door!

[@NLJosh83]

About 6 or 8 years ago, I went to a scrapyard in Goose Bay, NL looking for some parts for my OBS Ford. When I entered, there were 5 or 6 earlier generation 1960s "Fargo" 3/4 ton crew cab pickups there, still in Air Force blue, complete with yellow stenciled 'USAF - Official Use Only' markings on the front doors. Them coming from the Goose Air Base meant they were optioned similar to this truck but virtually rust-free and very low mileage. I inquired about them but was basically told to eff off, and the next time I went back there they were gone. I really hope they didn't end up converted to cat food tins. They were truly special trucks.

[@kevinruble6858]

Early appearance by Katie We missed you girl

[@Truckguy2007]

I like the old travel all in the background!

[@tims72demon]

But MotorTrend is still playing the reruns of Junkyard Gold ! So they’re still making $$$ off of Steve !!! They’re still good to watch.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

As I was in the AF 1984-1989 & my grandpa was a MOPAR salesman from 1946-1977 this truck is awesome & needs to be saved ✌💖☮

[@Mr.Death101]

Woo Hoo!! Great way to start Sunday! 🎉❤. Keep up the great work Steve!

[@vet-7174]

Good Morning Gents ! 🇺🇸🖒

[@talfacprez]

I remember the TV show Emergency drove a 1972 Dodge regular cab duly.

[@CaptainJerry-]

I had to drive one of those (while in the Navy) up a narrow road to the top of a mountain in Japan. With all of the switch-backs I only made it half way. Then I had to back down that road. I ended getting stuck, blocking both lanes of traffic. There was a company bus of workers stalled because of my massive truck. ABout 40 guys hopped out of the bus and picked up the truck, pointing me in the right direction, and away I went!

[@ddellwo]

Way to go, Jerry……..🙄 😂

[@rodney8763]

I was in the USAF and recall driving one of those rare crew cab 4X4 Dodge trucks in Massachusetts. In the winter months it was a beast when I put the tire chains on the front tires! Yes it was the Air Force blue and belonged to the USAF.

[@steveanderson6353]

I was lucky enough to find and acquire an Air Force W200 Power Wagon crew-cab from 1962 about a year and a half ago.The factory leanin' tower of power was long gone, but I had a 383 with the correct bell housing to make the big block upgrade. Just got it running about three months ago. Interior has all of the same tags and labels and they are all still clean and intact.

[@neilouellette3004]

Love the Sleigh Bells @4:01 in the background Steve. Not the first though.

[@jamielombardo5292]

2004 is my Hemi's birthday. 2004 Dodge Ram 4x4 single cab shorty. I love my truck one of the best vehicles I've ever owned.

[@user-ti1zg3yb1e]

I am digging the paint job!

[@robertwalton7307]

The 4 door cabs were extremely popular in the USAF, especially on Strategic Air Command bases. Plane crews would go to the movies etc. When the klaxons sounded it was off to the races. The trucks had red lights and sirens. The lights you mentioned were used by the control tower staff.The light had a gun sight to aim at the people it wanted.

[@hugieflhr03]

The body is surprisingly clean on that truck!

[@Richard4point6]

Steve, you are the best!

[@hughmarloweverest1684]

Like these here videos. Fifty year old retired AF Dodge truck converted to a friggin’ snowplow. The young men who rode in it when new or late model are now elderly. Steve, I think you need to fly out to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and do some videos at the substantial junkyard of your choice after cutting an e-mail deal with the proprietors similar to what you have in rust land their in New England. Maybe set up a small travel trailer during filming, get a tripod for the camera if Shane cannot come along.

[@richdiscoveries]

If I remember correctly, the father in flipper had that earlier crew cab Dodge that was in your pamphlet. I remember as a kid, I loved that freaking truck

[@debbiebermudez5890]

Mr. B. Here ! Morning Gang ! Aaa the days when work vehicles were for ( Work ) 👍🧰🛠️⚒️🔧🪛 Thank you Steve for showing what a work vehicle 🚙🚙 ! ☕️☕️🍩

[@Cstoreri]

Mr B here too…. Good morning Mr B!

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@Cstoreri ☕️☕️🍩 so you have a Mrs. B . Also ! LOL ! Have a good day !

[@tomwesley7884]

Morning

[@debbiebermudez5890]

@@tomwesley7884 Morning Tom ! ☕️☕️🍩 have a nice day !

[@joshuagibson2520]

Oh lord. Someone take the emojis away from the Sr Citizen.

[@JimFlanagan4206]

Cool! I wish model companies would give us some crew cabs. This body style and the generation before would be cool in 1/25th scale.

[@peterantonopoulos2572]

Morning Steve.... always liked this generation of dodge trucks. Real tough trucks for work rather than today when every Tom Dick and Jenny owns one to show how high up they can sit in traffic.

[@tomwesley7884]

You're right about that, most are built for commuting, good luck doing anything else with 'em

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@Peter well said lifted huge trucks never seen the mud. I got stuck in some bad mud here in San Diego had a 1988 Ford Ranger with a 10 inch lift got stuck bad. I’m so fortunate a park ranger winched me out. This was in 1994 I was 16 years old. I remember I had brand new Vans they got thrashed.

[@SModelMafia]

Miss you Steve. Sending blessings your way. Hope you are back soon

[@MrBumbles2]

in the early 80's a friend bought a 1970 international. quad cab at a military auction, can't remember the engine size but it was lifted with a very tall high rise intake and would run off gas and propane. it was a beast . had a a blast in that thing. it came lifted with winch in front and back with air force markings etc. and it was a quad cab with long bed. big truck

[@calebdean2440]

I recently got a 1970 IH crew cab ex navy truck. It's a 304 v8 4spd 2wd, however it's a short bed stepside.

[@MrBumbles2]

@@calebdean2440 cool my buddies was great truck , he still has it today, it was from rome air force base in upstate ny.

[@Iowa599]

Wow. Salt is bad. That frame was ok in the front, but in back it is(literally) falling apart! For a truck, getting the job of spreading salt is like becoming a kamikaze's plane.

[@bodgiesteve8849]

G'day Take it easy on Katie, she's just trying to do her job.

[@lhaley9873]

The hoods on these were nicknamed birdbath hood for way it collected water. The front wheel arches are so similar to 71-74 RR they're used to repair the rear wheel arches.

[@tomwesley7884]

I've heard the hoods being called that

[@wreckerjonny6144]

You'll find out how well your plug wires and distributor cap is when opening hood and dump that half gallon of water on top of it

[@skywardspeed9713]

I love the cut away to steve in the chef outfit getting canceled lmfao

[@gillesjacques1022]

The neighbour where I grew up, was Frankensteining his truck, cutting things off, then welding something else on. Looked interesting.

[@lilmike2710]

Motor Trend March 1972: "This is not your grandfathers truck." Everyone May 2023: This was literally my grandfather's truck. 😉

[@seed_drill7135]

Mine had a 1980 shortbed with a four speed. 😁

[@williameichner7177]

Thank you for your service Steve what a great service you doing for these vehicles in that junkyard to find some of them their forever home.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

I miss my 77 Dodge pickup. 2WD, 360 auto, not a straight panel on the whole truck. But it was a great driver

[@davidszelinski5021]

I had a 76 Dodge crew cab with an 8-foot bed the thing was massive I learned real quick that backing into a parking spot was much easier than pulling in

[@danw6014]

You don't park those, you dock them with the help from a tub boat and crew. Hahaha.

[@davidszelinski5021]

Maybe that's why I like small cars now

[@crustyoldoffroader7436]

As these weren’t popular in the late 70’s, I knew a guy that would buy them at military surplus auctions and convert them to single cabs.

[@DodgePlanet]

I own a 1978 W-200 Crewcab. 440/727. Really enjoy the content. Didn't know Dodge was 2nd in line to the 4 door pick ups.

[@josephnash3015]

They had bunch of these where I was stationed at Minot AFB in North Dakota. They also had Chevy and Ford crew cabs, and we’re always chosen over the Dodges. They used to have International Crew Cabs, and I was told they had to put a bolt under the gas pedal. It was a sort of speed limiter, as the guys going out to the ICBM Missile sites would say the International would run over 100mph easily.

[@simonm1967.]

Wow didn’t realise how rare these were, here in the UK 🇬🇧 we were lucky enough to be able to buy theses from government surplus dealers seemed at the time that the crewcabs were more common than the single cabs & yes many were very low mileage hardly ever leaving the bases they were stationed on- seemed to remember that the steering wheels were always knackered as the drivers would padlock & chain the steering wheel to the brake pedal to stop someone else “borrowing” it as one key seemed to fit all 😂 happy days - they all seem to have been beaten to death & rotted away now - definitely more green camoo than blue trucks here - the best being ex radio vehicles as the beds were still mint - not knocked about - wish I would of known then what I know now & squirrelled a few away.

[@shoominati23]

Ah Motortrend, I see they are now top definition in the Thesaurus for Self-Own

[@MamaMia945]

Thank you Steve! I saw this truck in the background and had been waiting for the video!

[@fredrikfalborg3459]

Another great interesting video. Thanx steve

[@sickcoy13]

I’m shocked Steve isn’t into scallops.

[@justincooper5189]

Hell, if I could find a replacement frame for it, and maybe put a big block in it, I'd take it the way it is. The axles are decent, and if the dually wheels were removed, it could be a fun full size family/friend hauler. The bed might be hard to find, but look in the desert areas and you may pick you a winner. Oh and the plow would DEFINITELY have to go. Lol.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Enjoyed!!! 👍👍

[@fk4515]

For years the Air Force used the crew cab trucks for Bomber crews. When a crew was sitting alert if they had to go out of the alert facility the entire crew went in one of these trucks. If there was a klaxon the entire crew would jump into the truck and respond to their aircraft.

[@butcher390]

I appreciated 🙏 this generation of Dodge trucks 🛻 Very interested how they fitted an , International rear differential Maybe this particular truck served at the Air Base , in Chicopee Massachusetts

[@robbchastain3036]

Sure, a duty truck didn't need a radio and who knows maybe a military budget could be stretched by a truck or two without them. And overseas, especially, the military was good to its troops with American Forces Networks of radio and television stations. And in Europe, AFN was headquartered in Frankfurt and I got to be there as a high school intern in '76 and '77 and one cool moment for me was being asked by the civilian mid-day host if I wanted to sit in on an interview that Saturday. And talk about surreal, it was the host, Bill Swisher, and Queen's Roger Taylor and it was as mellow as a conversation in a quiet coffee shop, no entourage around him and this was the spring of '77. And Queen was in Frankfurt for a concert that weekend, as I recall, and talk about concerts, wow, Frankfurt was great for that with local venues such as the Offenbach Stadthalle--and here on YT is a complete Linda Ronstadt performance there--and famous bluesmen performed in the NCO Clubs where a friend saw John Lee Hooker. And a funny memory for me as a teen in '75 or '76 and I am walking past the Drake-Edwards DYA building--the youth activities gathering spot--in the military housing area where we lived. And it is evening and the live music inside is making that little one-story building shake, shake, shake. And I later found out that the band was the Scorpions. A little entertainment for the teens by a local German band, cool. 😀

[@danw6014]

I hardly ever saw these crew cab trucks around we had a 75 Power Wagon. A buddy of mine has a club cab Power Wagon with a 440 that he truck pulls at our local fair in the stock class.

[@timrayburn2461]

Thanks

[@dubiousf00d]

I had a 76 single cab ¾ ton as my 1st truck. It had a 318 that I built in high school auto shop. Still my favorite truck I've ever had

[@johnmaki3046]

These older Mopars were GREAT! The cars were "mixed bags", but Dodge trucks were LEGANDERY!

[@craigbenz4835]

I had one of those. I was hampered by having no 4WD low, only high, and no limited slip.

[@evognayr]

Older trucks had granny gears, no need for low gear in transfer case.

[@sombra6153]

I remember the Air Force also had the Peacekeeper. Looked it was built on a 3/4 or 1-ton frame, but had the profile of a Ram Charger. More angular though. I don’t know what level of ballistic protection it offered but looked pretty good.

[@mikewasfaret9563]

The crew cab was first started in 62. I had one titled as a 62.

[@goratgo1970]

Thanks for another kind of "6 pack" flashback Steve, remembering those flightline decals on dash. Not seen one since the late 80's. Mostly had Fords at my base back then.

[@neilouellette3004]

I remember back in the 70's here in New England Winters getting out of the truck to lock in the front differentials. Most of the time they were almost locked up w/ice and snow that everyone used adjustable plyers or channel locks to turn the front diff. locks. Even in Summers they were hard to turn by hand.

[@jamespetersen3933]

That was one tough truck. Keep on crawling😊

[@chrisscearce]

Hi Steve great video on this factory crew cab Dodge US war horse 🐎 The big city near me used these Dodge trucks and everyone I saw at an auction were beat up like Apollo Creed after Ivan Drago finished him off. Maybe the body of that truck can be set up on an later model chassis. I love the unique and unusual vehicles and this is definitely one of them. Have a blessed day everyone 🤙🏼 Namaste 🙏🏼

[@jeffclark2725]

Great video,that truck has been through a lot in its life

[@Fore-Four-Dee-Too]

Get well soon Steve!

[@wreckerjonny6144]

My 79 power wagon has that metal plate rivited to dash and a sticker from the army next to it . I converted my transfer case into a part time with mile marker makes it a two speed in 2 wd and 4 wd . Also has the 440 and 4 speed and 4 wheel drive

[@rickallen9864]

My friend you are amazing. I know you are a big Mopar guy. But yiu have a great knowledge of trucks. (Thats my thing. I thought). Ill have more questions later. That cab is very valuable now. Well the untire truck is. Im a truck guy

[@buffdelcampo]

We had those on the flight line at Elmendorf AFB back in the seventies. In Alaska the Air Force had them painted very light blue with white along to bottom of the body. It was a snow camouflage paint scheme. I remember telling people about 4-door trucks on base. It was very unusual then.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

I think we’ve seen this episode before! But great video!

[@briggspower]

When I was a kid there was a 93 Chev truck in town that had the same paint scheme, no idea why but I thought it was so cool lol. It disappeared for about 12 years but a couple years ago went for scrap, I saved the drivers door and swapped it onto a junker I use for work. This is cool to see as I always thought it was a one off paint job.

[@michael-fv7mx]

That was a great video on the rare dodge 4 door

[@mattheffernan8475]

I love your videos. I learn so much. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.

[@organicmechanic1662]

Hey Steve, those are factory Ramcharger seats and center console in that truck. Very hard parts to acquire.

[@organicmechanic1662]

Actually, those are Dodge van seats.

[@htimsregor540]

I like the paint job!

[@robertschreiber8099]

Steve Magnante: If that dog wasn't yours, he/she is, now! LOL! My father was an Air Force man. They called them, "6-packs". The little time, I was there....( Long, boring story. I'm pasted it, now.) I NEVER saw, an International, on base.

[@Jupitermustangmike]

That was nice!

[@jeffsmith846]

I spent years in the USAF. In the mid seventies there were a bunch of these dodge crew cabs so they likely were the low bidder. I was in communications and we used them to get to remote radar or navigational sites. They rattled and shook and drove like a 1940s vehicle. But they were tough and durable. Ended up driving one from Georgia to New Jersey in the early 80's. It was a low mileage truck and had the original tires on it that were rotted and timed out. After two blow outs doing 55 mph we had to call back and get a purchase order to get all new tires. BTW quite a few of the Air Force trucks did have radios, probably because it was standard equipment on some.

[@garyspaun5237]

Bravo! Excellent content thank you.

[@Hyrev1]

Great video Steve! 👍👍💯🇺🇸

[@alanmiller366]

I like the paint job

[@ericfaley9019]

Good old truck. It still amazes me that they put 318 2bbl engines in them. Maybe 180 gross horsepower and probably 280 lbs ft of torque. Y 3.6 vvt v6 makes more power

[@willstikken5619]

I cant help but picture the guy who did the goofy things to the car in the video all excited to see their old car before screaming at it when their shoddy decision making is pointed out.

[@user-bc2ib7yl2d]

Steve Magnante ! What about one or TWO even! On the Warlock in all it’s incarnations and/ or Lil’Red Express vs. Warlock? Heard Winkle Auto /Backyard Salvage has some to play off on. Just an idea!!

[@mexicanspec]

A friend of mine had that same truck, before the goofy paint, in Vegas. Ti was a 4 door 4X4 dark blue from the air force. I am not sure what year it was but it was this same design.

[@rm25088]

I really hope Steve comes back.

[@haljohnson5729]

Very cool find!

[@ditherdather]

The Monitor or the Merrimack 😂 Where do you think of this stuff? I haven't heard about those since I was in middle school probably. I love listening to your corny sayings. One of my most favorite channels.

[@DANDY1]

I had a 78 dodge 4x4 power wagon ran good peppy 318, loved the cool air/ 6 pack vents!

[@pb5778]

Great series

[@williampitzer5534]

👍. Your hair turned gray overnight...lol

[@eugenepolan1750]

Was it just a couple years ago, when the 2009 RAM 1500 was coming out, that I heard something like 3/4 of production was expected to be ordered with extended cab of one sort or the other and 80% were expected to be ordered with 4WD. I can't say that the same figures would have applied to the HD Ram Pick-m-Ups and Chassis Cabs.

[@edfrawley4356]

These trucks were a quite common sight on the highways around Cheyenne Wyoming and eastern Nebraska at least into the early 2000's as they transported missile silo crews and maintenence people to and from the individual silo locations from the base north of Cheyenne.

[@walterbatman7949]

That old frame looks like the new truck frames do now

[@jonathangehman4005]

How long 'til someone snatches that grill? If I was half a days drive or less away from there, I'd go grab it

[@davewoodmancy5124]

My very first truck was a 1971 Dodge W200 standard cab Camper Special with a 383 2 bbl. I don't know what the gear ratio was but it got better fuel mileage in town than on the highway.

[@NativeMainer53]

Probably assigned to the former Pease Air Force base in Portsmouth NH

[@13garysnyder]

In 78 a 440 was available (last year) with the full time 4x4.