I’m not sure who would consider a second-gen Dodge Dakota pickup a classic, but I’m glad somebody did because it’s really cool to see that one has survived two decades in unbelievably pristine condition.
While the ’94 Dodge Ram (yes, they were still called “Dodges” back then) is generally considered the progenitor of the bro truck with its muscular haunches and aggressive snout, the revised Dakota was its scrappy little brother with similar but smaller styling.
The design of both trucks now look quintessentially ’90s and since that era is finally coming into fashion again, hey, maybe this really is a classic now.
These trucks were not really compact, even by modern standards (Dakota Club Cabs like this one measured about 215 inches bumper to bumper), but they were manageable and packed substantial capability. The 5.2-liter V8’s 300 lb-ft of torque was decent and supposedly good for a claimed 10,000 pound towing max.
This particular truck has four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission, but the most interesting thing about it is how remarkably mint it is.
Not all cars become classics, but I’d argue all cars are worth preserving. This ’99 Dakota, which rang up at $25,395 when it was new, is for sale on Hemmings.com as I write this for about $20,000. As to whether or not it makes sense to pay that kind of money for a vehicle you’d almost be obligated to keep maintaining in museum condition, I’m not sure. But after seeing somebody pay $12,000 for a ’99 Nissan Pathfinder I feel like there’s a buyer out there for everything.
Hat tip to Erik!