The stubby Dodge A100 Compact Pickup might be almost forgotten today, if not for a couple of modified versions that became world famous.
No offense, but if any American vehicle of the ’60s could be classified as forgettable, it’s the Dodge A100 Compact Pickup. Produced from 1964 to 1970, the pickup was closely based on the A100 van, which in turn closely followed the Ford Econoline formula. The stumpy, cab-forward packaging did provide excellent utility value. Its wheelbase was just 90 inches and its overall length 167 inches, but with its 7.2-ft bed and 3,800-lb load rating, the A100 offered nearly the same hauling ability as a full-size pickup.
For the 1964 rollout, the standard engine was a 170 CID Slant 6 with 101 hp, while the larger 225 CID six was optional. The new 273 CID V8 became available in ’65 and a 318 CID V8 in ’67, when the A108, a 108-in wheelbase companion model, was also introduced. These were competent little trucks, no doubt, but there was nothing about them that could generate any lasting memories in the automotive world. It would take a couple of highly modified versions to accomplish that.
In 1964, noted Detroit custom car builders Mike and Larry Alexander commissioned independent designer Harry Bradley to work up a proposal for the A100 pickup. Dodge donated a stock vehicle, which the A Brothers then chopped, sectioned, and modified in every way to create the Deora. Barely recognizable as an A100 but totally familiar to American car enthusiasts, the Deora eventually became one of the first 16 Mattel’s Hot Wheels toys, manufactured in countless variations for millions of kids over the past half century.
Meanwhile, two Chrysler employees, Jim Schaeffer and John Collier decided in late 1964 that it might be interesting to stuff the new 426 Hemi V8 into the middle of a 2600-lb A100 pickup. Immediately sensing the potential, Dodge PR turned the Little Red Wagon over to professional drag racer Dick Branster and drivers Roger Lindamood and Jay Howell to campaign as a match racer.
They discovered that with its short 90-in wheelbase, the mid-engine pickup was totally unsuited for the intended purpose, but perfect for doing wheelstands the full length of the quarter mile. The next owner arranged by Chrysler, Bill “Maverick” Golden, barnstormed drag strips across the country with the ‘Wagon for decades, performing wheelie exhibitions. He wore out or wrecked four modified A100 pickups, reportedly, before retiring in 2003. There may be millions of race fans who barely noticed an A100 on the road, but they will never forget the Little Red Wagon.
The A100 is my favorite Mopar pickup of all time, followed by the 1978-1980 D100 Little Red Express.
Next article should be it’s, the Hemi under Glass….Think I was in junior high when all this stuff was on the scene.
Great suggestion. I knew Bob Riggle. In the meantime: https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/video-secrets-of-the-hemi-under-glass/
When I see the Deora, I always think of that AMT kit; I got two of them for my birthday one year (“Trophy Series,” I think?). Actually forgot about the Hot Wheels, but I had a couple of those too.
Drove an A108 van for a few summers. As McG said, a competent little truck, no doubt, and, yeah, pretty forgettable.
I remember someone turned a Ford version backwards and called it the backup pickup.
Back glass and liftgate from 60 Ford station wagon
I owned a fully customized 1968 A100 window van with a 225 slant six in my teens. Bought it with a bed installed & the exterior & interior finished, & I added a 12 volt converter, am/fm/cassette stereo, equalizer, speakers & amps, a TV, & a mini-fridge. It was know as the party wagon.
…used as front windshield
Bill Golden was one of the nicest guys in drag racing. He went out his way to help me out of a minor mechanical jam during eliminations at the ’92 Mopar Nats @ Nat’l Trails I recall, didn’t charge a dime for parts, introduced me to his brand new twenty-something year old bride, offered to take me fishing like we were life long friends. Maverick always put on a hell of a show: running low tens at 120+ in the quarter mile on the back wheels all the way out the back door, crack a u-turn in the shut down area then do another wheelie back to the starting line…
It should be noted, they do great “stoppies” ( with 500 pounds of ballast on the passenger floor, like the Ford in the Corvair test). Not sure where these trucks came from, certainly the cab over semis of the 60s had a lot to do with it. The Ford H series cabover was called the “2 story Falcon” because of the Falcon Econoline. They had all the inherent characteristics of a cabover too. I hated everyone I ever drove. I suppose they did have a tight turning circle, whether actually needed or not, they rode poorly, lousy heaters, hot in the summer( V8s even worse) and of course, 1st one at the scene of a rear ender. The only exception was the FC Jeep. They made excellent plow trucks, and why so few survived.
There was some merit to GMs fudged “stoppie” test, these were pretty useless, downright dangerous, in fact, in winter, where the Corvair with rear engine was superior, but had issues of its own. Clearly, the answer to the question nobody asked and glad to see them go.
The LRW was always a show. I saw him at Union Grove, “Broadway Bob” loved jet cars and wheel standers, that guy knew what his fans wanted to see.
All I know is the A100 compact pickup exudes cool. Practical? Who cares?
Sign me up as a fan.
I saw this for the first and only time at Fremont Dragstrip in NorCal! Wheelies all the way down the 1/4 mile ! I was about 7 or 8 and I fell in love with it. I’m 66 now and it’s our next build. My son and I bought a roller back east. I can’t afford a Hemi, but gonna do a 440 stroker from 440’s Only in Nevada. I still have that Hotwheel, although it’s been painted with fingernail polish my mom gave me…..memories are so vivid!
NYC railroad used them for track duty. A truck mounted guide frame dropped down with small train wheels to position the A100, some were Ford E100s, and the truck’s tires met the rails to move along.
The A100 cab was also used on Dodge L-series tilt cabover big trucks. https://macsmotorcitygarage.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/L7006.jpg
Not forgettable if you had one. Not the truck but a shorty A100 van. Big Block 400 headers and an Elderbrock. Not sure who built it? Would love to have the car they found the bell housing on. Might have just been the drive train from a truck? Anyway 400/3 on the tree. Unforgettable!
It was Roger Lindamood who was the racer not Paul, Roger drove the Color Me Gone Mopars over the years also. He passed in 2018
Quite right. Thanks for the correction.