It Was Almost Like They Owned The Place!Dodge Quad Cab Dakotas dominated the landscape at the 1999 SEMA/AI Show. Dodge, the Official Sponsor of the '99 edition of the automotive aftermarket spectacle, came in with a vengeance and proved that not only are things different at Dodge, Dodge is dominating!
With the introduction of the all-new Dakota Quad Cabs for 2000, seven of our sister publications at Emap Petersen-Hot Rod, Hot Rod Bikes, 4-Wheel & Off Road, Sport Truck, Motor Trend, Bike, and Hunting-collaborated with Dodge Truck in an effort to bring seven market-specific Dakotas to the 1999 SEMA/AI Show-the ultimate aftermarket manufacturers forum for performance, restoration, and styling products.
Check out the accompanying photos and take pride that Dodge is the first name in trucks for the new millenium. Even better is the opportunity you'll have to see these trucks in person at a car show near you in 2000.
Hemi-LiciousOnly Hot Rod could conceive this fire-breathing Quad Cab constructed by, none other than, Troy Trepanier of Rad Rides in Manteno, Illinois. Designed by Thom Taylor, the Hot Rod Hemi Dodge Dakota Quad Cab features a long list of aftermarket products that only a craftsman of Troy's caliber could merge together with such outstanding results.
For power, nothing less than Mopar Performance's 528ci Hemi would be sufficient. The engine produces 600hp thanks to a combination of Aeromotive Fuel System components feeding an ACCEL Digital Fuel Injection system. March Performance delivered the serpentine pulley setup, while a host of Mopar Performance accessories dress out the pachyderm.
To convert Hemi power to forward motivation, the folks at Atech Motorsports engineered the Summit Racing Equipment-supplied 727 TorqueFlite trans and tailshaft mounted Gear Vendors overdrive unit. A Flowmaster exhaust system attempts to quiet the roar of the Crate Hemi.
On the outside, the Quad Cab is as radical as its drivetrain. Jeff St. Aubin Auto Body dechromed the body and applied the revised topcoat to the all-black Dak which was followed up by Tom Evans applying the flames. A Hotchkis suspension provides the down-to-the-ground look while Billet Specialties wheels-18s up front and giant 20-inchers out back-are mated to BFGoodrich rubber. Inside AutoMeter gauges monitor the Hemi.
Editor Ro McGonegal of Hot Rod said in his remarks at SEMA, "Quite frankly, when we received Dodge's invitation to the Quad Cab project, we laughed. How could we surmount this obstacle? A big bag of flames, some bad boy rolling stock, and a Hemi engine would do the trick, we thought. Hell, they'd never agree to something that nutty, would they? Well, they did."
Cool CargoThe Hot Rod Bikes Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, coated in midnight black with hot lick graphics, was constructed by Jim Dalton of Hot Rod City. External modifications include a Sir Michael's roll pan, a Trenz grille, and Boyd's wheels shod in low-profile Goodyear tires coupled with a low-down Air Ride Technologies suspension.
A full Flowmaster exhaust flows from the Magnum V-8 engine to compete with the full-on sound of a Precision Power Stereo-engineered audio system which centers around Clarion components.
With a truck this hot, you gotta haul something equally cool. Big Dog Motorcycles' John Nasi built the Big Dog Bike. Centered around the new for 2000 Big Dog Wolf, the bike features a Daytec two-inch stretch frame. For power, the bike relies on a Total Performance Engineering 107ci 45-degree V-Twin. For clean styling and awesome looks, Nasi chose Performance Machine Trespasser 18-inch wheels with Performance Machine in-rotor brakes. A Legend Air Suspension keeps things downright comfy for this ultimate custom bike.
4xQuadWhile discussing 4-Wheel & Off-Road's 4xQuad with editor Cole Quinnell, he noted that the focus was to build a "high-profile image vehicle that would be very functional for mud and sand."
The power demands of deep terrain call for torque, and nothing other than Mopar Performance's 500ci Wedge engine would do. Pumping out 575hp, the real deal is the 600-plus lb-ft of torque.
To make that power combination work, a ProTrans 727 TorqueFlite is mated to an Advanced Adaptors Atlas II transfer case which motivate a pair of Dana 60s. At each end of the four Dynatrac axles are National Tire & Wheel-supplied Weld Racing wheels wearing giant 39.5x18 Super Swamper Boggers.
As for the fully custom suspension, it was engineered by Offroad Unlimited and offers a whopping four feet of vertical clearance and a full 12-inches of travel at each wheel. But don't you dare call this Dodge a monster truck. This fully-functional Quad Cab is fitted with a custom four-link suspension, both front and rear, featuring the use of Bilstein shocks. Should this Dakota come across another four-by that's stuck, a Ramsey Winch is available to yank the obstacle out of the way.
Retro Shakin'When Sport Truck Magazine was presented with the unique opportunity to customize a 2000 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab, the focus was not your run-of-the-mill sport truck but rather a truck that shows Mopar's rich musclecar history and the Sport Truck readers' active lifestyles.
In keeping with the Mopar muscle theme, they had only to look as far as the early '70s Hemi 'Cuda for styling cues. Dan Webb's Hot Rods worked to convert the Dakota using a ProFinish 'Cuda style shaker hood and air scoop, as well as 'Cuda inspired two-tone graphics depicting the "hockey stick" stripe running from the hood down the side of the body to the rear of the bed. The Viper Red paint was applied by Al Rogers.
But all is not resto. An Air Ride Technologies suspension coupled with six spoke wheels from Colorado Custom are fitted with BFGoodrich rubber.
Plus a Hemi-powered boat is hitched to the rear of the Dakota. This not only is the ultimate in the outdoor lifestyle that sport truck owners reflect, but also demonstrates the usefulness and towing capabilities of the V8-powered Quad Cab, all in keeping with the overall theme of the Sport Truck magazine Dakota Quad Cab.
Pure ClassMotor Trend's Quad Cab combines the convenience of the all-new four-door Dakota with style. This real-world commuter offers the looks that Motor Trend Editor C. Van Tune would be seen in, with a full complement of Mopar Accessories including a tonneau cover, bed liner, bed extender, bed light/power accessory connection, dash kit, and a Class IV hitch.
In the Magnum performance realm, a K&N Filtercharger kit has been added with the Mopar Performance valve covers, JBA Cat4Ward headers, and a B&B Triflow stainless steel exhaust system to offer further excitement to the Magnum drivetrain. A Hotchkiss Performance engineered suspension includes lowering springs, shocks, and anti-roll bars. Borbet wheels and Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires get the V-8 performance to the ground.
Catz driving lights illuminate the road and an Alpine Electronics Navigation/Audio system make for the ultimate in driver conveniences. Other added amenities include Muth directional mirrors, California Car Cover bra, cover, umbrella table, a Trenz billet grille, and Johnson Window Film tinting.
Hank, The Wonder TruckThe staff at Petersen's Bike Magazine dubbed the Joe Goebel designed and illustrated Quad Cab Dakota "Hank, The Wonder Truck."
Hank is like most mountain bikers; his exterior is a little loud and flashy, but deep down he's a true adventurer. Hank was already one nasty brute when the staff got him: the Dodge Dakota Quad Cab's rugged and powerful V-8 platform saw to that. Built to transport multiple bikes and multiple riders to their favorite, yet remote, trails, the truck is fitted with a Thule Bed Mount Bike Rack and a Mopar Accessories Roof Mount Bike Rack to accommodate a payload of titanium and full-suspension Mongoose bicycles. The Tire Rack supplied the 18x8 Borbet CW-4 wheels shod in P265/60HR18 Bridgestone Duelers.
Hank differs from most trucks Bike Magazine has encountered; Hank can comfortably transport four sweaty and stinking adults and all their gear and bikes without making them feel like they've been stuffed in a broom closet.
Now, all this talk of payloads and cargo capacity may have you thinking that Hank leads a tedious life of unrewarding labor. But spending all day as a rugged workhorse in the mountains never gets Hank down. When it comes to after-hours, you can plainly see Hank always has his party clothes on, more than ready for a night on the town. His dual personality offers the best of both worlds.
In PursuitHunting Magazine's Dakota Quad Cab is dubbed "The Pursuit." Featuring a four-inch Rancho lift kit installed by Four Wheel Parts Wholesalers, The Pursuit goes where four outdoorsmen need with ample space for hunting dogs, rifles, and their trophies.
The paint was accomplished by Al Martinez Auto Body while the camouflage trim was applied by Trim Line. Roll bars and nerf bars were formed by Genuine Steel.