5k: Compact Sleeper Cab Dually: 1981 Plymouth Arrow Custom
Imagine a compact pickup truck that is equipped with a large bed, dually tires in the back for hauling, has a sleeper cab, gets great fuel economy from its 2-liter 4-banger, and can be purchased for about $5k. Great. Imagine now that it is absolutely worthless for accomplishing any single one of the tasks you want to use it for…but–like a cold french fry at the bottom of a greasy burger bag–you still want it. Find this 1981 Plymouth Arrow Pickup Base Standard Cab Pickup 2-Door 2.0L
for sale in Conneaut, OH for $5,000 via ebay. Tip from Andy L.
The Plymouth Arrow pickup was actually a Mitsubishi Forte compact pickup rebadged for the US market and sold at Plymouth dealers from 1979-1982. The 2.0 liter Mitsubishi 4-banger puts out 96 horsepower and has no business being attached to a dually rear end. Anything that would require an extra set of tires in the back will also require an extra engine up front to get it up the slightest incline. Fuel economy is reportedly “good” per the seller, but it is certainly worse than a stock Arrow and makes you wonder what this possibly could offer over the basic version…other than looking like a boss. Maybe you could sleep in it when the wife kicks you out for buying a tow vehicle that can’t tow.
The extended cab (and frame) to turn this into a sort of proto-crew cab pickup was actually a semi popular sight in the ’80s. This was a third-party type of modification done (in this case) by Sunrader RV. As a kid in the ’80s, editor CFlo remembers bouncing around in the fiberglass cab of a similarly equipped beige Chevy S10 pickup, and wondering why all mini trucks weren’t so spacious back there…
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This is one of the finest vehicles ever posted here. No snark; I love it.
Since very few people use a truck for what it is intended, I guess that makes this one just about perfect!
Actually I do really like it. Your Pick-a-Part limo has arrived!
26K on the clock, solid body & frame, no undercarriage oil trails, and all for $5K.
I spy the original coolant hoses & clamps? Yep, I believe the 26K miles are original.
For reference, here's another Pymsubishi Fortrow for around $5k, but stock stock stock. Probably what this one looked like before the surgery. Somehow I think Ed McMahon would have looked right at home in that plaid interior.
1980 Plymouth Arrow on ebay
Sweet find…i mean… YOU ARE CORRECT SIRRRRR AHHAHAHAHHARRrrrrrrRRRRRRRRrrrrrheerrrrrr…!
Man…I had two Hot Wheels cars of this truck as a kid…I might still have them squirreled away somewhere…was always one of my favorite toys but I never saw the truck in real life.
Somewhere on this planet the stock version of this truck had to come with a turbo diesel 4, or at the very least a diesel 4. If not Cummins made the 4bt and with some front suspension work and a custom Ford 9" this just might be a useful rig…. Haaaaaa I think I'd just rather a 2wd crew cab 3500 dodge dually for about the same as the cost of acquiring this and making it useful…