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One of Three " Ram Tough " |
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Motorvation for Dodge pickups began with the 110 horsepower 170ci Slant Six. One notch up on the scale was the optional 225ci Slant Six at 140 horsepower. Both Leaning Tower of Power engines were OHV and featured solid (mechanical) lifters. For $120 more, a buyer could specify the 200 HP, 318ci V8. Medium and heavy-duty trucks also offered V8's displacing either 361ci or 413 cubic inches. A 3-speed manual transmission was standard with both 4-speed manual and LoadFlite 3-speed automatic as options.
True to Chrysler Corporation's heavy concentration on performance was a very special option available only on D-100 and D-200, two-wheel drive, 122-inch wheelbase pickups - the Custom Sports Special. What really set the CSS apart from other Dodge pickups lay beneath the hood as an option not available elsewhere - a 426ci V8 Street Wedge producing 365 horsepower @ 4,800 rpm and 470 lbs-ft of torque at 3200 rpm. Compression ratio was a stout 10.3:1, lifters were hydraulic and carburetion was a single Carter AFB 4 barrel. Options on the CSS included Dodge Dart GT black vinyl bucket seats with a Polara 500 center console, wall-to-wall carpeting, dual armrests, and dual sun visors, chrome front bumper and grille, 4 hood stripes, chrome hubcaps, and white sidewall tires. Also available were a chrome driver-side rearview mirror, bright moldings no the hood, cowl, doors, bodysides, and cab rear and a chrome rear bumper. 426S-equipped Custom Sports received chrome valve covers and a chrome air cleaner.
In a world of mundane strictly-for-business pickups, the Custom Sports Special would have stood out from the crowd.
But what if, hypothetically, someone were inclined to order their CSS with only the bare minimum of required options, forsaking any and all exterior clues as to what was lurking beneath the hood? What if Mother Mopar had already read that person's mind, and nestled comfortably on the order sheet, was the HPP option. The HPP option (High Performance Package) gave buyers everything the CSS package did - and less. HPP models (122-inch wheelbase, D-100's only) were built with the Custom Cab package, 2-tone vinyl bench seat, passenger-side sun visor, rubber floor mat, 6000 rpm Sun tachometer, and a cigar lighter. The drive train included the aforementioned 426S, pushbutton-shifted LoadFlite transmission and 3.55:1 rearend.
If this had happened, how many do you suppose Dodge may have been able to sell in 1964? the answer is simple... three. This is one of those three.
Purchased originally from Becker Dodge in New Braunfels, TX, the truck suffered a fractured piston and sat for a number of years. Terry Winkler, the 4th and current owner, bought the truck in 2000, in rather dismal condition. Had it not been such a rare and collectible vehicle, there wasn't enough of it left to warrant bringing it back to life. The restoration was performed by Clay Phillips of Performance Paint and Chassis.
Copied in part from Cars & Parts
Back then, the base truck cost $2000, then add $1300 for the HP Package, and $100 for Sure-Grip rear end. That's serious money that had to be paid up-front.
Ben Simons is building the 2nd truck, while the third known '64 HPP is in Washington state somewhere.