Yesterday we looked at a handful of Chrysler Group vehicles
that would help fill the official Mopar display and today we look at another
modified Dodge truck coming to SEMA 2012 – with this great looking 1965 Dodge
D200 being offered up by the folks at ICON.
ICON has made a name for itself with models like the ICON
Bronco along with in-house modified versions of various Jeep and Toyota models
but with the introduction of the customized 1965 Dodge D200 shown above, we get
a look at a new area of focus for the off-road gurus.Much like the ICON Bronco, the ICON modified ’65
Dodge D200 doesn’t go very far with external modifications – with just a unique
white paint scheme and steel/black accents applied to this brawny crew cab pickup
that began its life as a military truck.
Where the ICON Dodge D200 really differs from your average
1965 Dodge pickup is in the underpinnings where ICON has added the chassis of a
late model Ram 3500 complete with a 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel engine.With help from Banks Power, this diesel mill
produces an awesome 975lb-ft of torque while a 4.5″ lift kit helps to insure
that there are very few things that this ICON-built Dodge truck cannot climb
over while Hutchinson rims and proper high performance off-road tires help to
make sure that this D200 can literally get through pretty much anything.
The interior of the ICON 1965 Dodge D200 is far more subtly
modded with free range bison leather throughout and a high end sound system
featuring Focal speakers and a JBL subwoofer make sure that this truck booms –
even when it’s not running.
Unfortunately, this truck is said by ICON to be a 1-off
build for a specific and unnamed buyer. No other information has been offered but you can expect more
information when the ICON Dodge D200 debuts at the 2012 SEMA Show in less than
a month.I will be there, bringing you
the best of the Dodge and Mopar world at the massive Vegas convention.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
