By Chuck Vranas – Photography by the Author
Through the decades there was only one place to get hop-up parts for your ride: at the local speed shop. It was a place where hot rodders would gather on a regular basis to check out the latest performance parts available to squeeze every bit of horsepower out of an engine, giving it the greatest edge on the street or track. One of the most iconic tools a speed shop ever had was the rolling advertisement a lettered-up truck could provide to promote their own unique brand. Regardless of whether it was just parked out in front of the shop on a daily basis, used in deliveries or as a push-truck at the drags, dry lakes, or the salt, nothing else could duplicate its impact. The slammed ’69 Dodge D200 Sweptline laid out across our pages belonging to Paul and Raquel Barber of Milton, Ontario, Canada, is a perfect example of its breed to support their business.
These trucks also served as a rolling test bed for the parts the shops were selling where cams, carbs, superchargers, and injection setups could lure young rodders into the web to incorporate the latest innovations into their rides. For Paul, the performance world came naturally since he started on the path at his dad’s auto parts store as soon as he could lift a broom to sweep up. At this young age, one of the most inspiring memories was riding along in the shop truck, a Dodge D200 Sweptline. Walking a path alongside local legends, it was easy to absorb the adrenalin associated with the hobby, eventually leading him to his first buildup of a ’54 Dodge pickup packing a 360ci V-8 at age 15. With a family full of devout Chrysler owners, their passion easily fused itself to his future as well. As the years marched on, Paul stayed on the path, eventually building several Plymouth hot rods and muscle cars over the years. This all led to owning and operating Horton Hot Rod Parts in his hometown.
With promoting the speed shop, one thing was missing: a cool delivery truck that could make the local scene as well as showcase the latest upgrades in the performance world. Having always been drawn to memories of his dad’s D200 Sweptline, it was a perfect time to start the search for a suitable truck to start with for the next build. Before long, he heard from good friend Duncan Ackerman who had recently imported a ’69 longbed model from Wyoming. A closer inspection proved the second-generation truck was a straight, rust-free model that was originally sold through Cheyenne Dodge in Cheyenne, making it a perfect start for the project. Before long, he swapped cash for keys and drove the hauler back to Horton’s for full evaluation to map out a plan for its next life.
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Without wasting any time, Paul completely disassembled the truck to first focus on the base. The frame was inspected, proving it was rock solid and ready for action. It was blasted clean and brought to Grant Schwartz of Schwartz Inc. in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, to get started. He commenced with custom crossmembers, engine and transmission mounts, and a deep C-notch. Out back, a Speedway Motors 9-inch housing was filled with 3.70:1 gears from John’s Industries spinning matching 31-spline axles and suspended in place by a Welder Series four-link combined with matching Panhard bar and Ridetech coilover shocks. For razor-sharp handling, a Fatman Fabrications Stage III IFS was added featuring their exclusive 2-inch drop spindles, TIG-welded tubular upper and lower control arms, and Ridetech coilover shocks, all linked to a Flaming River power rack-and-pinion steering. When it’s time to drop anchor, a Wilwood dual-power master moves fluid through stainless lines to matching Dynalite 12-inch drilled-and-vented rotors at each corner with four-piston calipers. Linking it to the street with an aggressive stance, you’ll find a set of American Racing Salt Flat–Series wheels, sized 17×7 front and 20×8 rear, capped with BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 rubber, sized P225/50ZR17 and P255/45ZR20 respectively.
Nothing says power like a new-generation Hemi, especially when you want plenty of go for the long haul. To bring the truck into the future, Paul went straight to Mopar Performance for one of their stout Gen III 5.7L 345 Hemi crate V-8s. Starting with a cast-iron block with four-bolt mains, it’s filled with a nodular iron crank linked to powdered metal rods wearing hypereutectic aluminum pistons getting bumped by a hydraulic roller stick. Up top, a set of Hemispherical aluminum heads generates plenty of power, especially when matched to the factory EFI with 80mm throttle body mounted to a composite intake, all managed by a Mopar Performance wiring harness. Factory coil-pack ignition lights the fire with exhaust tearing through a set of factory exhaust manifolds to a custom 2-1/2-inch stainless exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers all by Schwartz. Other cool bits include a Tanks Inc. aluminum fuel tank and pump, Powermaster starter, Optima battery, and Vibrant Performance cold-air intake system. A Chrysler A-518 overdrive automatic trans moves the goods through a John’s Industries driveshaft to plant the power.
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One of the coolest factors of running an original patina truck is that if you get a nice rust-free example you’re miles ahead in your build when it comes time to address the exterior. Thankfully for Paul, his D200 was free of any needed exterior repairs and sported a perfectly baked original turquoise vibe originally laid down by the factory. Even the trim, bumpers, and lighting were in great condtion, the only addition to the exterior was a Pro’s Pick electrically operated hardtop tonneau cover for the bed. Inside the business office, the factory dash was retained and filled with a custom-fabricated insert by Rob Allison of Pinhead Metalkraft to house Dakota Digital HDX-Series dials to montor the vitals. A Lecarra Mark 9-GT steering wheel mounts to an ididit tilt column to carve a course while shifts move though a Lokar stick. Cool breezes are courtesy of Vintage Air while tunes flow thanks to JVC. An American Autowire kit installed by Cam Wadsworth of Guelph brings it all to life while comfort comes from a TMI Pro-Series Universal Sport-R bench seat in black vinyl with suede inserts complemented by black loop carpeting by Auto Custom Carpet. Juliano’s push-button retractable shoulder belts keep it all safe for the road. Special thanks are due to Paul Henderson for help throughout the build. Since completion, Paul and Raquel have hit the streets, attending countless events across Canada and the U.S., and to us that’s as good as it gets!
Click on this issue’s cover to see the enhanced digital version of Horton’s Hot Rod Shop’s Wicked Hemi-Powered 1969 Dodge D200 Parts Hauler.
