Dodge Sweptside D100
The Dodge Sweptside is one of the rarest and most visually striking factory trucks ever produced. Created for the 1957 model year as a response to Chevrolet's successful Cameo Carrier and Ford's Ranchero, the Sweptside was Dodge's attempt to glamorize the pickup truck — and the result was nothing short of spectacular.
The Sweptside's defining feature was its rear end treatment. Dodge's stylists grafted the dramatic rear fenders from the 1957 Dodge Royal passenger car directly onto the D100 pickup's bed sides. These flowing, finned fenders — products of Virgil Exner's legendary 'Forward Look' design language — gave the Sweptside a space-age profile that made every other pickup truck on the road look agricultural by comparison.
The truck was more than just a styling exercise. Dodge equipped the Sweptside with the D500 performance package as standard, which meant a 315 cubic-inch V8 (upgraded to 325 CI for 1958) breathing through a four-barrel carburetor and producing 245 horsepower. The TorqueFlite automatic transmission was standard, as were two-tone paint and a chrome-trimmed cab. This was the most powerful and best-equipped half-ton pickup truck in America.
Despite its visual impact and impressive specifications, the Sweptside was a commercial failure. Dodge produced only approximately 130 units in 1957 and fewer in 1958. The high price — the Sweptside cost more than some Dodge passenger cars — and the market's reluctance to accept a glamorized pickup truck limited sales severely. The Sweptside was quietly discontinued after 1958.
Today, the Sweptside's extreme rarity and jaw-dropping styling make it one of the most collectible American trucks. With total production of fewer than 200 units across both years, it is among the rarest factory-built vehicles of the 1950s. Well-restored examples command six-figure prices, and the Sweptside is the undisputed star of any truck show it attends.
The Sweptside also holds an important place in automotive history as a predecessor to the modern lifestyle truck. Its fusion of passenger car styling and truck utility anticipated the factory-custom trucks of the 1970s and the luxury pickups of today by decades.
With fewer than 200 built, any Sweptside is extraordinarily rare. Provenance and documentation are critical — verify VIN and production records through the Dodge truck registry. The unique rear fender assemblies are virtually impossible to find as replacements; their condition largely determines value. Check for rust in the bed floor, cab corners, and the Royal fender-to-bed junction, where water can collect. The D500 V8 is well-supported with parts. The TorqueFlite is robust. Beware of replicas — the unique fender assemblies could theoretically be fabricated from Royal donor cars. Complete, documented examples command extraordinary prices.
The Sweptside was produced in extremely limited numbers — approximately 130 in 1957 and even fewer in 1958, for a total of approximately 200 units. The rear fenders were actual production Dodge Royal passenger car pieces, grafted onto the D100 pickup bed. The D500 engine package was standard equipment. Two-tone paint was standard, with the lower body in a lighter color and the upper body and fenders in a darker shade. The Sweptside was offered only with the short bed.