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Mopar will have a total of 14 different vehicles on display in their 15,000 square-foot display area at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, this week. Mopar will be showing the more than 200 accessories they have created for the 2020 Ram 1500, 2020 Jeep Gladiator and 2020 Jeep Wrangler. One unusual vehicle on display is a throwback to a 1968 Dodge heavy-duty pickup. It should give Ram fans some ideas on how they can personalize their current truck.
Mopar Lowliner Concept
The Mopar Lowliner is built off a 1968 Dodge D200 heavy-duty pickup. It was developed to show just how classic trucks can be customized and brought back to life. Few would recognize the old truck dressed up as the Candied Delmonico Red beauty that it is today, but that is the magic of Mopar.
“These vehicles showcase how Mopar is constantly expanding and exploring new ideas to meet the needs and fuel the imagination of our passionate fans,” said Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts and Customer Care, FCA – North America. “Whether it’s overlanding in remote locations or reimagining an alternative classic design history, Mopar has its customers covered.”
You can read my story on the Ram Overlanding Concept truck called the 2020 Ram Rebel Off The Grid here.
The designers lowered the truck, and lengthened the wheelbase to make it more dramatic looking. The front axle was moved three-inches forward. Designers pushed the front wheels closer to the front corners. They added a custom air suspension to both the front and rear axles. To accommodate all the changes to the suspension, they welded in a replacement floor from a current Ram 1500.
New Take on a Retro Look
Designers streamlined the exterior to give it a smooth body appearance. They removed the door handles, badging, fuel cap and the radio antenna, all things that you could easily do with a current Ram 1500. They widened the rear wheel wells 5 inches on each side to fit wider tires.
Perhaps the most dramatic change is the custom, power-tilt front end they built to showcase the 5.9-liter Cummins diesel engine. It is mated to a six-speed manual, which is cool except that most young people don’t know how to drive a manual anymore. The floor-mounted shifter looks great and is very retro.
The front wheels on the Lowliner are 22 inches by 9.5 inches and ride on 285/35-22 tires. The back tires are wider and more muscular 22 inches by 11 inches, also riding on the 285/35-22 tires. They may look like the stamped steel wheels of the 1960s but they are all new.
Fun and Functional New Lighting
One of the nicest and most functional aspects of the Lowliner concept is the upgrading of all of the lighting, something that many Ram owners are very interested in.
The original headlights have been replaced by seven-inch LED headlights. The rear of the Lowliner features custom taillights with integrated backup lights, that is a huge change from the old days and a significant upgrade for safety. It may look like a classic but the lights are the latest in safety technology.
The instrument panel has been reworked with seven custom Mopar gauges all mounted on a new aluminum panel. The original bench seat has been recovered in new Blazing Saddle Tan leather that has a distressed look. It also has a new leather headliner and new tan carpet. They did keep the old steering wheel.
The best thing about shows like the 2019 Specialty Equipment Market Association show is that it demonstrates the wide range of specialty parts that are out there. It allows vehicle owners to dream about how they want to customize their vehicles. Customization and personalization are huge trends in the truck market right now.
The Lowliner Concept is one of 14 customized vehicles that FCA will have on display during SEMA. There will be hundreds of Mopar products on display in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. SEMA runs November 5-8, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
See you in the next story where I am discussing how the 2020 RAM 1500 is honoring the military and veterans.
Follow Mary Conway at @maryconwaymedia and send her car news tips for future stories.
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