1987 Dodge Dakota | Retro Review 

Miss the old square american pickups! Great and beatiful vehicles!

My first truck was a silver 87 Dakota. I put 764,000 miles on it. I loved that truck.

My grandparents had a 1989 Dakota V6 extended cab, with over 400,000 miles. The 1st Gen was very reliable!

lol I still have mine, 1988 with the fuel injected version of the L.A. V6 and a 5 speed manual trans with 4 wheel drive and a 8ft bed. Sucker was the tippy top trim level back then so It came with chrome everything and air conditioning, black paint with a red interior. Currently has over 400,000 miles on the original engine and transmission, with 3.51 gears I average 22mpg on 2 lane country roads out in the mountains of the north. The truck currently has 32 years of winter in the rust belt on its record and is still rock solid ( The dam thing draws more attention at the gas stations than my fire engine red Camaro does) Although I should note for the last 3 years I've used Fluid Film and now PB Blaster Surface Shield to essentially freeze the truck in time. I've driven it 365 days a year for the last 10 years through every storm possible ( for fun ) because I know its the one vehicle I own that will ALWAYS make it, and never need a tow truck. Usually it ends up playing the role of the tow truck when other vehicles get stuck or crash off the road. The old Dakota happily chugs along dragging cars out at idle.

This is so nostalgic. My dad had one of these when I was a kid. A 1990 model. I loved riding in the truck bed. I dont think we're legally allowed to do that anymore lol

This is a very nice little truck and it's a shame it got too large. Fun fact: the Greek Fire Service still has a small fleet of Dakotas, with the 5.2 V8! They were used for the forest fires but they're still in good shape, having all the necessary equipment!

I own a fully restored 1988 Dodge Dakota LE 5 speed V6. I have found it to be durable and reliable.

My neighbor has the square front-end with a 318 V8 Magnum. Still going strong

The 0-60 time of 13.5 seconds with the V6 was markedly better than the 2.2, which did 0-60 in never.

A midsize single cab that you can get with a full size bed? Take me back

I love these pickups so much I’ve owned 5 within the past 2 years and I loved every single one

From my understanding, these were excellent trucks. I feel like it was underrated and under-appreciated by the public. I like the facelifted version that came out in the early 90s. The 2.2L 4cyl was eventually replaced with a 2.5L 4cyl and an optional 5.2L V8 was offered in addition to the V6. It was the perfect inbetweener truck. Roomier and more capable with the optional 8ft bed over the Ranger and S10, but easier to drive and less expensive than an F150 or Silverado. I don't know why the Dakota didn't sell better.

4:00 John: NOT IN THE SPORTS CAR CLASS, BUT GOOD FOR A TRUCK OF ANY SIZE! LOL

Thanks Beth. You're welcome John.

I realize in retrospect we see how bizarre we looked in the 80's with today's eyes, but even then, that woman's look was a bit too trendy, not everyone looked that way. The business in the front, party in the back mullets and high shouldered apparel were the rage, but only if you wanted to be "trendy"... acid washed jeans, bright neon tees and knit, multi-colored/patterned sweaters were all what we tend to remember because of how today's films and shows that chronicle the 80's give the actors that look. Many of us, as we dress to this day, wore good old blue jeans and normal hued tees back then, including me.(fortunately I could never grow a mullet with my thick dark hair) :-)

This was one of my favorite Matchbox cars as a kid.

It took all the other 1/4 tons over 20 years to catch up with tha Dakota. Lifelong fan, most underrated trucks ever made

Have a 1991 Dakota le has 5.2 litre, 6 lug wheels and it still runs great, grandson give it to us and love the little truck. Great Video. 👍

Great video, my father Nick has a '14 silver dodge ram 1500 with four doors and I still think it's a good truck

In August, I bought a first gen 1994 Dakota SLT 5.2L V8, RWD with 146k for $1.6k. After putting around $1.5k into it, it's running like a dream. I still have a few minor things to fix (driver door issues, some paint and a new center console), but overall she's beautiful. My dad built Dodge trucks (72-88) when we lived in Detroit, so I always wanted one from that period, but this 94 was the best one I could find.

I had to 1988 Dakota's. They were Great trucks! The 1st was a 6cyl, manual, short bed that I sold with 278,000 miles. The second a 6cyl, auto, 8ft bed that I sold with 299,000 miles. I still regret selling this one. They were tough, dependable, simple trucks. It was sad to see what they became toward the end. So happy to see this today.

The only Dodge pickup where the instrument cluster is from the Dodge Lancer/Chrysler Lebaron GTS!

Miss my '92 shortbed 4x4. 3.9 v6, 5-spd. Great truck, prop rod and all!

in 1987 when I was 16, when these types of trucks were around $8-12k, I was making $4.25 an hour and I though that was a lot of money and I would never be able to afford a new truck. Of course being 16, you never look at the big picture with intelligence and experience that one day, I would indeed, one day, be able to afford new vehicles or pay cash for used vehicle.

Awesome video! I actually still own a 1987 Dakota

I custom ordered a 2001 4x4 Dakota Quad cab with 4.7 v-8, 3.92 gears and 5 speed manual transmission. I put 437,000 plus miles on it in 17 years until it was totaled in an accident caused by another party. Good truck

0:12 "Thanks Beth" "You're welcome John" These two have the awkward chemistry.

Excellent truck back in the day. Perfect size & beautiful 2 tone paint jobs. Mine ran like a flawless sewing machine for 5 years straight and didn't even need to put air in the tires @ 286k on the odometer- just oil changes ( 3.9 with 5 speed manual transmission) . 1987 Dakota was first year production plus only year to use carburator. in 1988, they switched to Magnum fuel injection...

Fun Fact: The 4x4 shortbed Dakotas were featured in the first couple seasons of Baywatch as beach patrol trucks (along with nissan hardbody 4x4s and Toyota T100s) before they were replaced by the ford ranger splash 4x4s later in the 90s.

These are still fairly common in Alberta and can be had for really cheap. It'd be a lot of fun to drop in a junkyard 5.9 Magnum with a 5 speed. As is, it would surprise a lot of the newer trucks at red lights!

Hi Dodge, I'll take my custom Dakota with an 8 foot bed, Slant 6 engine and manual transmission. And don't be cheap with the velour on my bench seat.

Back when a truck was a truck not a Glorified pavement princess

Freaking Awesome video. One of my favorite trucks. Oh and I own a 97 5.2. And have owned four Dodges. Two Dakotas, One Durango and a ext cab 2nd gen Ram. Great power. Yea there's a few problems 😅 with them. But in all honesty every car makers have issues

I have 92 Dakota Sport with 276,000 miles. It runs like scalded dog! 3.9 V6 and five speed. Burns no oil and is very solid on the road.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!

First gens are such an interesting truck, owning one myself I love it.

Wow great video quality on this one! Those driving scenes came out like they were filmed last week.

My father in law has a 88 version that's still going. It's a fun truck!

My grandma’s Chrysler 5th Avenue had that same steering wheel. Miss the Dakota, drove my grandpa’s 2nd gen in high school and had a 3rd gen until last August. Wish Stellantis would bring it back

My dad has a 90 Dakota and it was great. Although the end where they talk about the headrest is so true. My dad was rear ended at a stop light and his head went back and hit the glass. 20 plus years on he still hurts from that accident.

Love my '87. Just wish I had the money to restore her properly

Dakota the that always underated

Wait... how does Dakota conjure up images of the Pacific Northwest? Last time I checked, the Dakotas were like... smack dab in the middle of the country.

I had a 1995 Dakota for years. Overall it was a good vehicle. My only complaint was the rubbery steering feel, but otherwise I had no regrets.

Its weird that dodge hasn’t brought back the Dakota. The gladiator isn’t really a good replacement for the Dakota.

Fun fact: The 1987 model was the only year to have a carburetor on the V6. '88-up models had fuel injection.

8 foot bed on a small, single cab pickup. Wish we had this stuff these days.

We still have my dad's 87. It was built 9 of 86. I drove it in high school. It had the 3.9 it now has a 5.9 v8. Still a solid, comfortable truck.

I once worked at a Cub Scout camp that had a 1988; in fact, in the very same two-tone color scheme seen here. It was still performing camp duties as of 2012, and the 3.9L V6 ran like a champ.

Had a '91 with the V6. Really was a great truck. Super easy to work on and you couldn't kill it.

I drive an 87 v6, I’m 27 it’s my only vehicle, bought for 1700 cash before I had a license almost 10 years ago. It’s treated me well, cheap insurance, cheap tires, easy maintenance. It get me where I need to go and get comments from everyone, positive and not so... oh well, she treats me well. I’m 6’5” and I fit ok, mostly because the bench seat is blown out, it’s like a bucket/bench now and is more comfortable than modern 4 door car seats from Honda or Nissan, I can do 3 hour trips no problem. Occasionally I have stuff break or act up, currently it started overheating this week, if anyone has a garage in the Boston area, hit me up! It’s raining and I need to get to the intake manifold gasket I believe!

I love seeing this, my highschool truck was a 2wd ‘88 scsb with a v6

I took one on a test drive in 1991 had the 5.2 litre awesome power 👍

Looks good! I'm going to head over to my local Dodge dealer tomorrow. I hope they still have some of these 1987 Dakotas left. I've been looking for a mid size truck with an 8 foot bed, bench seat and a column shift, and the K-Car 4 cylinder engine for maximum fuel economy. Maybe they'll discount the price a bit if it's kicking around on the lot.

This is probably enough truck for 90% of what anyone might need one for now but them market insists on trucks the size of tractor trailers.

Ah, the 1st gen Dakota. My dad had a '93 Dakota as a scrap hauler for a few years, and it served us pretty well, especially considering we'd scored it for only $600. We ran it into the ground - the only reason it's not still with us is because the frame was dangerously rusted. I still miss that damn truck. It really was the sort of truck you'll never see made today - compact truck capable of hauling loads of shit and holding 6 passengers, albeit a bit tight.

Classic Beth. Right again.

I almost bought the truck shown,but with 4wd.Thought it had decent power until I drove a Jeep Comanche with the 4.0 I6.Dakota is thought to be the Comanche killer.

Love the looks!

Killed the extra cab Commanche

Love my 90 Dakota easy to work on and don't need a several 1000 dallor computer to check things

Never knew they put a 2.2L in the Dakota. Thought they were either a 3.9L or a 5.2L. My mother had one with the 3.9L . She liked it a lot.

Currently building a little no prep truck out of an 89 Dakota. The little thing still looks cool IMO and setup for the track it’s fairly lightweight, tipping the scales at 3225 with an LM7 between the fenders.

I never thought much of these trucks back in the day. Looking back this first gen was probably the least ugly

Its funny, back in 1989 I was truck shopping and was at a Dodge dealership in Marietta Ga. on a relatively COLD evening. The salesman who was helping me brought several sets of keys out for diffrent trim level Dakota trucks and he couldn't keep any of them running long enough to even get out of the back lot, needless to say I didn't buy a Dakota... Very memorable to say the least.

I love Dodge Dakota first gen. 1987 and 1988 is my favorite

Still a great looking truck. Very simple, Just the way I like a truck.

3:02 That's got to be the largest fuel gauge I've ever seen.

I had a V6 powered 94 Dakota with the extra cab. It was tough and dependable, it seldom required repair, but that shaky 6 was an annoyance, though it did give decent gas mileage. I wish mine had come with the V8.

I have a 87 V6 dodge Dakota ram truck that my brother left me, it runs good I drive it all around and I love it, but I just need to smog it it doesn't pass smog, but I'm going to fix it with a new computer, I think that's it! Have a good day with yours!

i love the two-tone

What's interesting about the interior is that it uses the 1984 Chrysler Luxury Steering Wheel instead of the 1987 one so this might be an early version of the Dodge Dakota.

Would love to see the Luxurious L7!

My dad had a 1992 dakota sport. Red. 4 cylinder. No air conditioning. Regular cab. Wasn't a bad truck but the 2000 dakota he bought years later was much better.

Boy we’ve come a long ways since those day’s! The quality was terrible in some of them vehicles back then!

My brother has a 87 that only has 87k miles (ironic I know haha) he’s selling it for 300 because it’s been parked for years so the engine/carburetor etc may be needing some tlc. I’m considering purchasing it

Love the outside but woof that steering wheel was the same steering wheel that was on my Lebaron.

that storage shelf is great for sitting your sunglasses case on, and then it falls off after you go more than 5mph.

they were very nice trucks, and the 3.9 with fuel injection with 175hp had lots of power, the 5.2 and 5.9 was powerful too! i don't think they had a 2.2..2.5 i believe it was.

I was interested in them, wish I had bought one!

What was Beth right about?

Can you review the second Gen Dakota?

Great truck. My dad had a 95 with the 3.9 L V6. He gave it to my brother and he beat the shit out of it. We got 16 years out of that truck with probably 300,000 miles. When he bought it in 95 it felt old then but it was comforting at the same time. I learn to drive in that truck And if I could find one in good condition I would buy it in a heartbeat. But they don’t exist anymore.

I've noticed something about a lot of these videos from the 80s. They make a big deal about the doors wrapping up into the roof. Does anyone know why?

Funny how I haven't seen one of these 1st gen Dakotas on the road in 8-10 years. Still see the occasional late 80's/early 90's Dodge Ram, usually with the Cummins. 80's/90's Chevy trucks, be they full size or S dime sized are pretty common, 90's F150/250/350 are fairly common along with the occasional Ranger. But Rangers all look the same, a 1995 looks like a 2005. Still see a lot of 90's Toyota trucks too, be the old 89-94 or 95 newer Tacomas. Still though full size 1/2 ton Chevys are the most common 90's truck in my part of town.

The sideview mirrors at 3:09 gotta be carefully adjusted with your hand.

great truck!

8 foot bed good v6 4 wheel or two wheel driving like the style and two colors when trucks was cheap 20 in gas good for some

@Motorweek Can We please see The 2000 Lincoln LS Review

A cup holder! What will they think of next.

The convertible version is da bomb.

Beautifull truck

I had a 90 with 8' bed and high top cap. I could load front to back packed tight with firewood and she'd handle it no problem.

Sempre sensacional 😃☺️👍 que da hora

Who would have thought back in 87 that in the 2020s pickups would be status symbols w/ a 50,000 base price, and packed with tech. Pickups used to evoke thoughts of farmers contractors and handymen. Now they are for buiness executives who "rough" it to there 100 grand + a year job

When pickup trucks were ACTUALLY pickup trucks.

True billetproof truck I grew up around from 1962 to current...unlike todays overpriced grocery getters status symbols that cost 50k-80k

When you can't come up with an original tail light design unique to the Dakota so you borrow the one off the Ram instead. They done that with the Durango too. Taking the design from the Grand Caravan.

BACK IN 1987 THE DODGE DAKOTA WAS AROUND THE TIME AS THE RAM 50

hi motor week can you please turn on the caption if possible on this video thank you I'm a motor week fan thank you again :-)