– Model year 2000 saw debut of the Dakota Quad Cab
– Promotional vehicle created to mimic international endurance race
– Twin screw supercharger added for additional horsepower and torque
When the new 2000 Dodge Dakota “Quad Cab” was released, there was a special effort to put together a unique, eye-catching “image vehicle” to further promote it, and the California-based “Performance West” group took on the challenge. Four-door personal use pickups were a big thing at the time, a new segment of the truck market, and this Mopar® truck was aimed at both family and the recreational user.
While it was obvious the “Dakarta” promotional vehicle (which was created for the Dodge display at that year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas) was not really a full-on race-prepped machine ready to tackle the 6,200-mile trip from Paris to the Senegalese capital of Dakar, it certainly did have some head-turning mods that looked the part! Well, while Las Vegas, NV, was a long ways from where that event was staged, this Dodge Dakota Quad Cab was loaded with custom-built and aftermarket equipment to look the part.
Visitors at SEMA saw Dakarta, as did readers of car magazines of the day. Among all the various names displayed on it, there were Mopar Performance Parts markings front and rear.
2.2L CAPACITY SUPERCHARGED
In order to add performance to the 5.2L Magnum engine, the crew at Performance West went to Kenne Bell for a supercharger, and their Auto Rotor system is designed to fewer parasitic losses, the twin-screw design (Model 2200, 2.2L displacement “Blowzilla”) provided for 360 horsepower (up from stock 245) with 414 lb.-ft. torque up from 335), making it a truly formidable SUV. An aftermarket Optimizer CPU engine computer was part of the install, as were a pair of 4-Tube Pulse Divider headers, with 2.5- stainless steel cat-back low restriction exhaust.
EXOSKELETAL ROLL CAGE / ROOF RACK
Dee Zee jumped in the program and fabricated a unique external, “exoskeletal” roll cage and it incorporated a large load-carrying roof rack in the design. Dee Zee also did up the front skid plate and protective bumpers. In addition, a twin-scooped carbon fiber hood from A&A Specialties was added.
ROLLING STOCK
In keeping with the rugged, off-road-capable theme, a set of General Grabber MT tires, sized 33 x 12.5-15, mounted with M/T Alcoa 15 x 8 alloy slotted wheels.
SPARE
A spare tire was securely mounted to the extreme rear, protected with tubular enclosure. A pair of military-spec Jerry cans for extra fuel were included in the build.
QUAD CAB INTERIOR
The modifications continued into the interior as well. After the stock front and rear seats were removed, a set of Recaro Pole Position competition seats were fitted, using Recaro mounting brackets. RCI safety belts (5-point harness) were added and for added driver and passenger safety, all four side windows were fitted with RCI Racing Window Nets. A brushed aluminum dash cap came from Woodview Automotive Trim. A Harmon International Navigation System also part of the interior appointments.
An assortment of Autometer gauges (oil temperature, water temperature, transmission temperature) were fitted to the passenger’s side of the dash, along with individual switches for the various PIAA lights that were placed front, sides and rear.
A Grant three-spoke quick release steering wheel fitted, Autometer speedometer, tachometer and oil pressure gauges installed directly in front of driver. Back seat area with twin Recaro seats were functional components for rear passengers.
BUILT FOR THE BACK COUNTRY
Officially known as “Dakarta by Dee Zee”, the Dakota Club Cab was a product that came from the combination of Performance West and Race Truck Trends, all with the end game of the vehicle being displayed at the Dodge exhibit at SEMA. It clearly was a success in terms of exposure at that trade show, as well as numerous car magazines at the time. The big picture was all about promoting the 2000 model year (and of course the sequential years of the Dodge Dakota Quad Cab) that ran the same basic styling through 2004 model year.
The BASF Chrome Yellow Paint by L & G Enterprises did an admirable job of adding visual excitement to the build. It is fully outfitted for survival of the most hostile environments of off-roading or blasting over endless sand dunes. When viewing from any angle, the aftermarket equipment and accessories augmented the general idea that Dodge’s Dakota Quad Cab could be built to satisfy customer’s individual tastes. Which may or may not go to the extremes done to this example!
CUSTOM CANVAS
For this application, a one-off custom soft canvas bed cover was fabricated by Can-Back, shaped in a military design. A Draw Tite trailer hitch plus electric winch by Superwinch was also a part of the aftermarket upgrades fitted. Inside the bed, a Herculiner bed liner was added.
TEAM SUPPORT
A full-size “Vivitar Photo Support” Dodge Van was part of the promo, outfitted with Go Rhino! tubular bumpers and side steps, and a large variety of PIAA lights. 33 x 12.5 x 16 General Grabber MT off-road rubber was used in conjunction with 16 x 8-inch Alcoa Classic wheels, and a Fan Tech 2-inch suspension lift was added to make the needed fender clearance to clear the larger rolling stock.
IN ACTION
While this Dodge Dakota was never built from the ground up as an all-out competition vehicle, it definitely had, thanks to supercharging, plenty of power to play in the sand!
STOCK VERSION
The 4WD Dakota Sport Quad Cab was brand-new for 2000 model year, and it had great reviews from the automotive press when tested, including getting “first place” in the J.D. Power Quality Survey. It was considered the hands-down choice for those truck buyers that wanted the utility of a full-size rig in a more reasonably sized truck, be it called a “compact” or “mid-sized” pickup. It ran on a 215-inch wheelbase. Payload capacity: 1,450 pounds.
Traditionally a four-door pickup truck was referred to as being a “crew cab.” And when the designers did the rear door mechanisms, they made sure that it “opened all the way” which came in handy when loading/unloading things. Out back, the design included a 5.3-foot bed. Because of the long wheelbase, the typical “hop and chop” that can happen with standard cab trucks is eliminated, or greatly reduced. With the 5.2L V8 engine, the Dakota Quad Cab could pull up to 6,300 pounds, backed by a four-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, a 40/20/40 split front seat and 60/40 rear seat was standard equipment, creating room for six adults. The Dakota Quad Cab was a hit and with them still out there in the used vehicle market, the choice is out there, find one for a build as a rugged and powerful 4×4 (Gen III HEMI® engine upgrade!) or a slammed 2×4 version as a modern “Sport Truck” and, of course, a HEMI crate engine conversion would make it a potent street performer!
Author: James Maxwell
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