440 cu. in. overhead valve V-8 engine, three-speed automatic transmission, front and rear live axle suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 115 in.

• Well-appointed interior

• 32,041 miles from new; excellent original overall condition

• Offered from the Zegwaard Collection

By the 1970s, many Americans had decided that they didn’t need a car at all. Trucks had become increasingly versatile, with good looks as well as handling and performance almost on a par with full-size sedans. What’s more, they could do some serious hauling and they were incredibly tough. With cheap fuel readily available, the average American gave little thought to putting miles on a vehicle that travelled 7 to 12 miles on a U.S. gallon of gasoline.

For 1977, one of Dodge’s top entries for people who were kicking the car habit was the Adventurer SE, which was part of the D100 half-ton series of trucks. Engine options were many, including a straight-six and V-8s of 318-, 360-, 400-, and 440-cubic inches. Both manual and automatic transmissions were available, as were two- and four-wheel drive. The interior was comfortable and attractively trimmed, and the gauge package was comprehensive.

A Dodge pickup truck of the mid-1970s has few secrets, because the serial number tells all. According to the number, this Dodge Adventurer 150SE is a D100 Series truck with a conventional cab and a gross vehicle weight of over 6,000 pounds. It is powered by a 440 CID overhead valve V-8, and it was built in 1977 at Plant Number 1 in Warren, Michigan. The exterior is in fine unrestored condition and is attractive in its original two shades of blue, which go nicely with the blue interior. The engine bay appears sound and is perfectly consistent with a vehicle that has covered 32,041 miles without restoration. Like any Dodge truck, this half-ton Adventurer is capable of working very hard for hundreds of thousands of miles.