The 1980s was a period of reinvention for the American automotive industry. The “bigger is better” philosophy made way for smaller models that utilized aerodynamic improvements and lighter curb weights to recapture lost performance and respectable fuel consumption. No sector was immune from the approach, which helped spawn vehicles like this 1982 Dodge Rampage. The seller describes it as being in as-new condition, and it is hard to argue with their assessment. It has a known history and a genuine 42,000 miles on the clock. The only thing it needs is a new home, with the seller listing the Dodge here on Craigslist in Farmingdale, New York. It could be yours for $15,000, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Mitchell G. for spotting this stunning survivor.
Dodge introduced the Rampage for the 1982 model year as a direct competitor for the Subaru BRAT and Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup. It based the new model on the Dodge Omni 024 underpinnings, although the Pickup featured some suspension upgrades to improve its load-carrying ability. This Rampage rolled off the line during the first production year and will come to its new owner with a known history. The first owner ordered it in a two-tone combination of Graphic Red and Spitfire Orange. Finding anything worth criticizing about this unrestored survivor is virtually impossible, with the paint shining intensely and the panels laser-straight. The bed is an undoubted highlight because it appears this classic has never carried a load. The vinyl decals are free from shrinkage and checking, and the plastic is spotless. The Rampage rolls on its original and flawless 14″ alloy wheels, and the glass is crystal clear.
One aspect of cars from the 1980s that often doesn’t age well is interior trim. Plastics are prone to cracking and breaking, and cloth upholstery frequently wears and rots. However, none of these problems have afflicted this Rampage. Its Black cloth and vinyl seats feature Red stripes that mimic the exterior paint shade, and they show no evidence of deterioration. There is no carpet wear, and the dash is spotless. The overall impression is that the Dodge has always been treated respectfully, and the condition supports the seller’s claim that this survivor has a documented 42,000 miles on its odometer. It isn’t lavishly equipped by modern standards, but the new owner will appreciate the ice-cold air conditioning, Sports wheel, Rallye gauge cluster, remote exterior mirrors, and AM/FM radio.
This Rampage’s drivetrain combination could be both its greatest strength and most significant weakness. It utilizes the 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, as seen in the Omni. It sends 84hp and 111 ft/lbs of torque to the road via a three-speed automatic transmission. Power front disc brakes were standard in 1982, but the first owner added power steering for a more relaxed driving experience. I described the drivetrain as both a positive and a negative, and that deserves qualification. The engine produces less power than an equivalent Subaru BRAT but more torque. However, with the automatic option, acceleration is considerably slower when the pedal meets the metal. It isn’t all bad news because performance would be adequate, and the Rampage should be equally at home in heavy city traffic or trundling along at 70mph on the open road. Potential buyers should consider this Dodge a turnkey proposition. The odometer reading is verified, and the vehicle comes with an enormous collection of original documentation dating back to Day One. Flying in and driving home is a realistic expectation.
The Rampage was a bold experiment by Dodge that didn’t bear fruit on the showroom floor. The 1982 model year was the most successful, with 17,636 vehicles rolling off the lot. This was considerably better than the 6,909 BRATs sold by Subaru, but it was also the badge’s high point. The total slumped to 8,033 in 1983 but rebounded to 11,732 in 1984. The reality is that the BRAT fared no better, but Subaru persisted because it produced the vehicle for multiple markets. The Rampage’s figures were unsustainable for a domestic model, and production ceased at the end of 1984. Those figures make this 1982 Rampage relatively rare, and its condition is exceptional. Is the seller’s price justified? It is well above the market average, but it is doubtful that a better example exists. I don’t think they will be flooded with inquiries, but I won’t be surprised if it finds a new home. Will you?
Nice looking ute, sadly it’s front wheel drive.
Big pass.
You obviously never drove one. I have never even heard of a domestic vehicle that handled bad weather like my Rampage did. I have had 4 wheel drive Jeeps and trucks and none of them was even close to handling as well as the Rampage. I never, ever slowed down for bad weather. There was never a need. I guess you’re Australian and don’t know what it’s like to drive through deep snow, glare ice, driving rain and white out conditions. A sandstorm would be the worst you could encounter and that wouldn’t have affected Rampage handling unless it was buried.
I had (2) back in the day. A ’82 & a ’84 . The ’84 had a nicer looking front. The ’82 had a ‘cap’ which really looked nice. One thing is that series of Mopars had a manual xmission issue. There was a shifter piece that could break and fall off into the gear set. Sometimes it fell down and caused no problems. Sometimes it fell down and got jammed into the gears…….. ah ……bye bye xmision. Mopar made a stronger piece that you could get. Easy fix since there is a side plate on the xmission. You could pull the gear set out without removing the xmission. One of the better designs from Mopar. Cool truck though.
There was Chryslers problem, right there. They should have used a transmission in the vehicle. Those pesky “xmisions” were always trouble.
I always liked these small trucks and it would be a perfect one to take to a cars and coffee or radwood car show. I wish I had the money for it. Hot Wheels even made a die cast 1/64 size in the same colors too.
Basically, Chrysler wanted to make an 80s version of the old El Camino or Ranchero. And basing it off the sportier o24 rather than the plain Omni was a good idea too. And it didn’t break the bank to produce as it is an o24 to the b-pillar. Nice idea, but the public didn’t think so, and I suspect performance, or lack thereof, was the main reason why.
Nice rare auto/truck, and collectible in this condition, but the on and off SHOUTING in the ad turns me off – otherwise I might actually be interested.
There’s quite a lot of folks that still collect these on fb L body page. 15 seems steep to me but considering the condition it is in. I’m sure it’ll find a home sooner than later as these fwd utes and 024,Omni and Plymouth variants are hard to come by
Owned an ’84 with a cap, had 275K on it and still going when I sold it. Was a great truck!
Wow, there’s actually one left. Guaranteed class win at Radwood.
Take 2, warning to other posters, even an “edit” sends the comment to that facility in Houston for approval.
The Rampage and Plymouths Scamp, were the question to the answer nobody asked. Car/pickups were nothing new, dating back to the 30s. None were very popular, most folks bought one or the other. A rear cap greatly increases the covered space, and I believe the Rampage/Scamp remains the only fully American built FWD pickups offered. I’ve had great luck with all Chrysler FWD vehicles, and at this stage of my life, a Rampage could work, dropping a zero off the end, of course. Neat find.
Nice little ride because its condition I think I would try some auction sites and see if you can get more than the current asking price
I had the 1982 Plymouth version (Scamp) with a 4 Sp. Manual. Got 30 mpg while being driven like I stole it.
The 5 speed was a bolt in upgrade. Found the 5 speed in junkyard for$ 75. New clutch and rod shifter kit and it was a real tire squealer.
Fun ride
Donated it to a trade school.
tops for me. U got some of the others: BRAT, 60s Chero, some Zukis…
FWD’s fine for me in fact better as these R my DDs. Work – M-Fri, lill banged up, may B even greasy in back there.
Not sure on the Oz utes. A lill for the mullet wearing (shinny, bigger powered)
3, 4 + Foster swillin. Too busy for that. All ways a ‘smaller car’ guy I’d urge U to look at:
recession/depression times of Merican economy for ‘down sized’. The ‘80s did not produce any more statisticly in comparison w/ all domestice. They DID see the continuation of imports like the Mitsu shown here~
What the hell are you trying to say?! Jeeez!
I always enjoy readers reactions to a big, heaping bowlful of chrlsful.
Ordinarily, I would consider what I’m about to say a sacrilege, but thank God it has an automatic transmission! My brother’s 1984 Plymouth Laser used a five-speed stick shift with this motor, and on the rare occasions when I got to drive it, the cable operated shift linkage left me cold. It was like trying move a broomstick in a bucket of rocks, LOL! Cables literally don’t like to be pushed, but using cables in the shift linkage guaranteed that at least one (1) of the two (2) cables would be pushed on every shift! The fact that the manual gearbox was notchy, combined with the vague shifter, meant that every shift was an adventure! Would I get the right gear, or not? Stay tuned for the next exciting shift, LOL!
As for the concept of a compact, unibody, FWD pickup truck, note that this car, along with its competitors from Subaru and VW (BRAT, Rabbit), none of them survived to see 1990, LOL! That should tell you all you need to know.
Did they ever make a GLHS version of the Rampage?
Yes, Shelby made an estimated 218 in 1984, some say one was the Shelby company go-fer truck. Google Shelby Rampage for the full story.
I had a 1983 Dodge Rampage. It was a 5 speed. My wife and I used it as a commuter until 1989. If you knew how to drive them they were peppy. The shifter only gave trouble once when the cable snapped. I spent all of my time in that mini truck at between 80 and a hundred miles an hour even in the heaviest snow or rain. When other cars and trucks got stuck and could not climb or even descend hills I just drove around them and kept going. It only took one major blizzard to realise the day of rear wheel drive was done. Nothing could touch this thing.
I’ve since owned two Cherokees a Dodge Daytona, two Intrepids and two 4 wheel drive Dodge Rams, none of them was or is the equal of the Rampage, except for acceleration. I had thought I would eventually put an 8 cylinder into it but rust got first. That was the most surprising and useful and safest vehicle I’ve ever owned. I’d buy this one if I didn’t have so many cars.
I had an 83 Rampage 2.2 5 speed. Bought it new. Noisy transmission out of the gate, fixed it the first week of ownership. I had it a little over 3 years, no winters, custom wheels, Borla muffler and a trailer hitch.The truck, pulled and launched a 14 foot speedboat no problem. The only thing I noticed was that it seemed every 10 thousand miles or so it got noisier, rattles, etc. I had enough of Chrysler quality at that point. So I put it up for sale
A young girl and her dad came to look at it, and bought it at my asking price. I ran into the young girl years later, who now was a stunning woman lol, I asked her if she still had the truck? Her dad did now. It had over 100k with just a clutch replacement she said. One of the best car they ever owned.
Had a red 1983 Rampage 2.2 with the graphics package and a 5 speed. Was never disappointed by the truck. Drove it off the showroom floor. It would get 36 mpg on the highway. Took it back to the dealer and had them put factory cruise on it. It got 38 mpg after that. Like one guy said if you knew how to drive it was really fun from 1800rpm to 3000. Often wish I had it back.
Mine was $8300 new. Not really wanting to pay double for it today.
Bottom line it was a great truck.
Mike, How could you pay $8,300 for a Rampage way back then? Are you sure that’s not a typo? I think I paid around $3,000 for mine with special, wider, aluminum wheels, better than any I’ve ever seen on a Rampage. And a hood scoop (non-functional, but it looked good.) I put a cap on it for another $1,000 and that was the last dime I spent on it until I needed a Shifter cable.
Another thing that was a pain in the ass with mine was that it would not take gas at all close to fast. I used to freeze my ass off filling it up.
I had a 2.2 Turismo, manual transmission. Loved that car. Always wanted one of these little “trucks”. (I think it would fit in the bed of my 2020 3/4 ton 8’ bed Silverado 😃).