In the early 1980s, Chrysler execs apparently decided they wanted to emulate the Chevrolet El Camino, but in a smaller package. And just like that, the Dodge Rampage was born as a subcompact utility vehicle which ran for three years (1982-84). Plymouth joined the bandwagon and called theirs the Scamp (but only for one year). Combined production was just over 40,000 units, so it was not a major success story. This 1984 Rampage is from the final year of production, has low miles and appears to be in good condition, sans some small hail damage. You can find it in El Paso, Texas (boot capital of the world) and available here on eBay where 19 bids are sitting at $1,030. Bidding will need to go higher to bypass the reserve.
The Dodge Rampage/Plymouth Scamp had unibody construction, based on the Chrysler L platform of the day. From the front, the Rampage looked like the 024/Charger and borrowed its suspension from the front wheel drive Omni/Horizon variant. It was a light-weight vehicle, coming in at around 2,400 lbs. The 2.2-liter, carbureted inline 4-cylinder was a bit anemic at first in the performance department – until a five-speed manual transmission was added in its second year. The truck qualified as a half-ton as it was rated to haul 1,145 lbs. The Rampage’s primary competition was the Volkswagen Rabbit Sportruck and Subaru BRAT.
This 1984 Rampage looks to have been well-cared for and has under 60,000 miles on the clock. The silver exterior/red interior is a nice combination, though the seller mentions there is some hail damage that isn’t obvious at first glance. The passenger mirror appears to have suffered the brunt, given the non-body shop fixit job, and the tailgate looks as though it might not be properly aligned. For a truck, it seems to have seen minimal use as the paint in the bed isn’t all scratched up and the interior shows little-to-no wear.
The seller says the truck drives and runs well and mentions no mechanical issues. The tires look practically new and the air conditioning is said to blow cold. If you want to be entertained while driving, you’ll have to take up whistling because there is no radio. The seller was kind enough to provide a brief video tour of the truck on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/6pLVbO5BEMU?rel=0
Hopefully, the seller hasn’t set the reserve too high as this truck is still considered a used vehicle, where NADA says you shouldn’t pay over $2,700 for one of these. For years, I always thought the Rampage was an import based on Chrysler’s association with Mitsubishi, but I was wrong. This looks to be a nice little truck to serve as a second or third vehicle.
Great looking little truck! It amazes me how many wonderful defines there are out there that shouldn’t cost that much to enjoy.
I’ve always liked these, a friend had one, but another classic “swing and a miss”. These had a limited following for the same reasons all the other car/pickups failed. They weren’t a good car or a good truck. Like all small cars, they rusted pretty quickly, and it’s amazing to see one intact at all. They made a cap for these, that helped the lack of covered space, and to this day, remains the only, all US made front drive pickup. Great find.
Maybe not such a good pure car or truck, but for those who needed a little bit of both in one vehicle, they fit the bill. My dad had one of these for years, did all the hauling duty he needed for homeowner and volunteer church groundskeeper duty, and meanwhile served as a nice-handling, reasonably peppy and sharp-looking work commuter and errand-runner.
These always looked cool to me. This one looks to be in solid shape for being 36 years old and not particularly collectible. 60k sounds like low miles in today’s terms, but I had an 87 Dodge Shadow with 75k and at ten years old it was ready for the junk yard. It’s amazing how far cars have come in terms of durability. I hope someone grabs this and brings it to Coffee and Cars when that’s allowed again.
If you want to be entertained while driving, you’ll have to take up whistling because there is no radio.
Dude! No tuneage in the Rampage!
Had an early one. It returned to the earth faster than any other vehicle I have seen.
No A/C. The black vinyl seats were brutal.
No radio, either. Had a boom box mounted on the cargo tray behind the buckets.
There’s still one left AND its running?! Amazing.
A bit over 1,100 pound payload? I am amazed at that lol! With a payload that high, why have I never seen one of these used as a Harley hauler?
Maybe the bed isn’t big enough, maybe on one ever thought of using these. If not, how else are you ever getting that much weight in there lol?
Cute little truck, working air conditioning, and probably a reasonable price. All in all this could be a great purchase for someone.
My Harley spent plenty of time in the back of my Rampage with the tail gate down. Nice low bed height, it was perfect. Still have the Harley,
At least you kept the better vehicle of the two lol.
Maybe something like this would work for me then.
I wonder if I would fit….
The first car manufacture that makes another front wheel based Truck/Car is going to make a killing. These little trucks are needed.
There’s plenty still being made and have been for years, just not sold in the US market, no thanks to our absurd CAFE regulatory scheme:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/10/how-cafe-killed-compact-trucks-and-station-wagons/
A company named smythkitcars.com allows you to make a pickup out of many cars cherokees etc, I had a 84 rampage and really liked it. Here in the SWest el caminos rancheros are very popular still.
I test drove one of these back when they were new. All I can remember is that even brand new the engine sounded like a cement mixer, the shifter was like stirring gloppy oatmeal, and it had insane amounts of torque steer. Needless to say I didn’t buy one
Thought these were a Mitsu import? Come on, it is obviously an Onmi 024 in the front and the rear of the car reworked. Besides, the 2.2 engine had a very distinct sound. I agree with Howard A, just too many compromises to be practical. Chrysler should have made a small truck out of the Reliant chassis, then with a decent 2.5 or 2.6 engine (and later a V6) and a low rear end, they might have had something big enough to be actually practical. I miss small trucks, and would buy one new today if I could. When my 2004 small GMC bites the big one, will there be anything under 12 tons and 75K available for my simple needs? Of course, as old as I am, the truck may out live me anyway, so maybe problem solved.
If you haven’t see the “domination” (not really) of the Rampage on some of the Roadkill (etc.) shows. It is something to behold Dulcich make use of 100hp.
Always thought these were neat and crazy looking little trucks. Odd that it has no radio but that can be remedied. The truck bed look like it has been hit with a silver rattle can of spray paint. You can see the hail damage, would recommend that someone take a look see at this before purchase. Will be interesting to see the reserve! Good luck!