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No Reserve: Rust Free 1988 Dodge Ramcharger

This 1988 Dodge Ramcharger hasn’t been driven in a handful of years due to the previous owner losing her license. We don’t know the details of that and probably don’t want to know, but it can be found listed here on eBay in Laveen, Arizona, which I believe is Laveen Village, Arizona? One of you will know for sure. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $2,850.

$2,850 for a rust-free Dodge Ramcharger?! That’s crazy talk. Wait, this one is rear-wheel-drive so there’s that. According to the VIN, this Ramcharger was made in Lago Alberto, Mexico, and being an Arizona vehicle, I guess that probably explains the solid condition of the body. The seller says that the black trim is missing along the sides so the next owner will have to track down some replacement trim, or not. If so, you can find something that may work here.

It has the appropriate fading from the scorching, relentless, never-ending (ok, enough already!) Arizona sun. The same sun that I regret not being under for the last 40 years since high school. The second-generation Dodge Ramcharger was made from 1981 to 1993 and there were never big, sweeping design changes with the Ramcharger. It was sort of sloooooooow evolution over the two decades and two generations that it was made. Although, there was a third-generation Ramcharger made and sold in Mexico that was produced from 1999 until 2001.

The interior also has the appropriate dried and sunburned fabrics, plastic, and rubber bits from the Arizona sun, but overall it looks pretty good. Replacement seat covers are available from LMC Truck and other companies, so that’s a no-brainer. New carpet is also available as are a lot of the replacement parts that the next owner will need. They say that the stereo is also missing so add that to the list.

In 1988, Dodge added electronic fuel injection to the 318 cubic-inch V8 which is what this truck should have. It would have had about 170 horsepower and the seller says that this one isn’t currently running due to sitting for a few years so it’ll have to be tinkered with a bit. Have any of you owned a full-sized SUV that was 2WD? Dumb question, of course you have, let’s hear about them in the comments!

Comments

  1. Avatar local_sheriff

    Well Scotty; since you ask yes I DD’d a ’77 2wd Blazer for years with hardly any trouble at all. IMO the key to success with such a vehicle during winter is a set of quality snow tires, posi rear and manual transmission – my K5 was a completely stripper with 250/3 on the tree without PS.

    Just to be on the safe side I bought a pair of proper studded snow chains when I bought the vehicle, but I think I put them on only three times during the time it served as my regular driver. To this day I’d claim this K5 was the most reliable, easy to work on, cheap to buy and own vehicle I’ve ever driven. Of course rust did it best to kill it in the end…

    The RAM in question is shockingly rust-free and can potentially be an extremely good starting point for someone who wants a station wagon in truck wrapping to drop to the ground instead of lifting it

    Like 3
  2. Avatar Joe Haska

    I have always wanted one of these, especially the 2-Wheel Drive version. Having lived in Mexico , these were fairly common. Now living in AZ. this one shows up. It appears very solid, but none the less ,it will take a stack of Benjamin’s to make it right. If I wasn’t in the process of finishing up a current truck project, I would be looking at this. In fact I might cave and go look at it anyway.

    Like 3
  3. Avatar Steve Clinton

    For every one of these, there are probably 100 Blazers and Broncos.

    Like 3
  4. Avatar Ken baker

    I bought an 1983 ram charger new.
    318 engine ,2wd.
    Loved it ,was a very good vehicle.

    Like 2
  5. Avatar Ted Land

    I drove a 1985 Ramcharger 2WD with the 318 for several years. It was a great tow vehicle for a two-horse trailer, and I only got it stuck in FLorida sugarsand a couple of times.I probably would.have buried a 4WD.

    Wish I’d kept it.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Beignet at the Beach

    Had a dark blue 360 2wd one with the 410 axle, as a company car..great for towing, and SOOO happy the company paid for the GAS!

    Like 2
  7. Avatar NovaTom

    Bought a new ’91 Ramcharger 2WD that I drove until 2011. Drivetrain was solid as a rock. Gas mileage was terrible. Only problems when I got rid of it were the power windows got flaky and the electronic speedo quit.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Todd Zuercher

    Scotty – yes, this would be in Laveen. It was a small town southwest of the metro Phoenix area that has now been absorbed into the greater metropolitan Phoenix region. Historically it’s been an agricultural area.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar George

    Its still available as of last week. I went and looked at it in person. Its just as described. a very solid, no rust, nice truck. I Was going to buy it but I ran into some financial issues I had to take care of. Hopefully its still available in a couple weeks. I asked owner if ok to post his number and he’s fine with it. Owners number is 602-481-3370.

    Like 0

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