Dodge had success with its original Ramcharger and Plymouth Trailduster and followed up with a second-generation model, which was made from 1981 through 1993. We don’t see too many rear-wheel-drive examples but most of us grew up with them and somehow lived without AWD vehicles. This 1984 Dodge Ramcharger Custom is listed here on eBay and the seller mentions that it’s located in Groveland, Florida. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $2,906.
How did humans survive without AWD? I don’t get it, everything has to be AWD now. I admit to falling into the trap as I just got a new AWD car to use year-round on road trips, so I’ve fallen into the trap. This second-gen Ramcharger looks great in the photos but the seller mentions some visible rust and says that there is some rust on the floors. The rear-wheel-drive model was known as the AD150 as opposed to the AW150 with 4WD.
This thing needs two more doors! I’m kidding, but I wonder if Dodge would have sold more of them if they had made a four-door Ramcharger. I made a quick and cheesy four-door Photoshop version a while ago, as seen here. Ok, maybe it’s best that they stuck with just two doors. I had a red 1976 4×4 Ramcharger in the early 1980s and it wasn’t the best vehicle I’ve ever owned, I’m guessing this one is much better. Mine was already riddled with rust after just six years and got 6 mpg.
The interior needs work as you can see, but seats and headliners are easy. Floor covering, too. You’ll want to remove the seats to check out and fix the floors anyway. The front seats will need a lot of help but the back seat looks like new. Here’s the headliner, by the way, or what’s left of it, but the rear cargo space looks pretty clean. The seller included a few underside photos and other than the usual surface rust, it looks solid. A CB radio is mounted under the dash, cool.
The engine is Dodge’s 318-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have had 150 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque. It sounds like the engine and three-speed automatic transmission both work great and there are no leaks, smoke, or weird noises. If the work on the floors isn’t a big thing, this would be a fun project. Have any of you owned a 2WD Ramcharger?
Weren’t these made to compete against the Bronco and the Blazer? Of which how many were 2wd? This was a white elephant when it was new.
We drove 2wd pickups because they were first, cheaper than 4wd. Second, you had to get out of your truck and engage your hubs, which Johnny Pencil Pusher wasn’t going to do in his Brooks Bros. suit. And thirdly, yeah, we were a lot smarter and better drivers, back then.
I loved my 75 ramcharger 4wd. You never had to get out to lock hubs because 1st gen had full time 4wD with lock out features on both axles.
With a 360 I bought it with 2600 miles from the Alyeska Service Pipeline Co out of Alaska and Canada. Paid ($1500) but had no AC. That was in 1978 and I sure wish I still had it.
Unlike the 8′ bed pickup, there was some weight over the rear wheels on the Ramchargers. A good set of snows and you were fine. All my manual shift B-body Mopars went through anything and snow tires were optional, particularly with a posi rear end. All my friends with E-bodies went nowhere, same with Mustangs and Camaros. The automatics that I owned required snow tires, particularly when I was living in Pittsburgh, which is all hills.
Yes, we all have AWD now, and not surprisingly, my car insurance is way up as more idiots forget the just because you can accelerate like mad, you still have the same lousy brakes.
Always more important to stop than it is to go.
I am not the average B/F reader, I lean toward Hot Rods and modified cars and I like 2-WD trucks and have had several. I would love to have this Dodge Ram-charger, and lower it and drive it.
I love a 2WD RC too, that one is a blank canvas and deserves to be built
I live out in the country and have a 1/4 mile driveway that drifts in with ice and snow and there are times when a 3/4 ton diesel can’t make it through, I couldn’t think of a worse vehicle for my needs than this!
Guess you shouldn’t buy it, then. As a matter of fact, why did you even comment? Do you think anyone really cares?
Don, I read Karl’s comment and appreciated it more than yours. We’re all car and truck lovers, let’s be kind and accept, even honor, our differences.
Try some Raisin Bran, mixed with a little Metamucil. You’ll feel better.
Easy Don, Karl was just giving some input.
Gentlemen, Don was responding to Karl’s abject negativity that is all too common on this site and others like it. Contributing some input is fine. Trashing a vehicle because it doesn’t fit your needs or image is not.
I like comments like yours. I often comment on sites like this even though I am not asking a question to the seller. I like reading comments about the car for sale. It’s the virtual part of being a car nut (note my comment in this thread). I don’t understand how anyone would get irritated by my amusing comments! Haha
Always more important to stop than it is to go.
Lived near a guy who had one of these when they were new. He said it was ideal for pulling his boat. Back then we Michiganders were tough.
A lot of people used these up North to tow their trailer South before winter arrival they were great for towing
Scotty I like your artist’s renderings!
I also think these would have gone over a little better w/ a 4-door option.
My buddy had one of these to pull snowmobile trailers, etc. His was 2-wheel drive but we got where we needed to go.
Ha, you’re being way too generous, LotHP, but, thanks much! I should work on that one, the proportions are off a bit (or a lot). And, what of Dodge would have offered a (insert other crazy configuration here).
6MPG, I believe it. Years back I bought a ’99 Dakota extra cab 4X4 with the 318 and auto. After I drove it awhile I checked gas milage and it was 11MPG. I was trying to figure out what was wrong with it. I. The glove box was the owners manual. I was flipping through it and folded up in it was the original window sticker. On it it said mpg was 10 city and 12 highway. I also had a full size GMC extra cab with a fiberglass cap on it with a 305 auto, it got 17-18 on the highway even with almost 300K on it. I had a 3/4 ton Dodge D250 with 360 auto that for 10mpg.
Sad but true, Mark. It ran well but I was getting a whopping 3 MPG (!) and knew that couldn’t possibly be right. It turned out that the choke rod went through the intake manifold and it was all carboned up so the choke was on most of the time. I remember that a shop charged $180 to chip and/or otherwise clean that carbon out of the manifold where the choke went through and my mileage doubled, to 6 mpg, not exactly anything to write home about. Luckily, gas was cheap as that was the early 1980s, but I guess with inflation, it probably wasn’t cheaper than it is today.
Need to ditch the Ford wheel covers for a set of dog dish caps.
I owned a very similar Dodge as this. It was even red. 2WD. I got it used in 2001 for $1,000. It was a client’s car ( I was a rookie stock broker) and he just didn’t want to mess with it. It was used as a work car and to pull a boat to the lake. Perfect shape, no rust, nicer interior than this one like carpeted cargo area, a/c, 340, automatic. I drove it for about three months and the mpg forced a sale. I sold it for 2 grand and I thought that I was a genius. Ha
Very Worthy – excellent for boat or camper esp out in Flat land country Ohio thru Montana which is a HUGE chunk of land.
Serviceable mechanicals plenty of cheap parts in junk yards any guy who can read & turn a wrench 🔧 can do his own basic maintenance outside of over hauling the engine & Trans & even that is cheap in comparison to Newer mechanical work
It’s a dream ride in many ways & compared to the EVs a god send.
I can see a guy hauling his ICE fishing hut out & gear in back no problems or pheasant hunting in Dakotas
2WD drive SUVs were very common back in the day. this one isn’t that unusual. the dodges did like their gas: SUVs and pickups both.. as an aside; aren’t most of the SUVs used by the cops now days 2WD? 4WD just too high on maintenance
The HD Service (cop) units have long been 2wd but 4wd may be gaining traction in northern regions. Police have long been said to prefer 2wd for handling. The Jeep Cherokee was originally 4wd only in HD Service trim.
The Ford F150 hubcaps on this Dodge are hurting my brain.
I have a 2003 Dodge Durango SLT with the 5.9 360 Magnum. Bulletproof reliability and 12 mpg. It has 172 thousand miles on it, and has been an absolute gem of a truck. I don’t ever want to replace it.
Good catch, Mark, I should have mentioned those. It would look better without any wheel covers, in my opinion, if they aren’t going to be Dodge wheelcovers.
I would really like to have one of these or a Trail Duster with the slant six.
I actually like the Dodge truck. Looks pretty rust free, paint not bad and it’s red.
I didn’t know Dodge ever made a 2 wheel version of this?
I always thought the 318 engine was a good choice, regardless of fuel mileage and power. I know they were a lot of them made.
Considering what money it will probably bring, it might be a deal?
Not every vehicle listed on BF will be everyone’s favorite, but this one peaks my interest.
Just my oponion!
My dad owned a 87 two tone blue and white drove many years with little problems. Just the normal wear and tear. Oklahoma isn’t know for snow, but when it did he had no troubles. He gave the truck to me and I drove for a year then sold it with almost 300,000 miles still with no issues. Still ran great for a 318.
Walker Evans had 4 of these in the ’80s/early ’90s built into prerunners for his off road racing team. They’re all still around – neat rigs. I’d love to have one of them to play in the desert.
Auction update: this one “sold” for $4,750 but was subsequently relisted, and the second auction ended early because it “is no longer available.”