With only having traveled 7,498 miles since it left the factory 33 years ago, this 1985 Dodge Ramcharger Prospector is one amazing vehicle, almost a museum piece. This gorgeous truck is listed on eBay in Lakeland, Florida with bids at $14,200 and the reserve isn’t met yet! Whoa.
First things first, the seller doesn’t mention whether this is a rear-wheel drive or a 4WD Ramcharger. It was originally sold in Maine so it would seem like it would be a 4×4, any guesses? They came in both versions and it seems lower than usual in front so I’m guessing that it’s rear-wheel drive.
This thing looks like it’s in almost-factory-perfect condition. Whether anything actually came from the factory in perfect condition in 1985 is open to debate, but this Ramcharger is gorgeous. I have mentioned before that I had a 1978 Ramcharger and it was the second worst vehicle that I have ever owned, other than a brand new 2011 Mini Cooper which was off the charts horrible. This 1985 Ramcharger doesn’t look or hopefully act anything like my old beater did.
To quote the next president of the United States, Napoleon Dynamite: GOSH! What a vehicle! Everything works including the clock and even the AC is ice cold. The AC on my Ramcharger didn’t work. I can still see the squinty, slicky meatball that I bought it from and can hear him saying, “It needs a recharge and who needs AC in Duluth anyway, it’s only hot out a couple of weeks a year.” Ugh, used car salesmen. Sorry, it’s not good to generalize, I know that the majority of them are honest..
My ’78 Ramcharger also had a 360 cubic-inch V8 but it got 3 mpg until I had the carbon chipped out of the intake manifold and then it got a whopping 6 mpg. This example looks great and they were all carburetor-equipped in this era. I’m not quite sure what’s going on with the hood latch and is that black tape on the radiator shroud? The intake hose looks like it isn’t perfect, but other than a few things the engine looks great, too. This really looks like quite a find, people dream about finding a super low-mileage vehicle like this and the high bids reflect that.
There are no lockouts on the front wheels in the pic but Ramchargers in ’85 did come with automatic locking hubs. I did a VIN decode though on two sites and both identified this model as a RWD. Odd the seller never mentions this.
The photograph of the interior shows that the truck lacks a transfer case shift lever on the floor. Therefor it is a two wheel drive Dodge.
It’s a 2wd. Stance is a giveaway outside, no shifter is a giveaway inside.
Definitely a 2wd.
Too bad it’s 2WD… that would be a great vehicle.
Again, missing the barn. Is this Dealerfinds?
Great find for anyone wanting a comfortable versatile utility vehicle. On the plus side, not 4 wheel drive helps lower the asking price.
Definitely 2WD, had an ’87 Ramcharger with 318. Higher stance and 4WD shifter on floor.
I would love to have it because it is 2-wheel drive!
And it’s …. Gone!
I had an 88 NYS DEC Ramcharger 4×4 318 with a 4 speed. I miss that truck. It took a couple of years to realize why it would stop running all of a sudden. Turned out to be a split hose in the tank on the fuel pickup. That explained the rather low mileage. Guess they never figured out the problem. I dropped the tank twice until we found it. It had a low first gear and could only be used from a stand still. It had a little rust and I planned on making a nice lifted off road monster out of it, but the local DB’s said we had too many junk cars and it had to go. I still have the engine with about 80,000 miles on it and a few other parts. I wish I had been able to keep it, as it was a truck and not the crap our kids will have in the future.
The tape is due to the deflector tears
Someone stole the ram on the hood. I call bullshat. Too much wear on buttons for 7k. Good shape yes but its turned over.
What’s up with that tiny sunroof/vent? Is that a weird option or had the owner installed it?
Factory pop up roof vent in rear of roof.
Seems to me 2wd Ramchargers sell at least as well at 4wd, maybe even better. I have turned down a lot of money for my 2wd Ramcharger, but my wife has taken it over so I only get to drive it to put gas in it these days.
In 1988 I special-ordered a 2WD with posi-traction & 318. Living in New England – best vehicle I ever owned…drove it for 10 years & 250,000 miles – averaged 18-20 MPG (mostly highways).
$ 16,500.00 That’s big buck’s for 1 of these. It is in great shape though.
6 mpg???? the Leopard 2 A5 main battle tank we had in German Army was not taking more with 60 tons,
in Germany 60mls will cost you 70 $US, expensive hobby
Dang, this looks exactly like one I owned. Same color combo, 2 wd, and interior. Had my nephew with me one day, and a Honda with the coffee can exhaust tip kept trying to get me to race. Finally relented, and beat the crap out of the rice burner. Have to add my nephew is a big fan of little, buzzy cars, and was in disbelief that I beat the Honda twice!
bought a new one in 86, great truck, just bought a 87 2wd, fixin it up.
I have a Ram hood ornament if needed…