The Ram 50 (or D-50) was a Japanese-built, badge-engineered compact pickup sold between 1979 and 1994. It was produced by Mitsubishi and imported through a long-standing partnership with Chrysler. Its rated payload capacity was 1,500 lbs., on par with the Ford Courier, Chevy LUV, and Toyota Hilux. At 81,000 miles, this 40-year-old truck looks like a survivor that hasn’t been beaten to pieces; thus, it could be a good daily driver. Located in Greeley, Colorado, this little import is available here on craigslist for $7,000. A thumbs up to Mike F. for another good tip!
First-generation D-50s were sold through 1986, including the seller’s truck. Most were sold with 2WD and inline-4 engines like this one, though a turbo diesel and 4WD could be had. Rectangular headlights replaced round peepers in 1983. Dodge’s interest in the truck ended when sales of its Dakota mid-size pickup came to fruition in the 1990s. Because of its Mitsubishi heritage, the D-50 was a decent little truck, though you seldom see one running around anymore.
We’re not told much about this 1986 Ram except that it runs well and is pretty much original. While the blue/grey paint is showing wear, we don’t see a bunch of dents or rusted panels, meaning it should be ready to serve some light-duty needs. It has a 4-speed manual transmission and a stark but functional interior with plastic and rubber everywhere. Are two of its four headligts burned out?
We assume this truck will be good on gasoline, an important selling point for a truck these days. Detroit moved away from compact trucks after 2010, selling mid-size pickups that aren’t that much smaller than their full-size cousins. If you need a good, small truck that should be reliable, would you give this Ram a chance?
Almost bought a very low miles one a few years ago, but the owner wanted a bajillion dollars (much like this seller) as if it was some holy grail collectible and not a disposal toy mini-truck. It could have ZERO miles, it’s still an errand running, ultra-light duty minimalist tiny pickup.
I would gladly pay 7k for a truck like this rather than any new junks. Simple, dependable, easily serviceable.
I own a 87 I call it singer cause it runs like a sewing machine and the motor is big as one ! Heck I’d let it go for half that amount!!!
Would love one if 4×4…
I totally agree with you, Russ. I haven’t seen one of these in the wild in a loooong time, especially not one that looks as good as this one does. The ask is a bit optimistic, but given their scarcity nowadays, it could happen.
I owen a 85 power ram D-50 with 110,000 original miles. I have rebuilt the motor, and transmission, clutch pres. Plate and bearing, new winter carb, new alternator, new elec fuel pump. New shocks, new brakes, and new original. Color gold paint and bucket seats. And roll on bed liner, new taillight lens”s. It’s a sweet little truck to drive…
I had 3 of them over the years. They were a decent little truck. A little noisy in the cab and rode a little rough and wired screwy. I still have one of the little diesel trucks with 2 wheel drive.
I had a 86 Mighty Max w/2.0L (timing belt, and its a clearance fit on the 2.0L, belt breaks valves and pistons don’t kiss).
Mine was a 5spd, got about 26 mpg. Rear output shaft seals notorious for going out. Also the electronic carburetor was expensive to repair/rebuild. I traded mine in 1992 for a 91 Dodge Dakota V8.
These were only called D-50 from ’79-80, changing to Ram 50 from ’81-on, continuing through the second generation (really just a rebody of the same mechanical bits) starting in ’87.
All of them in the American market always had rectangular headlights, originally a single large one on each side, changing to the quads seen here from ’83-86 (which I always thought looked vaguely Maserati Biturbo-esque), then back to singles for the second-gen. The earliest ones with quad-round lights were only sold abroad.
And, if you took your D-50 to your local Dodge dealership for service, they would ‘retrofit’ it by putting leaping ram decals on the fenders under the badges & the word ‘Ram’ on the tailgate under the word ‘Dodge’. Anybody remember that?
Owned the first 79 D50 sold in San Diego. Oct 21, 1978. Absolutely loved it.
I have an 82 4×4 with under 80k on it. Its badged as a power ram. And it has a period Brama cap on it with even a plastic bed liner. It even passes california smog no less.
Thru the years I have had a few d-50’s . This one is the best.
Those wheels, and the spare tire location 🤌
For that money you can get a Toyota
Woke up the back of one those in the morning after a bonfire keg party in 1987. It was storming out and I didn’t know whose driveway i was in. Brings back wild memories.
I’d possibly consider it for about half of what they are asking for it.
Wouldn’t a 1,500 lb payload capacity make this a 3/4 ton truck? That doesn’t seem right.
What if someone gave this the same crazy lift as the Aerostar minivan? I might consider a truck like that for this price.
I think mine was an 80. I bought it from Boyd Coffee, where it was used as a service truck with well over 100k on it. It had one of those service canopies on it where the sides opened as well. I eventually traded the service canopy for a regular one and put in a newer motor and a 5-speed transmission in it. I think I paid a grand for it. I eventually put bucket seats, a Hurst shifter knob, and one of those multi-panel mirrors. Also had a pretty good stereo. Major complaint? Replacing the starter was a bitch. Sold it with 300k on it. Still have a few pics of it. I used to load my 3 nieces in the front seat and take them to the park with it. My dad had a 78; he also put close to 300k on it, and he even had it repainted.
Can confirm, replacing a starter on these is indeed a bitch! The unit itself is easy enough to get out and back in, but the mounting bolts are practically right up against the firewall. I had to get at them from underneath via the transmission/driveshaft hump, using a looong wobble-tip socket extension bar (and maybe a swivel adapter?) to engage the bolt heads by fingertip feel.
I had an 81 Plymouth Arrow. Same as the D-50. I’d stay away from the timing belt 2.5 engine. They weren’t the OHC, timing chain with a jet valve engine like the 2.6 was, a stronger, higher horsepower and better torque mill that lasted over 20+ years of hard use using synthetic oil and a big bypass filtration system. The 2.6 HD package had a larger coolant system, a heavy duty clutch that I changed once at 165,000 miles and was still strong at 328,000 miles. I made sure that the main rear seal was replaced because the original was weeping enough to oil up the flywheel. The second one didn’t weep probably because it took down the output shaft diameter a few millimeters.
I took out the exhaust canister catalyst and bored a 1-1/4 hole to relieve back pressure and still pass emissions. There was still some leaded gas around and if you got any in your system, the catalytic canister would glaze over. The engine would run but it wouldn’t develop power to move the vehicle. Replacing the catalyst was the solution. Until it happened again. My highly illegal fix worked better.
Replaced three radiators because of high water traversing made the plastic fan blades eat the back of the radiators. The rust ate the cab body mounts and the bed but the frame rails stayed strong. Two fuel pumps, one alternator, brake pads and shoes and never wore down the rotors or drums. Great brakes. 5 speed transmission. Multiple sets of shocks. Multiple batteries. Changed the damn fuel filters by the dozens. Could always tell from a slow fuel starvation issue from the roll over fuel shutoff system that had to be modified because the truck couldn’t climb a steep grade, so… These trucks could handle a lot of weight. Scales at the Vulcan yard hauling sand and gravel showed consistent loads of 1,100 to 1,300 lbs. with the rated gross load of 850 lbs. on the label and not a strain on the tires or drive train. The really nice thing was that wonderful faux power steering feel from all that rear weight. I gave the truck away so a neighborhood kid could have the engine and transmission. The rest of the truck was slam wore out.
Mini trucks could make the auto makers rich again. Just bring them back.
No kidding, only the basics. I did not have AC on mine (not sure it was even offered). It was fine in Portland. I drove it here for 3 years in Vegas; it about killed me in the summer. I remember rolling the window up on the highway because the air was so hot outside. I also did one clutch before I did the motor/trans swap. You are right; they would probably sell the hell out of them, but the government does not want you buying a vehicle they cannot track or work on yourself. Or one that will go 300k miles.
Mine was so simple. Easy to work on. Accessible under the hood. DURABLE. I bought it new and I swear it was the best vehicle I’ve ever owned. I test drove two of them and immediately went with the Sport model Arrow with the 2.6 engine.
My wife and I were on Maui in a rent a wreck Ford on a back road when we came upon a D50 with a flat tire. Kids that couldn’t find the spare tire or the change tools. I changed it for them. The under the seat jack. The extension to lower the spare, the wheel nut lug wrench. From head scratching to grateful in the ten or so minutes it took. It was a rental truck that I don’t think it even had the owner’s manual in the glove box. I had plenty of practice from mine and my off road antics. I still have the triple lift orange hydraulic jack from mine. I used it not too long ago, jacking in a sister beam under the house.
The only 2.5L engine these came with was a diesel variant of the 2.6L Astron engine, which I’m surprised to find out did have a timing belt (as you say) instead of the usual timing chain that gas Astrons had.
You might be right about the 2.5 that I referred to. as someone else mentioned a 2.0 gas engine. I test drove two four cylinder gas engines and decided on the 2.6 OHC thinking the other was a 2.5 OHV. I knew someone who had the diesel with 4WD. He absolutely loved it. I wasn’t jealous, just questioned my own judgement a bit, as at the time I was spending a lot of time in the mountains.
Oh, I looked closely at the gear shift knob on this one in the cab picture and it’s the very standard 5 speed. I didn’t think any of them ever had four speeds. Thanks for the clarification about the engines. It’s been a long time since back then. I miss my old truck.
If it were on the east coast @ 3k, I’d take it home
😎
made a trailer out of 1. was a good trailer too.
Nothing Special.
A Dodge Ram needs an L-Head six.. Just sying.
I have a 91. PS,PB,AC and automatic transmission. Runs like a top and gets around 25mpg. A nice little truck for trips to Home Depot etc.;