We’ve seen a definite increase in interest for early SUVs, such as the Bronco, Blazer, and Ramcharger. Since they were built to be abused, you don’t find too many that are still in nice shape. Well, reader Scott C’s ’78 Ramcharger looks to have survived the years well and is packing a 440 big block V8! It has a few dents, some scratches in the paint and a little surface rust, but overall this looks like a great rig that you could fix up while you enjoy it. If you’d love to have this 4×4, be sure to take a closer look at his Hemmings ad via the link below!
Asking Price: $7,750
Location: Somerset, California
Mileage: 120,000
Title Status: Clean
Seller’s Description: Last year of the 440 big block, and few Ramchargers were ever ordered with them. Also, it’s a rust-free California truck.
Body Condition: The body has a dent in passenger side door, has been repainted factory colors, and for tiny eight-inch diameter rust bubbles on right rear fender. There’s no rust anywhere else.
Mechanical Condition: It has a 1968 – 72 440 V8 that’s in good running condition. Has Edelbrock intake, headers, and a smog legal for California with literally no smog except a PCV. It has an early BAR sticker. It has a clear title in my name.
Our thanks to Scott for listing his Ramcharger with us! It looks like it could be a great truck and could be a ton of fun, so be sure to take a closer look at it. So, of the early SUVs, which one would you want to have now?
If you have a survivor car, truck or SUV that needs a new home, please consider listing it for sale here on Barn Finds!
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VERY cool truck, though a tad pricey for the condition, IMO.
I don’t think it’s overpriced. 70’s full size SUV’s are super strong right now… a ’75 Blazer sold for $55K at Barrett Jackson the other day. Nice stuff is bringing mid $30’s all day in private sales. Given the limited rust, this is an easy restoration with plenty of body parts available. One thing about all the 70’s SUV’s is that they were more or less the same year after year, and they were not constructed in a complicated way, so they are easy to restore. I think you could put $20K into a nice restoration on this and still be under what it would bring by $5K-$10K. In other words, with a solid (good to very good) amateur restoration to more or less original condition, I think $35K is pretty attainable.
Too pricey. I bet he’s getting rid of the truck because it only gets 6 mpg. Unload that 440 boat weight; replace it with a Cummins 6.7L turbo (if it will fit).
No reason it shouldn’t fit. Nearly identical from the doors forward as my ’93 Dodge P/U 4x with a Cummins. One weird issue with the Cummins in the P/U trucks-Dodge didn’t do a lot or maybe anything to beef up the body when they installed the Cummins, so the inner fender sheetmetal develops a tear. Dodge used to sell a repair kit, but I haven’t checked availability lately.
As soon as I saw the 440 in the title, the first thing that came to mind was ” it’ll pass anything EXCEPT a gas station ” !
I had a 78 with original 440, a/t, lifted with 35″ tires. It got 8mpg…. empty, pulling a trailer, loaded with firewood. It didn’t care. I don’t think it ever varied more than 1mpg. Unfortunately rust killed mine.
Looks like someone will be getting a good buy on this one!
too much? How bout their turbo diesel 2.8L crate motor?
310 tq (1,800rpm), 161hp, not sure on the MPGs, but weighs 500#.
It might be a little overpriced but it’s not as ridiculous as half the stuff seen here listed by people that want gold for rust buckets. No insult intended towards barn finds.. I love looking at this site everyday
My parents had one with a similar paint scheme but I think it might have been an early 80’s. As a pre-teen kid I was thrilled but we only used it for the weekend cottage getaway pad. I was sad when he sold it.
Come on! Your not buying a Vintage SUV for gas mileage! Sorry just hate stupid comments, truck is Beautiful! I have a 79′ and love it! Best 4×4 system introduce in the 60’s and 70’s period. Good Luck
That’s true, but I agree, it’s probably why he’s selling it. As a driver of a vintage gas hog, I can attest, it gets old, $20 bucks to go to the store everytime. There is some merit in what you say, these, and the Trailduster are almost impossible to find today. Like any plow truck up north, they withered away, and I’d guess NONE remain up north. I don’t think the price is far off at all. They were nice trucks.
Love it, 440 and all. Would not use as a DD so gas is not the issue for me, it’s the wife would divorce me if I bring another vehicle right now as we are looking at retirement property.
I don’t think the ask is too unreasonable. Bummer that it’s not the original 440. In 1985 my Dad bought a 78 Plymouth Trailduster Sport with the 440. Two tone bronze and white. Got it with only 20,000 miles on it, as it had only been used to pull a boat. He bought it for the same use. The top had never been taken off, and my Dad gave strict orders for it to stay that way. So, of course, as soon as my parents were out of town, my high school best friend and I took that damn top off! And let me tell you, a full top that’s steel with three big windows, I’m surprised that the two of us managed it. Once they got home, they loved it with the top off. A year later I bought it from him, and enjoyed it for about two years. Then I sold it off. One of those vehicles you truly wish you could have back.
Dang, if I didn’t already have two classic cars, I’d buy this in a heartbeat! I could buy it now, then sign the divorce papers when I get home 😂 It needs work, that’s for sure. But these are rare with the 440, and I hope somebody does it justice. Man I want this truck! How close are you to Sacramento?
You know why divorces are so expensive? Because they’re worth it!
Love the story, BOP_GUY. I think we all eventually wish we had the cars we sold off. I know I do.
I had one back in the early 90s with the 318 in it and it was rough on gas too but it ran like a scaled dog.Bruce.
just bought a low mileage 87. sure gas mileage sucks, anything back from that date does. the bronco’s, blazers will make their run before the ramcharger has its day, but people forget that “cash for clunkers” destroyed many of these early SUV’S. i can spend 10 to 15 to make mine a first class driver, and it will do nothing but appreciate. if it doesn’t, don’t care, love the vehicle.
Bob, I wish that last part were true, that they will appreciate.
Here in Mexico those Ramchargers are practically being given away.
Even the newer model of the Ramcharger are going for very little, even though they are a ver nice vehicle.
Bob, here is an example of a 1992 model in Mexico.
Side view.
They are asking about $2,222 USD for the truck, with A/C.
I believe big blocks never made it past 77 or 78.
Yeah, 78 was the last year for the 440 option. From 79 on the 360 was the big dog.
I’ll give you 5000.00 and split the shipping to titusville Florida.
I had a 81 Trailduster with the good ol’ 318. Same thing only a Plymouth. Bought it off a buddy who really worked it. He towed a 28 foot fishing boat, spent plenty of time in the woods wailng on it during hunting season, pulled many lighter knots out of the ground, and it kept on keepin on. When I acquired it it had 200k on it and ran great. Towed a 18 foot Scotty all over North Florida for many years with no problems. Best part is my buddy bought a Bronco after he sold it to me and was towing his boat when the driveshaft broke. He called me, meekly asking if I could come tow him home with the Duster. lol
Someone lamented that the original 440 was not in the TD (if it was originally a 440 for that matter). If the 440 was like my 360, the gas mileage would have been scary bad. I bought this ’79 new with the nice interior, console, 4 speed close ratio trans, 360, AC, trailer package (why? no need), Tuff wheel, extra gauges and tach, it was a very nice truck… I replaced the factory road wheels with these and did paint on them to match the truck – I still like how they came out.
She’s a beauty rs! My 78 Trailduster Sport had the 440 and a/c, and she definitely guzzled it down. Same crappy mileage whether driving around town, up to the mountains, pulling the boat, or anything else. It was the late 80’s, and I remember being ticked off that gas was over a dollar! But you don’t buy these great trucks for mileage.