Not a Chevrolet Blazer and not a Ford Bronco but a 1989 Dodge Ramcharger AW 100. It’s always a treat to find a less common example from a marque that is continually overshadowed by its larger competitors. But Dodge Ramchargers aren’t exactly strangers here at Barn Finds but they are always a welcome topic. This 4X4 utility vehicle is located in Tuttle, Oklahoma and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,700 with twenty-six bids tendered as of this writing.
The Dodge Ramcharger was introduced in 1974 and continued through 1993 in the U.S. while production for Canada and Mexico lasted until 1996. There are really two different versions of the Ramcharger as the ’74 to ’80 version was a short bed pickup with a separate blended cap covering the rear open portion. In 1981, a full steel roof was employed, covering the entire interior. Plymouth even got in on the act between ’74 and ’81 with its version of the Ramcharger known as the Trail Duster – I had completely forgotten about Plymouth’s entry into this market. According to Allpar, Dodge moved 18,973 Ramchargers in ’89, a volume that was continuing an unfortunate downward trend.
The seller tells us that this Dodge, which he has owned for one year, “runs and drives the way it should. Battery, oil, and tires replaced within the last month”. The 190 net HP, 360 CI V8 engine has a reported 69K miles on its clock but there is no claim to that reading as genuine. The transmission is listed as an automatic and that probably means a three-speed TorqueFlite. A floor-mounted shift lever engages the 4X4 transfer case.
The exterior appearance is still rather clean for a 32-year-old vehicle. The seller mentions that there is some clear coat peeling, the bane of this generation Mopar, and some dings, etc, like the one pictured in the hood. All in all, however, it shows well, one of the benefits of white, it’s a durable color. Considering its originality, even the original wheel covers that are still in place, and its overall condition, referring to this Ramcharger as a “survivor” would be an accurate description. It’s a term that is usually bestowed on older vehicles, but 1989 was 32 years ago – time marches on!
The interior is all so ’80s with its Bordeaux, velour upholstery. It is showing some typical slide-in/slide-out wear but nothing unusual for a vehicle of this age, and the condition does point to some accuracy with the mileage recording. Mopar instrument panels of this generation were rather plain, very legible affairs and I enjoy them as such – all business informing the driver with what needs to be known. The faux wood applique would have been better left unapplied IMHO. Based on the entire environment, dash pad, carpet, etc. it’s safe to say that the interior needs no attention.
Big two-door Blazers and Broncos are currently pretty popular and desirable rides – their values reflect that interest. If you like either of those two but want to go in a slightly different direction, this Dodge Ramcharger just might be the ticket, wouldn’t you agree?
Actually pulled a set of the rear quarter windows outta one once, figured they were rare…someone might need em…never found a buyer, ended up throwing em out…shame
Were they an older gasket set or a urethane set like this one?
I bought a 1986 model Ramcharger in 1996 for the princely sum of $3500. It was all original, and like this one, a 360 V8, torqueflite equipped version. It had Dana axles front and rear. We lived on a steep, twisty road out on a lake, and in the snow, it was the only vehicle in the neighborhood that could make it up the hill. Tahoe’s, F150’s, Suburbans and Grand Cherokees were all parked at the bottom of the hill as neighbors walked up to their homes. The Ramcharger was a beast. The weirdest thing about it was the pop up vent window at the back of the roof. If you wanted a breeze with the windows down, you had to pop it open.
I made the mistake of buying one in 1983, 318(4v), as a daily driver. you were rock’n and a roll’n on michigan concrete. i used it extensively for pulling my travel trailer. lots of interior room and capacity.
My old landlord had one of there that he put up for sale. A man came and drove it repeatedly and he eventually bought it. When winter came, the man came in and said to my landlord, “Howard, how do you put it in 4 wd?”
It was only 2 wd.
I guy I know had a 440 powered Ramcharger, nice blue/blue color combo
I guy I know had a 440 powered Ramcharger, nice blue/blue color combo. This is a nice solid project for someone
My dad had a 1978 with a 360 and posi diff front and back… It would go anywhere.
Bought a two wheel drive, 2-tone blue Ramcharger. Can’t remember off top of my head. Classy, comfortable cruiser. Better looking than the other 2 “guys” SUVs. You know you had the real deal IF your R/charger had the spring loaded RAM on the hood. It became so common for the youth of the day to pull the RAM out, then clip it with a wire cutter , that Dodge would replace figure with a lower RAM that was permanently affixed to hood. Eventually no spring loaded R/Chargers were made. Real Mr. ‘T’ bling , I GUESS
Ramcharger, the Pearl beer fueled, selectable supercharged mount of the Loan Wolf McQuade. No lesser vehicle will do. “Give me a beer kid…”