This 1982 Dodge Rampage here on eBay is up for grabs as its elderly owner winds down his auto shop operations. With his son there to help, they are clearing out inventory that won’t be used, or in the case of this Rampage, vehicles that won’t be restored. With under 50,000 original miles, this oddball hauler remains in preserved condition.
While never a powerful vehicle, the Rampage introduced a vehicle segment that on the surface makes a lot of sense. A small, light-weight vehicle with the ability to haul things as you would with a conventional truck bed. The tough sell with a mini-hauler like this is if you need a truck, you buy a truck. Likewise, if you need car, you buy a car. It’s tough to try and convince consumer they need something in between.
One of the more appealing aspects of this particular Rampage is its originality. The seller’s father spotted it and had it delivered to his shop in Minnesota, where they aired up the dry-rotted tires and got it running in short order. There’s no smoke and the seller says it still runs pretty well, but overall mechanical health is a bit difficult to discern. That fiberglass cap is likely a tough piece to find anymore given the limited production of these Rampage trucks.
With an opening bid of $400 and a reserve in place, it’s hard to pinpoint what this Rampage will sell for. I personally think it’s one of the better ones I’ve seen as of late, but that doesn’t mean it’s worth much. While the pictures don’t tell a super clear story, the interior does look like that of a low-mileage car and the body doesn’t have any major damage. If you’ve been waiting for one of these to turn up, this could be a real-deal survivor example – and that custom bed topper is definitely a bonus.
I like it. It’s ugly, but would be a good little car for bombing around in, good on gas, handy fro trips to the garden center etc, and an eye catcher if done right.
Ahead of its time.
With a modern drive train like a civic 40 mpg, or optional 4wd.
Maybe a small diesel with torque enough to pull a small trailer.
4wd, diesel, and a tier drop trailer, the world is your oyster. What does that mean anyway.
Anyone who has ever repaired the garbage they call door hardware on one of these knows that Chrysler should have gone broke. Sorry, these are junk. I did summit Mount Washington in an Omni once though, so OK, they drive pretty decently….for junk.
hah… your dead right, that door hardware was junk; been victim to it on a 86 charger. imagine calling that rendition a charger??
I had a friend with the Plymouth version, the Scamp. The concept was was cool, but they weren’t the best. At least this has the topper, which creates more covered space, something lacking in these ( and all car type pickups) This was America’s only front drive pickup, but was not very successful. I think it was just an idea before it’s time, and today would probably be more popular. This one has a lot of miles, but I’d like to have it.
I’m also stunned by the sheer number of them that came with automatics. For such an anemic powerplant, a 5-speed should have been the transmission of choice.