I love this opening photo, it makes this Dodge Rampage look like a real, roll-up-your-sleeves work truck, albeit a very small one. This 1982 Dodge Rampage is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in one of my favorite cities on the planet: Tucson, Arizona. The seller is asking $4,000 or best offer, here is the original listing, and thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
Unibody trucks are pretty common today as buyers realize how much they like the ride of a car, but want a way to haul things around in the back. For people like me, even a tiny “truck” like this Rampage is probably enough room. If I can fit a tiny motorcycle in the back, or a weird riding lawnmower, I’m good. I’m not hauling a 10,000-pound trailer cross-country or whatever everyone else uses their trucks for. The seller has to be honest as they mention some cracks in the lower valance and provide a photo of that area. They could have worked around that area, but instead, they chose to mention and show it; well done.
Dodge made the Rampage for only three years, from 1982 through 1984. That isn’t a long time, but the Plymouth Scamp pickup was only made for the 1983 model year, so they’re even rarer to see today. You can see that the seller didn’t just drive their Rampage to this shop building as a photo-op; it’s actually a work vehicle with the big utility box in the back. Very cool. The Manila Cream paint looks good to me, but I’m sure it would look great with a few hours and some polishing compound. 17,636 were made for the 1982 model year, and they turn up here on Barn Finds and other sites, but when was the last time you saw one in the wild?
Tucson is such a great town, but the incredible dry heat plays a mean trick on fabrics and other soft interior bits, along with rubber gaskets and other soft plastic and rubber parts on vehicles. Not to mention what it does to your skin after a few decades. The black dash cover has to be nice to knock back the sun reflecting back on the driver, and maybe it’s there just for that reason, but I’m assuming there’s at least one crack on it. Thankfully, this one has a manual, which I’m assuming is a four-speed, as a five-speed wasn’t available until 1983. I would like to see the seats, I’m guessing the heat has done some damage there. But hey, the AC is said to work, so that’s great!
The bright sun makes for contrasty photos, and this black engine is Dodge’s 2.2-liter inline-four and 84 horsepower. This one rolls through that four-speed manual to the front wheels and the seller says it runs and drives great. The carb has been rebuilt and it’s wearing new tires. We’re seeing some nice, inexpensive-for-2025 vehicles here on Barn Finds lately, and this is one of my favorites so far. Have any of you owned a Dodge Rampage?
Look at that awesome stick shift.
If I were in the market for one of these back then, this is probably the one I could have afforded. I noticed no console. I thought they usually had them, the shifter looks kind of long without it. Its nice to see a more base model Rampage. The sheetmetal looks really good. Knowing me I’d go nuts and want to restore it and paint it. I’ve always wanted one of these, with a stick. Very nice write up Scotty. And thank you for finding it Mitchel G.
I am crying here. I passed a super clean manual Scamp for 1800.00 a few years ago. Kicking myself! It was a killer dark grey with red stripes and red interior.
These cars were amazing in so many ways. This one is spot-on the one you want too. Never should have stopped producing them.
I have a 82 in ny I’m working on.
Such cool, economical and sensible, practical vehicles John.
Needs more power but great for the average home owner. I have a 82 in fair shape gets confused with el camino .
This is an ideal Rampage, IMO. 2.2l (carbed I think?) & manual transaxle. Ideal for a seasonal supply run to the Big Smoke.
An all yellow interior in an affordable 2 door only baby pickup. Imagine trying to get that color inside today on anything new for any price.
I got tan interior tweed seats. In a 82. Tough to get interior parts
Loved my 82 Scamp. Put a 5 speed and rod shifter linkage in it.
I still have a pair of vinyl seats in tan from that 82.
It was a good car until it hit 70 K. After that, what didn’t leak didn’t work. It was good for only one thing, costing me money to repair. Horrible car, I started to think of a
place to park so it would get HIT and hopefully hard. The best day of my life is when I sold it. I felt bad for the new owner. NO MORE DODGES!
ymmv
I have a 1982 dodge charger 2.2 ( 024) that is a project with 30K clean title 4 speed with A/C. I am thinking of selling it , it is basically the same body.’ Any interest contact me. I want $900
Yes I bought a new one in 82 with the stripes. Great vehicle. Hauled my dirt bike and pulled a snowmobile trailer. Great for my first new car and 26 mpg.
Wow, what is this, 3 of these mini crucks in a week?
Very cool.
This is the truck most people need today. Instead they buy loaded 4×4 F-150’s, Silverados and Rams that never go off road or haul anything.
The closest you are going to get these days to a cruck are the Ford Maverick and whatever the name of the Hyundai is. They are designed specifically for the same market that this truck was. I have never driven in one, but probably drives more like a car than a truck, and has usable open cargo space.
It is almost a direct comparison if you line up this featured truck next to a full size ’82. The Maverick looks tiny sitting next to a 150/250.
Don’t forget about the Honda Ridgeline. It falls into the same category, too . I remember reading a review on it back when it first came out. The reviewer described it as, “The truck for people who don’t like trucks”.
I wonder if that’s my old Rampage. I owned one in Tucson back in the mid ‘80s in that color. Nice little car truck. It wouldn’t go into second gear if you were turning left!
Too bad they weren’t rear wheel drive with a full frame, like the Chevy S10.