The Dodge Rampage was a FWD subcompact version of the Chevrolet El Camino, based on the Omni 024 sport coupe. Produced from 1982 to 1984, it had 90% of the Chevy’s towing capacity, so it was rated as a half-ton. This 1983 Rampage GT has been in storage for three years but had prior work done (no mention of whether it runs now). Located in a garage/barn in Barker, New York, this likely project is available here on craigslist for $2,800. Barn Finder Barney strikes again!
Dodge apparently targeted the Rampage at the VW Rabbit Sportruck and Subaru BRAT but may have come up short in sales. Over three years, they built 37,400 of them plus Plymouth’s version, the Scamp, which was a one-year wonder at 3,600 copies. It was made of unibody construction and had a 2.2-liter inline-4, which was carbureted and developed no more than 100 horsepower depending on the year. The seller’s version has an automatic transmission, so even though it wears GT stripes, it probably won’t set any land speed records.
While the seller’s truck is called a GT, we don’t know that the option included anything more than stripes and fancier bucket seats. We’re told it’s been stored for three years, receiving the following before its exile: rebuilt carb, tune-up, and a fluids change (that will need to be done again). The seller says the brakes and transmission work great, so the health of the 4-banger may be in question.
We assume the body is in decent shape, though no rear bumper is present. A batch of extra wheels and tires occupy the bed and come with the sale. The seller says the dashboard needs fixin;o does that mean a pad or something else? With no mention of mileage, we can’t be sure how much life may be left in this machine once you get it running.
Those underside shots show pretty solid. The dashboard needing fixed refers to the plastic overlay for the gauges I believe. Those seats look plenty comfy and supportive. If the engine runs I would intercool and turbocharge it a la Shelby. Those engines can make 175 go with mods. Too bad it’s fwd.
I believe a turbo block is stouter then this one. Might give unpleasant results after time and expense if you tried it here. Plus, the auto transaxle might not be beefy enough.
The seats are comfy. I almost bought one of these. But with moving to Nevada (from northern Illinois) there wasn’t enough room for the wife’s 2 sheep and hay for the trip. The 5 speed I drove was quite spunkey and the overall feel of the car is quite good. I’m a front wheel drive freak (although don’t have any right now) and the car did all the right things. If a manual transmission car presented it’s self to me at the right price, I would be a buyer. By the way, the tin worm LOVES these cars!
I’ve always wanted one of these. I always liked the design. And the fact that its considered a true half ton is pretty impressive. I’d preffer a stick, but thats me. I don’t remember seeing one of these Special Editions before. It looks pretty solid.
Never seen one of these before. I like it slightly better than the El Camino.
They are tiny compared to an El Camino. Haven’t seen one of these in the wild in over 30 years.
My dad had one of those. It was grossly underpowered. He ended up finding a Shelby Dayton turbo that had been wrecked and swapping the entire drivetrain, brakes, and suspension on to it. It was fast, plus he had the ac literally blowing frosty blue air into it. That was about 1997 or 98.
Custom fan shroud :)
There was a Scamp GT, but the sporty Rampage was the Rampage 2.2. This appears to be a made-up model. It’s wearing a Shelby Charger nose.
GONE!
must have been a good deal its gone.
My neighbor has two of them and he seems to be always under it or under the hood.
I had ut one for 4 years. Worst car I have ever owned. Good-looking, but it didn’t run on looks. Too bad. After it turned 70,000 miles, it was always looking for a spot to break down. If I had known then what a POS that car was destined to be. I would have run away screaming at the first look. I don’t think I could trust Chrysler products ever again.
Don’t see these too often. Posting deleted by seller.
Would make for a fun ride
I had the Plymouth version of this called a Scamp. the front end was identical to this Dodge. Funny story I went to pick up landscape stone one time. Pulled onto a scale drove around back got a scoop or two of landscape stone , pulled back on the scale. They yelled at me to get off the scale went inside and they said that with me in the truck we weighed 2300 pounds and now the truck weighed 4300 pounds. Please dont go on hiway. So i took the back roads. Steering was very light….
That’s when you load by eyeing the sidewall bulge on the tire! As an aside info. Most standard sidewall height (75 series) and light truck tires will carry double the load listed on the sidewall. IF, YOU DON’T EXCEED 20 MPH! After that speed (Besides being an unsafe handling vehicle) the heat buildup will kill the tire. So you have the same dreaded heat buildup as you have with an under inflated tire. Same thing actually, the more tire pressure a,tire has, the more load it can carry. (Per the size) Please see 18 wheeler tires carrying 100 psi pressure. (Not to mention, larger tire size.)
This appears to be a nose cap transplant from a Shelby Charger, with the low and wide single grille slot. The ’83 Scamp nose cap had a two-row eggcrate grille, whereas the ’82-83 Rampage had two sets of three short grille slots/louvers, which changed for ’84 to the new Charger/Turismo four-eyed nose.