The Interesting Background of the Dodge Rampage
The Rampage was a strangely impactful car in the early 80s—and it might return soon.
Written by Clare Behe
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Today we have no shortage of pickup truck varieties. Even electric pickups are now an option. But in 1982 Dodge released an odd little model which would be unthinkable in our day and age of “bigger means better”—the
Dodge Rampage
, a front-wheel-drive coupe-style commuter car that just so happened to have a truck bed behind its passenger seat. Like many
one-hit wonders
in the auto industry, it’s become something of a cult classic; a coveted fixer upper to car enthusiasts. What made it so unusual, and is there ever a chance Dodge will ever bring it back? Here’s a quick delve into the history of the small but mighty Rampage.A swing and a “Dodge”
The production of the Dodge Rampage was borne from the need of the modern-day worker needing a versatile fuel-efficient little number. They needed one that could slide into a tight curbside spot—whether in front of a quiet suburban home or a bustling downtown office—but have the flatbed and horsepower to haul lumber, soil, or camping gear, depending on the weekend’s activities.
For the early ’80s, the Rampage’s 21/29 mpg was quite decent for the market, and its 96 horsepower, while dolefully incomparable to the muscle cars of the previous decades, was nothing to scoff at for a vehicle of its weight class—let alone one that could cruise around with heavy gear in its bed.
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A modern comparison to the horsepower of the ‘84 Rampage would be a Nissan Note, which possesses
roughly 10 more horsepower
than the decades-old vehicle. The beloved Honda Fit, notable for its combination of space, compact build, and power, checks in around 130 hp, though like the Note, it’s a hatchback and not a pickup. Despite the popularity of these
small model hatchbacks
that boast many of the same capabilities of the Rampage, plus significantly more horsepower, as of five decades later a commuter-friendly pickup has yet to make a debut. Every once in a while Dodge, or one of FCA’s other children companies, has coyly referenced the classic model, but always in the context of a nod to a similar chassis like the El Camino or Ford Ranchero. Recently, however, there have been online murmurs of the possibility for a return. But exactly how much truth lies in these rumors?
Is a Rampage in our future?
According to CarBuzz, there’s
no better time than the present
for Dodge to act. Considering the scarcity of FCA models currently on the market, they reason, why not revive the old-model-with-untapped-potential and marry it with the Hellcat line’s improbably powerful 702 horsepower engine? The potential is there, but it seems CarBuzz isn’t the only one aware of it.
Early on in the Coronavirus lockdown, FCA sponsored a contest geared toward high schoolers with a passion for automotive design. In the interest of inspiring creativity and reinvention, the post of guidelines featured a mock-up of a bright blue Challenger/El Camino hybrid with one bold, blurred name beneath it: “Rampage.”
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Based on the word of the Web, 2022
isn’t calling for
a revamp of older models anytime soon, but the nature of the industry is one of constant change and reinvention, so who’s to say that “a little truck with a big heart” won’t be the next big thing?Being prepared for anything is a necessity in an industry of change, and having an insurance broker who helps you find that readiness in your car insurance is hard to find—unless you download Jerry.
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