1985 Dodge Ramcharger AD-100

The Ramcharger was Dodge’s first entry to the nascent SUV market. A rugged, full-size utility vehicle with a short wheelbase and multiple engine options, the model proved to be capable off road and popular in dealerships quickly after its 1974 debut. Mopar product planners refreshed the model in 1981 alongside the D-series pickup’s redesign.

The second-generation Ramcharger didn’t deviate from its predecessor’s formula. The new 1981 Ramcharger continued with a two-door body that was available in both two- and four-wheel drive. The incoming Ramcharger adopted a fixed roof instead of the removable top used by the first Ramchargers, and engine choices ranged from a 318-cid V-8 with 135 hp, up to a 360-cid V-8 capable of 175 hp. Over the next 13 model years, the Ramcharger lineup could be configured with a Cummins turbodiesel, while the V-8 engines switched from carburetors to fuel injection. Transmission choices were limited to a three-speed automatic transmission or a manual four-speed.

Dodge made running changes throughout the second generation Ramchargers lifecycle, with various exterior styling changes and interior appointments keeping the model fresh. Trim levels varied over the years and ranged from the basic SE and LE to the stylized Macho and Prospector lines.

Sales dwindled as the SUV market became much more crowded, and Dodge ended Ramcharger sales in the U.S. following the 1993 model year. A susceptibility to rust and historically low resale values have removed a lot of Ramchargers from the road, which makes them a novel sight today, and of particular interest to collectors who value rugged simplicity and something slightly different from the norm.