The Dodge Rampage was a subcompact, unibody coupe utility based on Chrysler's L platform and manufactured from 1982–1984. First released as a 1982 model, the Rampage was later joined by its rebadged variant, the Plymouth Scamp.
The Rampage borrows the car's unibody construction and the front fascia from the sporty 024/Charger variant.
It was available with a Chrysler built and designed 2.2 L carbureted straight-4 engine with 96 hp (72 kW) and a curb weight of around 2,400 lb (1,100 kg). In the first year, it had leisurely performance due to the four-speed manual transmission along with a three-speed automatic transmission.
Performance was improved with the introduction of a five-speed manual transmission in 1983. The truck had a load capacity of 1,145 lb (519 kg), for a true "half ton" rating. This compared favorably to General Motors' Chevrolet El Camino. The Volkswagen Rabbit Sportruck and Subaru Brat were the Rampage's only real competition.
The Dodge Rampage was based on the popular Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon. Their gasoline mileage (21 MPG city/29 MPG highway, according to the EPA) and price were good for the time. When one compared it to the Volkswagen Rabbit Sportruck, the Rampage seemed to have the upper hand. The Rampage's front-wheel drive configuration was a source of either love or hate depending on one's preferences. A front-wheel drive layout is not usually used for trucks in North America; however, it gave the Rampage great road-holding and traction when unladen without the "fish-tailing" that comes with most rear-wheel-drive pickups. In short, the Rampage drove less like a truck and very much like the sporty car that it was. The quality, fit and finish, and overall feel of the truck were on par with the Japanese offerings of the day. A re-badged version,the Plymouth Scamp, was only sold in 1983. The Rampage lasted three years before being dropped from production after the 1984 model year. There are many myths about the existence of a "Shelby Rampage", but the there is no official record of the existence of such a vehicle.
While a fun and reliable vehicle, the Dodge Rampage (17,636 sold in 1982, 8,033 in 1983, 11,732 in 1984, its final season) didn't take off in the market as had been expected. Its Plymouth Scamp clone would only last for one year—1983. Sales totals for the Scamp were 2184 "base" models and 1,380 in GT trim, almost all of which were taken from its Dodge twin. The market for "car-trucks" was fast drying up in the mid-1980s as one after another was dropped from automakers' North American product lines. Even the El Camino was not immune and it was also withdrawn from production before the decade was through.
Read more about Dodge Rampage: 1983 Dodge Rampage (Canadian Direct Connection Edition), 1984 Dodge Rampage (California Direct Connection Edition), 2006 Concept
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