I'm not sure how many people actually knew about this but dodge continued to build Ram Chargers in Mexico under the 1994 dodge Ram body style. I don't have any pics of it on this computer, but I was able to find some with a little bit of searching. I remember reading an article in a magazine that the reason they were not sold in the US, if I remember correctly, is for some kind of emissions problems but I don't know why that couldn't have been fixed. I would love to see dodge reintroduce the RamCharger both in a 4-door and 2-door models, kinda like what chevy did with the Tahoe for a little while but the 4-door I'd like to see as a Suburban size vehicle. But, If they made it look like the new Durango, it would be discusting to look at.

 

A '77 , and 2 Sunburst Orange '79's !

All 4 x's - the '77 w/ a 318, and the '79's w/ 360's.

Gotta love the removable roof on the old ones - heavy beeootch though as it was double wall steel.

(Came off from the windhsield back - like the '69 - '75 Blazers & Jimmys.)

Dodge weak point was electrical - don't know if that's still the case.

Watch an older Dodge w/ the lights on at idle - rev the motor and the lights get brighter. Same applies to the accessories - they speed up. It's really, really noticeable !


Anyway, I have seen the newer style RamCharges w/ a funny loking grille, which I think denoted the Mexico build.

When did Dodge change to the "Peterbilt" look ?

Are you saying that they made RamChargers look like that ?

if so, that would be pretty tough.

I do believe, however, that in the U.S. the Durango is considered to have replaced the RamCharger as Dodge's SUV.

Britt

 

Dodge started the Peterbuilt look in 1994 and yes, the RamCharger that continued to be built in Mexico looked like the 1994-2001 body style of the Ram pickup.

 

The newer Ramchargers have been mentioned on here before. Theres a few other vehicles that are made in Mexico that aren't sold in the US like the Ford Ka (I see one on campus everyday), and the new Ford Mondeo (new generation countour). You can see the newer Ramchargers often here in Texas as well. Whats really interesting is that before the Germans took over, Dodge had planned on building a fullsize SUV based on the fullsize Ram truck. Once DC bought them out it got axed.

 

Full-sized two door SUVs sold in tiny numbers in the United States. The full-sized Blazer was a sales disaster even in the early '90s - at least until the 4-door Tahoe premiered in 1995.

Mexico is different. For some reason, two-door SUVs are really popular "south of the border." This is why the 2-door Tahoe didn't die until 1999. It's also why the low-budget Mexico-only Ramcharger was designed by Dodge. Sadly, it was 2WD only. Even worse, it used exactly the same tailgate as the '96 minivans.

It's no wonder this interesting vehicle never made it here.

Of course, Chrysler really screwed up by never producing a modern4-door fullsized SUV. It's still not too late, but they blew the opportunity for a Ram-based Suburban competitor back in 1994. I guess they were worried about SUV fuel economy a decade too soon.

 

It is funy that this thread was brought up.I seen one of these here in Michigan.I was shocked.It was the older style and it was a silverish color (it was dirty)Hmmph.

 

Those have been around for a while.

I have seen a few here around town, there all from Mexico since I live in a border town.

It has the same grill and the 94 + trucks...I kinda thows you off when u see it at first. There is one close to where I live.

Its on twinkies ....I'll try to snap a few pics if I can for those who haven't seen it.

 

The reason why Ram Charger isn't sold here is CAFE, not emissions or sales. Chrysler has been pretty careful about it's truck CAFE numbers. V8 Dakotas & Durangos along with those big V8 Rams (which aren't exactly gas sippers) put a strain on their numbers.... Ford & GM sell their midsize trucks with nothing larger than 6s that offsets their V8s (which get comparatively good fuel mileage).

The SS/T Ram Sports Truck initially was concieved as a V10, but came out with the 360 instead. CAFE was the reason. The only reason why the new SRT-10 truck is seeing the light of day is because all those PT Cruisers they sell are classified as trucks.

Ram could easily be made available in the US, but don't expect it.

 

As far as the Ram Charger.. I 've seen a few in Houston.
They are direct from Mexico and have the foreign plates but the first time I saw one I was like ???? huh???? WTF was that...

Had taken a detour to follow it and come up close to read the badges on the side. I think I posted it on here as well a long time ago. But then again I see Mondeo's and other cars from there all the time so...