This 4 Speed Dodge Rampage Is For Sale

"Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available" (whoistheleader2)
10/14/2020 at 13:51 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping without E90M3

Last time I checked, these parts were fans of the little known Dodge Rampage. This good condition 4 speed example is only $2,300 so the only thing that will be terrorized is the parts counter when you try to get parts for it.

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With 150,000 miles and apparently excellent condition minus some scrapes and dents on the body, if you want a Rampage, you want this one. Too bad the seller isn’t exactly the most communicative type. The full ad below:

I have an oldie but a goodie 1982 dodge rampage Truck with 151000 miles run strong 4 speed in the floor just tuneup the vehicle no emissions needed 2300.00 need it gone ASAP

Yeah between that and the poor quality photos it’s hard to extrapolate much about this obscure minitruck.

But would you look at that interior? It looks about as close to perfect as you’re likely to get. A little surface rust on the sills is worrying but there doesn’t appear to be any thru-rust visible. Clearly someone loved this truck to get it this many years in such good condition.

What say ye, Oppo? Is $2,300 too much?

DISCUSSION (74)

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 13:57

Kinja'd!!!

Jokes aside, with how crazy the used car market is, it’s probably a little bit of haggling away from a NP.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/14/2020 at 14:02

NP at $1500, a good price at $1800, but $2300 is an ask.

I used the snipping tool for the title image after I saw how weirdly blurry the photos were once pasted to Kinja. If you click for the full sized image they aren’t terribly compressed so IDK.

Kinja'd!!!

Sovande > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:10

Yes please

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:12

blah, I was getting a semi until I saw FWD, more like wrong wheel drive.

I don’t know who told you oppo likes these things but I’m sad and you should be ashamed for posting.

edit, this was me being a jerk, sorry.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Sovande
10/14/2020 at 14:14

Okay that’ll be one one-time payment of $2,300 please. Your 1982 Dodge Rampage will delivered to your door in 3 months time.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:14

Who’s the Oppo whose two cars are a Rampage and an Eagle SX4?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/14/2020 at 14:15

Eh, the old FWD four banger mini utes are pretty good. A total compromise for sure, but they’ve got their niche and they fill it well, which is a qualification for any vehicle to be Oppo.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 14:16

Snacktimes, pretty sure. Couldn’t remember who had a Rampage but yeah the Eagle is a dead giveaway.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/14/2020 at 14:16

Why would you not like it? FWD isn’t great but it’s to be expected. 2WD is perfectly fine for mini trucks.

punkgoose17 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:17

I like it.

CobraJoe > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:18

NP at $1500, a good price at $1800, but $2300 is an ask.

I dunno, it might be worth a bit more because it’s now “Classic” status. The car is nearly 40 years old!

Foxbody Mustangs are falling into the “classic” status now too. Any running 5.0 Foxbody is double the asking price of that Rampage, and many non-running examples are still over the $2k mark.

But even forgetting the age, it’s getting hard to find a fun car worth owning for under $3k.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 14:19

Yeah, I came off as too harsh above, just going for the tough- love/sarcasm .

Seriously though, the rampage lasted from 1982-1984, not sure how good it could have been but in a way, that probably does validate it for oppo desire, especially with the 4-sp

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > punkgoose17
10/14/2020 at 14:19

But a 40 year old FWD minitruck with no aftermarket support whatsoever has more limited appeal at $2300. $1500 seems fair.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:20

Please excuse my poor attempt at humor, I'll do better next time.

CobraJoe > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/14/2020 at 14:20

The roadkill guys like their Rampage...

Kinja'd!!!

It even outran several of their far more powerful cars on track.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CobraJoe
10/14/2020 at 14:21

True, but this is a slow forgotten FWD mini truck with signs of lurking underbody rust. It’s not most cars and few people even know what they are.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/14/2020 at 14:23

Please do, because looking back I still can’t tell. Not that it matters much since none of us will buy this thing. Written sarcasm is hard.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > CobraJoe
10/14/2020 at 14:25

I’m all for roadkill when it didn’t require a subscription to MToD. I’ve also been a M opar fan and was afflicted with the bug at an early age but David Freiburger and Steve Dulcich take their Mopar love to insane levels.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:26

Yeah Mustang =/= Rampage

boredalways > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:32

Love it

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > boredalways
10/14/2020 at 14:33

Enough to part with $2,300?

punkgoose17 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:39

At $1,500, I’d love it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/14/2020 at 14:43

IMO it was a knockoff/cheaper version of the Rabbit Pickup, which itself was not a very good vehicle, so you can guess how good the Rampage/Scamp.

Similar arguments can be made for the Scirocco vs. 024/Charger and Corrado/Daytona. Essentially, for all the FWD unibody stuff, Dodge did ripoff VW Golf/Golf derivatives.

hillrat > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:43

What does this share a platform with?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 14:45

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/k-car-based-truck-life-1844592190

That’s the one

MoCamino > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 15:04

I have an irrational desire to buy this thing and d o an SRT-4 swap. Clearly I already like car-based utes. (Duh.) Add in how impressed I was with a buddy’s Neon SRT-4....oh geez that would be fun. Probably useless for actually hauling anything in the bed, but at four or five hundred pounds lighter than a Neon, that thing would be a hoot to drive post-swap.

My wife would murder me.

vondon302 > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 15:05

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 15:25

It’s a good truck.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > MoCamino
10/14/2020 at 15:28

Now that would be pretty crazy. That engine probably doesn’t even make 100 horsepower so a Neon SRT4 swap would produce a vastly cooler car that is vastly more useful as well.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > hillrat
10/14/2020 at 15:29

K platform derivative called the L platform, apparently. Shared with the Omni.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Rampage#:~:text=The%20Dodge%20Rampage%20was%20a,manufactured%20from%201982%20to%201984.&text=It%20was%20available%20with%20a,2%2C400%20lb%20(1%2C100%20kg) .

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 15:31

Says the VW fanatic.

Sovande > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 15:32

That’s not soon enough.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 15:38

Sure, but keep in mind that all the L cars were released after and look close enough to their German counterparts...

Interestingly, very early Dodge Omnis had a VW short block with a different Chrysler -designed transmission and head attached.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Sovande
10/14/2020 at 15:39

For a surcharge of $500 you can get expedited shipping and same-year delivery guarantee. With the optional paid gold package you get the one month pinky promise for the time between your valued order processing and your new car leaving our distribution facility.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 15:39

I believe you, but yeah. Didn’t know that actually.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 15:49

It’s all true!

Rabbit/A1 Golf: 1974. Omni/Horizon : 1977.

Scirocco: 1974. 024/TC3: 1979.

Rabbit Pickup/Caddy: 1979. Rampage/Scamp: 1982

I guess Dodge was quicker with the replacement for the Charger. I’d say the Charger was a corollary to the Typ 53B Scirocco, in 1981 for the VW and 1983 for the Dodge. The Daytona came in 1983, where the Corrado came in 1988.

The 1.7 thing is weird, but true.

Mark Tucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 15:52

Oh man, I have always wanted one of these. When we were at the dealership buying my mom’s new Dodge 600 in 1983, there was a silver Rampage in the showroom right next to the all-new (not yet even turbocharged) Shelby Charger. I spent the whole time they were doin g paperwork sitting in the driver’s seat of one, and then the other. Loved ‘em both then, love ‘em both now.

But then again, I briefly owned an ‘81 Omni O24, admittedly well past its prime by the time I had it, and it was... let’s go with “underwhelming.” But it had the 1.7 liter VW engine, which was about 30 hp down on this one’s 2.2, so that might make a difference.

Or even better yet...

https://www.allpar.com/omni/rampage/index.html

Apparently there were a coup le hundred actual Shelby Rampages built. Now that would be the one to get.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 15:57

1.7 is kind of a weird engine displacement. Seems more often than not they’re even numbers like 2.0, 1.8, 1.4, 1.6, or so.

So what you’re saying is Dodge did to VW what Nissan did the Ford.

Kinja'd!!!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Mark Tucker
10/14/2020 at 15:59

I did not at all suspect that was a thing, albeit a very rare thing. These simply don’t have the aftermarket support to make owning them all that attractive compared to the amount of trucklet you are actually getting though.

CobraJoe > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 16:10

What signs do you see of underbody rust? Looks pretty darn clean in the pics to me.

Y ou’re right, it’s not a popular model, and not a particularly high level of potential for performance. BUT, if you’re looking for an interesting car to have fun in and show off , it’s a damn good price. Hell, even maliase era cars are hard to find for under $5k in that condition now.

I did a quick search for interesting cars on my local CL for under $2500 , and there was a Saab, a riced out GTI, and a convertible Sunbird, and only the Saab looked anywhere near that good of condition, and it was listed as “needs tuneup” and “Comes with special tools”.

Basically, that’s a lot to say that $2300 is pretty cheap for an intersting car in good condition, even if it’s not widely liked.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 16:10

The Mk1 GTI in Europe had a 1.6L with 79.5mm x 80mm bore and stroke. They made that 1.7L with lower compression and bore and stroke 79.5mm x 86.4mm. That was superseded by the 1.8L I have a flavor of in my Audi and Cabriolet that has bore and stroke 81mm x 86.4mm. A destroked version also had 1.6L, this time as 81mm x 77.4mm. VW also did something similar, keeping bore and adding stroke to make their 1.5L diesel into a 1.6L. The same methodology continued into the 2.0 I have in my Golf and Jetta.

All of these things make making a “stroker” motor very easy- I can take a 1.9TDI crankshaft and 2.0 block to make a 2.1L motor. Cool stuff.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CobraJoe
10/14/2020 at 16:15

Good point. Good ol’ List O Craig gets pretty thin towards that end of the budget spectrum. If you want a crashed Hyundai Genesis coupe or the engine from a wrecked Diahatsu Rocky, you’re in luck though.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/douglasville-daihatsu-rocky/7199991784.html

Or you know how to weld and want a project 2002.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/d/dallas-1976-bmw-2002/7213250072.html

But I’m half tempted to go out and buy this right now. 2k is pretty cheap for what this is.

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/d/acworth-1961-mga-race-car/7212346070.html

There was a reflection that looked like thru rust that I later realized wasn’t. It does look shockingly clean overall.

CobraJoe > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/14/2020 at 16:16

If you have ever binge watched Roadkill, then a MToD subscription might be worth it for you. I’m paying for it every month, and there are a lot of great shows to choose from, and the Freiburger and Dulcich hosted “Roadkill Garage” is one I watch often.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 16:19

VW s are like Legos; they hurt when you step on them and they make a massive mess but will still take over yo ur life if you don’t stop them.

CobraJoe > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 16:19

That 2002 is scary. I know how to weld, but I also know you can’t weld to rust.

But that MGA is really sweet. Looks like it might not be able to be titled for the street, but it would be a hell of a lot of fun as a track day car.

CobraJoe > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/14/2020 at 16:22

Yeah Mustang =/= Rampage

Fair point, but how many interesting cars are available for $2300? And how many of those are in that good of condition? And how many of those could be taken to a car show and get any attention?

$2300 and some elbow grease would get you a lot of “I haven’t seen one of those in ages!” comments at your local cars and coffee.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > CobraJoe
10/14/2020 at 16:23

The top down rot is a shame since it has clearly sat too long in a pine forest. Body is shot it seems but there’s a lot of good parts in there for $500. How much does a replacement everything run you?

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > CobraJoe
10/14/2020 at 16:32

2300 for a rampage with a 5.0 swap and rwd and you got yourself a deal!

CobraJoe > WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI
10/14/2020 at 16:48

You’re sure asking for a lot there.... I’m not sure you could get a half- assed 5.0 s wapped Ranger for $2300

But hey, maybe if you’re lucky, you can find someone selling a factory 5.0 (or 5.0 swapped) Ford Durango!

Kinja'd!!!

Problem is, they only made about 200 of those, so even the rusty I6 versions go for around $5k.

WasGTIthenGTOthenNOVAnowbacktoGTI > CobraJoe
10/14/2020 at 16:57

My mother told me if I didn’t have anything nice to say (about a car), then I shouldn’t say anything at all.

But that thing is ugly.

boredalways > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 17:03

$1600-1800 would be more reasonable.

SmugAardvark > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 19:14

Nice price!

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SmugAardvark
10/14/2020 at 19:25

But barely. $2,300 is pushing it for a forgotten domestic FWD small utility vehicle from 40 years ago.

SmugAardvark > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 19:28

Perhaps, but I honestly can’t think of the last time I saw one of these up for sale in running condition. And $2,300 seems like a fair deal for pretty much any decent running car these days.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SmugAardvark
10/14/2020 at 19:32

True, it’s a Rampage thats not a rusted out hulk. You won’t find another like this easily but then again there isn’t a large audience for it too. Most people just buy a cheap 2WD Tacoma or T1000 if they want an old slow small pickup.

SmugAardvark > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 19:37

Have you looked at used Toyota pickups lately? Just at a cursory glance, the cheapest one within 500 miles of me on AutoT rader is a 2000 model with a beat-up body, few options, and 237,000 miles. And they want $6,000 for it.

I did find one further away for $2,000. But it’s approaching 400,000 miles.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 19:38

As I type this I’m sitting on my toolbox in my car storage/workshop area. To my left is my Jetta, with a weird wiring issue, in front of my is my Audi, also with weird electrical issues, and to my right are my Golf with mechanical issues and my Rabbit with no engine in it. I came here on my moped, which broke half way here. Cabby broke a vacuum fitting this morning, the other Golf has a million dash lights on and I don’t trust it to be driven.

Don’t buy a VW, you’ll end up with six.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > SmugAardvark
10/14/2020 at 19:46

I am talking about your sundry 200k+ mile 2WDs from the 90s. Those used to run you around 3k but with COVID prices they are a little inflated in value. Or you could get a Nissan Frontier that's half decent and 4x4 for like 4k or 5k. I also don't live in California so that might help.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 19:52

Yeah I’ll enjoy the ownership experience from here with my reliable Opel/Daewoo/Chevy.

Which one are you trying to get roadworthy? Sounds like you just need to pick one and dive in at this point.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 23:15

Kinja'd!!!

Jetta is roadworthy as of this evening.

Reliability is overrated. Do you really NEED to get where you’re going every time? Sometimes, sure. But every time? No.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/14/2020 at 23:27

That's one crispy Jetta. Glad it is once again gracing the road with its presence and horrifying out of touch wealthy suburbanites.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/14/2020 at 23:52

It sat in a yard for three years. VW has never known how to clear coat a car. I’ll drive it like this all winter then probably respray black in the spring.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/15/2020 at 00:51

Even the crudest of resprays would be an improvement. So were those three years the only time it's been off the road for a long time?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/15/2020 at 07:14

Meh. I’m not going to agree with that til it rains.

I don’t know. Guy told me it was his buddy’s car and a tow behind for a motorhome. Then his daughter dailied it, then my guy bought it and parked it when the shift linkage gummed up. I replaced some bushings in the linkage and it’s fine now.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/15/2020 at 08:32

What happens when it rains?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/15/2020 at 09:06

The car gets cleaned. Kinda.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/15/2020 at 09:11

Can confirm, UV damage doesn't wash off. Believe me, I've tried. My own car would be looking a whole lot better if that's how it worked but sadly no.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/15/2020 at 09:23

There’s mostly a ton of dirt and stuff on the car. Can’t really see the paint there’s so much. Might even run it through a car wash, twofold solution to dirt and checking for leaks.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/15/2020 at 09:31

Sounds like a half decent plan. It’ll get the worst of the dirt off so you can see the real condition of the cosmetics.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/15/2020 at 09:53

Exactly. Still need to figure out how to reattach the rub strips on the doors.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/15/2020 at 09:57

Might want to figure that out before you flood your interior with soapy car wash water.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/15/2020 at 10:03

Isn’t that what the rain is for?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
10/15/2020 at 10:09

Unless the rain is really soapy around where you live that’s not quite the same thing.

sn4cktimes > PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120
10/15/2020 at 10:27

Hahaha. Not wrong. Mine would be more fun as a RWD. But with FWD it does pretty good in the winter. And mines a 5spd stick, so that helps in the fun category. Been doing plenty of “truck stuff” with it this year.