Dodge Rampage
| Dodge Rampage | |
|---|---|
 1982 Dodge Rampage | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation |
| Also called | Plymouth Scamp |
| Production | 1982–1984 37,401 produced |
| Model years | 1982–1984 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Coupé utility |
| Body style | 2-door truck |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | L-body |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 L K I4 |
| Transmission | 4/5-speed manual 3-speed A404 automatic |
The Dodge Rampage was a subcompact, unibody[1] coupe utility based on Chrysler's L platform and manufactured from 1982 to 1984. First released as a 1982 model, the Rampage was later joined for 1983 by its rebadged variant, the Plymouth Scamp.
The Rampage borrowed the car's unibody construction and the front fascia from the sporty 024/Charger variant, and used the suspension from the Omni/Horizon with coil struts and a linkless sway bar at the front, and leaf springs with shock absorbers at the rear.[2]
It was available with a Chrysler built and designed 2.2 L carbureted inline-four 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's rating of 1250 lbs. In addition to the El Camino, the Volkswagen Rabbit Sportruck and Subaru BRAT were the Rampage's main competition.
A rebadged version, the Plymouth Scamp, was only marketed for 1983. The Rampage lasted three years before being dropped from production after the 1984 model year. There was a "Shelby Rampage" built by Chrysler/Shelby engineers in their free time for Carroll Shelby, but there is no official record of the existence of such a vehicle. However, a special California market "Direct Connection" Rampage was built in 1984 and only sold at certain California-area Dodge dealerships, which featured the front fascia from the Shelby Charger, 15-inch alloy wheels, and a ground effects package.[3]
Only 250 "Direct Connection" Rampages were produced. 1/3 Black 1/3 Garnet Red 1/3 Santa Fe Blue
The Dodge Rampage (17,636 sold in 1982, 8,033 in 1983, and 11,732 in 1984[2]) didn't take off in the market as had been expected. Sales totals for the Plymouth Scamp were 2,184 base models and 1,380 Scamp GT models.[2]
2006 concept
Dodge resurrected the Rampage name at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show with a front-wheel drive concept pickup. As opposed to the original Rampage, this concept vehicle was as large as the full-size Dodge Ram. It was powered by the 5.7 L Hemi V8 and featured "Stow 'n Go" seating taken from the Chrysler minivans.
References
- ^ "The Dodge Omni and Plymouth Horizon". allpar.com.
- ^ a b c "Plymouth Scamp and Dodge Rampage: economy car based pickups". Allpar. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "The 1984 Dodge California Shelby Rampage". Allpar. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
