Former Jailbird In Good Condition
Pickup trucks have become more comfortable and more capable over the years, but they’ve also become more complicated. It’s hard to find a basic pickup that isn’t piled high with tech features and styling details, let alone one in the classic regular-cab, short-bed configuration.
Spotted by Barn Finds, this 1993 Dodge Ram D150 is a reminder of what pickups used to be. It’s basically three boxes on wheels, and while it looks a little rough around the edges, it’s listed as having just 29,000 original miles, so it should be mechanically sound. It’s currently for sale on Craigslist in Richland, Washington, for $15,000 OBO.
Last Of The Old-School Dodge Trucks
Craigslist
The Dodge Ram is the ancestor of today’s Ram 1500. It’s a half-ton pickup designed to compete against trucks from Ford and General Motors, from before Ram was split off into its own brand. As a 1993 model, it’s also notable as the last of the first-generation Dodge Ram trucks. The simple styling of this generation was replaced by a more elaborate design for 1994, one that still influences the look of Ram trucks today.
In contrast, pretty much everything on this truck is a rectangle except the wheels. The mechanical package is equally straightforward. This truck is powered by the “Magnum” 3.9-liter V6, producing 180 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque, which is sent the rear wheels through a five-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential.
The Dodge, which, according to the seller, was used by a Washington State jail, appears to be in pretty good shape. The exterior has some dents, but no apparent rust. The interior, sporting a bench seat and tall floor shifter, also looks well-kept (in photos, at least). Note that the original headlights were replaced with LED units for better nighttime visibility.
Ram Trucks Today
Craigslist
Trucks were still primarily viewed as no-frills work vehicles when this Dodge left the factory, but that soon changed. The 1994 Dodge Ram and its competitors shifted the effort to make trucks into something more than basic cargo haulers into high gear. Ram became a separate brand starting with the 2010 model year, and today its trucks boast enormous infotainment touchscreens, powerful engines—and high prices.
Ram’s lineup has also been limited to full-size and heavy-duty trucks, so the brand is vulnerable to any decline in the market for those big vehicles. That will soon change, as Ram will join its Detroit rivals in the midsize truck segment in 2027. The new Ram midsize truck, which could revive the Dakota name, might come a bit closer to the work-truck ethos of the old Dodge discussed here, although it will likely still have plenty of creature comforts.
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