| Dodge Rampage | |
|---|---|
 1982 Dodge Rampage | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Dodge (Chrysler) |
| Also called | Plymouth Scamp |
| Production | 1982–1984 |
| Model years | 1982–1984 |
| Assembly | United States:Belvidere, Illinois (Belvidere Assembly) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Coupé utility |
| Body style | 2-door truck |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | L-body |
| Related | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 LKI4 |
| Transmission |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 104.2 in (2,647 mm) |
| Length | 183.8 in (4,669 mm) |
| Width | 66.8 in (1,696 mm) |
| Height | 51.7 in (1,314 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,293 lbs (1,040 kg) |
TheDodge Rampage was asubcompactunibody[1]coupe utility based onChrysler'sL platform and manufactured and marketed from 1982 to 1984model years.Plymouth marketed arebadged variant for model year 1983, as theScamp.
The Rampage combined the handling and passenger carrying characteristics of a traditional passenger car with the open-bed versatility and load capacity of a smallpickup truck, similar to its competitors: theVolkswagen Rabbit Sportruck andSubaru BRAT.
The Rampage borrowed the car's unibody construction and front end panels and components from theDodge Omni 024 (later renamed theCharger), using the suspension from its parent vehicles with coil struts and a linkless sway bar at the front, and leaf springs with shock absorbers unique to the Rampage at the rear.[2]
The Rampage was available with a Chrysler-built and designed 2.2 Lcarburetedinline-four engine with 84 hp (63 kW) to 99 hp (74 kW) depending on the year, a curb weight of around 2,400 lb (1,100 kg) and used a four-speedmanual transmission or three-speed automatic transmission. These arrangements gave the vehicle limited performance.
Performance was improved with the introduction of a five-speedmanual transmission in 1983. The truck had a load capacity of 1,145 lb (519 kg), for a true "half ton" rating and about 90% that of theChevrolet El Camino’s rating of 1,250 lb (570 kg).
In 1984, the Rampage received a facelifted front fascia shared with the Charger, with quad 165 mm x 100 mm sealed beam headlights opposed to the dual 200 mm x 142 mm sealed beam headlights found on previous models. The grille was also changed, switching from a 6-slot design to a vertically split design. The lower bumper featured revised indicators, a horizontally split lower air intake, and an impact strip that wrapped around the front end.
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 certainCalifornia-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 Black1/3 Garnet Red1/3 Santa Fe Blue.
The Dodge Rampage produced sales of 17,636 in 1982, 8,033 in 1983, and 11,732 in 1984 — and total sales for the Plymouth Scamp were 2,184 base models and 1,380 for the Scamp GT.[4]
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Dodge resurrected the Rampage name at the 2006Chicago Auto Show with a front-wheel driveconcept pickup. As opposed to the original Rampage, this concept vehicle was as large as the full-sizeDodge Ram. It was powered by the 5.7 LHemiV8 and featured "Stow 'n Go" seating taken from theChrysler minivans.
