Nowadays, the Ram name has become synonymous with performance trucks (ah, yes, the sweet Hellcat motivation of the 1500 TRX). However, Ram pickups didn’t get an all-out factory performance model until the third generation arrived in the 2000s, ushering in the Viper-powered SRT-10. But what if the Mopar people had come up with a go-fast pickup from the OG Ram truck that entered production in 1980? This digital work comes to fill that void, proposing an early-1980s Dodge Ram infused with classic Charger badassery, hence the cheeky Ram/Charger (hidden) nickname.
Yes, the Dodge Ramcharger was an actual model, an SUV built on a shortened pickup chassis, which is why you don’t see the Ram/Charger label directly in the rendering. And, as these third-gen trucks switched from Dodge (D/W series) to Ram (D/W series) branding in 1980 as part of an extensive facelift for the 1981 model year, the Ramcharger and its Plymouth Trailduster sibling were also refreshed, entering what was labeled as a second generation.
However, this Ram/Charger rendering is all about defying the rules and this goes way beyond its debate-sparking name, which is actually linked to the front fascia of the Ram borrowing the iconic grille and chrome hood molding of the 1970 Charger (plus Ram SRT-10 wheels).
For one, this work, which comes from graphic designer Jim (aka jlord8), who introduced the said nickname in the description of the Instagram post below, is all about power and an all-round dynamic factory model. Now, that’s something Mopar couldn’t even dare to consider in the 80s. After all, Dodge had just been forced to retire what is now known as the first modern performance pickup truck (car-based efforts like the El Camino are in a different league), the 1978-1979 Lil Red Express. Note that you can check this out in the gallery below, including its 225 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) V8, which was a hot-rodded version of the 1978 Police-spec 360.
While the Lil Red Express dared to show two middle fingers (those big-rig-style exhaust stacks) to the 1973 oil crisis that determined the poor performance of the (Malaise) era, the second crisis, which came in 1979 would bring an end to such shenanigans. And the pickup segment wouldn’t see a new performance model until the GMC Syclone arrived in 1991 (here it is drag racing the TRX).
The “somebody needs to build this” clichรฉ hits differently here
However, this 1980s Dodge Ram/Charger doesn’t have to be confined to the virtual realm. You see, the Instagram post showcasing the 2D rendering has generated a wave of positive comments.
Now, in their desire to see such fantasies coming to life, people sometimes take to the comments section of such posts to tag enthusiasts who are known for their unhealthy-but-healthy building habits. Well, on this occasion, an enthusiast named Adrian Hanes (aka speedy_1320 on Instagram) nominated himself while replying to a comment talking about the need to make this happen: “I’m definitely going to after seeing this. I can see it happing with some fabrication,“
And who knows? Since his Insta-showcased garage involves a 2000 Dodge Dakota 4×4 and a 1998 Dakota R/T, along with a 1997 Mustang GT and no less than three motorcycles, the man might just do it.
Sure, the route from such social media thoughts to shaping metal, and perhaps throwing a meaty V8 in there to stick to the said power theme, is long and winding. But since renderings coming to life is the latest fetish of the internet’s car bubble, one can afford to dream about this.
