Junkyard Gem: 1980 Dodge Ram D-150 Pickup

The total-size pickup truck has develop into the luxurious suburban commuter automobile of selection in America, but it surely wasn’t so way back that such vans have been jouncy, noisy machines higher suited to building websites and battlefields than stop-and-go expressway site visitors and mall parking tons. We’ll check out the waning years of the period of actual pickups with at this time’s Junkyard Gem: a 1980 Dodge D-Sequence half-ton in a Denver-area boneyard.

In fact, by “actual pickup” I imply actual uncomfortable pickup; at this time’s soft pickups handle to be quicker, safer, and much more highly effective, whereas getting higher gasoline economic system than their ancestors. Nonetheless, we misplaced one thing as a nation when Detroit pickups began to resemble New Yorkers or Ninety-Eights inside.

Chrysler had been utilizing ram’s-head hood ornaments for Dodge vans on and off because the Thirties, however Lee Iacocca made the corporate get critical in regards to the Ram title when he took over Chrysler Company. D-Sequence vans and B-Sequence vans grew to become Rams for the 1981 mannequin 12 months; this ’80 has an enormous DODGE RAM decal throughout the tailgate, however I think it was a dealer-installed choice.

I believe the leaping-ram decals on the fenders have been utilized by the identical vendor.

This truck has the 131-inch wheelbase, base cab and Sweptline mattress. For those who wished the crew cab, you had to purchase the three-quarter- or one-ton model.

The bottom worth was $5,165 (about $19,705 in 2022 {dollars}), however the tools sheet exhibits fairly a number of choices and the out-the-door price in all probability bought near 23 grand in at this time’s bucks. The construct tag on the door says it was constructed at Chrysler’s Jefferson plant in Detroit, which started life as a Chalmers manufacturing facility in 1908. By 1925, it was pure Chrysler, and it stayed in operation till 1990. Right this moment, Stellantis builds Cherokees and Durangos at a brand new(er) plant throughout the road.

The construct tag states that the unique engine was a 318-cubic-inch (5.1-liter) V8, and that positive appears like what’s nonetheless right here. The bottom engine was the bulletproof 225-cubic-inch Slant-6, however that engine made simply 110 horsepower and 175 pound-feet and would have made this 3,437-pound pickup intolerably sluggish even by the forgiving requirements of the period (and that curb weight is not a typo; this truck actually did weigh near a half-ton lower than a brand new Ranger). The 318 was almost as dependable because the Slant-6, although thirstier, and it was rated at 145 hp/280 lb-ft in 1980. The fee: $296 ($1,130 at this time).

Automatics have been fairly in style in pickups of this period, however this one has a very good previous four-on-the-floor handbook. The bottom transmission within the ’80 D-150 was a three-on-the-tree handbook (out there in Dodge D-Sequence vans right through 1985), so this improve price the unique purchaser $175 ($665 now). The three-speed Torqueflite computerized added a whopping 408 bones or clams to the underside line ($1,555 after inflation). As you’ll be able to see, 2022 vans appear to price much more even with inflation factored in, however then they appear like nice offers when you evaluate their commonplace options to these of their ancestors.

Lander, Wyoming, is within the western a part of the state, undoubtedly pickup nation in 1980 (as it’s at this time, although in all places is pickup nation now). 4-wheel-drive would have been a good suggestion in that rugged mountain area, however pickup homeowners have been resourceful again then and so this Ram has rear-wheel-drive .

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The five-digit odometer could be displaying an trustworthy 96,554 miles, however my guess is 396,554 miles. Work vans cowl a whole lot of floor, the areas in Wyoming are huge, and this Dodge in all probability spent all of its 42 years within the Mountain West.

Be aware the lacking pad on the clutch pedal and the well-worn one on the brake pedal.

Dodge constructed this technology of pickup from the 1972 by way of 1993 mannequin years, so there is no scarcity of those vans at this time. Nonetheless, it is unhappy to see this one headed to the crusher.

Dodge builds pickup vans that assist construct homes, and generally carry homes.

So powerful, they sliced it up with a chop noticed as proof.