Baby El Camino | 1983 Dodge Rampage - Limited Edition

This Baby El Camino is a compact and efficient car/truck combo. The 1983 Dodge Rampage is like a Mini Mullet with a little business in the front and big party in the back!
Recorded at The Great Pottsville Cruise.
#DodgeRampage #Dodge #ThatsMyDodge #Mopar #MoparNation #DodgeOfficial #MoparOrNoCar #MiniMullet

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

If this was made today it unfortunately would be only available in a four-door. I love ‘80s vehicles.

[@betsyduane3461]

2021 Hyundai Santa Cruz Pickup

[@JrGoonior]

I always love Dennis' enthusiasm for ALL the vehicles he shows us. It's so much fun to watch!

[@GeeenJ]

that style body is called a ute in australia reminds me of a small holden ute

[@JrGoonior]

There's a kid that works at the local Advance Auto Parts that drives an 84 Rampage 2.2. You just don't see them anymore. BTW, this is based on the L-body (Omni/Horizon obviously) NOT the K-car as the owner of the car in the video states.

[@timothykeith1367]

I wish the Rampage was based on the minivan - which wasn't ready then, as the little truck would have been a bit larger. I've heard the original minivan prototype was based on the L-body, but marketing insisted on a 5 passenger minimum. The L-body concept chassis became the basis for the Rampage because the basic chassis engineering was paid for. Might be true . I have two Rampages - the rear leaf springs is different from the Omni . Air suspension would be a nice upgrade. Ranger and S-10 were in a sales war at the time, Rampage didn't have much sales success, but it is probably more practical than the VW Caddy.

[@johnnymason3265]

This was based on the Dodge Omni platform! It was related to the Charger version but only had 84hp! I would love to have one!

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

These are L-body cars (like the Omni/Horizon), not a K-body cars like the Aries K and pretty much everything else Chrysler sold in the 1980s

[@bb_37]

Exactly. K-cars were wider and I believe they used transverse torsion bars for front springs, not MacPherson struts and coil springs. When the Omnirizon came out in 1978, Chrysler bought 1.7 liter engines from Volkswagen (same engine as used in many Rabbits and Golfs). The Chrysler 2.2 as in this car was a copy of the VW engine with a similar crossflow head, cogged belt camshaft drive, distributor and oil filter on the front, etc. Dodge Rampage/Plymouth Scamp used the same front end as the Dodge Charger/Plymouth 024 of the same era which were sporty, 2-door variants of the Omni/Horizon.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

@- Ashai - The K was not derived from the L. Totally different hardpoints. The L-body was engineered by Chrysler Europe and was loosely based on the SIMCA 1100, while the K was engineered in the US independent.

[@nastybastardatlive]

Go on.

[@warrenny]

What Dennis asked was if it was K -car.....the owner said pre-k car.....which I think was owner's way of saying L-platform.

[@joejaydee]

@@bb_37 kcars had struts up front and rear shocks.

[@MrStacy1974]

There's a guy around Ft. Worth that has one of these. He put the facia from the Shelby Charger on the front and swaped in a turbo 2.4 motor from an SRT4. I believe he runs 11's in the 1/4 mile.

[@tmkreutzer]

The 2.2 was designed by the same guy who designed the slant 6. The non turbo was a solid engine that could last a long time. Head gasket issues cropped up when Chrysler started turbo charging these, but saying they need a head gasket every 30K miles is flat wrong. Depending upon how hard you pushed it, they could go much farther and then, if you swapped it out for a better quality gasket, the problem was usually permanently solved.

[@2ahdcat]

I always liked these... Omniminos, lol

[@2Aknight762]

My college roommate had one of these. I was amazed at the leg room in such a small "truck". I'm 6ft 2 and I could extend my legs fully and not touch the firewall. I bet Shaquille O'neal could sit in one of these, especially with the sunroof.

[@rossbrumby1957]

Datsun Z cars were like that for legroom. (Only in the front!)

[@kizerbread]

Reminds me of the Subaru Brat

[@kraftzero2947]

I wanna own an el camino. If i ever get the spine to get a license. I think el caminos are cool. Just a super small truck.

[@NoName-tz5ji]

Don’t let Ridgeline fan bois see this,they’ll be calling it a real pickup.

[@andypittman9850]

The "Limited Edition" emblem is an after-market decoration that could be purchased at certain automotive stores, either silver or gold plated. I bought the gold toned set for my unassuming 1991 Chevrolet Sprint in 2001!!

[@redneon06]

Walmart

[@gerry-p9x]

😅 4:54

[@mrsteve4313]

Every 30k none of our families 2.2 ever needed a head gasket, had a few valve cover's leaking but no head gasket problems, and we owned quite a few 2.2's.

[@cruikshank]

Back then the whole Dodge Plymouth L Omni Horizon Line was a copy of the VW Rabbit 🐇 Scirocco (the 024 & Charger) and the Rabbit Pickup, the Rampage. We bought a Horizon when they were advertised as the Most Affordable car made in America. List was $4995. We paid about $5700 with automatic & AC. That’s when Lee Iacocca was turning Chrysler around.

[@mrrpepsi24]

I used to have one of these, glad to see it on the show.

[@lordbp]

It's called a ute we have lots of them in Australia

[@Hebrew_Loc]

The funniest thing about those Rampage & Scamps is that there are factory custom Shelby versions out there complete with ground effect body kits higher hp motors and more.

[@JrGoonior]

I’ve seen at least one video on a Shelby Rampage in red somewhere on KZbin...

[@Johnny-vu7db]

My dream in high school ('88) was to turn one of these into a Shelby GLH Turbo Rampage.

[@DdgeShelby]

a few things.. There was never a "Limited edition" (emblems on B pillars are aftermarket or non OEM. None of them left the factory with a sunroof, dealer added or aftermarket only. A soft tonneau was never a factory option. The direct connection catalogs of the day might have had a soft tonneau available, but there were hard ABS plastic versions from Ma Mopar's aftermarket as well as fiberglass tonneau covers available aftermarket from Protest-O=Top. The owner isn't well versed in what these are or what he has. Nice truck, no doubt. Headgasket problems weren't prevalent with the carbureted 2.2's, that was a turbo 2.2 issue in which no Rampage or Scamp left the factory fuel injected or turbocharged. Common failures on these included carburetor issues from the vehicle's emissions equipment, namely the charcoal canisters breaking down sending fragments of charcoal int the carburetor causing hard start or drivability issues. There was a TSB (Technical service bulletin) where an inline fuel filter was used between the charcoal canister and carb to alleviate those issues. Also, the manual transmission versions use rod linkage, after they hit about the 20-year mark, the plastic ball joint ends on them would wear out and pop off. A Heim joint shifter linkage kit was made available as aftermarket (Not by Chrysler) You fix those 2 things and I'd put these into the same reliability of the same year Hondas or Toyota's of its day.

[@strattuner]

I OWN ONe not for sale at any price,its neat

[@indyjones3287]

As soon as he said 2.2, it brought back bad memories of my 87 Chrysler Laser turbo. Was a fun and quick little car, but head gaskets and shifter linkage were it's demise. That and a teenager not knowing how to treat a turbo, after running hard.... I like the Rampage; cool cruck.

[@artjones2498]

years ago i saw 1 at a small car show in plymouth pa. but it had a full tube chassis and a hemi in it...

[@paullemay3218]

My first new car was a Dodge Omni. Same design as this but it was a hatch back. Pretty cool indeed. ❤️🇨🇦👍

[@reckemroysrc3764]

I had that identical car for a few years. Drove the wheels of that thing. It was actually a pretty comfortable car. Almost thought this was my old car until he said Pennsylvania. OPEN highway it got closer to 40 mpg

[@kennethwise7108]

Dodge Rampage? Wow, never seen one of those things

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

🤯 there’s a rusted out one on my block and the dude still drives it. He’s got a tool box at the back of the bed and all. Mostly he moves chickens in it.

[@kennethwise7108]

@@aaronburratwood.6957 haaaa that's HILARIOUS

[@RDEnduro]

I love the interior and the wheel design takes me back to rides in friends parents cars

[@dm1927]

I bought one new in 1984. Was accurately more useful than I thought. Drove it for 6yrs. Gave it to my son which got him though college. All in all had very little problems with it.

[@d.peters6075]

I have always loved those things. But I'm a guy who likes the odd and unusual, something that is different from what others drive. I would love to get my hands on one, a Ranchero or El Camino, too. I loved my PT Cruiser. I had a Buick Rendezvous which was a great car. Had 2 Ford Flex's. My driving style does not lend well to cool, fast looking cars, I wouldn't have a license if I did. So I go with odd, unusual, quirky and unique. I've always said if I was ever to be a lottery millionaire, I'd start a museum for the odd and ugly cars because they need to be remembered for their contribution to the American road too.

[@rossbrumby1957]

Get a rough PT and chop it down to a ute! That is, unless you could afford to import a Valiant ute from Australia- if you get an early one, the lhd conversion would be piss easy as up til 1970, the dash was mirror image between our versions.

[@oldweeb1066]

My first car at 18 years old was a 1982 Dodge Rampage. I regret selling that car, I absolutely loved it. When my finances get a bit better, I will be looking for a Rampage to restore.

[@christophergoodwin-qo7tg]

I have one in northern California I would sell, doesn't run that I know of

[@bansheemania1692]

It's a Pennsylvania CAR?!? HOW. Everything is Rust in NePa

[@pinut187]

Some people have things whats called a garage.

[@frankisfunny2007]

It's not like it was found around the coastal areas of Michigan.

[@nestor8369]

my grandma use to have a El Camino idk what year but they do look cool

[@alexanderfluhrer1801]

I'm going out to the garage and work on mine :-). I haven't drove it on the road in 20 years since I got the doors stuck shut ( hauling concrete blocks and pulling a loaded trailer bent it a bit). Best half ton rated truck I ever owned!! Parts were interchangeable with the k cars. I got very good at head gaskets and carb swaps. They didn't stop very well, so I swapped in New Yorker larger vented rotors and could do front wheel stands if box was empty. VW diesel swap is a common bolt in upgrade. Ford Econoline tail lights were used so they didn't have to make there own. Shelby did an excellent hopped up version worth big $ now. They don't go fast or corner well, but 30 mpg and good looks makes that irrelevant!!

[@johnnymason2460]

A version of the Rampage with the 2.2 liter turbo four(146hp) would be great for me. Even the 175hp version of the turbo four(from the Omni GLH-S) would be interesting. I would have the 146hp version with an automatic(the 175hp version was manual only).

[@anasevi9456]

lol, what a lovely little ute. if you are going to have flaws; best they be easily addressable. Aka the death ironically of current day bmw.

[@Straitjacket346]

Just got one and excited to restore it and benefit from the high mpg.

[@bansheemania1692]

Id slap an old Mitsubishi turbo on it

[@leftright6054]

We need coupe-utes back in the market again

[@danielstickney2400]

I remember these being popular delivery cars for junkyards, machine shops, transmission shops, and auto parts stores, because it was easy to throw a transmission or a short block in the back and they were not bigger or thirstier than they had to be. Of course that meant they were mostly driven by the sorts of kids who delivered for those places (like me) and thrashed in fairly short order. Pickup trucks might be thirstier but they do have the advantage of being designed to be driven by people who don't own them.

[@pissbridge]

I love it!!!! I want the 84 that would be awesome!!!

[@dougsmith9571]

Cool post! They were cool mini trucks . Like a Subaru Brat or mini el Camino ....Dodge is bringing back the Rampage as a compact truck next year I hear !

[@joeseeking3572]

It's not a K car, it's an L - the Omni/Horizon, and they made about 40,000 of them including the never seen Plymouth Scamp. I always thought these were neat, and while Rabbit caddy sold, these didn't. Build quality??? Lots of small cars had the removable sunroof - I had one in a (gulp) 83 Subaru GL hardtop (washing machine engine). Flip the back up or lift out, throw it in the trunk.

[@mrsteve4313]

If your head gasket is going every 30k your doing something majorly wrong. My family owned a crap ton of 2.2's and no head gaskets replaced.

[@SmokingMan26]

that was cool, don't think i have ever seen that

[@lorinmueller4102]

A bit of a bummer about the on-camera errors. The sunroof isn't factory, the tonneau cover isn't "original". "Limited Edition" wasn't a real trim level. Nice trucklet otherwise.

[@bigghoss762]

Known defects of the Dodge Rampage include the engines all being installed sideways.

[@bryduhbikeguy]

I'd love to have 1.I had the slope-back version with the auto,and the sun-roof.Also had an '85 Omni GLH 4-Dr w/5-spd.and 15" 50 series tires.Stuck like glue.I'd love to haul a few retro bikes,and a pop-up camper with these 'trucks'.

[@joetallon4968]

I had an 84 dodge rampage. Pulled a 16 foot boat with it. Got 39 miles per gallon on trips. And it got around well in the Pennsylvania winters. Ran it for 9 years. Had to get a different vehicle when we had kids.

[@ronzymessemer361]

83 plymouth scamp nose

[@MrCocg1]

Sorry.. That particular sunroof is NOT factory... That snap on Tonnuea cover was an add on also.. (maybe some dealer did it) The nose piece is from a Plymouth version, Scamp.. There was no Limited model.. There was a Prospector package however..

[@treywest268]

I believe it was based on the Dodge Omni 024 and the Plymouth TC3.

[@gastonave]

I remember seeing these back in the eighties but not for long after that since they fell apart so quickly.

[@19chucki74]

The Rampage ute is so hard to find. That's a great example of a well kept unit. I always wanted one.

[@abgwin]

Why is the nose from a Scamp/Turismo?

[@DdgeShelby]

Someone swapped the Plymouth nose onto it.

[@Sendmetacos]

I just got one and excited to restore it!

[@jawkneekat]

Nice to see this vehicle get some recognition. I've always loved it!

[@JONMEREDITH]

That was a very cool vehicle! Thanks for another great video!

[@MyClassicCarTV]

You bet!

[@gene978]

24 YEARS OLD MASTER TECH FOR BMW. Someone has money

[@liberraimundogemaquelimada9464]

Sou brasileiro admiro muito seu programa, parabéns 😁🙏

[@mikemartin2423]

Mini mullet....is he a cleet fan ???

[@314299]

It's been a long time since I saw one of those on the roads around here.

[@rinardfamily]

I had a 1984 with a 2.2 turbocharged fuel injected engine by Mitsubishi. The UTE would burn rubber first, second and chirp my wheels and third. I don't know how fast the truck could go because the speedometer only went to 99 mph. It was the quickest vehicle I ever owned though it went from 0 to 60 a little over 3 seconds. The thing I hated about the UTE is that it had no a/c.

[@imranabbasi7871]

👍

[@davidshea609]

Kinda like the old little d50 dodge trucks made by Mitsubishi for dodge . You hardly ever see them. I've saw one rampage in my town . An it's the only one in it . And there used to be a guy with a vw rabbit truck too .

[@metalbob3335]

I always wanted to graft a Chrysler conquest drivetrain and a rampage body maybe the widebody rear fenders from the conquest too it would ghastly but fun.

[@laffilmfest3759]

😀......Dennis you would look great cruising around the lane in that machine.......great video!

[@gerry-p9x]

Made a hotrod one with GRAPHICS. And 16inch alloy. Rims

[@omarnoyacastillo1854]

Is it also a byproduct of DSM? I am referring to the commercial alliance between Chrysler and Mitsubishi, Diamond Star Motors

[@k9feces]

I’ve never seen one

[@dreamsbytheyard]

Likely the gingerbread limited edition emblem, and sunroof were dealer added. This is not a factory sunroof.

[@JohnUnit]

This kid was into malaise obscure crapboxes (I say with endearment) like a decade before it was cool

[@cannednolan8194]

My first car was 024

[@handyman9298]

I love it

[@Cola64]

Great car we had the scamp as our yard horse in the 80’s we called it the little engine that could’

[@plymouthduster2252]

Only seen one other one myself. I used to work at a oil and lube business and a customer had a red one and it was his baby.

[@danielboguse4249]

That's an aftermarket sunroof. Car manufacturers never put in pop-up glass sunroofs.

[@judethaddaeus9742]

What’s funny is that Dodge sold 2 mini-pickups at the time: The Mitsubishi-based Ram 50, and this Omni/Horizon based Rampage/Scamp. And their homegrown model is the one that lost out.

[@101starting]

That 2.2 with holey carb was quick for the time I had 84

[@richardkoerper1630]

Front end looks like an O24 that I had back in the day not a K Car.

[@truckerdaddy-akajohninqueb4793]

I remember these

[@pacificnorthwestnative5050]

Had a friend that had one of those. It would do 60mph in 1st gear

[@danneilson7768]

Had a 2.2 naps engine in a 83 datsun fast as hell on great cruise on the interstate

[@keithusace4352]

I had one and also couldn't keep head gaskets in the thing either

[@dan3092]

Lovely to see the Throw away Rot away survivors !

[@johnbrown2030]

This actually has the Plymouth Scamp Grille on it.

[@christopherkraft1327]

I remember these cars, I always thought that they were cool 😎

[@JohnShinn1960]

Did the taillight lenses come from a Ford Econoline van?

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

You don't see those around any more.......................... 👍👍

[@trudygreer2491]

As I recall, you didn't see too many back then, either!

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

@@trudygreer2491 True

[@trevorthefilthyrat3742]

Id put a Mitsubishi evo2 drivetrain in it .

[@phill903]

The K cars were a pain to change a starter :-(

[@jasonbrown4239]

Always liked those

[@ronaldbertin9455]

Nice little vehicle , junk motor

[@shannonvandersyde2259]

Any chance this is for sale?

[@cana125dh7322]

Owned a new Omni hatch back in 1982. Fun car to drive. Never test drove on the highway. Engine screamed at highway speeds. The steering was shot at 50,000 miles. Traded in when we had our first child. Car was impossible to get to rear seats with a child seat. Happy to move on too a better car.

[@paulcorreggio4925]

Ugly car but unique.

[@joelbosso1331]

The only time I ever saw any of these was at Parris Island as GOVs. They were everywhere. The DIs looked goofy as hell driving them with their campaign covers on.

[@marklucas3140]

A dark time is about to come upon you when you can't drive your classic cars anymore, Dennis.

[@MyClassicCarTV]

Never happen.

[@marklucas3140]

We can only hope. I think you and I may have the same idea about a Mad Max-like underground ICE driven automobile nightlife scene that's been relegated to private property away from the prying eyes of government cameras. They'll use all our own tax money to stop us from driving them on the street at some point. You may be gone, but I'll still be stuck here dealing with it. I've been watching you since my high school days when you were on TNN. My automobile tastes have changed through the years. I had a 1968 Impala sedan to start out with and ended up owning quite a few Forward Look cars. At some point I realized that my way back machines were these 1980s FWD Chryslers. At that point I started hoarding the parts and giving them away to any locals that needed them. This system became the St. Louis Turbo Mopar Club. I've never had a hobby or interest as strong. Remember us every time you drop a passive aggressive shot at these cars that were the future of American automobiles that still gets pushed into obscurity to make way for the continued increase of weight and complexity for the sake of up-charging, and the stagnant design from backing themselves into the jelly bean SUV corner.

[@kc0lif]

i see them.