Used Car of the Day: 1982 Dodge Rampage Project Car(s)

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

We had a project-ready Ford Thunderbird last week, and today we're featuring a 1982 Dodge Rampage that needs some work. Actually, two of them.


Six-thousand dollars get you in the door. The seller says the Rampage that's pictured being worked on in a garage is in better shape than the other, which appears to be a parts car. The "better" truck has a new carburetor and runs. There are also new parts, still in the box, available. These include a new fuel tank, rear struts, and rear springs.

Still, it needs work. The floor can be stood on but is not done, and there are no brakes. Repeat, there are no brakes. So you will be trailering this one home.

Well, it needs a gas tank, anyway.

Buy this one, and the seller recommends buying the second as a parts donor.

If you're a weekend wrench, give this one a look.

[Images: Seller]

Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by  subscribing to our newsletter.

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

More by Tim Healey

Comments
Join the conversation
3 of 21 comments
  • Midnite_clyde Midnite_clyde on Feb 01, 2023

    My '82 Rampage, in a barn, appears to be in better shape than what's shown. Loved driving the thing (4 sp manual) though I learned later it's a death trap. Any head-on wreck you're a gonner. Other than that...any offers? : )

  • Asmedts Asmedts on Oct 10, 2023

    Looking for driver side door window for a 1982 Dodge Rampage. Or anything that could be compatible. Thanks!

  • Theflyersfan Non-performance models, probably the Civic based on the fact the interior feels and looks better in the Honda. Both of them are going to drive like adequate appliances with small engines and CVTs and get decent mileage, so this is based on where my butt will rest and things my hands and fingers will touch.Toyota doesn't have an answer to the Civic Si so the Honda wins by default.CTR vs GR Corolla. One dealer by me is still tacking on $10,000 markups for the CTR and good luck with the GR Corolla and the "allocation" system. There's that one dealer in Missouri that I pasted their ad a while back wanting $125,000 for a mid-level GR. Nope. But cars.com is still showing markups. Both of these cars will have little depreciation for a while, so the markups equal instant loss. It looks like Cincinnati-area dealers are done with CTR markups. So this is a tough choice. I don't like the Corolla interior. It looks and feels inexpensive. I'm glad Honda toned down the exterior but the excessive wing still looks immature for such an expensive car that 20-somethings likely cannot afford. FWD vs AWD. With price being an object, and long-term maintenance a thing, I'd go with the Honda with a side eye at the Golf R as a mature choice. All with stick shifts.
  • ChristianWimmer Great first car for someone’s teenage daughter.
  • SCE to AUX Imagine the challenge of trying to sell the Ariya or the tired Leaf.
  • Offbeat Oddity I would have to test them out, but the Corolla might actually have a slight edge. I'd prefer the 2.0 in both cars, but to get one in a Civic with a decent amount of equipment, I'd be stuck with the Sport where the fuel economy suffers vs. the Corolla. If the Civic EX had a 2.0, it would be a much tougher decision.
  • User get rid of the four cylinders, technology is so advanced that a four litre V8 is possible.. and plausible.. cadillac had a serious problem detuning v8s in the past, now theyre over-revving the fours and it sounds horrible.. get rid of the bosses and put the engineers in the front seat..
Next