Warlock: Ram Conjures Up New Life for an Old Truck

Fiat Chrysler is the master of squeezing every last bit of life out of a vehicle or platform. Witness the Dodge Charger/Challenger and its umpteen permutations that have appeared since it rolled off the ark many moons ago.

The automaker performed the same trick with the old Ram 1500, slathering the thing in bright paint or giving it a natty set of wheels towards the end of its design cycle to create a of special edition or twelve. That truck, still in production with the word “Classic” now appended to its name, has had yet another new trim added to its totem pole — despite being usurped last year by a new Ram 1500.

And its name is a dandy one, harvested from Chrysler’s history vaults.

Based on the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic, this new Warlock package features the grille that once appeared on the last-gen Ram Rebel, complete with a R A M billboard. Its front and rear bumpers are powder-coated for an extra aggro look, plus the truck has had a 1-in. ride height lift installed at the factory. The word “Warlock”’ is plastered on its bedsides as well, naturally.

It can be argued that this truck is an exercise in using up an existing bin of parts that will only fit the old Ram 1500. While it is fun to imagine Reid Bigland staring at a pallet of Rebel grilles and wondering what in the hell to do with them, there is probably more than a kernel of truth in this statement. This is borne out by learning this truck has an odd mix of entry(ish)-level trim combined with features once reserved for high-zoot Rams.

Despite having a cloth bench seat as standard, Warlock also comes standard with LED lighting that used to only appear on more expensive Rams. An overhead console and the snazzy gauge set, which used to cost extra, is now standard. Customers can opt for a heated bench or the buckets shown in the (shadowy, with an annoyingly-canted steering wheel) image above, and can add in items like FCA’s 8.4-inch uConnect system.

As for powertrain, the Warlock package is available in all familiar Ram variations. The 305 hp 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 is available, or one can select the burly 395 hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8. No matter the mill, an eight-speed automatic will be the transmission. Take yer Warlock in 4×2 or 4×4, and there is a choice of Quad Cab or Crew Cab (short bed) body configurations.

The name first appeared on Dodge pickup back in 1976. At that time, the goal of the model was to lure a younger (or different) demographic into the showroom with a factory customized pickup. Fat tires, gold pinstriping, and oak trim matched the gold chains and wide lapels of the day.

Warlock goes on sale next month, with prices starting at $35,345, plus $1695 destination. Stay tuned for more special editions of the new Ram, depending on what pallets of truck parts Reid Bigland finds in the back of a dusty FCA warehouse.

[Images: Matthew Guy/TTAC, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles]