4. Dodge Rampage
It is easy to forget compact trucks like the El Camino or the Subaru Brat, but the 1982 Dodge Rampage you won’t soon forget.
This was Chrysler’s answer to the VW Rabbit Sportruck etc. Its platform was based on Chrysler’s front-wheel drive L-body found on the Omni, Horizon, and sport coupes like the Dodge Charger of the day. Carroll Shelby even took a liking to these and drew up plans for a high-performance version.
It boasted a 2.2-liter OHV four-cylinder engine and front-wheel drive. It’s a pity Dodge didn’t spend a little more time on the exterior. The headlights, grills, and bumper are reminiscent of a vacuum cleaner, and the asymmetrical hood isn’t doing it any favors. The rear end is very much ordinary and forgettable.
Dodge revived the Rampage name for a 2006 concept, a much larger pickup truck with sliding doors that wasn’t much prettier than the original.
