one of the most useless pick-up trucks ever made (vehicles, MPG, pickup trucks)

[sailordave]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/1983DodgeRampadge.jpg/800px-1983DodgeRampadge.jpg (broken link)

Here's the Dodge Rampage, a pick-up truck built on the foundation of the Dodge Omni, a FWD economy car. Basicly, it's a 1980s Dodge Charger converted into a Pick-up.

[Narfcake]

Useless? No. Every truck is a compromise to something. Small, car-based pickup trucks are not going to excel at heavy loads or towing, but they don't get 15 mpg (or less) either.

Vehicles like the Chevy Montana/Tornado (http://www.chevrolet.com.mx/content_data/LAAM/MX/es/GMMGM/showroom/chevrolet/vehiculos/tornado/index.html - broken link), which has just over a 1600# (735kg) payload, rated 31mpg on the highway (7.6L/100km), and $10,365 price tag (current peso to US exchange rate at current prices) would make a lot of sense to many businesses which don't need a "1/2 ton" pickup that could tow 5 tons.

[Mac_Muz]

Is that a factory rig or home made?

I home made 2 volvo cars both 2 door cars, one was from the 122 Amazon the other a 142.

That reminds me of the Subaru Brat.

[sunsprit]

We had several of the VW Rabbit diesel pick-up trucks for shop errands, a very similar concept truck.

While it wasn't the fastest, it was fine for getting engines, transmissions, body components, barrels of lubricants/anti-freeze, and similar large and bulky items that didn't need our 3/4 ton GMC with the 305 V-6 to haul them.

The VW's got well into the 30 mpg range, and were great loaner vehicles, too. Cheap to operate, and they were also very good in adverse weather/snow conditions. I'd drive one on slick streets anytime before choosing the big truck.

[Narfcake]

Originally Posted by Mac_Muz

Is that a factory rig or home made?

Factory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_Rampage

[outafocus]

Another nice feature of the old VW Rabbit based pickup was how low the bed was. It made loading it VERY easy. The Rabbit truck had a six foot bed, and the Rampage had just a 5 foot bed.

GM has a small front wheel drive pickup for sale in Mexico. MOST people that drive pickups NEED no more than these pickups offer.

[GTOlover]

yeah that was dodges awnser to GM's RWD G-body based El-Camino in the 80's

[M3 Mitch]

It is what it is - a small pickup. Calling it worthless is like saying a .22 is worthless because you can't hunt deer with it.

But I take your point - if you want to pull a cattle trailer that would hold 15-20 head, the little truck won't do it.

Horses for courses.

[Lamborgotti]

The Lincoln Blackwood wasn't very useful, with a bed made with plastic, lined with stainless steel, carpeted, and covered with a power tonneau cover. Only available in black and with RWD.

[sean98125]

We used to use these quite a bit when I was in the Navy. We had a ton of Chryslers after the bailout. We'd use these for supply runs. The 2.2 is a horrible, horrible engine and the things drove like bricks, but they were the right size for what we needed them for.