The Dodge Ram pickup line entered the 1982 model year with a proven platform (the D series, introduced in 1972) and a shiny new nameplate. In 1981, just the year before, the Dodge truck line was renamed Dodge Ram, foreshadowing the change that created the Ram Trucks brand in 2009.
In company nomenclature of that period, D or Ram indicated a two-wheel drive chassis, while W and Super Ram signified four-wheel drive. The D150, as shown here, was offered in Standard Cab and Club Cab (extended cab with jump seats) versions, while bed options included the Sweptline (shown) and Utiline (step and fender) styles in both 6.5-ft. and 8-ft. lengths.
Powerplant choices for ’82 included a 3.69-liter (225 cubic inches) slant six and a 5.2-liter (318 cubic inches) LA-series V8. Both engines were tried and true designs and turned in respectable performance and fuel economy coupled to the standard four-speed manual or optional three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The six-cylinder, manual-transmission version was rated at over 30 miles per gallon on the highway, an impressive figure even today.
One interesting standard feature on D150 pickups that year was a new Ram mascot on the hood. A stylized version of the artfully sculptured Ram ornament introduced in 1931, the oversized Ram was more than a little reminiscent of the big, imposing hood ornaments found on 18-wheelers. The mascot was an effective tie-in with the truck line’s marketing banner that year: “Power, Endurance, and Ram Tough for ’82.”
