While the Dodge Viper GTS was chosen to tempo the Indy 500 in ‘96, Ram pickups did even more heavy lifting for the race week. Today’s Nice Price or No Dice Ram 1500 is one in all 2802 “Official Trucks” in-built honor of that accolade. Let’s see what it would formally carry right this moment.
If you’re making an attempt to promote a automobile that you just’ve gone by all the difficulty of bringing into the nation by yourself, you may need to select one which’s a bit extra distinctive than being primarily based on the best-selling automobile in historical past. The 1978 Daihatsu Charmont we checked out yesterday was such a automobile — primarily based on the E20 version of Toyota’s perennial Corolla — however to inform the distinction, you actually needed to squint. As good because the Charmont appeared within the photos and the pithy description, quite a bit was requested of it to help a $10,500 asking worth. In the top, it seemingly failed in that job, as all it might muster within the vote was a 75 % No Dice loss.
Here’s a query for you — or two, truly: what have been the best and the least coolest vehicles and/or vans chosen to tempo the annual Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day weekend spectacle? In my thoughts, the best was the Chrysler-Newport Phaeton that paced the final pre-war occasion in 1941. The least cool? Well, I believe an argument could be made for the Oldsmobile Bravada SUV that served in 2001. I imply, come on. Since that Bravada, tempo automobile duties have been awarded to Chevrolet completely, with the final seven races being led by a Corvette. Boring!
Today’s 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 is an Indy 500 “Official Truck,” as denoted by its paint scheme and in-your-face door decals. Pace automobile duties for the eightieth operating of the race have been assigned to the Dodge Viper GTS, with the RAM doing truck issues for the weekend. Both the Pace automobile and “Official Truck” gained comparable Viper Blue with white strip livery, and each may very well be fitted with the commemorative decals for the doorways.
In addition to the distinctive appears to be like, the particular version package deal bumped the usual 5.9-liter Magnum V8’s horsepower by 15, for a complete of 245. Adding to the truck’s efficiency aspirations, the Indy package deal was solely made accessible on the lightest normal cab short-bed physique.
This one appears to be like race-ready and sports activities its original-spec American Racing alloy wheels. It additionally has all its stripes and decals, together with an enormous DODGE throughout the highest of the windshield. That’s more likely to vex trendy MOPAR entrepreneurs who need right this moment’s vans to be recognized merely as “Rams.”
Nothing appears amiss right here, with even the plastic on the headlamp lenses showing youthful than their true age. The cabin, in grey with a cut up bench and column shift for the four-speed computerized, presents as well-kept and clear. The solely nod to modernity in there’s a giant floating screen-style stereo head unit that some may discover out of step with the remainder of the truck’s throwback look.
Despite showing well-maintained and tidy, the truck has had some use over time. There are 138,00 miles below its wheels, and it’s practically three a long time in age. However, the advert nonetheless says it “Shifts smooth and just passed smog this week.” It’s additionally touted to have good tires and brakes and a working air help for the rear springs. The title is clear, and the vendor asks $10,000 for the truck to be taken off their arms.
What’s your tackle this “Official Truck” and that $10K asking worth? Does that appear truthful, given the truck’s look and distinctive nature? Or does that worth current an instantaneous black flag?
You determine!
San Diego, California, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
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Source: jalopnik.com