While the Dodge Viper GTS was chosen to pace 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 of 2802 “Official Trucks” built in honor of that accolade. Let’s see what it might officially bring today.
If you’re attempting to sell a car that you’ve gone through all the trouble of bringing into the country on your own, you might want to choose one that’s a bit more unique than being based on the best-selling car in history. The 1978 Daihatsu Charmont we looked at yesterday was such a car — based on the E20 edition of Toyota’s perennial Corolla — but to tell the difference, you really had to squint. As nice as the Charmont appeared in the pictures and the pithy description, a lot was asked of it to support a $10,500 asking price. In the end, it seemingly failed in that task, as all it could muster in the vote was a 75 percent No Dice loss.
Here’s a question for you — or two, actually: what have been the coolest and the least coolest cars and/or trucks chosen to pace the annual Indianapolis 500 Memorial Day weekend spectacle? In my mind, the coolest was the Chrysler-Newport Phaeton that paced the last pre-war event in 1941. The least cool? Well, I think an argument can be made for the Oldsmobile Bravada SUV that served in 2001. I mean, come on. Since that Bravada, pace car duties have been awarded to Chevrolet exclusively, with the last 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 car duties for the 80th running of the race were assigned to the Dodge Viper GTS, with the RAM doing truck things for the weekend. Both the Pace car and “Official Truck” gained similar Viper Blue with white strip livery, and both could be fitted with the commemorative decals for the doors.
In addition to the unique looks, the special edition package bumped the standard 5.9-liter Magnum V8’s horsepower by 15, for a total of 245. Adding to the truck’s performance aspirations, the Indy package was only made available on the lightest standard cab short-bed body.
This one looks race-ready and sports its original-spec American Racing alloy wheels. It also has all its stripes and decals, including a massive DODGE across the top of the windshield. That’s likely to vex modern MOPAR marketers who want today’s trucks to be known simply as “Rams.”
Nothing seems amiss here, with even the plastic on the headlamp lenses appearing younger than their true age. The cabin, in gray with a split bench and column shift for the four-speed automatic, presents as well-kept and clean. The only nod to modernity in there is a large floating screen-style stereo head unit that some might find out of step with the rest of the truck’s throwback appearance.
Despite appearing well-maintained and tidy, the truck has had some use over the years. There are 138,00 miles under its wheels, and it is nearly three decades in age. However, the ad still says it “Shifts smooth and just passed smog this week.” It’s also touted to have good tires and brakes and a working air assist for the rear springs. The title is clean, and the seller asks $10,000 for the truck to be taken off their hands.
What’s your take on this “Official Truck” and that $10K asking price? Does that seem fair, given the truck’s appearance and unique nature? Or does that price present an immediate black flag?
You decide!
San Diego, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Don R. for the hookup!
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