24 cars blue sky: Junkyard Find: 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector

11 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Even as the K-cars became a huge success, Chrysler didn't give up on the Simca-derived Omnirizon platform. In fact, the 2.2/2.5 engine helped extend the Omnirizon's life until the 1990s. We've seen a fair number of Omnirizon-based Junkyard Finds, including this '78 Horizon, this '84 Turismo, this '85 Shelby Charger, this '86 Omni, and this this Shelby-ized '86 Omni GLH, and now I've managed to find one of the rarest of all: the pickup-truck Omnirizon!
01 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin This truck came fully loaded with options, including cruise control, air conditioning, clock, and Prospector emblems.
07 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Sporty red-striped bucket seats!
14 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin Chrysler was very proud of their all-Detroit 2.2 engine (no Mitsubishi, Hillman, or Simca genes in the 2.2), and this truck is covered with 2.2 emblems.
19 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin The chunky DODGE emblem on the tailgate would make more sense on a 3/4-ton pickup, but it still works here. Remember, 1983 was the last year of the Malaise Era, with a new optimism appearing in Detroit vehicles.
21 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin The Rampage couldn't haul much of a load— you don't want to shift too much weight to the rear on a front-wheel-drive vehicle, anyway— but it was quite useful for hauling of lightweight items.
22 - 1983 Dodge Rampage Prospector Down On the Junkyard - Picture courtesy of Murilee Martin I'll need to let the members of the Haulin' Ass Plymouth Scamp 24 Hours of LeMons team know about this truck, since I'm sure they always need parts.