March 09....

Being Canadian, I had to expect some rust and aging. So last summer I had the car inspedcted and the frame reinforced and welded. I can't wait for summer to drive again.

Every time I drive this car I get one of two responses:
"Who makes that and where can I get one?" (Usually asked by a younger person and I have to laugh.)

My answer usually begins, "What year were you born?", and finishes with "the car's older than you."

The other question that comes up is "Is that an El Camino?" Nope...

I had one young lady who was driving around in her car, jam on her brakes and let me into her lane; which I thought was very nice of her. Fifteen minutes later I'm out showing the car to a friend of mine when, I hear brakes squealing, a car jamming into reverse, and stopping at an odd angle on the street.

It was the courteous woman and she got out and ran up to the car and asked, "Oh my God I was looking all over for you. What kind of car its it? It's beautiful." (gush gush gush..I blush).

Before I had a chance to answer her boyfriend, who was now out of the car and standing near me, answered, "It's an El Camino"

"Actually" I replied" It's not a an El Cami..."

"Oh, It's a Ranchero. That explains the unique grill,"

"No, it's not a Ranchero, it's an '83 Dodge Rampage."

At this point he was dumbfounded. "I didn't know Dodge made one of these. I saw Speed and Track on TV yesterday and they didn't mention it at all. They must be pretty rare."

So I straightened him out on his missing facts, "They only made them for three years and it was the last of the car-trucks made in North America. Ranchero was first, then El Camino, and then Rampage. This particular one is a factory made special order, "Direct Connection" model. This truck actually had as much cargo capactity as a Ford Ranger and yet got 35 miles to the gallon."
I have since been informed that a Direct COnnection Model was only available to us lucky Canadians for 1 year (mid '83), (much like the '84 CS or California Shelby or California Special Rampage was only available in California in '84) and only 248 or so were ever made, thus being second in rarity to the CS Rampge (218 or so) (I have been unable to get Chrysler's comfirmationon these numbers).

At 25 years old this beauty still loooks and drives like new. I am investigating getting the original pinstripe and "Direct Connection" logo back on it.

Another oddity about this car are teh seats. Noramlly the seats were the black and red vinyl fabric sport seats, but this beauty came with factory black and silver vinyl sport seats. From all accounts the balck and silver were not that common, eveen for regular Rampages let alone D.C. models.
Next year the original black and silver piped vinyl seats come out for re-covering.

Still a strong runner, I took it out for a road tour to Point au Baril Ontario in the Spring and it ran rough. Great I thought, I haven't got time for a tune up. Then it hit me, "Why not try Super? Filled it up with the premium stuff and she purred better than ever. Funny how times have changes 91 Octane USED to be regular gas! That's when it hit me, octane is way down these days and the Super is just about right. No more choke gas for me. I'm filling up with the exotics now.

When this beauty became available, my wife came along to check it out (I guess to talk me out of it, or to tell me she "Told me so"). She sat in it and said "I forgot how much fun these cars were.." Well after I got it home, she warmed up to..."You know it is a very nice looking little truck"

Now that my wife knows how rare this beauty is ..she's terrified to drive it!

For the first time ever I have a car which is turning heads and young kids (in their twenties) are asking what kind of car it is. A another friend at work told me I was "nuts" to be looking for one and I should buy an antique Jag or something of value. Well he has been converted too.