Ram research
Ram truck history: from the Power Wagon to the TRX
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Dodge first used the Ram name on its full-size pickups for the 1981 model year. The Cummins diesel arrived in 1989, the 1994 redesign turned the Ram into a big seller, and Ram became its own brand, separate from Dodge, in 2009. Today's lineup spans the 1500, Heavy Duty trucks, Power Wagon, Rebel and the supercharged TRX.
Ram history timeline
Milestones link to a full history page with years and production numbers, key variants, what changed and what to check before you buy one.
1946
The civilian Power Wagon
Dodge turned its wartime WC-series 4x4 into the civilian WDX Power Wagon, sold from spring 1946. A total of 95,145 WDX/WM300 Power Wagons were sold in the U.S. through 1968.[1],[2]
1981
The Dodge Ram name appears
Dodge's restyled D- and W-series full-size pickups took the Ram name and ram's-head hood ornament for 1981 — the same model year U.S. vehicles moved to the standardized 17-character VIN. Four-wheel-drive versions were sold as the Power Ram.[2],[3],[4]
1989
The Cummins diesel
The first Cummins-powered Ram went on sale in 1989 with a 5.9-liter turbodiesel inline-six rated at 160 hp and 400 lb-ft. Cummins celebrated its three-millionth engine built for Ram trucks in 2019.[3],[5],[6]
1994
The big-rig Ram
The second-generation Ram's big-rig styling was a hit: U.S. sales rose from 95,542 in 1993 to 232,092 in 1994 and about 410,000 in 1995, and the truck was Motor Trend's 1994 Truck of the Year.[3]
2004
Ram SRT-10
Dodge put the Viper's 8.3-liter V10, rated at 500 hp, into the Ram 1500 for the 2004–2006 SRT-10, first as a regular cab and from 2005 as a Quad Cab.[3],[7]
2005
Power Wagon returns
The Power Wagon name came back on an off-road Ram 2500 with a 5.7-liter HEMI V8, electronic front and rear lockers and a 12,000-lb winch.[2]
2009
Ram becomes its own brand
In Chrysler's 2009 restructuring, Ram trucks were split from Dodge into a separate brand; the trucks carried Ram-only badging from the 2011 model year.[3],[8]
2015
Ram 1500 Rebel
The off-road-styled Rebel debuted at the January 2015 Detroit auto show with 33-inch tires and a lifted air suspension.[9],[10]
2019
Fifth-generation Ram
The DT-generation Ram 1500 launched for 2019 with the eTorque mild-hybrid system; the previous truck stayed on sale as the Ram 1500 Classic through 2024. The DT won Motor Trend Truck of the Year in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2025.[3]
2021
Ram 1500 TRX
Ram's supercharged 702 hp off-road pickup went on sale; all 702 Launch Edition trucks were ordered in less than a day.[11],[12]
2025
Hurricane straight-six
The 2025 Ram 1500 replaced the HEMI V8 with the twin-turbo 3.0-liter Hurricane six, rated at 420 hp or 540 hp in High Output form. The HEMI returned as an option for 2026.[13],[14]
2027
SRT TRX and a diesel Power Wagon
Ram revived the TRX as the 777 hp Ram 1500 SRT TRX and offered the Power Wagon with the 6.7-liter Cummins for the first time.[15],[16]
Ram 1500 generations at a glance
| Generation | Model years | Platform | Notable engines |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 1981–1993 | D/W series | Slant-six, V8s; 5.9L Cummins diesel from 1989 (Heavy Duty) |
| Second | 1994–2002 | BR/BE | V8s; 8.0L V10; 5.9L Cummins (Heavy Duty) |
| Third | 2002–2008 (1500) | DR | 5.7L HEMI V8 (from 2003); 8.3L V10 SRT-10 |
| Fourth | 2009–2018 (sold as 1500 Classic through 2024) | DS | 5.7L HEMI V8; 3.6L V6 (2013); 3.0L EcoDiesel (2014) |
| Fifth | 2019–today | DT | 5.7L HEMI eTorque; 3.0L Hurricane six (2025); supercharged 6.2L (TRX) |
Full detail and buying advice: Dodge Ram history.
Every Ram model history
Ram 1500
- Dodge Ram history (1981–today)
- Ram TRX history (2021–2024, 2027–today)
- Ram Rebel history (2015–today)
Ram Heavy Duty
- Ram Power Wagon history (1946–1980, 2005–today)
How to check a Ram's factory build
Standardized 17-character VINs began with model year 1981[4]. For a 1981-or-later Ram, CarWhere can check a VIN for licensed factory build data and, when it exists, list the equipment the vehicle was built with in plain English: see the Ram build sheet by VIN or the model pages for 1500, 2500 and 3500. Coverage varies by VIN and model year. Earlier vehicles are identified by their original serial number, body (fender or data) tag and engine stampings instead.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Dodge Ram come out?
The Ram name first appeared on Dodge's full-size pickups for the 1981 model year, on a restyled version of the D-series truck that dated to 1972.
When did Ram split from Dodge?
Chrysler made Ram a separate brand during its 2009 restructuring. Trucks were badged only as Ram from the 2011 model year.
What year did Dodge start using Cummins engines?
1989. Cummins lists 1989 as the year the first Cummins-powered Ram reached customers, with a 5.9-liter turbodiesel inline-six rated at 160 hp and 400 lb-ft.
How many Ram 1500 generations are there?
Five: 1981–1993, 1994–2002, 2002–2008, 2009–2018 (sold as the 1500 Classic through 2024) and the current DT generation from 2019.
Is the Ram TRX coming back?
Yes. After the 2024 Final Edition, Ram announced the 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX with a 777 hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8, with sales starting in the second half of 2026.
More Ram research
Sources
Production figures and dates come from Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram) press materials and brand sites, reputable automotive press and auction houses wherever available; auction figures are public results from the auction house. References marked secondary are encyclopedic or enthusiast sources used only where a primary figure was not available. Market medians are CarWhere's own analysis of live US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers.
- Classic Pickup: 1946–68 Dodge Power Wagon (May 6, 2017) — Cars.com
- Dodge Power Wagon — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Ram pickup (generations, engines, sales by year) — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- 49 CFR Part 565 — Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) requirements — eCFR (U.S. Government)
- Cummins-Ram History — Cummins Inc.
- Cummins Celebrates Production of Three Millionth Diesel Engine for Ram Trucks — The Drive
- 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10 — valuation and model history — Hagerty
- Why Is Ram No Longer Part Of The Dodge Brand? — SlashGear
- Ram unveils the 2015 Rebel: a new off-roading pickup with a fresh look (Jan. 2015) — Equipment World
- 2015 Ram 1500 Rebel — Digital Trends
- Ram Announces 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Launch Edition (Aug. 17, 2020) — Stellantis North America Media
- Ram TRX Launch Edition sold out: all 702 orders filled in less than one day — Stellantis Media
- New 2025 Ram 1500 with more powerful, more fuel-efficient Hurricane engine family unveiled (Nov. 7, 2023) — Stellantis Media
- 2026 Ram 1500 Rebel Review: The HEMI Returns, But The Hurricane Is Still Strong (Jan. 2026) — Pickup Truck Talk
- 2027 Ram 1500 SRT TRX: Hellcat debut, first look — Edmunds
- 2027 Ram Power Wagon diesel debut: first look — Edmunds
Independent reference compiled by CarWhere Research — not affiliated with or endorsed by Stellantis. Ram, Jeep, Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler, HEMI, Hellcat, SRT, Mopar, Wrangler, Cherokee, Gladiator and the other model names are trademarks of their owners.