Summary

• The Dodge Warlock was a part of the “Adult Toys” line of specialised autos within the late 70s, providing distinctive designs and highly effective engines to face out from customary variations.
• With its iconic styling, together with gold trim, flared wheel arches, and a picket mattress, the Warlock turned heads then and continues to take action now.
• The revived Warlock, out there as an elective bundle for the Ram vehicles lineup, presents up to date options and fashionable efficiency, nevertheless it stays restricted in comparison with the unique design.

Picture your self in 1978. You’ve received some cash within the financial institution and want to flash it with a pleasant new automotive. You need one thing that makes a press release, however you want one thing large, one thing you’ll be able to carry your canines round in. You open the newspaper, and it hits you proper within the face. The Warlock.

The 70s have been a legendary period of experimentation and innovation within the auto world. From Ford to Ferrari firms pushed new designs and new manufacturers that redefined what the patron might anticipate within the showroom and on the roads. Chrysler-Dodge was no exception. Their late 70’s mind blast was a specialised line of bigger autos (vehicles, SUVs, vans) known as “Adult Toys”, and one of many crown jewels of that line was the Dodge Warlock.

Fast ahead to fashionable occasions, and Dodge has revived the model for his or her present Ram choices. Bringing again the model and energy of the unique to a brand new technology.

In order to provide the newest and correct data attainable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from numerous producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Bring A Trailer.

Dodge’s Adult Toy Line

After releasing the “Dude” at the beginning of the last decade, Dodge expanded their providing of particular version vehicles and vans with the 1977 “Adult Toys” Line. With a cheeky identify and a brand new set of particular autos, Dodge hoped to capitalize on the pattern of auto modification with a line of enjoyable manufacturing autos that stood aside from their customary variations. Emissions legal guidelines of the time additionally compelled producers to get inventive with how they may launch vehicles with larger and extra highly effective engines, “Adult Toys” was Dodge’s resolution to these restrictions.

Available “Adult Toys”

• The Ramcharger, an SUV set to compete with the Ford Bronco
• The Dodge Street Van, a manufacturing providing of the “Shag Wagons” standard on the time
• The Macho Power Wagon, a two-toned sporty pickup
• The Lil’ Red Express, a sizzling pickup with stack exhausts, designed for quarter miles
• The Warlock, the “ultimate status pickup”

A Side Note On The Lil’ Red Express

The Lil’ Red Express was the one different member of the “Adult Toys” line that rivaled the Warlock in iconic standing. In 1978 it was among the many quickest American vehicles produced. The styling and pace created a powerful following that continues to be to at the present time. Good-condition examples are in demand and might promote for almost as much as brand-new Dodge trucks.

What Set The Warlock Apart

The Warlock was based mostly on the short-wheelbase D-100 and D-150 series Dodge pickups. Dodge famous that many customers have been modifying their short-wheelbase pickups and emulated a few of these widespread modifications within the Warlock. Dodge courted a rising center class searching for assertion items for his or her driveways.

Iconic Styling

The Warlock turned an iconic model by way of its head-turning seems. Firstly, Dodge added the gold trim (with elective gold wheels), flared wheel arches, and a lifted suspension. They provided bucket seats, a particular dashboard, and their “Tuff Wheel” efficiency steering wheel to make the inside look extra like a Charger or Challenger than a pickup.

Then, in fact, in addition they provided the elective picket mattress with large picket runners, which gave the Warlock its memorable silhouette. All of those additions imbued the Warlock with a timeless model that turned heads then and continues to show them now.

A Potent Powertrain

The Warlock wasn’t only a truck meant to make your neighbors jealous with its seems. Dodge additionally provided a V-8 engine with as much as 440 cubic inches in dimension. They additionally provided a 4×4 drivetrain. The dashboards boasted speedometers clocking over 100 MPH, completely exceptional for vehicles on the time. As good as this truck seemed, it had blink-and-you’ll-miss-it energy, particularly for comparable vehicles of its period.

Dodge Revives The Warlock

The Warlock’s manufacturing run ended on the end of the 70’s as the second Oil Crisis hit the U.S. and manufacturing objectives for producers shifted again in direction of effectivity. For about 40 years the model was retired, with collectors and gearheads sustaining its legacy at auctions, reveals, and meet-ups throughout the nation. In 2019, all that modified when Dodge introduced the Warlock again as a sub-model of its Ram vehicles lineup.

A New Warlock For A New Generation

Long gone is Dodge’s “Adult Toy” period, and with it the particular particular person manufacturing of Warlock fashions. This time round, the Warlock model served as an elective bundle for the Ram 1500 Classic. However, the Warlock model didn’t depart its model within the 70’s.

The revived Warlock introduced an up to date grille, black bumpers, and wheel arches, in addition to 20-inch black wheels. Warlock decals and logos littered the outside and inside. The 2019 Warlock got here in a quad cab or crew cab configurations, each with a lifted journey in keeping with the unique.

A V-8 Option Is Available, Just Like With The Original Warlock

While The Warlock model was introduced again for its model, drivers of the brand new truck weren’t left with out energy and work functionality. The new model of the Warlock provided an elective V-8 with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. With the V-8 you bought a 1,970-pound payload and a 12,750-pound towing capability. The 2019 Warlock got here with an LED-lit mattress and the Rambox system for storage.

The 2024 Dodge Warlock

For the brand new mannequin yr (as has been because the 2023 mannequin yr), the Warlock trim package is now part of the present Tradesman Ram 1500 sequence quite than the Classic sequence it was revived for. The Warlock mannequin is now positioned as a funds off-roading model of the Tradesman, with the Warlock bundle including one other $2,995 to the $38,555 base MSRP of the Tradesman trim. As all the time, the Warlock model is a method improve to the usual truck.

What’s New For 2024

As with the 2023 mannequin, the Warlock bundle provides lifted suspension and Bilstein shocks. It additionally consists of an upgraded rear differential in addition to large 33-inch tires. With these upgrades, Dodge hopes to supply a reliable, competitively-priced off-road truck that may nonetheless flip some heads. As with different fashionable Warlock fashions, black wheels, grille, bumper, and wheel arch particulars are included to offer that spell-binding look.

V-6 Tradesman Warlock 4×4 Specifications

(Source: RAM Trucks)

From Past To Future

While the Warlock started as a particular manufacturing mannequin, the revival has introduced the model in keeping with the mainstream Dodge pickup truck. Both variations hope to offer a method improve and extra efficiency. That all being stated, it is exhausting to disclaim how particular that unique design is, and the way way more it stands out than the trendy Warlock.

While the model hasn’t misplaced all of its magic, it is exhausting to go from being dubbed an “Adult Toy” to a easy trim stage. While the Warlock lives on, it does so in a restricted format in comparison with its genesis. Perhaps Dodge will revamp the model and let the Warlock again out to forged one other spell on the motoring world.