Those who want a new Ram 1500 with a V8 engine should hurry up and buy the Classic while stocks last
- The Ram 1500 Classic will be discontinued after 2024, making way for the newer 1500 Tradesman.
- The truck is a continuation of the previous generation Ram 1500 that has been available since 2008.
- The end of production means the discontinuation of the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine.
Ram has announced that its 1500 Classic pickup truck will be discontinued after the 2024 model year, which effectively means the half-ton pickup segment’s much-loved 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine is no more. While the Classic pickup truck will be available until 2025, availability will taper off over time.
The Ram 1500 Classic is a holdover from the previous-generation truck that was introduced in 2008 and has been sold alongside the current-generation Ram 1500 as a more affordable alternative since 2018. That will change starting with the 2025 model year, with the new model’s Tradesman trim serving as the entry-level option.
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Stellantis spokesperson Jodi Tinson issued the following statement to the media: “The Ram 1500 Classic is an excellent entry-level pickup truck for Ram, and the Tradesman model undoubtedly represents what our commercial truck customers want. With the introduction of the Tradesman trim for the new 2024 Ram 1500, we bid farewell to the previous generation and remind customers that the HEMI-powered Ram 1500 Classic will be sold until 2025.”
In April 2024, Ram discontinued the 1500 Classic in Canada and said it would continue to produce it in the U.S. and Mexico. Ram did not disclose a specific date for the end of production at the Warren Truck Assembly Plant, but Automotive News reported that the end date would be this fall.
Eliminating the Classic from the 1500 lineup marks the end of the Hemi 5.7-liter V8 engine, which delivered 395 hp (295 kW / 401 PS) and 410 lb-ft (556 Nm) of torque. However, the Hemi legend will live on, with a 6.4-liter version set to power large, heavy-duty trucks.
The new Ram 1500 is available with either a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter Hurricane inline-six, the latter of which has more power and torque than the discontinued V8 despite having two fewer cylinders.
while stocks last
The 1500 Classic is now available on Ram’s official website, with a suggested retail price of $38,705 for the Tradesman and $43,635 for the Warlock. Both models come standard with a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine is an option for $2,545, and an additional $500 is required if you want to choose a compatible eight-speed automatic transmission.
By comparison, the entry-level 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman starts at $40,275, which is $1,570 more expensive than the 2024 Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman. All prices exclude the $1,995 destination charge.
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