NO LONGER AVAILABLE Listing ended Oct 5, 2026

1981 Dodge Ram

$5,695

Vehicle Details

Make

Dodge

Model

Ram

Year

1981

Mileage

125,000 miles

VIN

AMS26278

Body Type

Pickup Truck

Transmission

Automatic

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

Inline 6

Description

1981 Dodge ram long bed. Truck was running about 2 years ago but some guys started to do the timing and left it as it is and so not sure anymore about the motor but truck and body is very good,, clean title in hand,, six inline motor automatic.

Dodge Ram / D-Series Buyer's Guide (1972–1993)

Full guide

Robert Halloran

Classic Trucks

1972–1993

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Dodge D-series and its Ram successor are the most underappreciated American work trucks of the muscle era, available with the 440 big-block and, from 1989, the first-generation Cummins 6BT diesel that changed the pickup truck world. Find a solid one and you've got a truck that'll outlast everything around it.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Ram Buyer's Guide

Dodge Ram Market Overview

Based on 38 Dodge Ram listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$16,502

Avg. Asking Price

1971–1999

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site - Below Average

This car: $5,695

Low: $5,495 High: $43,995

Transmission Distribution

Automatic 74% ◄

Manual 16%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 8%

Good 11%

Fair 3%

Poor 3%

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 38 listings →

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Dodge Ram / D-Series Buyer's Guide (1972–1993)

I've owned Dodge trucks most of my adult life, and I'll tell you what I tell everybody who asks: the D-series and early Ram are tougher than their reputation suggests and cheaper than they deserve to be. The Cummins 12-valve especially, there's a reason those engines are still running hard at 400,000 miles. The sheet metal rusts like everything else from that era, but the mechanicals underneath are honest and proven. Buy the best body you can find and the rest takes care of itself.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Rear wheel arch probe , Probe inside arch at cab junction (primary external rust zone

✓

Frame spring hanger inspection , Get under truck, tap frame at rear spring mounts) structural rust zone

✓

Cab corner condition , Inspect lower rear cab corners, condition reflects overall storage quality

✓

Bed floor and sides , Check bed floor for rust-through, especially on working trucks

✓

Floor pan interior , Lift floor mat inside cab and probe pans

✓

Cummins lift pump , On diesel: verify lift pump function, failure damages injection pump

✓

Cummins coolant check , On diesel: check coolant for oil contamination and correct DCA additive levels

✓

440 cooling system , On big-block gas: verify radiator sizing and hose condition

✓

4WD transfer case , Engage 4WD and verify smooth transfer case engagement and no leaks

✓

Injection pump condition (Cummins) , Ask about any boost modifications, stock VE pump has limits

Common Issues

Rear wheel arch rust from packed debris behind inner fender is the signature failure on these trucks. Frame corrosion at spring hanger brackets is structural. Cab corner rust is cosmetic but indicates overall storage and maintenance quality. Floor pan rust from failed door seals. On 440 gas trucks: carburetor rebuilds needed on most unrestored examples; overheating from neglected cooling systems damages the B/RB block gaskets. On Cummins trucks: the 12-valve 6BT itself is extremely reliable, but lift pump failure starves the injection pump causing wear; coolant system maintenance is critical (iron block + aluminum head requires correct coolant chemistry). Transfer case seals leak with age on W-series 4WD.

What to Look For

Rear wheel arch rust, probe at the top of the arch where it meets the cab. Frame rails at rear spring hanger brackets, inspect from underneath with a hammer tap test. Cab corners and lower cab rear for cosmetic rust condition. Bed floor and sides on working trucks. Floor pans inside cab. On 440 trucks: verify cooling system adequacy (big-blocks run warm in a truck). On Cummins trucks: check injection pump for unauthorized boost modifications; inspect for coolant in oil (head gasket) and oil in coolant; verify intercooler hoses on later models. Check transfer case operation on W-series 4WD trucks.

Price Guide

Driver-quality 1972–1988 gas D/W-series: $8,000–$16,000. Show quality: $18,000–$28,000. 440-powered trucks: driver $15,000–$22,000. First-gen Cummins (1989–1993) driver: $18,000–$30,000; low-mileage: $35,000–$50,000+. The Cummins premium over equivalent gas trucks is 50–100% and growing. A W-series 4WD commands 15–25% over equivalent 2WD D-series at every condition level.

Did You Know?

The Dodge Power Wagon name dates to 1945, one of the oldest continuous truck nameplates in American history. The 1989 Ram was the first domestic pickup sold new with a diesel engine as a standard (not special-order) option. Cummins 12-valve engines have been documented at over 1 million miles in commercial service without internal rebuilds. The 440 cubic inch big-block V8 in a half-ton D-150 made it one of the fastest-accelerating domestic pickups of the 1970s by a wide margin.

$5,695