Ram 1500 History
Ram's half-ton full-size pickup and the brand's flagship — known for its coil-spring/air-suspension ride and RamBox bedside storage.
Photo: “Ram 1500 Pickup Truck (49376517091)” by Tony Webster from United States / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
The Ram 1500 traces to the Dodge D-series, rebadged 'Ram' for 1981 and redesigned into the bold big-rig-look truck for 1994. When Chrysler split Ram from Dodge in 2010, the half-ton 1500 became the new brand's flagship; the truck on sale at the time was the fourth-generation (DS) Ram, launched as a 2009 model with a multi-link coil-spring rear suspension that gave it a smoother ride than its leaf-sprung rivals.
The current fifth-generation Ram 1500 (DT) debuted at the 2018 Detroit auto show for the 2019 model year, growing lighter and roomier with a class-defining interior, an available 12-inch touchscreen, optional air suspension, and a 48-volt eTorque mild-hybrid system on its 3.6L Pentastar V6 and 5.7L Hemi V8. The RamBox cargo-management system — weatherproof, lockable, drainable bins in the bedsides — remained a signature feature.
To keep a lower-priced truck in showrooms, Ram retained the previous-generation body as the 'Ram 1500 Classic' for 2019 through 2024, selling the old and new designs side by side for several years.
Generations
Fourth generation (under Ram brand) · DS
Photo: “Ram 1500 Pickup Truck (49376517091)” by Tony Webster from United States / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The truck Ram inherited at the 2010 split (launched as a 2009 Dodge): coil-spring rear suspension, optional air suspension and the RamBox storage system. Sold on as the 'Ram 1500 Classic' after 2018.
Fifth generation · DT
Photo: “2022 RAM 1500 Sport GT in Flame Red, front right, 2026-06-28” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Redesigned for 2019 — lighter, roomier, with a class-leading interior, available 12-inch screen, air suspension and a 48-volt eTorque mild-hybrid option.
2019 Photo: “2019 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Laramie Sport 5.7 Hemi 4x4 at the Paris Motor Show 2018 (1Y7A1522)” by Matti Blume / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2020 Photo: “2020 Ram 1500 Rebel Crew Cab 4x4, front left” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2021 Photo: “2021 Ram 1500 Hemi 5.7” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
2022 Photo: “2022 RAM 1500 Sport GT in Flame Red, front right, 2026-06-28” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Regular cab
- Quad cab
- Crew cab
Notable special editions & performance variants
1500 Classic
The fourth-generation body kept in production alongside the new fifth-gen truck as a lower-priced model, 2019–2024.
Rebel
The off-road-styled 1500 with a lifted suspension, skid plates and an available factory air-suspension setup.
Limited / Longhorn
Top luxury trims — the Longhorn (introduced as the Laramie Longhorn for 2011, with Western-themed leather and wood interior) and the Limited (which topped the range as the Laramie Limited from 2015 and became a standalone flagship trim with the 2019 redesign).
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the Ram 1500
Search Amazon across available years, colors, and scales. Exact releases vary, so confirm the listing before ordering.