Ram redesigned its pickup truck for the 2019 model year, which means it’s relatively old at this point. And yet, it’s not the oldest Ram you can still buy new. For whatever reason, Ram just kept selling the old 1500 alongside the new one. The Ram 1500 Classic as it is now known was originally introduced in 2009, and still refuses to die. Until now. Ram has confirmed to the Drive that it plans to take the Classic out behind the shed to give it the Old Yeller treatment.
In a statement, a Ram spokesperson said:
The Ram 1500 Classic has been a great entry point pickup for Ram and the Tradesman model has certainly represented the needs of our commercial truck customers. With the introduction of the Tradesman trim on the new Ram 1500 for 2024 model year, we bid farewell to the previous generation and remind customers that the Hemi-powered Ram 1500 Classic will sell into 2025.
So there you have it. After 17 years, the Ram 1500 Classic will finally die off. What’s not clear, though, is when production will officially end. In fact, it’s entirely possible that production has already ended, and Ram believes it has enough inventory to last into 2025. A recent Automotive News article suggests as much, citing a seat supplier that announced plans to lay off some of its staff by the end of September.
The Classic’s death doesn’t just mark the end of an era for a very old pickup truck, though. It also marks the end of the line for Ram’s 5.7-liter V8. Instead, if you want more power than the base V6 offers, you’ll have to settle for a twin-turbo inline-six that “only” makes 540 horsepower and 521 pound-feet of torque.