http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png http://jalopnik.com/tag/1500 http://jalopnik.com/tag/1500

Chrysler needs a name for their entry-level Ram 1500, which offers the 390-hp 5.7-liter HEMI V8 in a cheap ($23,830) regular-cab pickup. Available in 4x2/4x4 with three rear-axle ratio choices and vinyl bench seats, why not call it awesome? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5761265&view=rss&microfeed=true

Hibernating cars and a general lack of automotive stimuli this time of year has us perusing craigslist and counting seconds until spring. Although it happens every year, recently we've started considering something automotive that would provide us with a little amusement in the depths of winter without costing enough to care about the inevitable damage year round use will cause. What is the most automotive amusement $1500 or less will buy you on craigslist? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5758489&view=rss&microfeed=true

Considering the tremendous capabilities and competency displayed by the 2009 Ford F-150, it's anything but a surprise the truck has been awarded the Truck of Texas title by the Texas Auto Writers Association, making it the sixth year in a row Ford has owned those bragging rights. It was a good year for Ford and no doubt, cost-responsible champagne will be flowing. However, we're definitely confused by this next part. Apparently TAWA also awarded the 2009 Dodge Ram "Full-size Truck of Texas," something which seems to directly contradict the idea of awarding the F-150 the "Truck of Texas." More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5066312&view=rss&microfeed=true

When the chief (at the time, chief-in-training) took a close up look at the then-new 2007 Chevy Silverado, the major improvements made in the areas of ride-and-handling, body control and interior design were fairly evident. We got to wondering, given the Silverado is now competing against the new Tundra and two new domestic competitors in the form of the 2009 Dodge Ram and 2009 Ford F-150, does the truck which debuted in 2006 still stack up? Well, a new engine and a six-speed transmission mean the 2009 Silverado comes to the table with a whole new set of bragging rights. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5048476&view=rss&microfeed=true

In two months, the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram will launch into the softest truck market in decades. In an effort to clear the store shelves and make way for the new truck, Chrysler is offering a whopping 6 years of 0% financing on the 2008 Dodge Ram to help motivate buyers into the showroom and help empty the lots. The deal, announced on a conference call today, seems to be part of an "oh crap, we've gotta move steel" trend at Chrysler these days. Who could forget the $2.99 gas incentive, or the "hey lets get cow crap all over downtown Detroit" stunt. Man, that one was the greatest. [Auto News via Pickuptrucks.com] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=398303&view=rss&microfeed=true

Since those wily Mopar-lovin' bastards at Allpar and the never-lovin' Mopar aristocrats at the Times (who knew they were such trouble-makers!) have gone and dropped the cover on the new 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, we've decided to drop trou on our embargoed pictures of the new Ram-headed bull-dodging pickup truck. The newly hotted-up Ram (thanks to chief truck designer Ralph Gilles) gets a similarly new 5.7-liter Hemi V8 — giving it more horsepower than the previous generation, 380 hp. And a similar boost in torque up to 404 lb-ft. But it's not just under the hood where the Ram's seeing some monumental changes. There's also the RamBox cargo management system available in the crew cab which includes a weatherproof, lockable, illuminated and drainable storage bin built into each of the bed rails — with a total of 8.6 cubic feet of space. That's enough room to hold up to 10 cases of 12-ounce beverages — we'll let you choose which beverage in your RamBox, but we'd choose bottles of Bell's Oberon. But there's even more drink storage locations — like the "store in the floor" storage bins with removable liners, big enough for ten 12-ounce beverages and ice. Also, check out that interior — suh-weet! All we've got to say is — well played Dodge. Your move Ford. Oh and yeah, we've also got a press release after the jump, but if you want the real skinny on the new Horn-y hauler, there's a pretty good site we know of with more detail than you can shake a horn at.
More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=344125&view=rss&microfeed=true

Looks like yet another enterprising amateur spy photographer's happened upon a heavily camouflaged 2009 Dodge Ram hitting the wide open expanses of I-75. We'll just add these shots we received from user "fordchevydodge" on the site all about the Inside News at GM to the ever-expanding list of horned hauler shots we've already seen. This time however, instead of circling the Auburn Hills Embassy Suites, this uncastrated male sheep was caught a little further South. This Quad Cab version of the Dodge heavy hauler was part of what appears to be a convoy (or is it a pride) of the trucks running the Michigan-Florida gauntlet. These particular shots show the team (or is it a pack) heading North near Atlanta. The new-for-2009 Ram's expected to be running with a few different upgrades under the hood including a new Phoenix V6 with supposedly greater power and better fuel economy, a 4.7-liter V8 or a revised Hemi — for more marketing mojo than ever before. We're expecting we'll probably see the new range of trucks grabbing life by the horns at the Chicago Auto Show at the beginning of next year. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=324101&view=rss&microfeed=true

If these spy shots are taken at face value, the next Dodge Ram 1500 pickup could come with its own trench coat. Still, Dodge has to come on strong with its continual also-ran truck line (saleswise), and will do it with an upgraded Hemi, Phoenix V6 with more power and better fuel economy and a revised 4.7-liter V8 that will be ethanol capable and get better mileage than the paleo-eight it replaces. [Pickup Truck.com] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=291921&view=rss&microfeed=true

Yesterday we told that the engine from the Karmann Ghia Type III we're sorta helping to rebuild had to be yanked out because of a bad noise. Well, we just got the word from nous bon ami Scott and here is the why. If you remember way back to the beginning of this set of posts, you will recall that one of the pistons was bad. So, Scott replaced it. Turns out that the new-old stock part is – wait for it – 1/6000th of an inch taller than it should be. So, it was whacking against the head, forcing the exhaust valve to open. Which is why the noise sounded like an exhaust leak. Bad news: Scott needs four new pistons. Good news: pistons are cheap. Better news: new engines are pretty cheap, too, and lots of much more powerful mills will bolt right in. And yes, we are going to suggest an engine from a STI. – Jonny Lieberman More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266978&view=rss&microfeed=true

Dang nab it. Last week we reported on our preliminary road test of crony Scott's Type III. In that report we, uh – reported – that the engine was making some funny noises. Scott figured these stemmed from an exhaust leak. Well guess what? Bad motivator on exhaust valve number two. And with only 15 miles between teardowns, too. Sigh... Scott, however, is claiming that she'll be ship shape and back on the road within a week or two. We'll let you know. And it looks like that motorcycle jack really is useful if you want to haul a long block around. – Jonny Lieberman More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=266289&view=rss&microfeed=true

Oh happy day! Nearly 11 months since we first became involved in the rebuild, our pal Scott's 1962 Volkswagen 1500 left the garage. Actually, it was motoring about the day before we showed up to snap picks and drive it. Only we were out of town. Still, and you will agree if have rebuilt a car, that first drive is wedding night bliss after a long, difficult and oftentimes sweaty courtship. And I only did about 0.02% of the work. Still, I knew going in that even if the brakes failed on the way down the hill and we T-boned a Volvo, it would be awesome. And we didn't hit any Volvos. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=264335&view=rss&microfeed=true

Looks like Dodge's two-ton pickup's got the Ralph Gilles treatment going on up front as one of Priddy's pride of spy photogs caught some shots of what PickupTruck.com's claiming is the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500. The next-gen hauler from ChrysCerebus... Cerebysler... err... the former 'merican side of the former German-American hybrid...is sporting a more Charger-like front-end with what may be a more aerodynamic design. The same look helped propel the Gilles-ster to the forefront of automotive design and since last April, to the veep slot of Jeep/Truck Design. But the change on the front end isn't the only place the site all about trucks that pick stuff up claims there's new stuff going on. They're claiming: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=262076&view=rss&microfeed=true

After doing the post about the greatest motorcycle movie ever made and screaming mea culpa about following Davey over to Coop's place for some seriously sloppy seconds, we actually went ahead and peaked at Buddy Scott's VW+VW1500 restoration blog where we discovered this gem. Forerunner to the Pirelli Calendar? Absolutely. 1965 1500S Karmann-Ghia? Oh my, yes. – Jonny Lieberman More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=229557&view=rss&microfeed=true

Buddy Scott has been blogging up a storm over on what was supposed to be a restoration chronicle of his Type III but instead has turned into (probably) the most complete site on teh interwebs for all things VW 1500. So be it. We find this particular entry fascinating cause we dig old car ads so much. Essentially, and paraphrasing Scott, VeeDub needed to emphasize that unlike how the BMW 700 completely replaced the bubbly 600/Isetta, the new 1500 was in fact a sibling to the Bug. To hit people over the head with this duality, the car of the people came up with the Swiss Modern style "Volkswagen + VW 1500" advertisements. Which, as happenstance would have it, is where Scott got the name for his blog. Click the link for some interesting reading and really cool old-timey photos. – Jonny Lieberman More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=227629&view=rss&microfeed=true

Buddy Scott is making slow but steady progress on the rebuild of his totally rare Type III. So much progress in fact he had to start a blog. And while the vehicle in question may be lacking the ALUMINUM UND SHTEEL! found in modern Deutsche-coupes, Scott's blog is indeed highly precise. How highly precise? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=219983&view=rss&microfeed=true