maybe the skulls represent dead trannies.

maybe the owner really really wanted to be in KidVideo but wasn't quite good enough at playing keyboards.

Maybe the Rampager is an A.J. Allmendinger fan...

#84 NASCAR....

Doubt it though...the Dinger hoons a Yoda.

Awesome! There's one of these still in the auto shop in my old high school, I do believe...

When do we get a DOTS spotted by readers? It seems somewhat limited if it's only those spotted by the Jalopnik staff. Imagine the exotic finery the rest of us see. Myself, I spotted an Audi RS2 Avant last week. Rather than rocking horse poop.

*rarer* than rocking horse poop

@d4005: I agree, i would like to see what kind of madness the readers can spot.

All this AND an aluminized sun shade to protect the vintage interior from harm...SWEET!!

@d4005: You are all invited to send in your DOTS photos; if they're good, we'll post 'em

@FreeMan: those skulls aren't fabulous enough to be tranni...

ohhhh yeah probably trannies

@d4005: Not much for reading, are you?

Fortunately, loyal Denver-based reader Kitt had camera at the ready when she spotted this fine example of the Little Front-Drive Pickup That Could (Not Sell).

Dodge This? Does that mean I should avoid this car at any cost?

@FLB: did you see the trannie skulls?

Ah, good ol' Wikipedia....

"The Plymouth Scamp was only sold in 1983, making it a collector's item."

I am embarrassed to admit that, when I was a wee lad, I lusted after the entire Omni O24 family - O24, Charger, and Rampage. I thought they were cool-looking. What are you looking at?

VW took the Rabbit and gave us Scirocco. Chrysler made these out of Omnis and Ford used the Escort for the EXP/LN7. Same exact formula, although they forgot the key ingredient, Bruce.

Also, I think with removal of the wierd hatch of the EXP/LN7 and a little plexi & sealant you could have a cut rate Ranchero pretty easily.

Dang, when I first looked at the headline I thought it said Denver "Drophead" Rampage. Not to malign the Dead, but this would be much cooler as a convertible.

@beercheck: Hey, maybe we should all go to the Wikipedia page on the Omni and edit it so it reveals the car's true awesomeness.

@PETEJäYHAWK™ - Well spotted ;-)

I own a 1982 Dodge Rampage that is currently non-running. I would love to have another if it was in better shape. Especially since even as rare as they are they're dirt cheap. The one I have rusted out really bad, it had holes in the floor, it sagged so it wouldn't shift right, and the frame supports rusted through along with most of the body. The saddest part is it only had 80,000 miles and a near perfect interior. I guess it shows how lousy 80's rust-proofing was.

There's one of these for sale close by here. It's white with red accent stripes... looks like it squeezed out of the rocking horse just yesterday.

Hey guys. These are mine, too: The Not-So-Welcome Wagon and the Mercedes firetruck.

I'm actually new to commenting; I was happy just mailing in the occasional tip (I miss Blog Hoonage, btw) but decided that with a new girl writer, y'all could use a new girl commenter, too.

Hey guys, these are mine, too: The Not-So-Welcome-Wagon and Mercedes firetruck.

I'm actually a new commenter. I was happy before just mailing in the occasional tip (I miss Blog Hoonage, btw), but I figured that with a new girl writer, y'all could use a new girl commenter, too.

My friend in high school had a black Rampage and boy was it...umm, special? I preferred my 1980 two tone (maroon top and tan bottom) Omni. I remember one time the choke got stuck on taking your foot of the brake would bring you to 35 mph without touching the gas pedal!

Ah...but it's in the great MoparBishi era, meaning ridiculous boost and cheap junkyard parts are readily available.

Would love to see a deathmatch between one of these and the 12 second turbo minivan.

This is a pretty cool ride but let's not forget that this was Chrysler's "pale by comparison" of the VW Pickup [en.wikipedia.org]

I drove one these with the VW Diesel engine from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles in about 1982 at an average speed of 75mph and got 40+ MPG. How cool it would be to have one now.

17 bonus points for the "396 Killer" license plate, optimistic as it may be....

Back in the 80's I thought these cars had no soul. After seeing this rusty little pimp, I stand corrected.

@Murilee Martin: Yes! There's plenty of cool whips here in my 'hood (Detroit barges, disco-era German schteel, serial-killer-in-training vans, etc.) Now I know how I'll be spending the parts of my three-day-weekend that don't include sleeping and watching racing...

I used to drive by this exact crazy little thing every day on my way to work when I lived in the Platte Park 'hood. Denver is a relatively rust-free place teeming with all kinds of DOTS candidates, all of which are driven weekly, if not daily. Murilee, should I entertain the idea of a new hobby?

P.S., the Lego/Deadhead version Rampage you see here is facing north in the early morning in this photo. Plus, I had a red diecast toy of this as a young-un with numbers on the side, tiny rubber tires, and two yellow dirt bikes in the back.

/end scary obsession/memories

@ejacobs: Hobby as in shooting photos of Denver DOTS cars and sending them to us, or as in getting yourself a Rampage? Either way works.

@MeMikeYouNot: You mean like this?

There's a Plymouth Scamp parked along the road on my way to work, but it isn't in near the shape this one is. I haven't figured out if it's driven or just protecting that particular patch of asphalt from UV rays.

@Murilee Martin: Oh man, I love it! Flash-mobbing Wikipedia! You may seriously be on to something there!

Ahh memories... My first car was an 84 Charger - the front half is the same as this. Second car was an 85 Charger.

The quip about transmissions is probably not right - the tranny used in these was still solid - unlike the later A604 that came in the Shadows/et al. later.

What tended to go on these cars was the head gaskets. If you thought about giving it a little extra gas to get moving - pop - there'd go your head gasket.

 
If some Jalopnik
could DOTSE or DOTSBE a
SHELBY Rampage? Sweet!

I remember these well when they were new but like everyone else, I can't recall the last time I've seen one.

Having said that, I'd like to nominate the term "Dekotoramino" for permanent residence in the lexicon of Jalopicana. There are perhaps no more vehicularly descriptive words within our obsession than Dekotora and El Camino. Their combination is a blissful marriage.

@Mad_Science: "Would love to see a deathmatch between one of these and the 12 second turbo minivan."

I know this is an old post but...FYI there will be racing between the fast minivans and Rampages this summer at the annual Shelby Dodge Auto Club convention. Check the Web in late June/early July. I'm sure someone will put up some video.

I have an '82 Rampage I've been meaning to convert to turbo (have all the parts), but haven't had the time to do it.