HISTORY OF THE DODGE WARLOCK

Picture yourself in 1978. You've got some money in the bank and are looking to flash it with a nice new car. You want something that makes a statement, but you like something big, something you can bring your dogs around in. You open the newspaper, and it hits you right in the face. The Warlock.

The 70s were a legendary era of experimentation and innovation in the auto world. From Ford to Ferrari companies pushed new designs and new brands that redefined what the consumer could expect in the showroom and on the roads. Chrysler-Dodge was no exception. Their late 70's brain blast was a specialized line of larger vehicles (trucks, SUVs, vans) called "Adult Toys", and one of the crown jewels of that line was the Dodge Warlock.

Fast forward to modern times, and Dodge has revived the brand for their current Ram offerings. Bringing back the style and power of the original to a new generation.

Dodge's Adult Toy Line

After releasing the "Dude" at the start of the decade, Dodge expanded their offering of special edition trucks and vans with the 1977 "Adult Toys" Line. With a cheeky name and a new set of special vehicles, Dodge hoped to capitalize on the trend of vehicle modification with a line of fun production vehicles that stood apart from their standard versions. Emissions laws of the time also forced manufacturers to get creative with how they could release cars with bigger and more powerful engines, "Adult Toys" was Dodge's solution to those restrictions.

Available "Adult Toys"

• The Ramcharger, an SUV set to compete with the Ford Bronco
• The Dodge Street Van, a production offering of the "Shag Wagons" popular at the time
• The Macho Power Wagon, a two-toned sporty pickup
• The Lil' Red Express, a hot pickup with stack exhausts, designed for quarter miles
• The Warlock, the "ultimate status pickup"

A Side Note On The Lil' Red Express

The Lil' Red Express was the only other member of the "Adult Toys" line that rivaled the Warlock in iconic status. In 1978 it was among the fastest American cars produced. The styling and speed created a strong following that remains to this day. Good-condition examples are in demand and can sell for almost as much as brand-new Dodge trucks.

What Set The Warlock Apart

The Warlock was based on the short-wheelbase D-100 and D-150 series Dodge pickups. Dodge noted that many consumers were modifying their short-wheelbase pickups and emulated some of those common modifications in the Warlock. Dodge courted a growing middle class looking for statement pieces for their driveways.

Iconic Styling

The Warlock became an iconic brand through its head-turning looks. Firstly, Dodge added the gold trim (with optional gold wheels), flared wheel arches, and a lifted suspension. They offered bucket seats, a special dashboard, and their "Tuff Wheel" performance steering wheel to make the interior look more like a Charger or Challenger than a pickup.

Then, of course, they also offered the optional wooden bed with big wooden runners, which gave the Warlock its memorable silhouette. All of these additions imbued the Warlock with a timeless style that turned heads then and continues to turn them now.

A Potent Powertrain

The Warlock wasn't just a truck meant to make your neighbors jealous with its looks. Dodge also offered a V-8 engine with up to 440 cubic inches in size. They also offered a 4x4 drivetrain. The dashboards boasted speedometers clocking over 100 MPH, absolutely unheard of for trucks at the time. As good as this truck looked, it had blink-and-you'll-miss-it power, especially for comparable trucks of its era.

Dodge Revives The Warlock

The Warlock's production run ended at the end of the 70's as the second Oil Crisis hit the U.S. and production goals for manufacturers shifted back towards efficiency. For about 40 years the brand was retired, with collectors and gearheads maintaining its legacy at auctions, shows, and meet-ups across the nation. In 2019, all that changed when Dodge brought the Warlock back as a sub-model of its Ram trucks lineup.

A New Warlock For A New Generation

Long gone is Dodge's "Adult Toy" era, and with it the special individual production of Warlock models. This time around, the Warlock brand served as an optional package for the Ram 1500 Classic. However, the Warlock brand did not leave its style in the 70's.

The revived Warlock brought an updated grille, black bumpers, and wheel arches, as well as 20-inch black wheels. Warlock decals and logos littered the exterior and interior. The 2019 Warlock came in a quad cab or crew cab configurations, both with a lifted ride in line with the original.

A V-8 Option Is Available, Just Like With The Original Warlock

While The Warlock brand was brought back for its style, drivers of the new truck weren't left without power and work capability. The new version of the Warlock offered an optional V-8 with 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. With the V-8 you got a 1,970-pound payload and a 12,750-pound towing capacity. The 2019 Warlock came with an LED-lit bed and the Rambox system for storage.

The 2024 Dodge Warlock

For the new model year (as has been since the 2023 model year), the Warlock trim kit is now a part of the current Tradesman Ram 1500 series rather than the Classic series it was revived for. The Warlock model is now positioned as a budget off-roading version of the Tradesman, with the Warlock package adding another $2,995 to the $38,555 base MSRP of the Tradesman trim. As always, the Warlock brand is a style upgrade to the standard truck.

What's New For 2024

As with the 2023 model, the Warlock package adds lifted suspension and Bilstein shocks. It also includes an upgraded rear differential as well as massive 33-inch tires. With these upgrades, Dodge hopes to offer a competent, competitively-priced off-road truck that can still turn some heads. As with other modern Warlock models, black wheels, grille, bumper, and wheel arch details are included to provide that spell-binding look.

V-6 Tradesman Warlock 4x4 Specifications

(Source: RAM Trucks)

From Past To Future

While the Warlock began as a special production model, the revival has brought the brand in line with the mainstream Dodge pickup truck. Both versions hope to provide a style upgrade and additional performance. That all being said, it's hard to deny how special that original design is, and how much more it stands out than the modern Warlock.

While the brand hasn't lost all of its magic, it's hard to go from being dubbed an "Adult Toy" to a simple trim level. While the Warlock lives on, it does so in a limited format compared to its genesis. Perhaps Dodge will revamp the brand and let the Warlock back out to cast another spell on the motoring world.

2023-12-13T16:43:07Z dg43tfdfdgfd