- The Ram 1500 Classic is being discontinued after the 2024 model year, the company confirmed.
- The Classic was a continuation of the previous-generation truck, meant to serve as a more affordable alternative to the Ram 1500 that launched in 2019.
- Without the Classic on sale, Ram will no longer offer a new half-ton pickup with a Hemi V-8 engine.
The Ram 1500 Classic is finally being laid to rest. The Classic was a continuation of the previous-generation Ram 1500, which first launched in 2009. When the latest iteration of the Ram 1500 arrived in 2019, the older truck adopted the Classic moniker and stuck around as a more affordable, bare-bones option. But now the Ram 1500 Classic is being discontinued, meaning Ram will no longer offer a half-ton truck with a V-8 engine.
A company spokesperson today confirmed the news to Car and Driver, stating that the Ram 1500 Classic’s departure comes as the result of “the introduction of the Tradesman trim on the newer Ram 1500 for the 2024 model year.” For 2025, the Tradesman remains the 1500’s entry-level trim, and it comes with a $42,270 base price.
The 2024 Ram 1500 Classic was offered in two trims, the Tradesman and the Warlock. The former started at $40,700, a $6460 increase over the Classic’s 2023 starting price and only $715 cheaper than the 2024 version of the newer-generation truck. Previous versions of the Classic had represented a more notable savings over modern 1500s.
The 1500 Classic had been offered with both the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 and the Hemi 5.7-liter V-8. The latest update to the Ram 1500 for the 2025 model year sees the truck come standard with the Hurricane twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, so without the Classic on sale, it is now no longer possible to buy a current-model-year 1500 pickup with a Hemi V-8.
The Hemi V-8 lives on for the time being in the 2025 Dodge Durango, and Ram’s heavy-duty trucks still offer the 6.4-liter V-8. If you want the old-school 1500 Classic, Ram still has some left on dealership lots, with the spokesperson confirming that “the Hemi-powered Ram 1500 Classic will sell into 2025.”
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
