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It’s uncommon for an automotive manufacturer to continue selling an older model alongside a newer version for more than five years, but that’s the case with the Ram 1500 Classic. The current “DT” generation of the Ram 1500 debuted in 2019, yet the company has kept the previous “DS” model available, branding it as the Classic. This remarkable journey began in 2009, but Ram has now announced that it will discontinue the 1500 Classic in 2025.
Indeed, the Ram 1500 Classic is nearing its end. You might recall hearing similar news before. Towards the end of 2023, there were reports suggesting that the truck might finally be phased out since Ram hadn’t listed the 2024 model-year Classic on its website, even after updating the current DT generation. When I inquired about the Classic’s status, a spokesperson from Ram provided a vague response, mentioning, “We haven’t announced anything yet but will let you know when we do.” Later, they updated the site to include it.
This time, Ram’s public relations team was more straightforward:
“The Ram 1500 Classic has served as an excellent entry-level truck for us, particularly the Tradesman model, which has met the requirements of our commercial truck customers,” said a Ram spokesperson to The Drive. “With the new Tradesman trim for the 2024 model year, we say goodbye to the previous generation while reminding customers that the Hemi-powered Ram 1500 Classic will continue to be available through 2025.”
Thus, Ram is officially saying goodbye to the DS 1500 and its Hemi engine. According to a report by Automotive News, production of these trucks may already have concluded, as a seat supplier was forced to reduce its workforce due to the pickup’s discontinuation. However, it appears that Ram has enough inventory to continue selling the 2024 model-year Classics into 2025.
Consequently, the least expensive Ram truck will see a slight price increase. The 2024 Ram 1500 Classic has a starting price of $40,700 after destination fees, while the DT 2025 Ram 1500 Tradesman starts at $42,270. Both models come standard with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6, but they differ in their optional engines—the Classic still offers the 5.7-liter Hemi, while the new Ram eschews the V8 for a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. This shift clearly reflects current trends in the automotive industry.
It’s finally safe to say that it’s time to honor this classic truck as it approaches retirement.
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