- Ram is killing the 1500 Classic in Canada, but it will continue to be offered in the United States.
- The model is based on the previous-generation pickup, which was originally introduced in 2008.
Ram introduced the facelifted 1500 last fall and recently expanded the lineup to include a new RHO variant with 540 hp (403 kW / 548 PS). Despite this, the Ram 1500 Classic isn’t going anywhere – at least in America.
The Classic is the previous-generation pickup and it helps the brand to compete at the low-end. U.S. pricing starts at $38,705 and this makes it more affordable than the standard 1500, which begins at $40,275. That’s not much of a difference, but the Classic normally has generous discounts such as the current offer of $4,000 in ‘bonus cash’ for the Tradesman Crew Cab.
More: 2025 Ram 1500 RHO Goes Raptor Hunting With 540 HP Twin-Turbo I6
While the Ram 1500 Classic has been around for awhile, it’s been given the axe in Canada. Production ceased last week and dealers apparently have enough inventory to last them through the end of the year.
Despite its death north of the boarder, Ram said “1500 Classic production will continue for the United States and Mexico.” That’s good news for value seekers and fleets alike.
Ram doesn’t break truck sales down into variants, but it appears there was enough demand in the United States and Mexico to justify keeping the aging model around. It’s also worth mentioning that, unlike rivals, Ram doesn’t offer a mid-size truck in America.
The closest thing Stellantis offers is the Jeep Gladiator and that starts at $37,895. Of course, by the time you add an automatic transmission, the price shoots up to $40,395 and that’s before the $1,895 destination fee. That makes the truck a hard sell to fleets and value-conscious consumers.
While it remains unclear how long the Ram 1500 Classic will stick around in America, the 2024 model has a 3.6-liter V6 with 305 hp (227 kW / 309 PS). Customers can also get a 5.7-liter V8, although we wouldn’t be surprised if that option is living on borrowed time.