Dodge Ramcharger

1981 to 1993 · SUV

A 1981 Dodge Ramcharger cost $8,995 new. Over the past 12 months, 63 have sold publicly at a median of $18,000. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $11,800. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $2,200 to $40,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

Free to follow · no card needed · Also on iPhone

Shifty Estimate
$11,800
High confidence · $7K to $24K
Up 0.7% over 12 months
Median · 12 mo
$18,000
Sales · 12 mo
63
Original MSRP
$8,995Up 31% since new

The market

Every recorded 1981 Dodge Ramcharger sale, by date and price
Sep 2026 · Bring a Trailer
$11,600 · 61,000 mi · Red
See this car
$10k$20k$30k$40kNov 2019202120222023202420252026SHIFTY ESTIMATE $12k
Sold Bid to, not sold
73 sales · 21 unsoldmedian $18kupdated Sep 2026

Community

Latest results

The newest 1981 Dodge Ramcharger sales with photographs
1981 Dodge Ramcharger, sold Sep 2026

Sold $6,500

1988 · White · 80,000 mi
Sep 16, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Dodge Ramcharger, sold Sep 2026

Sold $10,500

1993 · Bright White · 125,000 mi
Sep 7, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Dodge Ramcharger, sold Aug 2026

Sold $6,250

1990 · Tan and brown · 210,000 mi
Aug 24, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Dodge Ramcharger, sold Aug 2026

Sold $21,800

1988 · White and Beige Metallic · 47,000 mi
Aug 2, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
1981 Dodge Ramcharger, sold Jul 2026

Sold $10,450

1987 · Blue/Cream
Jul 22, 2026 · Mecum Auctions
1981 Dodge Ramcharger, sold Jul 2026

Sold $16,250

1985 · Gold · 59,000 mi
Jul 17, 2026 · Bring a Trailer
Other Ramcharger generations

Specifications

Engine
V8, 5.2L
Power
130 hp
Torque
240 lb-ft
Transmission
Automatic
Drivetrain
4WD
Original MSRP
$8,995

Common questions

How much does a Dodge Ramcharger cost?

A 1981 Dodge Ramcharger cost $8,995 new. Over the past 12 months, 63 have sold publicly at a median of $18,000. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $11,800. Across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $2,200 to $40,000, depending on mileage, color, and history.

What is a 1981 Dodge Ramcharger worth today?

The Shifty Estimate is $11,800, up 0.7% over the past 12 months. That sits below the $18,000 median of actual sales because the estimate weights the most recent results most heavily, and recent sales have come in under the longer-run median. Confidence is high: 63 public sales in a year gives a firm read.

Is a Dodge Ramcharger a good investment?

It has appreciated 31% against its $8,995 list price. Values are up 0.7% over the past 12 months. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $2,200 to $40,000, and mileage explains most of that.

How many Dodge Ramcharger have sold?

Shifty has 74 public sales of the Dodge Ramcharger on file. The earliest was on Sep 5, 2020.

What has a Dodge Ramcharger sold for at auction?

The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:

  • $11,600Sep 28, 2026Red · 61,000 mi
  • $6,500Sep 16, 2026White · 80,000 mi
  • $10,500Sep 7, 2026Bright White · 125,000 mi

About the 1981 Dodge Ramcharger

The Ramcharger represents Dodge's full-size SUV entry during the peak of American truck-based utility vehicles. Built on the D-series pickup platform, it competed directly with the Chevrolet Blazer and Ford Bronco in the burgeoning SUV market. Most came equipped with Chrysler's reliable 318 or 360 V8 engines, though a 225 Slant-Six was available early on. The removable hardtop design offered open-air versatility that modern SUVs can't match. While not traditionally considered a sports car, clean examples are gaining collector interest as '80s and '90s truck-based SUVs become increasingly desirable. The Ramcharger's honest, utilitarian design and robust construction make it appealing to enthusiasts seeking authentic American utility vehicles from an era before car-based crossovers dominated. Low-mileage examples with original paint and intact interiors command premium prices, especially first-generation models from the late '70s through early '80s.

Sales and listings

Showing 20 of 95 on file

Free: the 2027 Collector Car Outlook.