Hot Wheels Dodge Ram 1500 Variations

One of my favorite castings to collect, along with the Hot Wheels '87 Toyota that i'll profile later on this month, is the Dodge Ram 1500 introduced in the 2007 Hot Wheels New Models line.  I'm a big fan of the Dodge Ram line (and Dakota) ever since the classic big-rig look came out in 1994.  Since then it's been three generations and plenty of castings (with more to come), first learned to drive in a 2001 Dakota Sport in red, and now owner of a 2007 Dakota in a sharp Electric Blue color, and yet I still have a large group of variations on this casting even though i'm against getting all colors of each casting (takes up too much space, plus only a few are worthwile to keep) this was one exception.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

 

Reviving a lost casting

The story behind this casting was based in 2006 when a larger (about 1:24 scale) version appeared in the new Dropstars 1:24 series as a lifted, custom 2006 Quad Cab with tonneau cover and speakers in bed and where the back seat used to reside.  Problem is the new series (which also created a bunch of new tools) was expensive at retail price and not as popular so Mattel cancelled the line at the end of the year.  While most tools got lost in the process, this one was luckily saved as a smaller scale in the 2007 New Models line, just right at the time that lifted 1:64 models started to reappear in the Hot Wheels line.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The casting is large and big with the proper curves and lines of the 2006 Ram 1500 emphasized in the body.  The rear has a smoother rear bumper and dual rectangular exhaust that exit out the sides.  The base is plain smooth except for running boards integrated on the sides.  The interior carries the same large dash and front seats of the 2006 Ram, but the back seats are tossed for a few large subwoofers.  Those speakers carry over in the bed for more and a tonneau cover that tilts to the left to reveal a flat-screen TV.  The engine is the legendary 5.7L Hemi V8 producing 345 hp. and 375 Ib-ft. torque through a 5-speed automatic and to a 2-speed transfer case controlled by an electric rotary knob.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

As for the Ram line this generation was introduced in 2002, with 2006 providing the revised front end, with the 2007 model including the afterburner taillights.  The dashboard is now bigger and features a navigation system, and the Hemi V8 was introduced a year late in 2003.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

The variations of the Dodge Ram 1500

To start, the 2007 introduction features a Dark Purple color with blue flame outlines. It was hard to find in the beginning, but the K-mart Collector's Day in Yellow was more easier-to-find (at least in the U.S.), followed by a red and finally black with red windows.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

In 2008, the yellow returns, but the flames have a black inner flame and a rear black stripe similar to the SuperBee stripes of earlier MOPAR's.  Not shown is a variation with large 5-spoke instead of the treaded 5-spokes.  In 2009 the Ram came in a nice rainbow of colors that starts with green with silver grille details and new lower graphic design.  Next was orange, which was introduced to color match the '70 AAR 'Cuda, also in orange, in the same batch.  The final recolor was a dark red as a Wal-Mart exclusive.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

2010 introduced the HW Performance line that featured licensed companies placing their name on certain Hot Wheels cars.  The Ram got Superlift logo's for the white version with gold interior and wheels.  Then the dark red reappears again, this time in the Superlift trim.  Now Superlift appears mostly in the Matchbox line, but it does make an occasional appearance in the Hot Wheels line.  The last recolor was a blue that I requested to Mattel to make one in the Electric Blue, only they made it a Grabber Blue!

Click Here for Photo Gallery

One interesting version is also a hard-to-find version that appeared in the Wal-Mart Cars of the Decades series.  Painted in the same spectrafrost red that would appear later in the Cool Classics series,   The flames have a tan inner line, red taillights, and a Dodge logo's on the hood and rear tailgate.  The new blacked-out six-spoke off-road wheels made their first appearance here.  Why it was hard-to-find i'm not sure but surely after I found this one I never saw one again!

Click Here for Photo Gallery

For 2014 a new change was in order:  After numerous problems with warped tonneau covers (you can see a few in the pictures) and the fact that the pieces can come off and get lost easily, Mattel redesigned the Ram without the tonneau cover and now the bed is open to haul gear, and aside from the reintroduction of the 6-spoke wheels from the Cars of the Decades series, the casting is mostly unchanged.  The open bed looks better and is suitable after plenty of variations with the tonneau cover before.  Looks great in the dark green and up next is a silver recolor.

Click Here for Photo Gallery

Just like Mad Propz and '87 Toyota Truck, the Dodge Ram 1500 will be the casting I will still get all recolors, even if I don't get all of the variations.  Now about a Super Treasure Hunt...