RAM 1500 WARLOCK—If you were paying attention even a little bit in school, you probably learned that history tends to repeat itself. We’ve see overzealous dictators try and extend their reach beyond their means and crumble to nothing. We’ve see just about two decades into last century, a virus swept across the world killing three percent of the population. On the plus side we’ve seen drive-in movies come, dominate, disappear, and then reappear and begin to proliferate yet again. Even the cars and trucks we take to those drive in movie theaters are examples of historical repetition. The current Mustang and Camaro get their roots from the 1960’s versions of the same cars. The Ford Bronco was all the rage, until it became infamous for being the vessel by which ex-football stars fled from the police after (allegedly) committing a double murder. And most recently, we now see the Ram 1500 resurrecting the Warlock nameplate to instill a little nostalgic excitement.
The Warlock was produced from 1976-1979 and was quite the looker back in its day. The new version pays homage to its predecessor by being not only rugged and tough, but extremely aesthetically appealing. The black grille sports an impossible-to-miss RAM nameplate, announcing its presence well in advance. Matching that grille are powder coated front and rear bumpers, black wheel flares that shield magnificent 20-inch black aluminum wheels shod in P275/60R20 BSW All-Season tires, and black badging all around. Rounding out the package are LED fog lamps and tail lamps, a one-inch factory lift, projector headlamps, tow hooks and an incredibly aggressive hood that gives the Warlock a snarl that says “get out of my way!”
The Warlock is not, as the Beach Boys might say some, a ‘no-go showboat’. No, this Ram is powered with either a stout 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that produces a respectable 305-horsepower and 269 lb-ft of torque, or an even more impressive 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that pounds out 395-horsepower and stump-pulling 410 lb-ft of torque. You can have any transmission you want with the Warlock, as long as you want a ZF-sourced TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic. There is an option to upgrade the ZF with slightly more heavy duty internals as a $500 option, but it is still essentially the same transmission. The Warlock can be had with either a 4×2 or 4×4 drivetrain and either Quad or Crew Cab setups. Other noteworthy options include a 3.55 or 3.92 rear axle (3.21 is standard), a 33-gallon fuel tank, a very useful anti-spin rear differential, class IV tow-hitch, engine block heater, suspension and transfer case skid plates, as well as remote-start, and power moonroof.
Inside the RAM 1500 WARLOCK, the interior is nothing short of luxurious. Taking centerstage is a standard 5.0-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system that is upgradable to 8.4-inches. The 7.0-inch TFT color display cluster keeps you informed of all the most important things going on around you, while the power heated mirrors and leather-wrapped steering wheel, not to mention that steering wheel can be heated as well, along with the front seats, add just a couple small touches that keeps the Warlock feeling like it is more than just another pickup truck.
The Warlock is available in 11 exterior colors, but really, you should be thinking only about the Diamond Black paint, as that was what the Warlock was born to be, even if will cost you an additional $100. All in all, the base price for a Quad Cab 4×2 is $36,095, which jumps up to $42,345 if you want a Crew Cab in 4×4 trim. But, whichever you choose, the Ram 1500 has proven not only to be tough, rugged, and very attractive, but also an incredibly good value to boot.
Forty years ago, we saw a Warlock that was caught the eye of many, and became a cult classic. Now, we have yet another version by the same name, that once again, has cast a spell on our hearts and minds. It seems history really does repeat itself.
Related: 2020 RAM REBEL ECODIESEL
