A Closer Look at the Mexico-Only 1999-2001 Dodge Ram Charger

This past weekend, drag-and-drive legend Tom Bailey brought a 2001 Dodge Ram Charger to the 2024 Roadkill Nights Hurricane Grudge Match. Unfortunately, he broke a driveshaft before the actual competition – so he did not compete in the Grudge Match – but the discussions about his unique Dodge truck brought to light how many people are not familiar with this Mexico-only model. With that in mind, we wanted to show off more pictures of Bailey’s 2001 Ram Charger and share some history on this unusual SUV.

The Dodge Ramcharger was a full-sized, two-door SUV sold in the United States until 1993, but the model was so popular in Mexico, that the Ramchargers from the early 1990s in the US were sold in Mexico through 1996. When it became apparent that there was not going to be a replacement for the full-sized Ramcharger in the United States, engineers in Mexico got to work on a vehicle specifically for the local market.

Using as many components from existing vehicles as possible, the 1999 Dodge Ram Charger was introduced for the Mexican market, where it was marketed as a Ram Charger, not a Ramcharger. Built in Saltillo, Mexico, this truck rode on a version of the second generation Ram 1500 chassis that was shorter than any example of the half-ton truck sold in the United States. It used the front bodywork of the Ram 1500, but rather than a cargo bed, it had a custom SUV rear body segment that was accessed through the rear by means of a hatch door borrowed from a Dodge Grand Caravan.

The Mexican Dodge Ram Charger was only offered with rear-wheel-drive, but buyers could pick between the 5.2-liter or 5.9-liter Magnum engines, similar to those offered in the Ram 1500 pickup from that era. Per the rules of the 2024 Roadkill Nights Grudge Match, this Ram Charger is powered by a modern Hurricane twin turbo inline-six engine. Click here for more on Bailey’s build at Dodge Garage.

As you can see in the images here, the dashboard was also similar to the half-ton trucks, although Bailey’s Ram Charger has an aftermarket AEM digital dash screen mounted in the factory gauge cluster. Anyone who owned a second gen Ram 1500 will recognize the overall design of the dashboard in the Mexican Ram Charger.

What made this short wheelbase Ram-based SUV unique was the additional seats. Like most SUVs, the 1999-2001 Dodge Ram Charger in Mexico came with a roomy second row bench seat, but it also included another bench seat that faced sideways in the rear cargo area.

Since the 1999-2001 Dodge Ram Charger was made specifically for the Mexican market, it was never subject to federal crash test safety standard requirements. That is not to say that these vehicles are unsafe, but because they were never tested under the standards of the U.S. government, they could not be sold as new in the United States. However, like all gray market vehicles, once they are 25 years old, they can legally be imported and registered for road use. Some of the first Mexican Ram Chargers were built in 1998, so they were legal for import to the U.S. in 2023 and for 2024, those models built in 1999 are also eligible for the 25-year rule. For that reason, we are seeing more and more of these Mexican SUVs turn up for sale in the United States.

I was familiar with the Mexican Ram Charger, but prior to Tom Bailey bringing out to Roadkill Nights, I had never seen one in person. As a fan of the second gen Ram, I think that the Mexican Ram Charger is pretty cool and I am disappointed that it was never offered here in the United States – as that would make them far more acquirable.