The amount of limited editions that Ram puts out seems limitless. Yet the brand doesn’t stop.
Here’s one that’s intended to honor the people who serve in our military. Without getting political, I think whether you’re liberal, conservative, libertarian, or somewhere else on the political spectrum, saluting the troops for their service is a good thing. Even pacifists likely acknowledge the sacrifices troops are asked to make.
Ram sure does.
This is actually the third time Ram has built limited-production “Built to Serve Edition” trucks. This time, the theme for the Michigan-built Ram 1500s will be aeronautical. Buyers will be able to choose between Anvil or Billet Silver exterior paint. Inside, the primary color will be black, but there will be gray accent stitching. Production will be limited to 1,000 units of each one.
“Ram continues to honor all of those who serve or have served in the United States armed forces with distinction through our latest ‘Built to Serve’ offering,” said Mike Koval Jr., Head of Ram Brand, FCA – North America, in a statement. “The ‘Built to Serve’ adage is something Ram Truck owners, whether civilian or military, are very familiar with as it’s something we strive to build into every truck and van we produce.”
The truck is being announced now because the Air Force celebrates its 73rd birthday on Friday. The launch pace for these “Built to Serve” trucks is approximately every three months, and Ram plans on honoring each of the five branches of services. Yes, five – I don’t know why the new Space Force isn’t listed, as it apparently is considered an independent branch. Perhaps Ram still considers it to be part of the Air Force.
The other color choices were Gator and Diamond Black; Ceramic Gray and Patriot Blue; Tank and Flame Red; Spitfire and Bright White. All but Spitfire and Bright White are/were built in numbers of 1,000. Those other two were/will be available in 500 units apiece.
Other details specific to these trucks include an American flag and “Built to Serve” badging, 20-inch aluminum wheels with a gray finish that is only available on these models, body-color wheel flares, black grille and surround, black bumpers, black lighting bezels, black badging, black side steps, and black exhaust tips.
The interior stitching is meant to correspond to the branch of the military that the truck is representing. Embroidered Velcro panels allow the owner to customize their truck with military patches.
There’s also webbing on the back of the front seats for extra storage, an instrument panel badge, available locking center console, “Built to Serve” instrument panel badge, bolstered cloth and vinyl Sport seats, Black Onyx chrome interior trim, and all-weather rubber floor mats.
All of these special-edition trucks get the 4×4 Off-Road Group package, which includes: All-terrain tires, electronic-locking rear axle, hill-descent control, front-suspension skid plate, steering-gear skid plate, fuel-tank skid plate, transfer-case skid plate, tow hooks, and heavy-duty off-road-calibrated front and rear shock absorbers.
This truck should be available to order in the fourth quarter of this year.
[Images: FCA/Ram]
Sounds like a load of cynical flag-waving to me.
USN, Retired
My cynical sentiments exactly.
If somebody’s notion of the pursuit of happiness is to buy a big ooh-rah truck like this, then have at it. Sometimes freedom means freedom to be weird. It doesn’t hurt me so I don’t mind it. I doubt we’ll see a “support the troops” smart car, subcompact, or soccer mom SUV… but I’d be just as okay with any of those.
Yup.’cept the upcoming USN edition will have a picnic option. Trays for the enlisted. Plates and table service for Commissioned.
I always like the “Harvest Edition” they should bring that one back.
I’m still waiting for the Harley-Davidson “certified financial professional” edition.
They should definitely consider a Space Force Edition, now that would sell. Colors could be “Re-entry Orange” and “Space Black”. Maybe an embroidered space shuttle on the seat backs with little rockets strapped to the wings. ‘Merica!
Think bigger than that- how about a “Support our troops DoD acquisitions retired uniform to GS” edition?
Max out the options with gadgets that cost twice as much and don’t work half the time. You get a reserved parking spot at the dealer’s service department.
Don’t forget the contractor edition. It has the 8 speed Transmission you wanted, but no reverse gear because you didn’t put the ability to drive backward in the Performance Work Statement.
I’ve got it. It needs an onboard coffee maker that costs an extra $15,000, made by Martin Marietta.
Warrant Officers endorse the coffee maker. If you add a cloaking device it would be perfect.
“Where’s Chief?”
…Truck slowly fades away with Chief sipping coffee behind the windshield in a fog of generic cigarette smoke.
@Imagefont – Nissan already did the Rogue thing ;)
Lotsa’ 214 owners here. I wonder what % of buyers of these trucks will own one.
Not a chance in Hades. I am certain there will be some rolling around Fayetteville, NC with what amounts to some retired senior NCO’s Enlisted Record Brief posted on the rear windshield though. Look for them to be delivering pizza somewhere on Fort Bragg.
Art,
You must mean one of them MilProRet Specialists. (I admit to being one of those as needed.)
No @jetcal…those will be parked at the Golden Corral on Veteran’s Day.
Can’t help being cynical as well. And as a Canadian I probably should not comment. However we get the Peachtree ‘super station’ from Atlanta up here. Some clown advertising for a Chrysler dealership in Georgia is often on, advertising their deals on FCA vehicles and then ending the ad by shouting “Be American, buy American”.
Does he even know who owns FCA or whatever it is now called and where many of these vehicles are made?
Au contraire, comment away! Canada and DND has a long history of clumsy defence finances and contorted patriotism. (How long the CF-104 was kept in service, the cancelation penalties on the original Sea King replacements- remember that buffoonery?)
@JimC2 – a buddy of mine was in the Canadian military and he had some horrific stories of political patronage spending constraints. They ended up with sub-par helicopters because the contract had to be awarded to a company from Quebec. If the choppers were armoured they did not have the capacity to carry combat equipped troops. To balance the asshattery they then offered a heavy truck bid to a contractor in the west. They kept dropping the bid standards until that company qualified. Now I understand the slogan, “There’s no life like it.”
Then we could (should?) also discuss the AVRO Arrow (and AVRO) Jetliner and the political machinations behind the cancellation of those contracts and the irreparable damage their cancellations inflicted on the Canadian aerospace and high-tech industries.
Wait @Arthur…does that mean you get Braves Baseball games in Canada and I have to pay extra to get them in freaking Alabama because MLB.com is still blacking them out because in 2020 the games aren’t selling out?
The Atlanta baseball team is veborten in my household for 2 reasons, 1) During the opening ceremonies for the 1992 World Series the honour guard flew the Canadian flag upside down. 2) Jane Fonda.
Yes I know they have since atoned for both of those, but sitting at home during a pandemic means that I have time to remember old grudges.
But getting Peachtree TV we get to see Seinfeld multiple times per day. Plus all those commercials for ‘injury lawyers’.
Wait @Arthur…does that mean you get Braves Baseball games in Canada and I have to pay extra to get them in freaking Alabama because MLB.com is still blacking them out because in 2020 the games aren’t selling out?
Patriotism is not in fashion today. They better start making all black exterior/interior with tinted windows Land Management edition until it’s not too late.
Can a French company be a patriotic American company? The answer is no!