When Triton was a RAM

• Published date: 24 April 2024
• Publication title: Kapiti News

In 1979, Chrysler could see an opportunity in the smaller pickup-truck market slipping away. The Toyota Hilux and Datsun Truck (yep, that’s what it was called) were already established and newer models like the Ford Courier and Chevrolet (Isuzu) LUV were doing well

So it introduced a badge-engineered version of the Mitsubishi Forte (as Triton was called back then in Japan), callled the Dodge Ram 50; sister brand Plymouth also got its own version, the Arrow Truck. The Dodge version was also known as the D-50 and when it gained 4WD, the Power Ram 50.

As if that wasn’t confusing enough, Mitsubishi decided to sell the Forte in the US itself from 1982; it was renamed the Mighty Max. That move essentially killed the Plymouth version after only three years on sale.

The Dodge was...