Picture yourself in 1978. You’ve got some money in the bank and are looking to flash it with a nice new car. You want something that makes a statement, but you like something big, something you can bring your dogs around in. You open the newspaper, and it hits you right in the face: the Dodge Warlock. It was born in the legendary era of experimentation and innovation, and it was one of Dodge’s crown jewels in its Adult Toys line. No, not that kind.
Fast-forward to today, where the original Warlock is now an obscure collectible, and the name has been revived for Ram’s current offerings. It brings back the capabilities of the original, but this time, the Warlock is locked onto being value for money, not a stylish truck to park in your driveway. Here’s how the Dodge Warlock truck has evolved from its first iteration to the current trim level.
Updated November 2025
The article has been updated with additional information about the OG truck, the 2026 Ram Warlock, and fresh images.
A Niche Ol’ Pickup With A Cult Following: The Original Dodge Warlock
Back in the ’70s, with custom truck subculture emerging and chocking emissions, Dodge decided to spice things up with its cheekily named Adult Toys lineup, with factory customs like the Li’l Red Express, Ramcharger, and Macho Power Wagon. Among it was the 1978 Dodge Warlock, the ultimate status pickup of its time. While not the first of its time (remember the Dude truck?), the Warlock was more representative of its time, not of previous generations’ aesthetics. It offered the utilitarian performance of the D-series it was based on, with enough pizzazz to make it a stylish daily driver.
The original Warlock now belongs to an obscure corner of American automotive history, cherished by few of those in the know. Still, it’s a collector’s item and demands a premium at auctions even today. It’s succeeded by the Warlock trim level on current Ram trucks, only this time, the focus is not on custom styling. Like the 1978 Warlock, a representative of its time, the newer Warlock trims represent modern times by offering value-for-money performance and versatility, including off-roadability. All without the hefty price tag that would otherwise accompany it.
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The Most Iconic Of The Adult Toys
The ‘70s were a tough time for automakers, and most trucks were purely utilitarian. Dodge was working to offer something more exciting. After launching the Dude earlier in the decade, Dodge expanded its special-edition lineup with the 1977 Adult Toys factory-custom series. To ride the wave of an emerging custom subculture and choking emissions norms, Dodge decided to combine muscle-car performance with pickup-truck functionality. And so, the Dodge Warlock truck was born, based on the D-series pickups.
Iconic Style, With Wooden Runners And Golden Accents
The Warlock became an iconic brand through its head-turning looks. It came with gold trim (with optional gold wheels), flared wheel arches, and a lifted suspension. Along with that, it featured chrome running boards, all-black interiors with gold accents, and a Tuff Wheel performance steering. Optional extras in terms of design included five-spoke wheels, bucket seats, power steering, a wooden bed with big wooden runners, and more. This gave the Warlock a memorable silhouette that turns heads even today, even if the body is covered in patina.
Power Engine Options, Including A Powerful V-8
Being a special edition of the D series truck, the Warlock was mechanically very similar to the D-100 pickup. Even the engine choices were the same, starting with a standard 110-horsepower 318ci slant-six engine. Owners could upgrade to a 160-horsepower 360ci V-8 or a 185-horsepower 400ci V-8, too. The rarest engine was the 255-horsepower 440ci V-8, rumored to be in only a few Warlocks.
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The Warlock Returns In 2019 For A New Generation
The original Warlock’s production run ended at the end of the ‘70s as the second Oil Crisis hit the US, forcing manufacturers to shift production goals back toward efficiency. For about 40 years, the brand was retired, with only gearheads and collectors keeping it alive. That changed in 2019, when Dodge brought the Warlock back as a sub-model of its Ram trucks lineup. The new Warlock stayed true to the roots, offering buyers a versatile, capable truck that can handle both daily driving and off-roading. But the Adult Toys era custom styling is long gone.
The then-new Warlock was powered by a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 with an available 395-horsepower 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, mated to a familiar 8-speed automatic. Buyers could pick between 4×2 and 4×4 drivetrains, too. It also featured a factory lift kit, heavy-duty rear shocks, and tow hooks for off-road duties. Design elements, like an updated grille, black bumper, wheel arches, and 20-inch black wheels, backed up its rugged looks. This set the template for the Warlock trims that followed, including the 2023 refresh and the newest heavy-duty 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock.
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The Warlock You Can Buy Today: 2026 Dodge Ram 1500 Warlock
Starting MSRP: $52,415
The Warlock lives on in 2026, but the trim has moved away from the 1500 Classic it was revived for in favor of the 1500 Tradesman trim. It’s still positioned as a budget off-road version of the lineup, somewhat like a cheaper Rebel in Tradesman clothing. It comes with a variety of powerful engine options, an off-road kit, and a decent list of creature comforts, proving that, as Ram put it, value never goes out of style. It’s only available in a 4×4 and Crew Cab 5’7 box, and it can be yours for $52,415.
Three Available Engine Options
The standard engine on the Ram Warlock is a 3.6-liter V-6, which produces 305 horsepower and tows up to 6,370 pounds. You can upgrade to a 3.0-liter twin-turbo inline-six Hurricane SO, which produces 420 horsepower and has an 11,610-pound towing capacity. Ram also offers a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8, making 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. All engines are mated to an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic with a 4×4 drivetrain.
Value For Money Features, Too
While the Ram Warlock is based on the Tradesman, it still features plenty of goodies. For instance, the Warlock trim adds 18-inch black aluminum wheels shod in all-terrain tires, 1-inch raised ride height, underbody skid plates, ELocker rear axle, performance-tuned rear shocks, and Selec-Speed Control. It also retains all the features of the Tradesman, like cloth seats, an 8.4-inch touchscreen display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, six speakers, and cruise control. A suite of airbags and safety features, including BDS and forward collision warning plus mitigation, round out the package.
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The BIGGER Warlock You Can Buy Today: 2026 Dodge Ram 2500 Warlock
Starting MSRP: $56,030
Wait, it gets better. For the 2026 model year, Ram has added the Warlock trim to its heavy-duty Ram 2500 pickup truck. Like the 1500, the 2500 Warlock is based on the Tradesman trim, comes with a crew cab and short cargo bed, and features some dirt-oriented add-ons. The 2026 Ram 2500 Warlock starts at $56,030, making it one of the most affordable off-road-ready heavy-duty pickups in the segment.
Heavy Duty Engine Options, Including A Cummins Diesel
Given its heavy-duty pedigree, the 2500 Warlock features a pair of powerful engine options. The base engine is a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 mated to an eight-speed automatic, producing 405 horsepower. It has a maximum towing capacity of 14,930 pounds. You can also opt for a 6.7-liter inline-six Cummins HO Turbo Diesel, which produces 430 horsepower and 1,075 pound-feet of torque, with a 20,000-pound towing capacity. It is mated to an 8-speed TorqueFlite HD automatic.
All The Other Tradesman Niceties, Too
What else do you get? The 2500 Warlock follows a similar template to the smaller Warlock. It rides on 34-inch all-terrain tires mounted to 20-inch wheels, and the suspension, with Bilstein dampers, is tuned for off-roading. The truck also features a skid plate protecting the transfer case, a limited-slip differential, black bumpers, and fender flares. Inside, you get cloth upholstery, a 12-inch infotainment system with Ram’s Off-Road Pages.
While the Warlock began as a special production model, the revival has brought the brand in line with the mainstream Dodge pickup truck. The newer Warlocks are for those looking for off-road-ready trucks without the price tag of more extreme models. That said, it’s hard to deny how special that original design is, and how much more it stands out than the modern Warlock. While the brand hasn’t lost all its magic, its focus is now on value rather than being an Adult Toy. And that’s a good thing. We have plenty of expensive, luxury pickups already on the road that may never see dirt.
Source: Dodge, Bring A Trailer, Classic.com, Ram Forum