Car Buyer Labs

Car Buying Advice, Tips, and Reviews

A red 2019 Ram 1500 Classic is parked with a city overhang behind it.

2019 Ram 1500 Classic: the Definition of a Modern Classic

We often hear the term “Modern Classic,” but what does it really mean? It almost sounds like an oxymoron, a two-word phrase of contradictions. Classic might be old, original, stuck in the past, like Classical music, while Modern seems to imply a brand new thing of the moment. But a Modern Classic is something that honors the past without getting stuck in it, and takes on the modern world without just being a product of its time. The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic embodies this, providing truck enthusiasts with the classic styling they associate with Ram, but encompassing the modern safety, performance, and entertainment features we all want in our latest pickup. You might think of this as 2019 Ram 1500 (Old Model), but then you’d be mistaken. Because it is not an old model, but a Modern Classic of the beloved Ram 1500. And if you passed on it as a result, then you’d be missing out on a great truck.

Modern Performance in a Classic Design

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic has the look and feel of the fourth generation of Ram trucks that has been a standard of the vehicle class since it was first introduced in 2009. This is to distinguish it from the new design introduced for the 2020 model year.

But don’t let these old looks fool you. The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic has a powerful engine under the hood that will give you the strength and performance you associate with Ram, and the fuel economy you will need in today’s world. The base engine is a 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 24 valve VVT engine that will give you up to 305 horsepower while producing 269 lb-ft of torque, plenty of power to safely pull between 4,190 pounds and 7,670 pounds, depending on configurations. If you want more power, you can choose a 5.7 liter V8 Hemi MDS VVT engine. This powerhouse efficiently produces 395 horsepower and up to 410 lb-ft of torque, allowing you to tow between 7,820 pounds and 10,760 pounds, depending on the configuration. If you want a green alternative, Ram offers the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic with a 3.0 liter Ecodiesel V6 engine. This gives you 240 horsepower and up to 420 lb-ft of torque. All 2019 Ram 1500 Classics feature a Torqueflite 8-speed automatic transmission.

These engines also won’t hurt you at the pump. The 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 is estimated by the EPA to give you 17 miles per gallon in city driving, 25 miles per gallon on the highway, and 20 miles per gallon overall when in two-wheel-drive. The 4×4 with the same engine produces just one mile per gallon less. The 5.7 liter Hemi V8 is also efficient for an engine of its size, giving an estimated 15 miles per gallon in the city, 22 on the highway, and 17 overall on two-wheel-drive. Four-wheel-drive will reduce efficiency by roughly one mile per gallon.

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic also marks the return of the Warlock trim to the Ram truck line. This popular 70s design gives you an all-black interior and trim that is strikingly diabolical in design. It features off-road capability that is sure to frighten the competition off the road. Fender flares, a block letter RAM logo over a mustache grille, and LED fog lamps complete the style of this off-road monster.

A black 2019 Ram 1500 Classic is spraying dirt while off-roading.

Multiple Classic Configurations

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic comes in five different configurations. The Tradesman and Express come in the base regular cab with 6’4” bed. The regular cab also comes with an 8” bed for an upgrade. This gives you an additional 22 inches of length, and increases your payload capacity. Need more room for you and your crew? All 2019 Ram 1500 Classic models are offered in a crew cab design with 5’7” bed, giving you 79.4 inches of width, 77 inches of height, 229 inches of length, and a wheelbase of 140.5 inches. Need more payload space? The Tradesman, Lone Star, and Big Horn can be upgraded to a crew cab with a 6’4” bed. All models are also offered in a quad cab configuration with a 6’4” cargo bed.

This truck also offers plenty of room for you and your passengers. In the regular cab configuration, you and your passenger will enjoy 39.9 inches of headroom, 41 inches of legroom, and 66 inches of shoulder room, not surprising for a two-door, two-passenger truck. What is amazing is how much room the crew cab and quad cab configurations offer in the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic. Crew cab passengers in the front seat get 41 inches of headroom, 41 inches of legroom, and 66 inches of shoulder room, while rear seat passengers have a very roomy 39.9 inches of headroom, 40.3 inches of legroom, and 65.7 inches of shoulder room. Quad cabs tend to be a compromise between payload and passenger, but not with the Classic. While front seat passengers have the same roominess as in the crew cab, the rear seat passengers still enjoy 39.7 inches of headroom, 34.7 inches of legroom, and 65.7 inches of shoulder room. This is plenty of room for you and your four-person crew.

Safety and Entertainment for the Modern Age

This is truly where the modern part comes in on this Modern Classic. Gone are the days of hearing Johnny Cash and Hank Williams fade in and out of the static on a tiny AM radio. Every 2019 Ram 1500 Classic comes with a six-speaker AM/FM stereo and USB charging and media hub ports. The Uconnect system is an upgrade on the Tradesman and Express, but is standard on the other models. This gives riders a touchscreen to control the entertainment features, including SiriusXM Satellite Radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. No more fishing through static to get your music!

Standard safety features also give a modern touch to this classic truck. The base model Tradesman alone has plenty of airbags, a Parkview rear backup camera, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, tire pressure monitoring system, and a Sentry Key theft deterrent system. The Warlock, Lone Star, and Big Horn come with an additional parking assist system. This gives you all the styling and classic look you’ve come to love in a Ram, but with the safety you and your passengers need to today’s world.

The cream interior is shown for the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic.

Colors From Classic to Modern

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic may be a classic, but don’t let the allusions to the past fool you. Unlike the days of choosing between black and white, you will be amazed at the color choices offered to you by Ram. The base model Tradesman alone comes in a dizzying assortment of ten different colors: bright white, billet silver metallic, true blue, diamond black crystal, flame red, brilliant black, granite crystal, Delmonico red, maximum steel, and patriot blue, which I’m sure is wicked popular up in Boston. Not enough choices? Ram offers ten more limited production colors for the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic Tradesman, as an upgrade.

The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic takes the best of the past and brings it into today. Yes, it might look like an old model, but looks can be deceiving.