Just as in any other morning, I was traveling alongside the carpool lane (the fast lane) on the longest stretch of highway as part of my commute when, all of a sudden, a fierce-looking grille filled up my rearview mirror. A Dodge Ram -- but not just any Dodge Ram. This was an SRT10.
The 2004 Dodge Ram SRT10 made its debut at the 2003 Chicago auto show. It was billed as the “Most Powerful Production Pickup Ever” because it housed the same 8.3-liter, aluminum V-10 that's on the Dodge Viper. Unlike its Viper brethren, Dodge's V-10 was slightly detuned to 500 horsepower with 525 pound-feet of torque and a T-56 six-speed manual transmission. A heavy-duty differential equipped with a 4.56 axle ratio helped control the torque and improve the low-end acceleration.
The SRT10 was available in black, red, and silver. The most prominent exterior features were its unique hood scoop with integrated air intake, "Viper Powered" badges, and a functional rear wing. The Ram SRT10 rode on unique 22-inch polished aluminum Viper-style wheels with red brake calipers. In 2003, these wheels were considered the largest available on a production pickup. A bolder new front fascia, billet grille, lower ride height, and ground-effects moldings finished off its “I'm-meaner-than-you” appearance. The rear was enhanced with a custom fascia built around a dual exhaust.
The interior featured bolstered racing-derived leather and black suede seats with custom "SRT10" logo embroidered on the headrests. Drivers held onto a carbon-fiber leather trim steering wheel, and the dash was laced with silver trim along with aluminum performance pedals. Two of the biggest interior features of the Ram SRT10 were a red Viper start-button on the dash and a custom "Hurst" shifter with a Viper-style shift knob. The gauge clusters were updated to the appropriately recalibrated speedometer and tachometer to accommodate the SRT10's power output.
In June 2004, the 2005 Dodge Ram SRT10 Quad Cab made its debut at the DaimlerChrysler Chelsea Proving Grounds. The Quad Cab was built for those enthusiasts who wanted Viper-induced performance and who needed more room for family and hauling. The SRT10 Quad Cab was available only with a 48RE gearbox -- four-speed automatic transmission. This gearbox was built to handle the 525 pound-feet of torque put out by the engine. A heavy-duty torque converter, a custom transmission calibration, and a two-piece drive shaft also were combined. The gear ratio was changed to 4.56 to help with low-end acceleration and towing. Tow capability is up to 7500 pounds.
The Dodge Ram SRT10 and Dodge Ram SRT10 Quad Cab ended their production in 2006.