In 2004, Guinness World Records declared the Dodge Ram SRT-10 the fastest production pickup in the world, beating out the record holder from the previous year: the Ford F-150 SVT Lightning.
The pickup held the record for more than a decade and even today, though discontinued in 2006, the Dodge Ram SRT-10 is still ranked among the fastest ever made.
The SRT-10 performance is remarkable considering it holds its own against modern-day high-performance truck competitors such as the 2022 Ram 1500 TRX, Ford F-150 Raptor, and Chevrolet Silverado ZR2.
For the buyer looking for a performance pickup, the Ram SRT-10 is worth considering especially at a price about half that of a new 2022 Ram 1500 TRX starting at $50,000.
2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT-10
- 8.3-liter Viper V-10 engine
- Fastest production pickup truck
- Bilstein shocks
- Suspension mods
- Engine/Motor: 8.3-liter Viper V-10
- Horsepower: 510 bhp at 5,600 rpm
- Torque: 525 lb-ft at 4,200 rpm
- Drivetrain: RWD
- Transmission: T-56 six-speed manual, 48RE four-speed automatic
- Four-door Quad Cab with back seat
- Quad cab tows up to 7,500 pounds
- Bargain used price
- Excessively harsh shifts with the 48RE four-speed automatic
- Both models understeer through turns
High-Performance Sports Car Power In A Truck
Dodge already had a history of combining a vehicle designed to haul dirt, gravel, and other materials with a high-performance sports car (the 225-hp Li'l Red Express) when the Performance Vehicle Operations (PVO) division began development of the Ram SRT-10 in the early 2000s.
The engineers started with the third-generation Ram 1500, the smallest and lightest short bed with a regular cab. They upgraded the chassis, independent front suspension, rack and pinion steering, and the braking system.
The PVO team installed performance springs, Bilstein shocks, and 22-inch wheels imitating those used on the Viper SRT-10, while lowering the pickup to improve handling.
The wide body and tall hood on the pickup made fitting the legendary 8.3-liter aluminum-block V-10 straightforward. Dodge installed the engine, recently improved for the third-generation Viper, as low as possible to improve weight distribution. The massive powerplant produced 510 hp at 5,600 rpm and 525 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,200 rpm. To support all that power, Dodge beefed up the truck's cooling system and augmented the exhaust.
In 2005, Dodge introduced the Quad Cab, a four-door SRT-10 created for drivers wanting the blistering speed and performance of the regular cab, but also room for the family and the towing capacity to drag a boat to the lake.
While the regular cab used a T-56 six-speed manual transmission connected to a Hurst shifter sending power to the rear wheels, the Quad Cab came only with a 48RE four-speed automatic. A heavy-duty torque converter, unique transmission cooler, and exclusive front and rear strut and spring assemblies helped the Quad tow up to 7,500 pounds.
Acceleration Performance Of A Muscle Car
In 2004, a new Chevrolet Corvette accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Despite weighing 5,130 pounds with aerodynamics that were no match for the slippery Corvette, the 2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, equaled the sport car's acceleration. The truck reached the quarter mile in 12.6 seconds at 110 mph and achieved a top speed of 153 mph.
The heavier Quad Cab Ram SRT-10 weighing 5,618 pounds, paid a penalty in performance. However, the Quad accelerated 0 to 60 mph in a respectable 5.6 seconds, arrived at the quarter mile in just over 14 seconds, and reached a top speed of 147 mph.
By comparison, the Ram SRT-10's closest competitor in the production pickup segment, the 2004 Ford F-150 SVT Lightning generated 75 horsepower less. As a result, its acceleration was 0.2 seconds slower at 5.1 seconds and 0.3 seconds slower in the quarter mile competition than the Ram SRT-10.
Although the blunt frontend shape and wind-resistant open cargo bed inherent to pickup trucks create an aerodynamicist's worst nightmare, the smooth edges and lowered body of the Ram SRT-10 helped it cut through the air. A deep fascia with a splitter diminished lift, and the rear wing reduced drag while adding up to 165 pounds of downforce through the curves at track speeds.
While the SRT-10's suspension enhancements made significant improvements to responsiveness, the pickup was still a heavy platform never designed for aggressive cornering. Both the regular cab and Quad cab experienced significant understeer when accelerating through turns, and the trucks with an automatic transmission underwent abrupt gearshifts.
Ram SRT-10 Interior With Hints Of Viper Power
While the Ram SRT-10's acceleration rivaled that of an expensive sports car, little about the exterior or interior would indicate a high-performance vehicle with perhaps the exception of a carbon-fiber leather-trimmed steering wheel.
Behind the wheel, a full complement of large satin silver-faced gauges with Viper font and graphics displayed performance information including a recalibrated tachometer and speedometer that topped out at 160 mph (perhaps undersized for a vehicle capable of at least 150 mph).
Equipped with heavily reinforced suede-trimmed charcoal leather bucket seats, the deeply padded center-console lid was flat enough to accommodate a third passenger with a seatbelt.
The regular cab with a manual transmission featured a Hurst shift lever fitted with a Viper shift knob, and aluminum performance pedals replaced the standard setup.
The Ram SRT-10 lacked the touchscreen infotainment system characteristic of many modern-day vehicles, but the stock sound system consisted of eight Infinity brand speakers for blasting your favorite tunes while leaving most other pickup trucks in the dust.
A Bargain Price For A Limited-Production Vehicle
The price for a new 2022 RAM 1500 TRX is just over $71,000. Although the supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi engine generating more than 700 horsepower, propels the sporty pickup truck to 60 mph in a mind-blowing 4.5 seconds, the impressive performance of the 2004 to 2006 Ram SRT-10 is not far behind.
Dodge built only 5,500 Ram SRT-10 pickup trucks during its brief production run, selling the regular cab for about $50,000 and the Quad cab model for an additional $5,000.
On today's market, the sixteen-plus-year-old Ram SRT-10 is a bargain. Low-mileage models (under 60,000 miles) range from $25,000 to $35,000. And exceptional models with less than 10,000 miles can fetch close to $45,000.
That's a great price for a vehicle with Viper-like performance destined to become a prized possession for muscle car and truck collectors.