There are many limited-edition trucks out there that manufacturers produce before persuading customers to make the investment. These unique trucks may be renowned because an awesome film is being released that features one of them or because there is a significant sporting event taking place, or maybe due to the model being used to commemorate a special individual. Either way, most petrol heads no doubt feel like a kid in a candy shop when that happens.

But these moments are also opportunities to remind enthusiasts of cars that many of them almost forgot existed. It is easy to say this with hindsight, particularly if you were not old or young enough to appreciate certain trucks during their heyday, but many of them are forgotten because they are quite frankly terrible.

Every now and then, certain gems come back to life and generate a sense of nostalgia among car fans.

Sadly, some of these trucks that were initially lost to time do not deserve such a fate, and the 1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition 4x4 pickup model is one such example.

So why does this 1990 Dodge deserve to have its reputation re-examined compared to so many other trucks? Let's take a closer look.

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The History Of The 1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition

1990 Rod Hall Signature Edition Dodge
Via: Off Road Action

As Motor Junkie suggests, the 1980s and early 1990s were an exciting time for Baja racing and the pickup truck market in general. Consumer interest in pickup models was expanding at a fast pace, and new technology was making trucks more comfortable than ever, which is an important quality considering how many miles people tend to use them for.

In 1990, American professional off-road racer Rod Hall collaborated with an American automotive designer, racing driver, and entrepreneur named Carroll Shelby to build a batch of four-wheel-drive pickups. But they weren't to be any pickup trucks as they were set to feature a special high-performance suspension system that was powerful enough to resist the stress of rough off-road driving while also providing a decent highway ride. Shelby had already worked on several projects with Chrysler by this stage.

But the 1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition 4x4 pickup truck was not the first model to share the same name as America's beloved professional off-road racer. Dodge wanted to commemorate Mr. Hall's career as one of the most powerful champions of the planet's most famous off-road race.

Driving Line reports that the plan was to equip four-wheel-drive versions of the Ram with the type of suspension upgrades a Baja truck would need, including dual dampers and incredibly stiff springs.

Unlike the 1990 version of the truck, the 1987 one (pictured above) was painted in the red, orange, and yellow livery that had been associated with Mr. Hall throughout his career.

Many people were fortunate enough to be able to ride one, that is, until the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claimed that the Signature Edition suspensions had never been tested for use before being sold. Therefore, they claimed that the model was too dangerous to sell, with only 14 or so making it into the hands of drivers.

They originally planned to sell 1,500 units, but that never happened in the end. Thankfully, those 14 units were recalled for a suspension retrofit, but just over half of them were eventually returned to their original owners. As a result, the 1987 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition became one of the rarest trucks the company ever built, even if that was by accident.

Unfortunately, the 1990 model did not have much luck either. Production was halted when Shelby suffered a heart attack, so only 33 of these custom pickups were manufactured.

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What Features Does The 1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature Edition Have?

1990 Rod Hall Signature Edition Dodge
Via: Top Classic Cars For Sale

The chassis of the Rod Hall Edition included Rancho shocks, although hefty springs were a part of the package. Large graphics, a more assertive bumper setup, and a lightbar intended to copy the look of Baja racers. The exterior body is still one of its nicest characteristics to this day.

Despite all of its shining qualities, the engine was a total letdown. Its 5.2-liter 318-CID V8 produced a measly 170 HP. To redeem itself, the Rod Hall truck was also fitted with an A727 Torque Flite three-speed automatic transmission.

Further, the 1990 Edition had a lot of reliability issues, and it is a pity Chrysler never took the opportunity to redesign the truck.

If you need any reminding as to why the 1990 Dodge Rod Hall Signature 4x4 pickup deserves so much more love today than it did back then, despite its unreliable features, just consider that it has a unique exterior body, an awesome interior, and it is named after one of America's most successful off-road racers. But, it should be added that you'd need some good luck to track one down.

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