A decade after Chuck Norris starred in and as Lone Wolf McQuade as a Texas ranger, Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis decided to do a TV version of the 1983 movie. And so in 1993, Walker, Texas Ranger came to be aired on CBS and turned into such a success, it ran on for 200 episodes. Did everyone like the show?
Well, not really. That said; clearly, enough people did for the show went on, all the way till 2001. Later, it spawned a TV movie as well. The TV series was moralistic in nature with Norris using plenty of martial arts when in need of combative skills.
Plus his truck, a Dodge, seemed to be bestowed with superpowers enough to defy the laws of physics when Norris was stuck in tight situations. So which truck was powerful enough to be the loyal steed of Chuck Norris, aka Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker, and why?
Let’s find out more about what Chuck Norris drove in Walker, Texas Ranger…
Season One Debuted With This Truck
In season one, Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker is seen to be riding in and out of trouble in a blue truck, later identified as a GMC Sierra, a 1992-93 model identified so because the tailgate of this truck bears the name Sierra in a smaller font and the GMC Truck badge is also smaller. The ’89-’91 GMC Sierra trucks had a large banner right across the center of the tailgate with a huge GMC and a smaller EFI badge on the right-hand side corner.
In 1992, the GMC Sierras, the mechanical twins of the Chevrolet C/K trucks bore either a 4.3-liter V6 or a 5.0-liter, 5.7-liter, and 7.4-liter V8, jetting 160, 175 210, and 230 horses respectively. The truck was light blue and it’s unclear as to which of the trims it was.
But then the next season came and the GMC was dropped with Walker, Texas Ranger powering up to a more sturdy truck…
The Long-Standing Steed For Walker
Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker is seen to be old school following the ethics of the West. Much like the cowboys of yore, he shares a special relationship with his faithful steed, especially since he upgraded his ride.
Season one seemed to have an understanding with General Motors, which is why it was the GMC Sierra that Walker drove. By season two, it seems the erstwhile agreement fell through and a new one was drawn between the producers and Dodge, and he now bore down on all the evil in the world in his extended-cab Dodge Ram.
The style was all big rig and when the criminals saw that bull’s-eye grill bearing down on them in the rearview mirror, they trembled. So a lot of Walker’s work seemed to be done by his truck itself.
This all-new Dodge Ram debuted in 1994 itself with styling that decimated the competition. It seems Dodge wanted a family-friendly show to market and promote its new Ram, and Walker, Texas Ranger seemed to be the ideal place to do it. And it was this truck that Walker drove for the rest of the seasons of the show.
The new and improved Ram 1500 now bore a 5.2-liter V8 that made 220 horsepower and revved with 300 ft-lb of torque, enough to catch just about the most dastardly of villains. According to some experts, the sound of the truck is more reminiscent of a custom exhaust but none of this has ever been confirmed.
The truck came in a shade of steel grey, perhaps to bring home the fact that Walker has steely intentions when it came to nefarious activities.
In 2015, Dodge commemorated this partnership by launching the Ram 1500 Texas Ranger concept truck that was grey and bore lots of silver Lone Star badges along with a rather unique wooden trim. There are Ranger-themed graphics on the infotainment screen as well and the insides are simply done up in saddle-colored leather.
The Final Surprise In The TV Movie
In 2005, Walker, Texas Ranger released a TV movie called "Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire”, three years after the show had wrapped up.
The story ends in a cliff-hanger that remains unresolved to date but more importantly, in this movie too, Walker drives a Ram. Only this time, he’s not driving the Dodge Ram 1500 from 1994 but had upgraded again.
For the movie, Texas Ranger Sergeant Cordell Walker has a steed that more fire-breathing dragon: the Viper-powered Ram SRT10 pickup. Quite an upgrade for the man who believes in the principles of the Old West but is okay using vehicles that are more the 2000s.
Either way, it’s the Ram 1500 that is most remembered as Walker’s truck in the show and helped curry favor with the audiences as well.
Sources: TopSpeed, DrivingLine