Today’s Rare Ride is the third car in the series from designer Franco Sbarro. Our premier Sbarro creation was a windsurfing-specific take on the Citroën Berlingo, and the second was a very hot hatchback called the Super Eight – a Ferrari underneath.
While both of those creations were one-off styling exercises, today’s Sbarro actually entered very limited production. Presenting the Windhound of 1978.
The full-size SUV world of the late Seventies was very different than it is today, even though you’ll recognize all the names present. Trucks like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, the Range Rover, and the International Harvester Scout were just that: Trucks. Their ornamentation was minimal, most of the time they were seen with only two doors, and sometimes a rear seat was optional. There wasn’t wood or leather, but one could find vinyl seating surfaces and minimal soundproofing. There was one exception to this rule, the luxurious Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
But a few visionaries at the time saw the potential for more luxurious off-road SUVs. We’ve covered one of the earliest examples of such a luxury truck previously: The Monteverdi Safari that went on sale in Switzerland in 1977. Based on the IH Scout II, the Safari beat Sbarro to the punch by just one year.
The basis of the Windhound was the aforementioned G-Wagen, not a bad place to start. Using the G’s chassis, Sbarro designed an entirely different body up top. With its original design, the Windhound took things a step further than the clip swapping completed on the Safari. Windhound was available with either two or four doors, and sort of looked like an Eighties Toyota 4Runner. Four-door Windhounds were identified by their two rectangular headlamps, while two doors used quad circular lamps. A distinctive feature was the wrap-around roof spoiler above the rear hatch. This was supplemented in one example by exhaust pipes that ran up over the roof rails. All examples featured an interior full of wood and leather trim, and an unusual tailgate design with dual lower porthole windows. The Windhound was Sbarro’s second original design, as he’d spent the earlier part of the decade building replica cars (usually BMWs). His first original design was from 1974 and was a mid-engine Maserati-like sports car called the Stash, with an interior done by Pierre Cardin. We’ll cover that one later.
The Windhound was designed to be more powerful than other SUVs on offer, and as such used the 6.8-liter V8 from the 450SEL 6.9 as its primary motivation. The V8 was good for 282 horses and 410 lb-ft of torque, very impressive during the smog-choked Seventies. Typically the transmission paired to it was a three-speed automatic.
Typically is used above and applies to the 6.9 engine as well, because the Windhound was a built-to-order truck. Though its chassis remained G-Wagen, the truck on top was powered by different engines per customer preference. Six examples used the Mercedes 6.9 engine, while two used BMW power. A further five used Jeep engines. Finally, one used the 2.8 inline-six from a 280GE. After a run of 14 cars, the Windhound disappeared off the world’s radar and Sbarro moved on to other creations. Mainstream luxury SUVs would catch up about a decade later.
[Images: Sbarro]
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Up front, it features skid plates, steel bumpers, two tow hooks, a massive hood scoop, and a grille unique only to the TRX in Ram’s lineup. The hood scoop and the grille play a major role in the air intake. Ram noted that 50-percent of air intake to the engine will be through the massive hood scoop, and the rest through the grille. The truck also comes with adaptive LEDs.
The truck rides on 18-inch beadlock wheels wrapped in 35-inch, 325/65 section Goodyear Wrangler Territory All-Terrain Tires developed specifically for this beast.
It also features 15-inch brakes at the front. It comes with dual five-inch exhaust outlets and two tow hooks on its derriere. Ram offers the 1500 TRX in just one body style – Crew cab with a 5.7-foot cargo bed. Surprisingly, Ram has ditched its MultiFunction Tailgate in favor of a simple power tailgate.
Our Ram 1500 TRX test truck was finished in Bright White and Diamond Black Crystal dual-tone exterior shade. The other colors on offer are:
Flame Red with Diamond Black Crystal
Hydro Blue with Diamond Black Crystal
Granite Crystal Metallic with Diamond Black Crystal
Billet Silver with Diamond Black Crystal
Single-tone Diamond Black Crystal
An Ignition Orange shade was announced at the truck’s launch as a late availability, whereas an Anvil Grey shade was offered exclusively on the TRX Launch Edition.
How Big Is The Ram 1500 TRX?
The Ram 1500 TRX is 232.9 inches long, 88 inches wide, and 80.9 inches tall. The wheelbase measures 145.1 inches. The ground clearance, with the skid plate, is rated at 11.8 inches. As for the tracks, the front track is 74.5 inches wide whereas the rear track is 74.1 inches wide. To put things into perspective, this is roughly six inches wider than the standard Ram 1500.
2021 Ram 1500 TRX exterior dimensions
Length
232.9
Width
88
Height
80.9
Wheelbase
145.1
Front Track
74.5
Rear Track
74.1
Bed Length
67
Ground Clearance
11.8
When compared to the F-150 Raptor, the TRX is almost the same size. The Raptor measures 232.6 inches in length, 96 inches in width with the wing mirrors unfolded, and 80.7 inches tall. Although the TRX is 0.3 inches longer, the Raptor has a longer wheelbase by the same length. It measures 145.4 inches. The tracks are 0.2 inches narrower at the front as well as back, measuring 74.3 inches and 73.9 inches, respectively.
The F-150 Raptor takes the cake when it comes to the angles. The TRX’s approach angle is rated at 30.2 degrees, breakover angle at 21.9 degrees, and departure angle at 23.5 degrees. The Raptor’s approach angle is rated at 33.1 degrees, departure angle at 24.9 degrees, and breakover angle at 24.4 degrees. Despite having a slightly longer wheelbase, the Raptor boasts of a better breakover angle because it sits 1.3 inches higher off the ground when compared to its rival. The TRX comes with a 5.7-foot cargo bed, whereas the Raptor features a 5.5-foot bed.
How Much Does The Ram 1500 TRX Weigh?
The TRX is pretty heavy, weighing in at 6,350 pounds. This makes it 610 pounds heavier than the Raptor which stands at 5,740 pounds.
How Much Can The Ram 1500 TRX Tow and Haul?
The towing capacity on the Ram 1500 TRX is rated at 8,100 pounds, whereas the payload capacity is rated at 1,310 pounds.
The 2021 F-150 Raptor beats the TRX on both counts. The towing and payload capacities are rated at 8,200- and 1,400- pounds respectively. This is an increase of 200 pounds in both capacities over the 2020 F-150 Raptor, which means the TRX had better ratings when it was launched. That doesn’t really matter now, though; does it?
Ram 1500 TRX Interior
It wouldn’t be wrong to say Ram revolutionized the truck segment when we speak of the interior. Ram started offering luxurious interior on trucks that can even put sedans to shame. In fact, the company recently launched a 10th Anniversary Edition of the Ram 1500 Limited, a model known for its plushness.
Step inside and you’ll be welcomed to a cockpit with a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. You can spend extra money and get this finished in suede and carbon-fiber accents. Behind the steering wheels is an instrument cluster with a multi-information display. The seven-inch screen throws up more data than you would need most of the time. It comes with performance pages, too, to record your off-road and on-road performances. It shows stuff like:
Reaction time
0-60 and 0-62 mph acceleration times
Quarter-mile time
Dyno page
G-Force meter
Going against the trend of offering slim bucket seats, Ram has offered heavily bolstered cushies for your tushies. They are designed well to keep you in place when you take this beast hard around the corners or during severe off-roading.
You can have them in cloth and vinyl, or leather and suede, or leather and suede with red and carbon fiber accents.
Fortunately, Ram has ditched the rotary knob gear shifter on this truck. Instead, you get the conventional floor-mounted gear shifter. You get a control panel in place of the knob and it features TRX-specific transfer case switches, like 4WD High/Low, Axle Lock, etc. Even the Drive Mode selector and Launch Control button are here.
Ram offers a dual-pane panoramic sunroof on the TRX. There are some other pretty sweet things, like ventilated seats, power-adjustable seats, etc. that you can opt for.
On the center console sits a 12-inch UConnect 4C touchscreen system that supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Sirius XM. It can be upgraded to UConnect 5 software in the future. For now, it is slated to come in 2022. The upgrade would support wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apart from this, the truck also comes with a wireless charger, five USB ports, including Type A and C ports, and a 10-speaker sound. For audiophiles, Ram offers a 19-speaker, 900-Watt Harman-Kardon audio system as an option.
Apart from this, the other tech stuff that can be had includes:
A new color Head-Up Display
9.2-inch wide Digital Rearview Mirror
Trailer Reverse Steer Control, similar to Ford’s Pro-Trailer Backup Assist
How Spacious Is The Ram 1500 TRX?
On the inside, the Ram TRX is mighty spacious; just like any other pickup truck. In the first row, it offers 40.9 of headroom, 40.9 inches of legroom, 66 inches of shoulder room, and 63.4 inches of hip room. The Raptor is almost just as spacious. It comes with better legroom up front, thanks to the longer wheelbase. It offers 40.8 inches of headroom, 43.9 inches of legroom, 66.7 inches of headroom, and 62.5 inches of hip room.
In the second row, the Ram TRX offers headroom of 39.8 inches, legroom of 45.2 inches, shoulder room of 65.7 inches, and hip room of 63.4 inches. The Raptor offers 40.4 inches of headroom, 43.6 inches of legroom, 66 inches of shoulder room, and 62.6 inches of hip room.
Ram TRX vs Ford F-150 Raptor interior dimensions
Ram TRX
Ford F-150 Raptor
1st Row Headroom
40.9
40.8
1st Row Leg Room
40.9
43.9
1st Row Shoulder Room
66
66.7
1st Row Hip Room
63.4
62.5
2nd Row Headroom
39.8
40.4
2nd Row Leg Room
45.2
43.6
2nd Row Shoulder Room
65.7
66
2nd Row Hip Room
63.4
62.6
Ram 1500 TRX Drivetrain
The 2012 Ram 1500 TRX is powered by a 6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 HEMI Hellcat engine that churns out 702 ponies and 650 pound-feet of twist.
Power is routed to the wheels via an eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic gearbox. The truck comes with a heavy-duty advanced four-wheel-drive system as well.
2021 Ram 1500 TRX specifications
Ram TRX
Engine
6.2-Liter V-8
Fuel
Premium
Horsepower
702 HP
Torque
650 LB-FT
Transmission
8AT
Drive
4WD
Towing Capacity
8,100 LBS
Fuel Economy
10/14/12
Curb Weight
6,350
Fuel Capacity
33 Gal
There are multiple pre-set drive modes on offer that control the throttle response, four-wheel-drive system, transmission, suspension, and electric power steering. The modes include – Sport, Snow, Auto, Tow, Custom, Mud/Sand, Rock, Baja. With all the power it makes, the truck can also fly, and Ram knows there will be times you’ll keep it off the ground for a few seconds. To make sure this doesn’t cause any adverse effects, the company has introduced something known as ‘Jump Detection’. Jump Detection derives wheel-speed and ride-height data from the sensors and accelerometers at each corner to identify when the vehicle is airborne and acts to prevent driveline-damaging power spikes.
As for the performance specs, it can sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 118 mph, which is why the 1500 TRX is officially the “Quickest, Fastest and Most Powerful Mass-produced Truck in the World” for now. It comes with a Launch Control, too, in case you plan to take it to the drag strip. Ram says the truck can do a quarter-mile run in 12.9 seconds at 108 mph. We have seen it in action in the past.
A truck that’s capable of doing all these things needs to have a strong suspension setup. The 1500 TRX comes with a front independent suspension system with active damping. It also features a Dana 60 solid rear axle. The TRX has a front-wheel travel range of 13 inches and a rear-wheel travel range of 14 inches.
A BorgWarner transfer case and an electronic locking rear differential are also in place.
It also comes with 2.5-inch Bilstein Performance Black Hawk e2 adaptive shocks at the front and rear. According to the automaker, this will help traverse over harsh terrains even with speeds greater than 100 mph, thus making it a competent desert runner.
The Ram’s final drive ratio is 3.55:1 whereas the low-range four-wheel-drive ratio is rated at 2.64:1. Back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest the truck has a crawl ratio of 44:1.
How Fuel-Efficient Is The Ram TRX?
Asking how much a 6,000+ pound truck that features a 702-horsepower supercharged V-8 returns per gallon is a cardinal sin. But, if you really want to know, then the truck delivers 10 miles in the city, 14 miles on the highway, and 12 miles combined for every gallon of fuel consumed. Expect this to dip into single digits when going off-roading or driving with a heavy foot and expect it to burn a hole in your pocket.
If you want something more efficient, the Raptor V-6 will serve you better. It delivers 15 mpg in the city, 18 mpg on the highway, and 16 mpg combined.
How Much Does The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Cost?
The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX comes with a base price of $70,325 plus $1,695 destination. The cheapest exterior shade you can get is Diamond Black Crystal that’s priced at 100 bucks. So, the starting price of the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is essentially $72,120.
Our test model came finished in dual-tone Bright White and Diamond Black Crystal shade, which is a $250 option.
Ford introduced the third-gen F-150 Raptor around the same time it launched the fourteenth-gen F-150. While it comes with a lot of new, impressive stuff, like the suspension setup, bigger tires from the factory, and exhaust system, Ford didn’t make any changes to the powertrain. It continues to be powered by the same 3.5-liter, twin-turbo, V-6 EcoBoost mill that puts out 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Power is sent to all wheels via the same 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission. It comes with a whole lot of other stuff, like:
Electronic locking rear differential
Two-speed transfer case
Independent front suspension system
New five-link rear suspension setup
Panhard rod and 24-inch coil springs
3.1-inch Fox Live Valve dampers
Front suspension travel range of 14 inches
Rear suspension travel range of 15 inches
Available Torsen front limited-slip differential with 4:10 final drive ratio
It is based on the 2021 F-150 and is available only in the SuperCrew body style now. The Raptor rides on 17-inch wheels shod in 35-inch tires standard. You can also have 37-inch tires as an option from the factory itself. On the inside, you get stuff like a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12-inch touchscreen SYNC4 infotainment system that supports wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, and 18-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system, to name a few. You can even opt for Recaro bucket seats for extra moolah.
When the TRX was launched, Ford had the second-gen F-150 Raptor on sale. It started at $53,455 for the Regular Cab and $56,440 for the SuperCrew. This made it significantly cheaper than the Ram truck.
The 2021 F-150 Raptor, however, saw a big price jump. It now starts at $65,840 including destination, which closes the price gap between the two to barely a little over $6,000. Ford is also working on a V-8 rendition of the truck called the Raptor R. It will most-likely be priced well over the starting price of Ram 1500 TRX. This way, the Raptor R won’t cannibalize into the standard Raptor’s sales, and Ford will sandwich the TRX between both these models. This way you’ll have not one, but two alternatives for the TRX – one cheaper, and the other even more expensive.
Ram had rolled out the TRX Limited Edition when the truck was launched. It came with numerous stuff that set it apart from the standard TRX. Priced at over $90,000, it didn’t seem worth the extra $20,000 at the onset, but it came with a whole lot of stuff. Not to mention, you would be the owner of an exclusive edition that’s limited to just 702 examples. It was sold out within three hours after the bookings opened. In case you’re curious what made it special, here’s the additional stuff it came with:
Exclusive Anvil Grey Exterior Shade
TRX Exterior Graphics
TRX Hood Graphics
18- x 9.0-inch Beadlock-Capable Alum Wheels by Mopar
19 Speaker Harman Kardon Premium Sound System
Four-Adjustable Cargo Tie-Down Hooks
Adaptive Cruise Control
Deployable Bed-Step
Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof
Head-Up Display
Lane Keep Assist
Leather and Carbon Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
LED CHMS Lamp
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Pick-Up Box Lighting
Real Carbon Fiber Interior Accents
Rear- View Auto-Dimming Digital Display Mirror
Spray-In Bedliner
“TRX Launch Edition” Console Badge
“TRX” Red Interior Accents
TRX Level 2 Equipment Group (more on it below)
Priced at $90,315 plus destination
Ram 1500 TRX Packages
The 1500 TRX is offered with many optional packages, something that’s not uncommon with the Stellantis products. Some of those include:
TRX Level 2 Equipment Group – $7,920
Body-Color Door Handles
Wrapped Driver and Passenger Assist Handles
Front Door Accent Lighting
Full-Length Premium Upgraded Floor-Console
Heated Front Seats
Heated Steering Wheel
Instrument-Panel LED Ambient-Light Piping
Leather and Suede Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats
Luxury Front Door-Trim Panel
Pick-Up Box Lighting
Eight-Way Power Driver and Passenger Seats
Four-way Power Lumbar Adjustable Driver Seat
Four-way Power Lumbar Adjustable Passenger Seat
Four-way Front Headrests
Power Adjustable Pedals with Memory Function
Premium Wrapped Instrument- Panel Bezel
Rain-Sensitive Windshield Wipers
Rear-Door Accent-Lighting
Rear Under-Seat Storage Compartment
Rear Window Defroster
Sun-Visors with Illuminated Vanity-Mirrors
Universal Garage-Door Opener
Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection
Driver-Seat Memory
Exterior Mirrors with Memory
Heated Second-Row Seats
ParkSense Front and Rear Park-Assist with Stop
Driver-Seat/Radio/Mirrors/Pedals Memory Pre-Sets
Remote-Proximity Keyless –Entry
Remote-Start System
Remote Tailgate-Release
Rear 60 / 40 Folding Split Recline Seat
Surround-View Camera
Trailer Brake-Control
Ventilated Front Seats
Ventilated Rear Seats
Wireless Charging-Pad
TRX Carbon Fiber Package – $1,295
Leather and Carbon Flat-Bottom Steering Wheel
Real Carbon Fiber Interior Accents
Technology Group – $1,095
Head-up Display
Rear-view Auto-Dimming Digital Mirror
LED Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp
Advanced Safety Group – $995
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go
Lane Keep Assist
Pedestrian Emergency Braking
Bed Utility Group – $845
Four Adjustable Cargo Tie-Down Hooks
Deployable Bed-Step
Spray-in Bedliner
Trailer-Tow Group – $395
Trailer Brake Controller
Trailer Light Check
Trailer TPMS
Ram 1500 TRX Warranty
Ram is offering a three-year/36,000-mile basic limited warranty on the TRX, and a five-year/60,000-mile limited warranty on the powertrain.
Final Thoughts
So, to answer the question we posed at the beginning of this article – the Ram 1500 TRX is a fantastic buy if money is no object. It doesn’t necessarily perform as well as a conventional pickup truck or a conventional sports car. However, it infuses the characteristics of both the stark-different vehicles very well. It can tow and haul on a workday, and can be unleashed for quick sprints or desert runs over the weekend.
The 1500 TRX is well-loaded in the base form, but you can pamper yourself even more with the numerous accessories and packages that are available as optional. People looking for a frugal option will find the F-150 Raptor’s comparatively fuel-efficient engine better. The 2021 Raptor even comes with an improved suspension setup, a loud exhaust system, and massive tires from the factory. The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX is manufactured at the company’s Sterling Heights Assembly Plant in Michigan.
Love it
6.2-liter, supercharged V-8 that makes 700+ horses
Both The Broncos Are Looking At Home On These Trails
The videos show black pre-production prototypes traversing on the Rubicon trail – one of the most hardcore off-road trails there is.
Both models are in the Badlands spec. The four-door model is mated to the seven-speed manual transmission. The ride on the 33-inch optional Goodyear Mud-Terrain tires wrapped around Beadlock wheels. The two-door prototype, on the other hand, has an automatic transmission. It rides on standard Badlands wheels wrapped in 33-inch BF Goodrich All-Terrain tires. This model is also equipped with the steel front bumper.
The four-door model has a soft top and the front doors are removed, whereas the two-door prototype is seen without the doors and the rear section of the roof. Neither of these Broncos is equipped with the Sasquatch Package. The four-door manual-gearbox prototype seen here, of course, can’t be had with the package, but even the two-door automatic is seen without it. For the uninitiated, the Sasquatch package comes with:
1.2-inch Suspension Lift-Kit
Higher-Mounted Fender Flares
17-inch Beadlock-Compatible Wheels
35-inch Mud-Terrain Tires
Front and Rear Locking Axles
An Electromechanical Transfer Case
Heavy-Duty Position-Sensitive Bilstein Shocks
Shorter Final Drive Ratio
So, it must be noted that this off-roader is not traversing these paths to its full potential.
The package can be had on any trim and comes standard with the Wildtrak and First Edition trims. However, there’s a catch. The Sasquatch package can only be had with the automatic transmission. If you were thinking of a manual Bronco with the Sasquatch package, well, you’ll have to marry one and kill one!
Final Thoughts
This is all part of Ford’s testing as you can see the co-passenger working on the laptop in the two-door prototype while on the trail. Since the off-roader is at least a year away, the automaker still has time to sort out all the glitches, if there are any. We won’t spoil the action for you. So, check out all the three videos and see how the Bronco performs on the Rubicon Trail, and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Today’s Rare Ride is the third car in the series from designer Franco Sbarro. Our premier Sbarro creation was a windsurfing-specific take on the Citroën Berlingo, and the second was a very hot hatchback called the Super Eight – a Ferrari underneath.
The full-size SUV world of the late Seventies was very different than it is today, even though you’ll recognize all the names present. Trucks like the Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, the Range Rover, and the International Harvester Scout were just that: Trucks. Their ornamentation was minimal, most of the time they were seen with only two doors, and sometimes a rear seat was optional. There wasn’t wood or leather, but one could find vinyl seating surfaces and minimal soundproofing. There was one exception to this rule, the luxurious Jeep Grand Wagoneer.
But a few visionaries at the time saw the potential for more luxurious off-road SUVs. We’ve covered one of the earliest examples of such a luxury truck previously: The Monteverdi Safari that went on sale in Switzerland in 1977. Based on the IH Scout II, the Safari beat Sbarro to the punch by just one year.
The basis of the Windhound was the aforementioned G-Wagen, not a bad place to start. Using the G’s chassis, Sbarro designed an entirely different body up top. With its original design, the Windhound took things a step further than the clip swapping completed on the Safari. Windhound was available with either two or four doors, and sort of looked like an Eighties Toyota 4Runner. Four-door Windhounds were identified by their two rectangular headlamps, while two doors used quad circular lamps. A distinctive feature was the wrap-around roof spoiler above the rear hatch. This was supplemented in one example by exhaust pipes that ran up over the roof rails. All examples featured an interior full of wood and leather trim, and an unusual tailgate design with dual lower porthole windows. The Windhound was Sbarro’s second original design, as he’d spent the earlier part of the decade building replica cars (usually BMWs). His first original design was from 1974 and was a mid-engine Maserati-like sports car called the Stash, with an interior done by Pierre Cardin. We’ll cover that one later.
The Windhound was designed to be more powerful than other SUVs on offer, and as such used the 6.8-liter V8 from the 450SEL 6.9 as its primary motivation. The V8 was good for 282 horses and 410 lb-ft of torque, very impressive during the smog-choked Seventies. Typically the transmission paired to it was a three-speed automatic.
