Used Ram 1500 Classic in Kingston: A Buyer's Guide to Model Years, Engines and What to Check
The Ram 1500 Classic is "the previous generation Ram 1500" in FCA Canada's 2019 fact sheet, and the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings list it for model years 2019 to 2024.
Canada's federal fuel ratings list a 3.6 L six-cylinder and a 5.7 L eight-cylinder for every Ram 1500 Classic year, plus a 2019 3.0 L six-cylinder diesel.
Jim Thompson Chrysler, at 805 Gardiners Road in Kingston, sells new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles and used vehicles of other makes. Our service department can inspect a used vehicle before purchase and tell you what it finds.
Our used Ram 1500 Classic results page shows what is currently available, and this guide gives you three things to read any Classic on it against: what its maker called it, its federal fuel ratings, and the checks a Kingston winter calls for.
Key Takeaways
The Ram 1500 Classic is listed for six model years, 2019 to 2024. The Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, read October 13, 2026, carry Ram 1500 Classic entries for each of those six years and none for 2025 or 2026.
From 2020 to 2024, the 3.6 L six-cylinder Ram 1500 Classic carries the lower combined fuel consumption rating in every year. The Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, read October 13, 2026, put the 3.6 L at 11.7 to 12.6 L/100 km combined against 13.6 to 14.1 L/100 km for the 5.7 L eight-cylinder, which makes a 3.6 L truck the one Jim Thompson Chrysler in Kingston points a commuter toward, with the towing rating of the exact truck checked with our team if a trailer is part of the plan.
On a used Ram 1500 Classic from around Kingston, look underneath, test the brakes and, on a 4X4, engage four-wheel drive. Salted winter roads and hard work are both reasons to look underneath, and a test drive is where the brakes and the four-wheel drive show how they behave.
Open recalls on a used Ram 1500 Classic are a question for that truck's VIN. Transport Canada keeps the Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database, and whether a campaign is open on one truck is confirmed against its own VIN.
A Ram 1500 Classic is a used-truck decision, and a new Ram 1500 is the other path. Ram's statement of April 26, 2024, from Windsor, Ontario, says Ram "has discontinued production of the Ram 1500 Classic for the Canadian market", so a buyer who wants to be a truck's first owner looks at the new Ram 1500.
What Would You Load Into a Used Ram 1500 Classic Around Kingston?
Around Kingston, you would load a used Ram 1500 Classic for work, fill it with hockey gear in January and still park it downtown when the work is done. Buying the Classic used takes the pressure off the first scratch in the box.
You set a toolbox, a ladder and a few bags of mortar in the box and drive west to a job near Bath.
A scuff from a wheelbarrow handle on a truck someone else broke in is part of the deal, not a reason to lose sleep.
The trip back through town picks up a lumber order on Gardiners Road and the kids from practice.
In January the hockey bag and two sticks go in after a cold night in an Amherstview driveway, and the rink is the first stop of the morning.
For a weekend breakfast downtown, you leave the Classic on a side street off Princess Street, and nobody at the next table needs to know about the mortar.
What a Classic asks in return is a buyer who checks its history, because a Ram 1500 Classic you buy today comes with a history of its own.
What Is a Ram 1500 Classic?
A Ram 1500 Classic is the earlier design of the Ram 1500 that Ram kept building alongside the redesigned truck, and FCA Canada's 2019 Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet, dated August 20, 2018, calls it "the previous generation Ram 1500". In plain words, the Classic and the current Ram 1500 are two different trucks that share a name, and the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings list the Classic under its own model name, apart from the Ram 1500.
Where the Classic Name Came From
FCA Canada's June 26, 2018, release from Windsor, Ontario, says Ram Truck brand executives "have given the legacy edition its own name: Classic", so the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic could sell beside "the all-new 2019 Ram 1500".
The 2019 truck wears its name on the fenders: "New 'Classic' badging is located on the fenders," according to FCA Canada's June 2018 release. On any used Classic, confirm the model and model year from the ownership and the VIN rather than from a badge.
Five Models for 2019
For 2019, FCA Canada's Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet lists five models: ST, Tradesman, Express, SLT and SSV (fleet only).
On a 2020 to 2024 Classic, ask the seller which model the truck is and get the answer in writing, since FCA Canada's 2019 fact sheet covers the 2019 model year.
When Ram Stopped Building It for Canada
Ram's statement of April 26, 2024, issued from Windsor, Ontario, says "Ram has discontinued production of the Ram 1500 Classic for the Canadian market" and "Current inventory will sell through 2024."
Ram's April 2024 statement adds: "In Canada, Ram will continue to offer the Ram 1500, Ram Heavy Duty, Ram Chassis Cab and Ram ProMaster."
Which Ram 1500 Classic Years and Engines Can You Buy Used?
You can buy a used Ram 1500 Classic from the 2019 to 2024 model years, and the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, read October 13, 2026, list a 3.6 L six-cylinder and a 5.7 L eight-cylinder for each of those years. For 2019, the Government of Canada's ratings also list a 3.0 L six-cylinder diesel, and six-speed automatic entries for the 5.7 L beside the eight-speed.
The Federal Ratings Table, 2019 to 2024
Every Ram 1500 Classic entry in the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, read October 13, 2026, lists the class "Pickup truck: Standard", and the table gives combined ratings in L/100 km for the entries with and without 4X4 in the federal model name:
Model year | Engine, as the federal entry lists it | Transmission | Fuel type | Federal class | Combined, without 4X4 (L/100 km) | Combined, 4X4 (L/100 km) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | 3.0 L six-cylinder (EcoDiesel in the federal model name) | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Diesel | Pickup truck: Standard | 10.4 | 10.8 |
2019 | 3.6 L six-cylinder (FFV in the federal model name) | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 11.9 | 12.6 |
2019 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 6-speed automatic (A6) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 14.8 | 16.3 |
2019 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 13.6 | 14.0 |
2020 | 3.6 L six-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 11.9 | 12.6 |
2020 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 13.6 | 14.1 |
2021 | 3.6 L six-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 11.9 | 12.6 |
2021 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 13.6 | 14.1 |
2022 | 3.6 L six-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 11.9 | 12.6 |
2022 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 13.7 | 14.1 |
2023 | 3.6 L six-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 11.7 | 12.5 |
2023 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 13.8 | 14.1 |
2024 | 3.6 L six-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 11.9 | 12.5 |
2024 | 5.7 L eight-cylinder | 8-speed automatic (A8) | Regular gasoline | Pickup truck: Standard | 13.8 | 14.1 |
The figures are the manufacturers' own: Natural Resources Canada's 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide says manufacturers generate the fuel consumption data through standard, controlled laboratory testing and analytical procedures, and Natural Resources Canada puts the data together and publishes it.
Natural Resources Canada's 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide defines 4X4 in a model name as four-wheel drive, a vehicle designed to operate with either two wheels or four wheels powered, and it says the combined rating reflects 55% city driving and 45% highway driving.
Your own truck's fuel use will differ: Natural Resources Canada's 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide says a vehicle's fuel consumption will vary from its published ratings, depending on how, where and when you drive.
For 2019, the Government of Canada's ratings name the 3.6 L entries FFV, which Natural Resources Canada's guide defines as a flexible-fuel vehicle designed to operate on gasoline and ethanol blends of up to 85% ethanol (E85), and they rate those 2019 entries on E85 at 17.0 L/100 km combined without 4X4 and 18.0 L/100 km with 4X4. The 3.6 L entries for 2020 to 2024 carry no FFV label in the federal model names, and every one of them lists regular gasoline.
Line a listing up against its row in the table by year, engine and 4X4, then see what our used Ram 1500 Classic results page shows today.
The 3.6 L Six-Cylinder
The 3.6 L six-cylinder is the Ram 1500 Classic to start with if the truck mostly commutes or runs errands with a light load, because the federal ratings give it a lower combined rating than the 5.7 L in each year from 2020 to 2024.
For 2019, FCA Canada's Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet names the 3.6 L engine the 3.6-litre Pentastar V-6.
The 5.7 L Eight-Cylinder
The 5.7 L eight-cylinder appears in every Ram 1500 Classic year from 2019 to 2024 in the federal ratings, at 13.6 to 16.3 L/100 km combined fuel consumption across those years, its transmissions and both drive names.
For 2019, FCA Canada's Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet names the 5.7 L engine the 5.7-litre HEMI V-8 with Variable Valve Timing.
If the truck will pull a trailer, confirm the towing rating for that exact truck with our team before you buy it for the job.
The 2019 Diesel
Only the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic has a diesel in the federal ratings: a 3.0 L six-cylinder at 10.4 L/100 km combined without 4X4 and 10.8 L/100 km with 4X4.
FCA Canada's 2019 Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet calls the diesel the 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V-6.
On a used diesel Classic, ask the seller for every service record and receipt, and read them before you go further.
How Do You Check a Used Ram 1500 Classic After Kingston Winters?
Check a used Ram 1500 Classic on four fronts: the underside, the brakes and tires, four-wheel drive on a 4X4, and the paperwork with the VIN. Give the underside of a Classic the same attention as the year and engine on the listing, because salt goes down on Kingston's roads every winter.
Under the Truck
Look under the truck on a dry day with a flashlight, along the frame, the brake and fuel lines, the exhaust, and the bottoms of the doors and the box.
On a used Ram 1500 Classic, flaking metal, holes, or fresh undercoating over one small patch all deserve a straight answer from the seller.
Brakes and Tires
On a Ram 1500 Classic test drive, find an empty lot and brake firmly from a moderate speed, feeling for a pull to one side, grinding, or pulsing through the pedal.
Ask for the receipt from the last brake job, look for uneven wear on any of the four tires, and if a winter set comes with the truck, look it over as well.
Engaging the 4X4
On a 4X4 Classic, shift into four-wheel drive on gravel or another loose surface during the test drive, the way the owner's manual for that truck describes, and listen for clunks or grinding as it engages and lets go.
The Government of Canada's ratings list Ram 1500 Classic entries with and without 4X4 for every year from 2019 to 2024, so confirm which one the truck in front of you is.
Ownership, Paperwork and the VIN
Put the Ram 1500 Classic's ownership and service history on its tailgate and read them before the test drive, checking that the VIN on the paperwork matches the VIN on the truck.
If the seller is a private owner in Ontario, ask for the used vehicle information package, and our guide to the UVIP explains what it tells you.
Any factory coverage left on a used Classic depends on that truck, its in-service date and Ram's terms, so ask the seller for the original in-service date and any coverage paperwork.
Recalls are tracked by Transport Canada in its Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database, and whether one is open on a particular Classic comes down to its VIN. Bring us that VIN: our service department can check a vehicle's VIN for open recalls in the maker's system.
An Inspection at Our Service Department
Our service department can inspect a used vehicle before purchase and tell you what it finds, and you can book that inspection online for the Ram 1500 Classic you are considering.
Should You Buy a Used Classic or a New Ram 1500?
Buy a used Ram 1500 Classic if a Ram pickup bought used fits your budget and your work, and look at a new Ram 1500 if you want to be the truck's first owner in the current design. Either way the truck carries the Ram 1500 name, so the choice is about how you want to own one, not a contest between trucks.
If you want the newer truck, our Ram 1500 guide walks through its versions, from Tradesman and Big Horn to Laramie, Limited and Rebel.
To see the new truck, check what our new Ram 1500 results page shows today.
If a used truck is the plan, our guide to used Ram trucks in Kingston has more on the used Ram 2500 and 3500.
Who Should Pass on a Used Classic?
Three buyers should pass on a used Ram 1500 Classic: the one whose trailer calls for a heavy-duty pickup, the one who wants the current design or a new truck, and the one who will not have a used truck inspected before buying.
If your trailer or your load calls for a heavy-duty pickup, our Ram 2500 guide covers that truck's versions and the gas or diesel choice.
If you want the current design rather than the previous generation, or a truck with no previous owner, start with our guide to the new Ram 1500.
If you would rather skip the inspection and the paperwork, a used truck with a history of its own is a poor match for you.
Which Parts of Your Trade and Financing Begin on Our Website?
For a used Ram 1500 Classic, a trade-in value request goes to Value My Trade on our website, and a credit application goes to our 30 Second Credit Application, O.A.C.
When you are ready, bring your trade in for an appraisal, which is made with the vehicle inspected on our lot.
If you owe more on your current vehicle than it is worth, that difference may be added to the amount financed, which increases the amount you borrow and can increase the total cost of borrowing.
You use We Buy Cars, not Value My Trade, when the vehicle in your driveway is leaving and nothing is replacing it.
Apply for financing online, from home, before you visit, O.A.C. Financing is available on the vehicles we sell, O.A.C., and any approval depends on the review of your application.
Why Start Your Classic Search With Jim Thompson Chrysler?
Start your Ram 1500 Classic search with us because Jim Thompson Chrysler, at 805 Gardiners Road in Kingston, sells new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles and used vehicles of other makes. Our live inventory shows what is currently available.
Service visits for your Classic after the sale are requested on our Request Auto Service Online page.
With Value My Trade and our credit application done first, O.A.C., the visit can be about the truck itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Did Ram Stop Building the Ram 1500 Classic for Canada?
Ram said on April 26, 2024, from Windsor, Ontario, that it "has discontinued production of the Ram 1500 Classic for the Canadian market". The Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, read October 13, 2026, list the Ram 1500 Classic for 2019 to 2024 and not for 2025 or 2026.
Is a Ram 1500 Classic the Same Truck as the Current Ram 1500?
No: FCA Canada's 2019 Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet calls the Classic "the previous generation Ram 1500", and the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings list it under its own model name. FCA Canada's June 2018 release says Ram gave the 2019 Classic its name to sell it alongside "the all-new 2019 Ram 1500".
What Engines Can a Used Ram 1500 Classic Have?
A used Ram 1500 Classic can have a 3.6 L six-cylinder or a 5.7 L eight-cylinder in any year from 2019 to 2024, according to the Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings. For 2019, the Government of Canada's ratings add a 3.0 L six-cylinder diesel, which FCA Canada's 2019 Ram 1500 Classic fact sheet names the 3.0-litre EcoDiesel V-6.
How Much Fuel Does a Ram 1500 Classic Use?
The Government of Canada's Fuel Consumption Ratings, read October 13, 2026, put the 2019 to 2024 Ram 1500 Classic at 10.4 to 16.3 L/100 km combined on diesel or regular gasoline, by year, engine and drive. Natural Resources Canada's 2026 Fuel Consumption Guide says your consumption will vary from the published ratings, depending on how, where and when you drive.
Where Can You Have a Ram 1500 Classic's VIN Checked for Recalls in Kingston?
You can have a Ram 1500 Classic's VIN checked at Jim Thompson Chrysler in Kingston, where our service department can check a vehicle's VIN for open recalls in the maker's system. Transport Canada keeps the public Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database, and an open recall on one Ram 1500 Classic is confirmed by that truck's VIN.
Find Your Used Ram 1500 Classic in Kingston
A used Ram 1500 Classic is chosen one truck at a time: pick the year, engine and drive from the federal ratings, then judge the truck in front of you by its underside, its paperwork and its VIN.
See what our used Ram 1500 Classic results page shows today, and if no Classic suits you, look through our full used inventory for another truck.
Apply for financing online, from home, before you visit, O.A.C.
Before the drive from Brockville, Napanee or Amherstview, open our Get Directions page for 805 Gardiners Road.
Visit us at 805 Gardiners Road, Kingston, ON K7M 7E6
Browse inventory online, value your trade, apply for credit approval, O.A.C., book service, or contact our team.
Local: (613)-389-4426 Sales: (877)-251-9249 Parts: (888)-711-5309 Service: (888)-713-0742
About the Author:
Kerry Irven is the Vice President of New and Used Automotive Operations for Heighton Automotive Group, a family-owned and operated automotive group serving communities across Eastern Ontario. Kerry began his automotive career in new-car sales, building his experience on the showroom floor and working his way through multi-store dealership operations.
With over 25 years in the automotive industry, Kerry has helped grow automotive businesses from one location with 40 to 50 vehicles in stock to more than 500 vehicles across 10 rooftops. His hands-on background in both new and used-vehicle operations gives him a practical understanding of what customers look for when shopping for their next vehicle.
Throughout his career, Kerry has always been actively involved in staff coaching and in understanding customer wants and needs, helping ensure the businesses he works with continue to adapt to what customers are truly looking for.
One of the most exciting chapters of his career has been the shift into modern automotive marketing, embracing new technology, transparent pricing, customer-first inventory strategies, and new ways to create a better vehicle-shopping experience.
Kerry has completed extensive automotive training, including certification through the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council, involvement with the Used Car Dealers Association of Ontario, Canadian automotive dealer training, and multiple customer service courses.
Born and raised on a farm, Kerry has always valued family, hard work, and a practical, down-to-earth approach. Joining Heighton Automotive Group and working alongside Thomas Heighton and family, along with managing partners Kyle Lothian and Martin Gougeon, has allowed him to bring those same values into the car business. It has also allowed Kerry to continue following a simple philosophy: treat every customer exactly the way he would want to be treated.
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