The modern era of the Dodge brand is best known for high-performance cars and SUVs, but a few decades back, Dodge had a hand in some of the largest vehicles on the road. Andrea Calvetti owns two examples of big Dodge products from the 1970s, including one model that many brand enthusiasts will recognize, while the other is a bit more obscure. His 1975 Dodge Ramcharger is largely original and what has been restored maintains the vintage look, while his 1973 Dodge Apollo motorhome is a pristine time capsule on the inside – providing a colorful reminder of the design language of the American ’70s.
First up, we have Calvetti’s 1975 Dodge Ramcharger. The Ramcharger name will be revived by the Ram Trucks brand later this year as an extended range electric half-ton pickup, but back in the ’70s, the Ramcharger was a full-sized SUV based on the Dodge Ram pickup that competed with the likes of the Ford Bronco and the Chevy Blazer. This particular Dodge Ramcharger was originally sold in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and lived its life on a farm before making its way to Calvetti’s home in California. He also met some classic Dodge owners in that area who provided him with a vintage license plate from the dealership in the same orange as the body of the Ramcharger, and that dealer logo is still found on the front fender.
When Calvetti acquired his Dodge Ramcharger, it needed some TLC, so with the help of Pete Martinez and Luke Rihl, the big SUV underwent a relatively basic restoration. Martinez repaired some damage to the rear side panels and along the rockers, which also led to an application of new white paint, but the orange paint on the upper portion of the vehicle is original 1975 paint. Also, someone had painted the removable top black, so Calvetti returned that to the proper white shown here. He then added a few emblems that were missing and he re-did the woodgrain vinyl on the sides of the truck to finish up the exterior. As a final exterior touch, this Ramcharger wears original license plates from the 1970s and they are approved for road use by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
On the inside, the roll bar was a bit rusty, so Calvetti repainted that and installed the correct steering wheel. The upholstery on the rear bench seat was damaged, so he repaired that with matching cloth from SMS Auto Fabrics and he installed new carpeting.
Under the hood is a 360-cubic-inch V8 engine mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission and a four-wheel-drive system that makes this 1975 Dodge Ramcharger a beast in any off-road setting. There are just over 53,000 miles on the odometer, which explains the incredible condition of the original paint.
Andrea Calvetti’s second Dodge product is his 1973 Apollo motorhome, which is less recognizable to many enthusiasts. While Dodge or the Chrysler Corporation did not build the body, a 440-cubic-inch big block Dodge V8 provides the power of this beast with help from a TorqueFlite® automatic transmission.
While the exterior of this Dodge-powered motorhome might not grab your attention, the inside is nothing short of amazing. This vehicle has not been restored – it has been cared for so well that the interior is original and practically flawless. Like so much of the 1970s, the interior is filled with wood paneling, plaid upholstery and shag carpeting, with a spread of yellow, green, orange and beige. There are even some era-correct décor inside, such as the appliances, a “peace” bumper sticker and a ’70s pin-up girl poster.
What makes Andrea Calvetti’s pair of classic Dodge vehicles truly unique is that they are available to be rented, but these are not vehicles that you can grab on Turo for a weekend trip. Calvetti rents these two vehicles out for photoshoots and production projects, so if you work in the TV or movie world, or if you are a photographer that needs vehicles for a ’70s-themed project, this Dodge Ramcharger and Dodge Apollo motorhome might fit the bill.
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