The Ram platform has a history of custom-lowered trucks, but after discontinuing the Ram 1500 R/T in 2012, street-truck culture is poised for a comeback. Ram now returns to the segment, following its celebrated SRT-10 and R/T models, both now recognized as performance icons.
The lowered DC650 Ram features a Whipple-supercharged 5.7L HEMI delivering 650 HP; nearly double the output of the old Ram R/T and more than 150 horsepower over the Viper-powered SRT-10. For the first time in years, Ram is offering a street truck designed to satisfy both enthusiasts and collectors, and this time it’s rewriting the rules.
Direct Connection, Ram’s aftermarket division, partnered with Fox Factory to create this lowered Ram. Using a Ridetech coilover system with a 3-inch drop in the front and 5-inch drop in the rear, the setup is engineered for spirited driving and improved cornering. This build blends Ram’s legacy with advanced suspension technology and marks a continued expansion from lifted to street-inspired performance builds.
Ram's Street Truck Legacy
While this isn’t the first time we’ve seen the Ram transformed into a street truck, it’s been over a decade since enthusiasts and collectors have had the opportunity to acquire a lowered version of it. With the Ram R/T ending production in 2012 and the Ram SRT-10 in 2006, it left a lasting mark that helped build Ram’s reputation in the lowered truck scene.
The Ram SRT-10 (2004-2006) featured a Viper V10 engine, producing 500-HP with 525 lb.-ft of torque, and was available with either a 4-speed automatic transmission or a six-speed manual option. The SRT-10 was widely regarded as the performance truck of its era, with its claim to fame being the world’s fastest production pickup truck at launch. Heavily modified by Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team, the truck featured a lowered ride height, performance springs and shocks, along with thicker sway bars.
Its reputation preceded it, being seen as outrageous and possibly unnecessary. Who decides to put a Viper engine in a truck? The better question should probably be — why not?
The willingness of Dodge (then part of Daimler Chrysler) to take risks with the SRT-10 platform is what made it legendary and turned it into the highly collectible truck it is today.
Riding on the success of the limited-run Ram SRT-10, Dodge returned to the street truck market one more time, offering a more accessible vehicle for the average person. The Ram 1500 R/T (2009-2012) debuted in 2009, and was positioned as a more affordable, HEMI-powered muscle truck that was lighter and better for everyday driving.
The R/T featured a lower-horsepower 5.7L HEMI V8 rather than the more extreme Viper V10, which made 370 HP with a 5-speed automatic. It featured a 4.10 ratio rear axle to give it an edge over the standard OEM Ram, and a respectable 0-60 time in the low 6s.
Similar to the SRT-10, the R/T was a limited-run edition, with production ending in 2012. Producing the R/T was a risk Dodge took in the sport-truck segment when many manufacturers were pulling back.
How this Lowered Ram Compares
With the release of a new, lowered Ram truck, Fox Factory and Ram collaborated to bring this sleek sport truck back to life. While the SRT-10 influenced a generation in 2004 with 500 horsepower from a Viper V10, and the Ram R/T gave enthusiasts a 370-horsepower HEMI alternative in 2009, this latest lowered Ram blows the others out of the water with its 650-horsepower Whipple-supercharged 5.7L HEMI.
This street truck pushes the limits of what a lowered truck can be, with better cornering and driving experience with the Ridetech coilover system. The custom front splitter, sport hood, tailgate spoiler, and signature graphics inspire nostalgia of a bygone era in street trucks with a modern flair. Overall, the build is a bold statement from Ram and the Fox Factory brands that they’re ready to play in a resurging market.
Much like Dodge’s bold approach with the SRT-10 and R/T, Fox Factory and Ram are taking a calculated risk by bringing this new lowered Ram to market as interest in street trucks grows again. The Ram comes standard with FOX’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty covering proprietary parts and modifications.
Ram Heritage Meets FOX Engineering
The lowered Ram isn’t just a nod to the past. It doubles down on performance culture. By blending Ram’s heritage of performance street trucks with FOX engineering and Ridetech suspension, this build pushes boundaries on what’s possible.
The wait is over – get your street truck today!
