The Dodge Ram 250 was the medium duty, or three-quarter ton variant of the First Generation Dodge Ram. Introduced for the 1981 model year, the Ram 250 was offered in Standard Cab, Extended Cab (Club Cab), and Crew Cab bodies, and featured rear wheel drive and all wheel drive versions. Trucks fitted with rear wheel drive were designated with the letter 'D' or the nameplate 'Ram,' while all wheel drive versions were designated with the letter 'W' or the nameplate 'Power Ram.' A range of gasoline and diesel engines were available for the Ram 250, including V6 and V8 powerplants. The most notable engine option was the 5.9L Cummins turbodiesel. This engine became available from the 1989 model year, and is legendary for its durability. Both manual and automatic transmission options were offered for the First Generation Dodge Ram 250, which was built until 1993, when Dodge introduced the Second Generation Ram.