Tesla Cybertruck goes head-to-head with 1990s turbo-diesel Dodge Ram in tug-of-war and the result is not what you'd expect
Published on Sep 09, 2026 at 6:05 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Sep 09, 2026 at 6:05 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Daisy Edwards
Footage has shown a Tesla Cybertruck EV go head-to-head with a 1990s turbo-diesel Dodge Ram in a pickup truck tug-of-war with a result nobody expected.
The new EV lined up against the 1990s Dodge Ram in a battle of electric versus internal combustion, but this was more than just a standard drag race.
YouTube channel TFL Classics showed off the two vehicles, and many expected the Tesla to easily beat the old Dodge.
However, what it showed was that even a truck that is over 30 years old can still fight against modern machines.
Many thought the Tesla Cybertruck would beat its rival
It was easy to see why many thought the Tesla Cybertruck would beat the Dodge Ram.
The EV in standard form has around 600hp, and it weighs around 6,600lbs.
So not only is it powerful, but it is also a heavy machine.
The 1990s Dodge doesn’t weigh much less, coming in at roughly 6,300lbs.
However, the Dodge has a lot less power, which shouldn’t have worked in its favor.
We’ve already seen how fast and powerful the Cybertruck can be down the 1/4 mile.
But in this contest, nobody quite expected what was to come.
The Dodge pickup truck held its own against the Tesla Cybertruck
When the two began the tug-of-war, they both dug right into the dirt they were fighting on.
You might have expected the Tesla to then start dragging its rival along.
However, it didn’t, and the EV remained firmly planted where it had begun the event.
The Ram pickup truck, meanwhile, also wouldn’t budge.
It simply refused to give in, and it remained incredibly stubborn.
TFL Classics kept the tug-of-war going as long as they dared, but neither truck was willing to budge.
They then called it a draw, which would have felt like a victory for the driver of the Dodge truck.
The 1990s pickup truck was incredibly impressive
One impressive part of the Dodge was that it was rated with a higher payload capacity than its modern rival.
While it looks like a monster, the Tesla actually has quite a small pickup bed.
The size of the modern EV is quite deceptive compared to its rival.
Of course, there is no denying the acceleration of the Cybertruck.
A 0- 60 mph time of just 2.6 seconds isn’t something the 1990s truck could live with.
Yet despite all the bravado of the Tesla, the Dodge simply refused to budge.
So if you want a new pickup truck, maybe you should look back 30 years to see what is available.
Tesla timeline
2003: Founded in July by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning
2004: Elon Musk joins the board of directors after leading the initial investment round
2008: The Roadster enters production as the first fully electric sports car
2010: The company goes public on the NASDAQ exchange and raises 226 million dollars
2012: Deliveries begin for the groundbreaking Model S luxury sedan
2017: The mass-market Model 3 launches and quickly scales up global production
2020: Total vehicle manufacturing surpasses one million units worldwide
2023: First deliveries of the highly anticipated Cybertruck reach waiting customers
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
