When Ram brought the Hemi back to its 1500 pickup truck lineup in June, the brand debuted a "Symbol of Protest" badge consisting of a V-8 with a ram's head. To promote the lineup change, the company even introduced a real-world mechanical bull in the shape of the new logo. In the weeks since, the Hemi re-launch has been a great success, with Ram recording 10,000 orders for V-8-powered 1500s within just 24 hours.
The mechanical bull, however, has met with some misfortune.
The "Symbol of Protest" riding bull, which Dodge calls the "Bucking Hemi V-8," was stolen after an appearance at a Roadkill Nights event in southeast Michigan on Saturday night. In a post shared to Instagram with the hashtag "HEMIheist," Ram is asking anyone with information on the theft to reach out via social media direct messahe in hopes of locating the missing prop.
In a statement shared to Road & Track, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis says, "This is bull****. Our Bucking Hemi was taken on Saturday evening. The search is officially on and we won't stop searching until we get him back. While this is a tremendous loss for the Hemi community, Ram remains undeterred."
"We ask the public to help us spread the word and assist in locating our beloved Bucking Hemi. Ram is actively collaborating with authorities and welcomes any information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen ride. Those with tips are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or reach out to Ram Brand directly."
While it seems unusual for a thief to steal a mechanical bull — or we suspect it is, at least — Ram and Dodge performance products have long been a target for thieves. Ram TRX pickupss have been stolen off dealership lots, and whole rings of Hellcat-focused theft operations have been caught in the past. In that context, the "Bucking Hemi V8" seems rto be just the latest Hemi to attract the interest of thieves.
That said, a 1-of-1 mechanical riding bull in the shape of a Hemi is probably pretty difficult to unload on Facebook Marketplace, so representatives from the brand are optimistic that it will be discovered soon.
“We like to think that there will be more than a minimalist effort to help us find it,” said Ram spokesperson Nick Cappa. “It’s not like it is easy to hide!”
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