News (Stellpower)

Car Spotter: An Unusual Dodge Ram Minivan

by Tom Buss

Here is a circa 1984-86 Dodge Ram Van, but it isn’t just your run-of-the-mill K-platform mini-van.

ram van minivan

This tan van with brown stripes was customized by Celebrity Coach, Inc of Larksville, PA. I believe it to be a 1984-86 model because of the grille. I didn’t determine what was customized, but I believe the stripes, the platform bed and the rear curtains are additions.

custom minivan badges

Note the lack of body rot; perhaps it wasn’t driven very much. Even though cars were required to have a third taillight beginning in 1985, vehicles classified as trucks were exempt, so 1984-86 Dodge and Plymouth mini-vans didn’t have a third taillight.

We go camping near Delaware Water Gap every year, and always saw this van sitting near Route 80 at a defunct used car dealer. I last saw it in September of 2014.

ram van rear

While not as exciting as muscle cars or old pick-ups, when was the last time you saw a 35 year old Dodge mini-van? If you didn’t own one of these, you probably knew someone who did. Love them or hate them, these grocery-getters changed the auto industry.

See the book Mopar Minivans.

This story originally ran in the National Chrysler Products Club Journal.

Car Spotter: An Unusual Dodge Ram Minivan

Other Car Spotter articles by Tom Buss