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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.

Other Car Spotter articles by Tom Buss

1970-71 Dodge W300 Power Wagon

Vintage Dodge Bros, Plymouth, and Dinky models

1975 Dodge Charger SE: Comfy but slow cruiser

1957 Plymouth Belvedere Convertible

1940s Dodge pickup: Car Spotter #20

1949 DeSoto Custom: Car Spotter #19

1967 Dodge Coronet 440: Car Spotter #18

Car Spotter #17: 1966 Chrysler 300

Car Spotter: 1950 Plymouth

Car Spotter: Imperial Crown and Valiant

Car Spotter: Dodge D-200 Power Wagon

Car Spotter: 1964 Jeep Gladiator Pickup

Car Spotter: Custom Ram Van Minivan

Car Spotter: Mopars of the Hagley Car Show

Car Spotter: C-100 California Pickup

Car Spotter: 1948 Chrysler Windsor and 1940 Dodge at a Newark used car lot

Car Spotter Plymouth Twofer: Belvedere and Horizon

Car Spotter: circa-1970 Dodge C-series medium duty truck

Van Spotter: Daily-driver Dodge B-van

Car spotter: Dodge D-200

Car Spotter: Plum Crazy 1971 Dodge Challenger

Car Spotter: 1971 Plymouth Fury Pursuit Car

Car Spotter: 1914 Dodge Bros. Touring Car

1951 DeSoto: Toothy-Grilled Car Spotter

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