There was a time, previous to the rise of the minivan, when Detroit pitched its full-sized passenger vans as very massive and thirsty station wagons. On the identical time, most of these vans got here with handbook transmissions and straight-six engines as base tools (almost all patrons after about 1970 paid additional for automatics and V8s, after all). At this time’s Junkyard Gem, present in a San Francisco Bay Space automotive graveyard, is among the uncommon Eighties American passenger vans constructed with six cylinders, three pedals and 4 ahead gears… with floor-mounted shifter.
Chrysler’s Dodge Division stopped constructing forward-control A100 vans in 1970, changing the A100 with the a lot bigger B-Collection line of vans (Plymouth offered the B-Van, too, because the 1974-1983 Voyager). Manufacturing with minor beauty adjustments continued by way of 1997, after which a significant redesign stored the identical primary chassis with a special look going till DaimlerChrysler axed the B-Collection in favor of the Sprinter.
From the 1971 by way of 1980 mannequin years, cargo variations of the Dodge B-Collection vans bought Tradesman branding, whereas the passenger model was known as the Sportsman or Sportsman Wagon. For 1981, the Tradesman turned the Ram Van whereas the Sportsman changed into the Ram Wagon.
This one is a burly ¾-ton mannequin with a curb weight pushing two tons (which is considerably lighter than Chrysler’s minivans of a decade later), so that you’d have anticipated the unique purchaser to insist on the elective 318- or 360-cubic-inch V8. Not so! It is a Slant-Six engine with 225 cubic inches (3.7 liters) of displacement, rated at 95 horsepower if it is the unique plant.
Simply to confuse California emissions-testing personnel with its incorrect smog-specs sticker, the hood from a 318-equipped 1991 van has been swapped in. I will guess there have been some heated arguments about this van at smog-check time, which makes me surprise why the hood-swapper did not simply scrape off the decal.
In fact, the proprietor may have pointed on the construct tag on the door jamb for proper identification. Right here we will see that this van was born north of the border, on the Pilette Street Meeting plant in Windsor, Ontario.
With most vans of this kind that had the engine mounted over the entrance axle and below a doghouse within the passenger compartment, handbook transmission shifters had been mounted on the steering column to offer ergonomically wise entry for the driving force’s shifting hand. Sometimes, this could have been a three-on-the-tree rig, though four-on-the-tree column-shift manuals had been put in in some Ford and GM vans starting within the late Sixties (sadly, none had been constructed with five-on-the-tree setups). When Chrysler determined so as to add one other gear to the B-Collection vans for the 1980 mannequin 12 months, nonetheless, the overdrive-equipped four-speed’s shift lever was positioned subsequent to the driving force’s proper hip.
This location means that you’re pressured to achieve again to shift gears, with ergonomic hilarity growing whenever you’re already in second or fourth and fumbling for the knob. You’d get used to it after some time, but it surely might be irritating in stop-and-go site visitors.
With a five-digit odometer, we won’t know what number of miles this Ram Wagon traveled throughout its 42 years. This odometer might be exhibiting 164,287 miles, however the unkillable Slant-Six/handbook powertrain mixture means it might be displaying 664,287 miles.
The software pockets and customarily battered inside point out that it spent fairly some time as a piece truck.
Nonetheless, among the paneling and fabric from its unique calling as a passenger “wagon” stay. These plaid cloth inserts look similar to those within the ¾-ton 1973 Chevy Sportvan Beauville wherein I spent my Malaise Period childhood.
This might seek advice from Van #408, or it may seek advice from San Jose’s phone space code.
Was this van a components runner for the Del Grande Supplier Group on the finish, or did the DGDG simply get it as a trade-in and hustle it straight to the closest boneyard?
Once you ask about vans, you hear about Dodge!