- Seller: Robert M
- Location: Cottage Grove, Minnesota
- Mileage: 93,750 Shown
- Chassis #: 2P4FH55J6LR562394
- Title Status: Clean
The rise of the Minivan sounded the death knell for the traditional Station Wagon, and it is easy to see why they were a success. The Minivan offered impressive passenger space, enormous versatility, and excellent fuel economy at a time when gas prices were rising. This 1990 Plymouth Voyager LX is a survivor from that era, and its turbocharged engine provides impressive performance while also making it quite rare. The seller is losing their storage for it, so rather than leave it outside, they have listed this Turbo Voyager with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
Plymouth released the First Generation Voyager in 1984, utilizing Chrysler’s versatile K-Platform. It remained on sale until 1990, with our feature car from that production year. It has a known history, and this is actually the second time the seller has owned it. He has kept it protected from the weather and snow during winter, but it has had some exposure when under the care of a previous owner. The result is the appearance of some rust that will need to be addressed. The original Black paint has aged in some spots, and performing a cosmetic refresh following the rust repairs would seem sensible. The panels are straight and free from significant defects, and the exterior plastic has survived nicely. I believe the alloy wheels would respond positively to careful attention with a high-quality polish, and doing so would provide a pleasing contrast to the predominantly dark exterior. The glass is excellent, and the roof rack is a practical feature.
The original owners of this Voyager wanted to gift it to their granddaughter, but she wasn’t too interested in an ’80s van even though their grandparents ordered it powered by the turbocharged 2.5-liter four. With 150hp and 180 ft/lbs of torque feeding to the front wheels via a three-speed automatic transmission, the Voyager is a surprisingly energetic performer. City traffic doesn’t pose a challenge, and cruising on the open road at freeway speed is equally effortless. The owner confirms this classic received an engine transplant in 2019, utilizing another Mopar turbocharged powerplant. It was handed to a professional mechanic, who fitted the motor with a new head gasket, water pump, and timing belt before it was slotted into place. They completed the process by performing an alternator rebuild and installing a new battery. The owner retained the original engine and will include it if the buyer wishes. The transmission is a fresh remanufactured unit with a 3-year/100k mile warranty. The owner has only clocked around 400 miles since the work was completed, stating that the Plymouth drives perfectly. The recently-fitted new tires mean the winning bidder won’t need to spend a dime on this Voyager’s drivetrain.
The secret to the Minivan’s success was its interior versatility. This Voyager can comfortably seat seven, and unlike a Station Wagon with a third row, the back seat is not a kids-only zone. Those craving luxury touches will appreciate the plush cloth upholstery, woodgrain highlights, and the selection of factory options. Life on the road would be pleasant, courtesy of the air conditioning, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, cruise control, rear defroster, tilt wheel, and AM/FM radio/cassette player. A previous owner added aftermarket speakers to the stereo, and the owner says they sound pretty nice. During this process, they removed the rear ceiling light and the two side lights. One is included for reinstallation, but it may require a trip to the local pick-a-part to locate the other. There are some minor operational issues, but addressing them shouldn’t be challenging. These include a non-functioning passenger-side exterior mirror, and the power locks on the sliding doors sometimes fail to operate. The fuel gauge isn’t operational, but the fault is in the sender unit that requires replacement. Otherwise, everything works as it should. The interior presentation is tidy. The dash and pad aren’t cracked, and there is no torn upholstery. The rear seat is stained, as is the carpet. A deep clean might make a difference, but a set of slipcovers and some floor mats would hide the imperfections from prying eyes.
Buyers turned their backs on Station Wagons when Minivans hit the market, but these vehicles have largely succumbed to the rise of the SUV. However, not everyone wants to own one of those giants, especially if tackling city traffic and parking lots is a regular occurrence. If maneuverability is critical, a Minivan will drive rings around most SUVs. Vehicles like this 1990 Plymouth Voyager LX still have a place in the motoring world, and this one is a survivor that needs little to present at its best. The refreshed drivetrain increases its appeal, especially for those seeking a practical and fuel-efficient daily driver with a touch of luxury. If that sounds irresistible, submitting a bid would be the ideal way to become this classic’s next owner.
Bid On This Auction
- Nellymeister bid $850.00 2023-10-31 21:57:36
- Perry Kleine bid $750.00 2023-10-28 07:46:30
- Embraced777 bid $600.00 2023-10-26 22:54:17
- B schmidt bid $500.00 2023-10-25 13:01:02
I was the Manager that would have put this order in at Bloomington Chrysler Plymouth.
V6 was very limited so I took fifty of the Turbo vans, at first they were a slow sale until I made every salesperson take one for a demo.
We would have potential buyers drive both the V6 and the turbo and guess which was the V6 they were always wrong.
The motors and transmission was great very little issues but we made sure buyers knew not to tow with the turbos.
These vans would light up the right front tire very easily so every time one left the store to the right we had rubber on the ground😄
The 3.0 Mitsubishi V-6 seemed to develop head gasket problems as the miles were put on. Those that opted for the less popular 2.2 Turbo were happier campers : )
How about this vintage van w the 5spd and motor from an SRT-4 Neon 😲😃🙌🏁
Where is van located
Cottage Grove, Mn
Hadtwo, I also had the 3L V6 lose its head gasket – was a co. van so no harm to my wallet. Ever since I’ve used Dodge minivans & now have two, a 98 v6 & 2001 v6 – love them & willl always have a van due to its utility.
Never liked mini vans due to blind spots on some.
They are great on trips but not daily driving for me.
Had a 90 Astro with captain chairs (4) and back seat made the bed.
Once the kids go older, the Van was let go.
Actually replaced it with a 95 Olds Aurora
and drove till 150k miles prior to imports etc. A very nice and overlooked vehicle with a Northstar Cadillac engine leather and dual AC .
plus heated seats. The car actually looked different than most cookie cutter cars that all looked alike.
Oh well back to the van.
Good luck on sales and Lee did a great job for Chrysler with this hit.
If it wasn’t so expensive to ship I’d be all over this van
When I worked at Feeny Chrysler Jeep in Elgin, Illinois back in 1996-1998 we had one customer trade in a Voyager not only with a turbo,but the ultra-rare 5-speed manual transmission. That minivan didn’t last 24 hours before one of the salesman decided to buy it!lol
Just Me, I bought one of these new in 1989 but in the Dodge name brand, almost the same over all. It just turned 50,000 miles. Always in a heated garage. Never out in our Pa. winters. It is just like new, totally original all over. I had one, one year older 1988 with the 2.5 non turbo it was dead on the hills of Pa. I loved the van but I didn’t like the lack of power. So I went to see the dealer when the new models came out. I told the salesman the reason I wanted to trade it in was it didn’t have enough power for me. I said that I wanted a V-6 in the next one. He just chucked. He said have you ever driven one with the 4 cylinder 2.5 Turbo. He said we have both here for demos. He talked me into driving both. When I got into the 4 cylinder turbo I saw the speedometer read 140 miles per hour, then I chucked. Well you guess it. I still have it and it is the 4 cylinder Turbo. I have other old cars that I take to local car shows and local cruise – ins. I have taken it to some events this past summer and it gets a lot of attention. I am surprised with all of the attention it gets. I guess it is because back in the day they were really popular. Hope whoever buys this one bring it back to great condition. Good luck to the seller and the purchaser!
relegated to the delivery or cruiser categories (sorta opposite ends of vehicledom) the owner is respectful (read: pleased). Y else have over 100 pic ofa mini van?
Lota work to be done. Ck for safety and costs to inspection (well, here in MA anyway) as I C some ‘fails’. I’ve often thought ofa strip out’n ‘turtle top’ for a camper/livery vehicle. As a kid I had a 108 inch cheb van (2nd gen, drivin it as new vehicle) as income & home. Sink, ref, stove were permanent but the rest was pull-out for hire/haulin. Saw alot of the usa that way. Wonder if mini could do it? Astro was awd, 17 inch wheel…
Calling Gus Mahon, calling Gus Mahon. :) I know, R.I.P. sir, but I think of you every time I see one of these gems. I would absolutely LOVE to have a 5 speed manual version of one of these. Easy to get into the 14’s, even 13’s. Gus had his in the 12’s I believe.
Thanks! I was trying to remember his name. Swapped some ideas with him when I was tweaking other makes of turbos. That was quite a while ago.
Bought my first of 5 in 1984, based on printed matter, dealer did not have one yet, special order, 2.2 non-turbo, 5 speed stick, went 220,000 miles before rust got it, downshifting on Mass and Maine turnpikes. Next 4 were all the V6, valve, head gasket, steering rack, CV joint fixes, but inexpensive compared to similar repairs on my Saab and Audi’s. One died when hit by neighbor’s tree, at about 160,000. Other three died by rust at over 200,000 miles, never replaced any part of cat/muffler/exhaust system on any of them. Great for family with kids, up through college, taking them with all their stuff, and retrieving them. Great in snow, before AWD became usual, due to FWD and high clearance. Kids all learned on the first one so can shift.
The car that created a market segment. Chrysler pioneered and perfected the minivan. They also showed others how to build a turbo that could survive beyond the warranty. This is a cool find. Comfortable, easy to drive and fuel efficient. Doesn’t take up the whole garage either.
Not the turbo my friend they were quick, now the mini van driver might of been in your way but not the van
Just Me, Wahalaman, I agree with you they were quick. I am the man from above that bought the 1989 turbo mini van new and still have it and it still looks like new. The only thing is that now at the age of 78, like you said it wasn’t the van that was slow. It must have been the driver like me I have really slowed down. BUT THE VAN I AM SURE WILL STILL SMOKE THE TIRES IF I WANTED TO! But age changes thing I am finding out. I am just glad to get up in the morning and see the sun shinning. Have a great day!
I acquired one in 1990…Plymouth Voyager from my uncle. He sold it to me for $1 with 300k miles on it because he bought a new 1990. I believe the older was an 85 if my memory serves me right. He drove all over the country with that thing. He lived in Mass. and would visit us here in S.Florida…then drive out to California. He just liked to visit different places…he used it as a camper…I guess. He passed in 1993 from cancer….perhaps he knew something was up and didn’t want to worry everyone…just enjoy his family and friends….and see God’s country…before he went to meet him.
Are you driving XKE’s? Jags, Mercedes? It is all in the eye and needs of the person who buys anything. We owned an 89 Grand Voyager LE and it was probably the best vehicle for a Family ever built.
We owned the Voyager for 7 years and 90K miles, and then sold it to a neighbor who put more and more miles on it. It does run rings about SUV’s, even in the snow, mud, ice, and rain and I thought it looked pretty good. I have owned XKE’s, Jags, Porsche,’s, and a number of vehicles, including SUV’s and the entire family has great memories of the Voyager. To each his or her own.
Does anybody else think a $500 buyer’s premium is a bit slimy?
Our average selling price is lower than some other auction sites and it’s just an much work to sell a cheap car than it is to sell an expensive car. We also comp many of the photo shoots so we aren’t making as much as it may seem.
Slimy? Almost all auctioneers have been adding a buyer’s premium over the last several years. Not sure who started it but it caught on real fast. I don’t like it but it’s become common.
Just be sure you know what it is and all other details before bidding or selling in any auction.
I bought a blue on blue Dodge Caravan SE turbo automatic with 64K miles from my next door neighbor in 1994 after her husband died. Despite being a single guy in his mid-20s I loved that thing. I usually ran mine in what I called “limo mode” with the middle seat removed and the rear seat slid all the way forward on it’s runners.
Those early minivans were the best. Seats could be reconfigured in a bunch of ways. Bringing the rear seat forward worked great in a lot of ways, too.
Seems like a pretty good deal to me. I actually might have bid on this except I will not buy any more Chrysler turbos of this vintage. Got burned more than once. If this was a 2.5, I would be on it, might even bid on a 3.0, though they were not as reliable.
Auto manufacturers have done the most diservice to the motoring public by putting body cladding on cars and trucks. It traps dirt which then becomes mud and rots vehicles out from the bottom up. I just repaired a 2007 Chevrolet Impala. Low miles clean as a whistle and once the cladding was off there was nothing left from the rear door back. I had a 5 gallon pail of dirt when I swept the floor.
Our first of 4 was a ’91 short wheel base Dodge 4 cylinder. Pulled race cars, loads of lumber etc. with only 1 battery and the rear part of the exhaust replaced. Best one of the bunch was the ’99 Dodge Sport short wheel base and the 3.6 V6. Fully equipped, fast, and the best seats of anything we’ve ever had except for the ’86 Dayona Z. Didn’t do anything to the ’09 but a battery and a set of tires. The ’21 Pacifica we have now has enough electrical glitches to keep you hopping. Batteries (yes 2) shorted out at 3,400 miles and before 4,000 3 recalls. Controls are lousy, dream to drive.
most of these ugly things ive seen were rotted and blowing blue smoke and missing hub caps…