This 1985 Dodge Mini Ram Van isn’t solid gold, of course. It isn’t even as Solid Gold as the 1980s dance party and variety show of the same name. But it is gold’ish inside and out, and the seller even painted the wheels to match the repainted exterior. They have it listed here on eBay in Youngwood, Pennsylvania, and they’re asking $10,000, or you can make an offer.
All that color lingo being said, it’s solid gold, as in being what the seller refers to as Gold Dust Metallic outside, with matching wheels, and gold’ish tan vinyl seats that look much darker than what the tan seats in my ’87 Dodge Mini Ram Van looked like. They refer to it as a survivor, but then go on to say that it has a “restored body,” so we don’t know if that just means it’s been repainted or what was involved with that. They do say that it was not driven during inclimate weather, so that’s good.
The bottom has been “fluid filmed,” which is a fairly big thing these days. While trying to avoid college after high school, I started a commercial cleaning service and built it into a successful business with 14 employees and four Dodge vans. Three of the vans were full-sized B-series Dodges, but the one I drove was a 1987 Dodge Mini Ram Van, and it was really nice. It was exactly like this one but plain ol’ white, and it didn’t even have a rear wiper!
The seats were so comfortable, and the driving position was perfect. This van looks as nice as mine was back then so far. I even put the little convex round mirrors on the side mirrors because of the huge blind spot over there. My van didn’t have a window on the passenger side sliding door, though. Throughout the mid-80s, Dodge offered the Mini Ram Van based on, of course, the game-changing Caravan. Here’s what the rear cargo area looks like. Nice, I didn’t have sound-deadening material in mine, did they even make that in the late-80s? I had a factory rubber mat on the cargo floor rather than carpet, but carpet may have been nice.
The engine is a Mitsubishi-sourced 2.6-liter SOHC inline-four (the same as in my van) with 105 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by a three-speed automatic sending power to the front wheels, the seller says it runs and drives “excellent,” and is smooth and quiet at highway speeds. It has “New brakes, calipers, wheel cylinders, master cylinder, all belts, hoses and battery.” I kept my van in the garage for about eight years after selling my cleaning service, after finally going to college for an architecture degree. It was 100% rust-free and like new, and I sold it around the year 2002 for a very painful $900! If I wanted to relive that era, I would love to have this van, although not at $10,000. Any thoughts on this solid gold Mini Ram Van?
I’m not going to knock the condition of this Dodge minivan. It’s clean, looks solid ( I didn’t see any underside pics that would be important. ) Paint looks great, looks like they were going to do something with the interior and stopped. But the price? Ten Grand? It will be interesting to see if it sells.
Eeep, okay, you all can see what’s happening here, even the most mundane vehicles, due to their shortage, apparently translates into 5 figures. Condition aside, I never thought I’d see the day. The non-window van is so rare, I’ve used the common sense thing too much, but of all these vans I’ve come in contact with, dozens, easy, I’ve never even seen one of these. I’d say not many were sold, and the ones that were, were usually some sort of maintenance or supply delivery, and were driven into the ground. No experience with the 2.6, mine all had the 2.2 or V6s, but the author is right, of all the vehicles I had, the Chrysler vans had the best seats, by far. I’d like one for the Jeep, but try and find one. Again, they aren’t going to get $10gs, and with only 62 viewers, I’m surprised such a low number, and no bids. It sure is a nice one, make a great little camper.
With the prices of cars… surely motorcycle sales must be up ?
Hi Stan, actually, prices of motorcycles in my area are WAY down. A neighbor got a later model 6 speed “Deuce” low rider, beautiful bike, I don’t think he paid more than $5grand for it. British bikes are half what they were just 10 years ago when I was looking for one. Another temptation I must stay away from,, :)
4 years ago, I sold my 04 Suzuki 250 for pretty close to what it cost new. It was in good shape but not mint. ($2700. New was about $3100. Not bad depreciation for a then, 18 year old bike). Guy who bought it was pissed at the price but there were no others available. Lots of big tourers or crotch rockets which were hard to insure.
Back in the 90’s, I wanted to buy one of these panel vans for business. Even the most clapped out phone company units were selling for ridiculous prices. More popular on the used market than when new.
I am singing the song 🎶 “Gold on the Ceiling” from the Black Keys “El Camino” album seeing this vehicle.
This would have been a better Album pix (good color ) instead of the Chrysler Town and Country.
Good luck with sale and hope it brings a new high to boost the average price.😎
Great transportation long as you don’t live or work near a school.
I’m guessing a “free candy” graphic wouldn’t be advisable either.
Nor should they have “Vehicle” by The Ides Of March cranked up on the stereo.
I worked with a guy who had owned a non-window Econoline van. Several times he’d been pulled over when his teenaged daughter was riding with him. People automatically took him to be a creeper and figured the young lady was in danger.
Great van to use for last mile deliveries for Door 🚪 Dash, Uber
Eats etc… Or, in f you’re the more
adventurous type, you could really use it in the last mile capacity by doing cadaver transport. I’ve been told by some
folks here that this is the type of
vehicle they use instead of a hearse or a large SUV. Hmmmm,
$10K you say? Maybe I could get a government grant to start my own disabled run business. All you have to do is take the four hour Funeral Directors course available in your home state, and
you’re in like flint. No muss, fuss,
or bother. Just $70K or more per
year when you get established.
These are terrific little rigs. I can confirm the perfect seating position. The 2.6 is the better motor if you have an automatic. Great camper or chore chaser.
No A/C?
These and the full size “B” vans had the most comfortable seats. (They work well in older Ford pickups.) My step mom had one of these with one more window on the driver’s side for her show dogs. I think she had almost 400,000 miles when she bought another. I have seen many of these in the junk yard with bad transmissions.
10k. good luck with that
I put 189K other-than-winter miles on a 2.2l 5-speed Voyager version over 16 years. I’d love to have it back.
Nova Scotia to Vancouver, LA to FL and scads of places in between as my wife’s and my “tin tent.” She taught and I was self-employed so we’d pack the gear and hit the road for 10K miles over five weeks. Foot loose and fancy free… ‘n long before the days of being tethered to a cell phone!
Ah, to be young again… well, then, considering the world today, maybe not!
Overall MPG- 26.5.
Oh, by the way, did a VIN trace a couple of years ago and it was in Poland ‘n I don’t mean Poland, Maine, but the real Polska!
Ahhh Lee Iaccoca’s station wagon killer. After being fired by Ford he went to MOPAR and was influential in the introduction of the K car which morphed into the first Dodge/Plymouth /Chrysler mini vans. Ever wonder where all the station wagons went? :-) Terry J
I miss station wagons.
Back in the 80s, the company I worked for had a fleet of these, with the 2.2 four banger. They ate camshafts like candy, and were slugs. When picking up highway speed, I used to say, “c’mon gerbles.” The Mitsubishi engine is a plus.
Hi Wayne! Been looking for you!
Found another Chicago band you. might remember. The Jump In The Saddle Band who did the Curly Shuffle in ’83. And Rick, I .think it would be okay to have the Ides Of March cranked up on
the stereo. This van isn’t black
And besides that, that tune only
applies to black sedans and not
minivans. There Ya’ go Wayne!
Another Chicago group besides the Cryin Shames and the Buckinghams. And it was the
Buckinghams that sang the commercials for Mr Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge in the ’60s. And I also left you something at the March 5 post about the 55 Cadillac 60 Special.
I just re re found that post and saw
your comment there about getting a bunch of those cars and
going on the Old Fogies Cadillac
Tour. Now all we have to do is get Angel 😇 on board with us.
Unfortunately, I’m almost done building my house. Which means I’m almost out of money. So not possible to help fund this “movement”. Don’t forget REO as a Chicago group. (Mainly south suburbs in the mid-late ’60s and ’70s) If there is any other way I can help put this together. Please let me know.
I have an extended Ram van (same length as the Grand Caravan) with no glass on the sliding door. Must be a bit rare as I have never seen another one. It is an 88 with the 3.0 Mitsu and 3 speed auto trans.