Turbo 5-Speed: 1989 Plymouth Voyager SE Turbo

The idea of combining a standard transmission, a turbocharged engine, and a minivan body is a concept that has not been repeated since the short-lived spectacle of the turbo Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. These days, the rarest of minivan configurations remains a fan favorite among a wide group of enthusiasts, including both Mopar maniacs and fans of unusual performance vehicles across the board. This 1989 Plymouth Voyager SE Turbo with the elusive 5-speed manual listed here on Facebook Marketplace appears to be an honest survivor with modifications limited to a set of aftermarket wheels. The seller is asking $5,500.

This is one of those vans that those of us in the know recognize instantly thanks to the dual exhaust pipes sliding out from beneath the back bumper and the turbo script on the fenders. Otherwise, this looks like a standard Voyager, made even more boring with the brown paint job. Talk about sleeper potential: lower it slightly, throw on the wheels from a Daytona Turbo Shelby, and call it a day. The seller notes that there is some rocker rust, but that’s to be expected for a vehicle from the northeast. Honestly, I’m surprised there’s not more rust to contend with. I don’t love the aftermarket wheels, but the original wheels are included,

Inside, you get the standard Caravan interior with attractive cloth seating surfaces. The seller notes that he removed the third-row seat but it is included. The Caravan was a brilliant package when introduced, and it’s still quite sensible by today’s standards, and if you don’t need the third row, removing it opens up a ton of cargo capacity. The seller is including a second Caravan with the factory 5-speed in naturally-aspirated form as a parts rig, but I’d try to figure out a way to just grab the transmission and not have an entire Caravan carcass sitting around.

You got front discs and rear drum brakes, and the handling was decent out of the box for a van. Sway bars and better rubber would make handling crisper for not much additional outlay, but tweaking it for more power is where the modifications are more meaningful. With 150 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. out of the box, it was certainly entertaining, but there’s a large aftermarket in the turbo Dodge space that will get that number up easily. A front-mount intercooler would be a good place to start, and maybe a free-flowing exhaust. No matter which mods you choose, this turbo minivan will be a blast to own.