The first Dodge Caravan rolled off of the assembly line on November 2nd 1983 as a 1984 model year vehicle and to celebrate the 30th birthday of the vehicle that literally invented the minivan segment – Chrysler will offer a special 30th Anniversary Edition Dodge Grand Caravan.
The Dodge Grand Caravan 30th Anniversary Edition is available with either the SE or SXT trimline and the source of its power is the 3.6L Pentastar V6. This popular mill sends 283 horsepower funneled to the front wheels via a standard 6-speed automatic transmission.
The features of the 30th Anniversary Edition package for the Grand Caravan SE begin on the outside where the engineers have added unique 17 inch aluminum wheels with a polished satin carbon finish, body colored heated mirrors, black grille and front fascia inserts, a black and body colored crosshair in the grille and 30th Anniversary Edition badges on the front fenders.
On the inside, the Dodge Grand Caravan SE 30th Anniversary Edition package has more impact with black cloth seats, a black headliner, a black leather wrapped steering wheel, a black leather wrapped shift knob, piano black accents on the dash and doors, chrome HVAC vents along the dash, power 2nd and 3rd row folding seats and a unique driver information center with the 30th Anniversary logo. The birthday package also includes the UConnect HandsFree Group that adds Sirius Satellite radio, Bluetooth audio, integrated voice controls and an auto dimming rear view mirror.
Those buyers who step up to the Grand Caravan SXT with the 30th Anniversary Edition package get all of the features of the SE with the special edition package but it adds the standard features of the SXT trimline along with chrome window trim moldings, a chrome trimmer roof rack, fog lights, automatic headlights, black “leatherette” seats with black suede inserts and a 10 way power driver’s seat.
The 30th Anniversary Edition package is also available for the 2014 Chrysler Town & Country in the Touring-L trimline with many of the same features but as is the case between the two – the Chrysler version comes a little more loaded up with things like standard leather. Pricing has not yet been announced for these two new packages but with the 2014 model year in full swing for many vehicles, it should only be a short time before we start seeing these new 30th Anniversary models in dealerships around the country.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
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