If anyone could help me out here, I would be most grateful! I am trying to identify exactly which Ram Van model my parents bought back in 1983. (I believe it was an '83 based on the 2-tone color scheme of dark blue and silver...though it's possible it was an '84 or '85.) It was an 8-passenger van with two bucket seats up front and two removal passenger benches in the back. There was just one sliding side door with one window which opened for ventilation. The back door was just one side-swinging tail door. It also had tinted windows and the lights were the rectangular lamps stacked vertically. I am trying to track down one of these vans to buy but I figured I need to first find out exactly what model it was. I believe based on pictures that it may have been the Dodge Ram Wagon but I'm not sure if it was a b-series (or which b-series) and if it even goes by that name. I've only just started this hunt so if there is any help anyone can give me or a website/old Ram resource that you think would be helpful, that would be great. Thanks!

 

Google dodge vin decoder, there are several free ones.
Should tell you year,trim level, motor installed at factory etc....

 

You would be looking for a Dodge Ram B2500 Passenger Van, circa 1983-1987 sounds about right. This van would have a V8 engine and automatic transmission with electronic overdrive. Many were made in plain white but I have seen some two-tone paint schemes. Interiors were spartan at best, some had side panels throughout that matched the seat fabric, and most had high and low courtesy lights to help passengers embark and disembark at night. I'm not sure if the rear passenger section was carpeted (standard was a huge rubber mat, I think) but you might find one that is. Most had tinted side and rear windows with flip-out latches for ventilation, and every one I have seen had rear Air Conditioning. AM/FM/Clock radio with front and rear speakers came standard with a cassette tape player optional.

Hope this helps.

 

Any chance they might have an old insurance or registration form with the VIN on it? Having the VIN would go a long way in identifying what they had.