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Today I acquired my second Dodge. It was surrealistic, to say the least. I have owned Dodges before including several Caravans and Grand Caravans, and would love to own another 1975-77 Dodge Royal Monaco station wagon (the original Dodge Magnum) once again. I thought a pickup would suit me better, and traded for a 1/2 ton 1976 Chevy. Nope.Wrong.
I bought a 2006 Dodge Caravan SXT, 3.3l V-6,with 144000 miles. Eerily CLEAN for a 14 year old minivan, from an individual. $2500. No problems. Everything works, and all documentation. Please, punch me. This does NOT happen to me. Most of these I have seen look like they came from the bayou- submerged. Or from a childcare center. Can you say worn out and in sore need of TERMINAL DISINFECTION?!
I have owned Dodge and Chrysler minivans since 1998. They are some of the most durable, easy to maintain and repair vehicles I have ever owned, far better than any other make. I also know they are grouped in generational years order- '03 through '07 seem to be one such "generation". I have a wrecked '06 Grand Caravan (roll over) that still drives but plenty of body work needed as a "parts donor". Considering it, I wanted to see if I could find what degree of interchangeability of components exist between them. I think engines/transaxle/drive line can be swapped, but don't know about brakes. The Caravan has drum rear brakes, no rear A/C or roof rack, the larger wrecked Grand has discs on all four corners, rear A/C and roof rack. Over time, as situation dictates I'd like to see how I could add some of the Grand's features to the Caravan. This is not out of laziness- I will do drum brakes and I don't want to create a "Frankenvan" but... if the man wants to climb a mountain and it's there, why not think about it? In the very least, I have rebuildable cores for engine/transaxle.
My other Dodge is my "forever truck", as another poster here described his. I saw one like mine that its owner had modded to suit him, and had the wonderful opportunity to ask him about it.
"Big Whitey" is a polar white 1993 Dodge D-350 2WD "Club Cab" "Laramie" trim level Cummins/5spd Getrag with a flat bed and bale spear. He is a worn out old "farm truck", with nearly 280000 miles on him.
Alcoa wheels came on him, and will remain. He is rough and needs a "down to the rivets and welds" restoration, and will get it. The W-350 I saw and asked about was a former "hotshot" rig, with the chassis lengthened to add a 36" "Coffin" sleeper and headache rack, a really well engineered flat bed and tanks below, and pulls a nice triple axle 8.5 x 40 gooseneck toy hauler. I wanted to stretch "Big Whitey" and add
a coffin on him, and just restore him to roadworthy status, and drive him until I die.
OK. That's my "Tale Of Two Dodges". Now you know just how crazy I am.
Back in 1976, I bought a '75 Dodge Royal Monaco 2 door hardtop. I didn't know how rare that car was until years later. In '76, they went with the coupe body with no windows in back that rolled down. Great road car.
I've always thought if Dodge had to cook up a "back story" for the Magnum they could always point to the '75-'78 Royal Monaco and say that was the Magnum's
grandmamacita.They were great looking cars. I'd love to do a "period correct restomod" of Royal Monaco wagon with the 440 or maybe a Hellephant. The tailgate was a real piece of kit and the headlight doors were freaking EPIC.
I liked the magnums but if i where to drive a land yacht it would be 1970 Chrysler/Hurst 300 witch i almost pulled the trigger on back in the 80's. A local used car dealer had two of them! Not a "dodge" but it's still a mopar.
I've always thought if Dodge had to cook up a "back story" for the Magnum they could always point to the '75-'78 Royal Monaco and say that was the Magnum's
grandmamacita.They were great looking cars. I'd love to do a "period correct restomod" of Royal Monaco wagon with the 440 or maybe a Hellephant. The tailgate was a real piece of kit and the headlight doors were freaking EPIC.
Actually, the 1978 Magnum was a contemporary of the last of the C body Royal Monaco's. They had the same basic body as the Cordoba. I got one once with ignition problems (lean burn garbage) and swapped it to electronic ignition. I swapped a custom hood that was modified to clear a taller engine and dropped a race prepped 440 in it to replace the 400. To say I surprised some Mustangs and Camaro's would be an understatement. Remember, there's no replacement for displacement.
A Tale of Two Dodges
Remember, there's no replacement for displacement.