El Caravano or El Carnero

[#1 model citizen]

This is a "what if" or "phantom" build of a Caravan pickup (inspired by the A100) I started exactly 1 month ago. Not sure what the model name should be. El Caravano? Ramchero? I considered El Toro but its a Dodge Ram (and that's no bull!) El Ramo! No... Maybe El Carnero , Spanish for The Ram, sounds logical. Suggestions welcome.

I am using the Revellogram Dodge Ram VTS pickup to complete the conversion, using the cab's back wall, bed, tailgate, taillights &bumper. The bed is actually to short for the Caravan so I graphed on the appropriate length from a 2nd VTS kit. I would have liked to the Caravan taillights but had to flatten the shape at the rear to accommodate a practical tailgate. I also pushed out the rear quarter panels from about the back edge of the wheel opening on back, which allowed for a full width box. (Box length is approx. 7 1/2 scale feet.)

More later.

Comments, suggestions welcome.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 2, 2020 by #1 model citizen

[afx]

Interesting.

[Jantrix]

Very neat work. Keep it going.

[TarheelRick]

Looks like you have your engineering in the right place.  This should turn out to be a believable conversion.  Let's see more.

[#1 model citizen]

 

On 4/2/2020 at 8:13 AM, Jantrix said:

Very neat work. Keep it going.

 

On 4/2/2020 at 6:00 AM, afx said:

Interesting.

Thanks for the encouragement. This is my 1st real dice & slice project since my tween years in the early 60's. I've been smoothing some of the body work & contemplating the details. should have more pics in a day or two.

On 4/2/2020 at 8:47 AM, TarheelRick said:

Looks like you have your engineering in the right place.  This should turn out to be a believable conversion.  Let's see more.

I have "custom" build idea for a Caravan that will the use stock configuration quarter panels & bottom section of the hatch w/non opening (or a pretend its feasible) tailgate. It will incorporate the C pillar(?) as well. 

[Rusty92]

This is awesome! Keep it going!

[Steamboat]

I tried the same thing and never could get the roof to look convincing.  I ended up deep sixing it.

But it looks like the roof from the truck may work.  Good luck my friend.

[Tom Geiger]

Cool!  Dodge Caravans have been a big part of my life.  We owned three, an 84, 90 and still have the 1996 high top with over 200,000 miles. The perfect family haulers.

I started a shortie Caravan but it’s back in the box. Once I took the length out of it, the whole thing looked square.. as wide as it is long!

You are doing good, I’ll be watching.

[#1 model citizen]

On 4/5/2020 at 9:16 AM, Tom Geiger said:

Cool!  Dodge Caravans have been a big part of my life.  We owned three, an 84, 90 and still have the 1996 high top with over 200,000 miles. The perfect family haulers.

I started a shortie Caravan but it’s back in the box. Once I took the length out of it, the whole thing looked square.. as wide as it is long!

You are doing good, I’ll be watching.

Thanks, Tom. I have owned two, an '88 and a '98 and currently own a '06 Town & Country. The '98 was the best vehicle I ever owned, but had to replace it after 240,000+ miles due to a combination of computer, rust, damage, etc. It was a perfect storm of everything needing maintenance & repair at once. ?

 The model is identical to my '98 with the exception of the fabric pattern & wheels. There is a slight difference in the dash in that the model does not depict the ''eyebrow'' information center that was above the speedometer/tach cove. Mine also had fog lamps.

 

[#1 model citizen]

On 4/5/2020 at 8:54 AM, Steamboat said:

I tried the same thing and never could get the roof to look convincing.  I ended up deep sixing it.

But it looks like the roof from the truck may work.  Good luck my friend.

Thanks! The roof certainly has a slope to it! 

I'm still doing a little tweaking. Hope to post more pics soon...

 

[mchook]

I love what your doing, great idea & execution. 

[#1 model citizen]

Finally I have an update & pics! (Camera & computer not getting along ?). I have been fighting & procrastinating over extending the "belt line" to the bed sides. I had envisioned a smooth side bed, however the belt line just fell into place and after several attempts at ignoring the obvious to achieve a smooth side, I finally relented!
I added back up lights & removed the character lines from the tailgate. It is ready to paint at this point. Will post more pics then.

Comments, suggestions welcome.

 

Edited May 6, 2020 by #1 model citizen

[#1 model citizen]

CaraRam! I have decided on the model name. Current project will be the CaraRam. I also have other projects in mind; CaraGlam (custom pickup) and El Carnero (pickup w/unaltered quarter panels & outer tailgate "sheet metal"). I even have a race car in mind if I ever get that crazy & Rambitious!?

[1930fordpickup]

I like this John. This is how I figured all trucks would look by now. 

[#1 model citizen]

11 hours ago, 1930fordpickup said:

I like this John. This is how I figured all trucks would look by now. 

Thanks, Andy. Pickups , it would seem to me, would be a lot more user friendly with the all around lower bed that this fwd platform would provide. You certainly wouldn't need a staircase tailgate! 

Edited May 7, 2020 by #1 model citizen

[Jonathan]

Very creative!

[Kruzn]

Very cool!

[#1 model citizen]

Two years to the day from when I started this thread and the CaraRam is finally painted and assembled! (It may still need the Ram emblem fitted to the tailgate?)Thanks for looking! All comments welcome.  

[bisc63]

That worked out really well! I really dig the proportions; it looks "right" to me. Very well done, and you painted it the right color!

[Mattilacken]

Cool! Looks like something you could find in Brazil! 

[#1 model citizen]

On 4/2/2022 at 6:38 PM, bisc63 said:

That worked out really well! I really dig the proportions; it looks "right" to me. Very well done, and you painted it the right color!

Thank you! I chose red as it seemed to be a color Dodge used a lot in advertising ( as I recall) and as a nod to the A100 and the Lil Red Wagon. 

[#1 model citizen]

7 hours ago, Mattilacken said:

Cool! Looks like something you could find in Brazil! 

Thanks. That’s an intriguing comment as I really don’t know much about the vehicles there. 

[Maindrian Pace]

I've seen a few such conversions over the years, but this is the first one I've seen, real or in scale, that looks absolutely correct and production ready. The best phantoms are the ones that keep you guessing whether it is a production vehicle or not. That's one minivan I would drive every day. 10/10.

[Spex84]

Nicely done! The end result is very convincing. I can just imagine that van hauling painting supplies in Mexico or something.

Ditto Mike's comments above!

[Hoffman]

That's a perfect 'his' and 'hers' combination for the family transportation stable. The names you came up with got me thinking......"El Caravano" and  "El Carnero"....so is that like traveling meat eaters?