AWD Rarity: 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan SE – SOLD!

April 20, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

You may not have noticed this, but everything that is old becomes new again. The minivan has been a fixture on the automotive landscape for years but seemingly took a brief hiatus as the SUV craze ramped up. However, the minivan never really went away, as evidenced by the fact that you’ll still fork over $50,000 for a loaded model. The Dodge Caravan – now known as the Pacifica – is obviously the foremost example of everything a minivan embodies, and this rare 1994 Dodge Caravan with All-Wheel-Drive was originally listed in April 2022 on Craigslist in Medford, Oregon for $3,500, which is a small price to pay to relive your days as the offspring of a soccer mom. Comparing that price against the NADA Price Guide shows us that the seller isn’t terribly far off, as the “High” retail price is pegged at $3,000.

The second-generation Caravan had a very high bar to clear after the smash hit that the first iteration of the model proved to be. Much like we currently bally-who about the demise of the wagon in America, I’m sure enthusiasts thought the Caravan was the beginning of the end for everyone who loved the classic estate body offerings from the Big 3. The Caravan even provided quiet comfort to those consumers struggling to trade in their Country Squire by offering the high-end Town and Country models with the fake wood paneling that has remained a source of familiar comfort in our ever-changing culture. But the Caravan was also more than just a throwback; it came in a variety of configurations, including sport-oriented ES models and examples equipped with a manual gearbox; yes, a manual gearbox. But there was one more trim level that was very hard to find and near impossible to spot now, and that’s the model equipped with all-wheel drive.

The MotorWeek Retro Review Channel features this vintage test drive of the then-new 1991 second-generation Chrysler minivans. A detailed description of the all-wheel-drive system starts at 4:32 into the video:

An optional all-wheel-drive drivetrain shows you how far ahead of the crowd Chrysler Corporation was in 1994. To take the concept of a minivan – which was already pretty novel – and then give it all-weather capabilities wasn’t something you saw every day.  Imagine if Dodge brought back the turbocharged minivan from the first-generation model and combined it with all-wheel-drive and a stick – it would have given the supercharged Previa a serious run for the money as the coolest minivan ever made. The seller’s Caravan has reasonable miles with just 130,000 on the clock, and aside from some peeling clearcoat (which seems to be typical of Mopar products from this era), it looks pretty solid for a vehicle that hasn’t been set aside as a rad-era collector’s item. This generation of Caravan is becoming more appreciated by collectors, and while it may seem hard to justify a full paint job on an old minivan, this one would almost certainly return the favor with years of dutiful, four-season service.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“1994 Dodge Grand Caravan SE All wheel drive minivan
V6 with only 130k miles
Seats 7
Good tires
Clearcoat is peeling in some spots
Dependable transportation
Clean title in hand
$3,500“

Rare variant: is the second-generation Dodge Caravan an emerging collectible, especially when equipped with options like All-Wheel-Drive?