Crackers
Crackers Reader
1/17/17 3:06 p.m.

I don't know why this amuses me so much.

Dodge Van racing in Japan

Stefan
Stefan GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/17/17 3:17 p.m.

Dajiban!

I'm still amazed no one had built one for the Challenge yet.

Minivans, yes (some pretty epic ones).

VW Microbus, yes. (Just one and it was an epic failure).

No crazy, full-size vans.

Edit: full-size, not full frame as the Dajibans are unibody.

Appleseed
Appleseed MegaDork
1/17/17 6:47 p.m.

About once a year a Dajiban thread comes up. Worth it every time.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce UltimaDork
1/17/17 6:51 p.m.

Someone did build a mid engine full size van of sorts for the Challenge. The Batvan maybe? I'm not sure it ever really ran, but the pictures were awesome.
Watching van racing warms my soul.

Nick (Bo) Comstock
Nick (Bo) Comstock UltimaDork
1/17/17 6:55 p.m.

In reply to Stefan:

I know what you are saying but I was corrected in one of the many threads on Dajibans that the dodges are unibody. So now I have to be that guy.

Stefan
Stefan GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/17/17 7:07 p.m.
mazdeuce wrote: Someone did build a mid engine full size van of sorts for the Challenge. The Batvan maybe? I'm not sure it ever really ran, but the pictures were awesome. Watching van racing warms my soul.

That was a VW Microbus.

Stefan
Stefan GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/17/17 7:08 p.m.
Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: In reply to Stefan: I know what you are saying but I was corrected in one of the many threads on Dajibans that the dodges are unibody. So now I have to be that guy.

Depend on the generation, but you're right that the generation they speak of is unibody.

mazdeuce
mazdeuce UltimaDork
1/17/17 7:39 p.m.

I SWEAR someone built a full size mid engine V8 van. It was early, like 2003 or something. Am I taking crazy pills?

snailmont5oh
snailmont5oh Reader
1/17/17 9:03 p.m.

This has me thinking about the Ford Transit with a GT-40 chassis under it. "Super Van"?

Huckleberry
Huckleberry MegaDork
1/17/17 9:06 p.m.
mazdeuce wrote: Watching van racing warms the cockles of my heart.

You missed a rare opportunity to use "cockles" in a sentence.

Sanchinguy
Sanchinguy Reader
1/17/17 9:08 p.m.

Wasn't there a super car van on the original Top Gear? Maybe with an XJ220 drivetrain in it? I can't look it up cuz' I barely gets the interwebs out here and get television though the air for free, the way God intended...

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/18/17 8:19 a.m.
Sanchinguy wrote: Wasn't there a super car van on the original Top Gear? Maybe with an XJ220 drivetrain in it? I can't look it up cuz' I barely gets the interwebs out here and get television though the air for free, the way God intended...

Yes, Jaguar's XJ220 powertrain test mule, nicknamed the "XJ220 Transit"

https://www.youtube.com/embed/JNvpoy6gO-4

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/18/17 8:23 a.m.

Another video showing the inside of the van:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ChTUMNyjUHE

Edit: Turns out this big van also has the XJ220's notoriously insufficient brakes

914Driver
914Driver MegaDork
1/18/17 9:30 a.m.

Mid-engine makes sense but with the tranny/engine length you would probably need a long wheelbase van if you use any kind of drive shaft.

Rusted_Busted_Spit
Rusted_Busted_Spit GRM+ Memberand UberDork
1/18/17 10:32 a.m.

My favorite super van:

Crackers
Crackers Reader
1/18/17 11:09 a.m.
GameboyRMH wrote: Another video showing the inside of the van: https://www.youtube.com/embed/ChTUMNyjUHE Edit: Turns out this big van also has the XJ220's notoriously insufficient brakes

I just need to know how this dude ended up with it after Jag was done with it. Then copy him. Lol

Also, I find it amusing that all these "Dajiban's" are still LHD.

Rodan
Rodan Reader
1/18/17 11:28 a.m.

No van thread is complete without the Race Taxi...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/59j-a86YU9M

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
1/18/17 11:29 a.m.
Crackers wrote: I just need to know how this dude ended up with it after Jag was done with it. Then copy him. Lol

He was a pro driver for Jaguar.

Crackers
Crackers Reader
1/18/17 11:52 a.m.

Any tips for how I do that? Lol

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