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Automotive YouTube is a peculiar place at the best of times. Some sections have more money or at least more finance deals than sense. Other parts focus on niche interests, barn finds, or are a replacement for conventional journalism. Nestled amongst all these creators are a few oddballs that seem to dabble in all these different things. Tavarish is one of these, a content creator that has owned everything from McLarens and Ferraris to cheap Honda Civics. To a bright pink and purple 1999 Dodge Caravan.
One thing unites all of Tavarish's vehicles: a peculiar history, be that fire, flood, or just written off. The mainstay of his channel is cheap cars that need work to once again find their way to the road. These projects not only are interesting but also show the host's talents as a mechanic. In recent years Tavarish, a.k.a Freddy, starred alongside Tyler Hoover of Hoovies's garage and Ed Bolian of VINwiki fame on "Car Trek." It's a budget alternative to the Top Gear specials, featuring exclusively cheap vehicles that one should not buy, let alone road trip in. Tavarish's latest purchase has an equally fascinating history as his other cars.
Tavarish's purchase is yet another exciting one.
What Is The 'Pimp My Ride' Minivan?
Bought for $850, the Dodge Caravan isn't a premium vehicle. The Chrysler-made Caravan had no intention of hiding as a luxury vehicle. The minivan is largely a relic of the past, and thankfully so. In many ways the precursor to the SUV and Crossover craze. Minivans offered plenty of cabin space, room for an entire family, and space to spare in the trunl. However, they never looked great and an enthusiast would rarely buy one. However, they sold well and the Dodge Caravan left the factory line from 1984 until 2020. The Dodge Caravan isn't a collector's item and as a result is incredibly cheap. Classic, an aggregator of used car values find that on average they sell for $9,440, but examples float around for as low as $2000. Tavarish's example is from the third-generation model, which first adopted a more aerodynamic design.
Pimp My Ride aired from 2004 until 2007. In the same vein as plenty of contemporary Discovery Channel programs, the show followed the customization process of cars. Hosted by rapper Xzibit, the cars have a 1990s street-like charm to them. The legendary West Coast Customs take charge of the process. Meaning bold colors, neon lights, and plenty of chrome, attention is the goal. According to IMDB, the Pimp My Ride episode where Xzibit follows the Caravan aired in July 2005.
Tavarish points out an issue with the Pimp My Ride minivan. The producers of the show would find these wrecked and breaking vehicles. Only repairing and customizing them in line with the West Coast Customs vision was unviable. Tavarish notes that in this episode of the show, the original model is a 1998 Plymouth Voyager, not the Dodge Caravan. Now the two cars did use the same Chrysler NS Platform but aren't the same.
What's Wrong With The 'Pimp My Ride' Minivan?
West Cost Customs' original project left the Minivan in a peculiar specification. With large subwoofers in the back, four screens and a bright pink plastic shroud, as well as the bold paintwork and more screens throughout the cabin. Entertainment is the focus of West Coast Customs' project, instead of the minivan's practicality. In favor of social space, the rear seats are now a wrap-around couch. Fixing the displays in the rear seat lounge area was a simple task. A capacitor needed the soldering redone.
The wiring and support system for the interior electronics blocks the door into the rear. On the Dodge Caravan, these doors are one of the selling points. With sliding doors on both sides, the large minivan is useable in the smallest of spaces. In an even more peculiar move, West Cost Customs removed the door handle on the way into the rear.
Tavarish described the vehicle as "a little worse for", implying the word wear, but getting distracted by the vehicles' mold coated exterior. The grime continues in the interior and is clear as day on the car's denim seats. The final kicker is that the car shows no sign of life. When Tavarish turned the key, no lights flicker on the dashboard or dials move. However, unlike lots of cheap abandoned finds the Caravan holds up well underneath without much rust or any visible leaks.
What Happened To Tavarish's Minivan?
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A relatively quick project, only taking two days, removing leaves and dirt made up the bulk of the work. At the end of the project, all nine interior monitors display correctly. The exterior paint got repaired by the body shop to its former glory. Tavarish referred to it as a “candy” color. As a public-spirited individual, Tavarish gifted his Minivan to Tyler Hoover. In another YouTube video, Hoover took the car to CarMax to receive an appraisal quote of $1,500. At over twenty years old and with 130,000 miles, the minivan holds its value remarkably well.
The Pimp My Ride Minivan presents one last problem. Hoover sells his vehicles with alarming regularity, it's his unique selling point. He can't with this one. Tavarish bought the car without a title which means selling it becomes far more difficult. Tyler Hoover has no intention of keeping it in his hooptie fleet forever.