In the normal everyday world of the average BangShifter, an early 1990s Dodge Ram Van exists for one of three purposes: engine donor, parts hauler, or it is the neighborhood pedo-van that you keep watch for when your kids are outside playing. The Ram Van could trace its ancestry all the way back to the 1971 Dodge B-series van, which means that it outlived the other long-in-the-tooth Dodge truck, the D-series Ram, by eleven years. After that, most Americans could care less. In Japan, however, the later model of the Ram Van has a cult fan base. The build is referred to as “dajiban“, a play on “Dodge Van”, and the inspiration is one part race car, one part Japanese view of American life, and one part rape van. Don’t mistake these things for a comedy show, however. Built 5.2L Magnums, stripped interiors, cages, suspension work and a “must be Japanese” stance turns the Ram Van into…well, take a look at the video and see for yourself.
Yeah, Daijibans are siiiiiiick. Makes me almost want to get one, drop it on RS Watanabes and put NACA ducts everywhere. Japanese car culture is so bonkers.
You’re not the only one. And for some reason my wife’s been wanting a full sized van, so this may be a bit easier to sell her on than some of my other equally absurd project ideas.
Van’s are still in, love it, I drive a full size GMC Savana AWD as my daily driver.
Maybe a bigger engine some day !!!
I’m neither a Dodge nor van fan but these are awesome. Too bad finding a v8 swb 150 with windows in decent shape is close to impossible.
Dakota drop spindles, take a rear leaf out, nice wheels and tires, side exit loud exhaust and you’re set
When are we going to change the name of that country to WTF?
made me lol…
lol
Lived on both islands. As odd as it sounds these guys even build 4 door American cars that are cool. Lot of Mopar stuff. When your a car guy and you get home sick for it…..even the sound of a stock small block with magnaflows is nice. Never could get used to right hand drive.