Looking for an authentic rolling set for your next Cold War spy movie? This extensively modified 1989 Dodge Ram 350 US-government surveillance van is a prime suspect.
The seller found the FBI stakeout unit at a surplus auction while looking for work vans and took it into custody, with plans to show it at a Cars and Coffee event in his native North Carolina.
The brown beauty presents itself as a nondescript contractor’s van—designed to blend in with the surroundings. The interior is remarkably well preserved. With only 23,500 miles on the clock, it’s a rolling time capsule.
The 5.9-liter V8 engine has been serviced with new belts, and the tires have 90-percent of their tread. The white-painted steel wheels show a bit of rust, but all four hubcaps are intact.
Surveillance work requires extreme perseverance, and the van was commissioned by the feds to accommodate extended stretches of stakeout work. It comes complete with heating and air-conditioning in the cargo area, along with propane gas, a toilet, and extra locks on all the doors to keep the bad guys out.
The stealthy rear cabin is clad in wood paneling and kitted out with a slew of surveillance technology, including a Uniden Bearcat scanner, Sharp LCD screens, DVD players, tape players, video recorders, sound mixers, amplifiers, radar, and even an intercom to converse with agents up front. It’s a blast from the past, straight out of the pre-text era. There are plugs-o-plenty, but a buyer wanting to put the van into service will need to replace the trio of extra batteries to power up the rear cabin’s wiring system.
The van comes complete with owner’s guides, authentic surveillance notebooks, and even a pile of tapes—in case you’re ready to tackle the leads that went cold a few decades ago.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.