European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 12, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday june 12, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 13 car Corner Interior of Dodge sport commuter fur curls his mid Vennion blinds. Luxury tourer of a color coordination Van cd screened by windows Are Parl of the commuter package. Dodge sport commuter is a versatile Van when discussing a Van conversion it is necessary to Divide your interest Between automotive matters and matters or Interior decoration because the Van Tike its big brother the motor Home docs play two roles. If is a recreational vehicle with weekend live in furniture features and it is also a vehicle Hal can be used for Normal transportation. Unlike the Mut Rhome the Van is not a Lota live in vehicle but it does have a dual career one for the Road and one for recreation. And unlike car purchases the very nature of a Van lends itself to a purchaser s whim. The location of a Able or co Law closet or the Quality of the chairs can be the determining no Factor of Success. Horse Power and suspensions Are important of course but we have a Hunch that inferior decoration and Interior ingenuity com Bine to play the major role. Out enough conjecture. Luxury touring vans Are quite popular with military buyers according 10 the Chrysler military sales people who provided us with a Dodge sport commuter for a few Davs so thai we could see the whys and wherefores of this popularity. Ait Hough we admit to no great interest in vans we enjoyed our time with the sport commuter and Rale it High in Quality All around. We would have enjoyed he Van even More on the wide american roads in is designed for but it can be used in Europe without problems because it is easy to drive and while big it in t really All Llinat big. The sport commuter like several other models in this series is built on a Dodge Van rum Tough Chassis whecjb1ise 121 inches and is powered by a Standard a Cylon Der 235-Cubjc-Mchi engine coupled to a 4-Spccd overdrive manual transmission. An automatic transmission is optional As is a 3ik cubic Inch Vuk engine. Looking at the driving department first we found lev four Speed Ian Raj gear lever positioned just right and the gear chants easy to make either up or Down. The Over drive gear is primarily for autobahn1, or freeways while the other three rears Are for City traffic and Bac Road use. Cruising on the autobahn Al 75 to to Mph is no problem and that s fast enough for a Van in traffic or on winding Mads the 6-Cylindcr engine proved Peppy and in has plenty of Power for passing , the Van is surprisingly nimble and is easy to Man Euver even in heavy traffic. The Power steering mates it All easy and both Power steering and Power brakes Are Stan Dard. Behind Ibe wheel you sit up High and look directly out in the nud the Field of vision practically panoramic. The sport commuter proved quite Sta ble Al the higher autobahn speeds it ran silently and was not affect cd by winds. The ride is quite comfortable in inc Cap Tain s chairs All four of them including the Driver s chair fully reclining and swim Eling and All with retractable arms. Ail four chairs May be swi cled so thai i hair occupants can be sealed around a circular Laboc. While in inc subject of Waco it. There is a soft at he Back that scats three and makes Inlo n a fur Iwai. So the Luteal seating capacity takes Curc of seven adults with scan belts provided for each passenger. Only one key is used Tif lie ignition and the Dixie locks and the Van s step Wells Are lighted for safely All Pood features. The fuel tank holds 35 Gallons Anil the Van is rated at 1.1-uvl1 mpg City ind Ui-Lo-22 mpg Highway. Our figure  jul i Over j5 mpg Overall. Leaving the mechanical i pets and looking Al the Interior decoration Side of things the  and sofa arc of attractive but Hardy material find inc �o-.10 inches with Gray window draperies and Blue lies. Matching Blue valances lopped the drap eries and behind each Valance was an in direct lighting system. There were Reading Lajnes As Wethe Bay windows and Side door windows As Well As the rear window nil had venetian blinds. At the rear of the Van there is a clothes storage area and a Large storage area Al the lop this flanked by two of the four speakers in the am pm cassette stereo by slim. These arc Standard failures others including a removable Sun roof fabric Side Walls and ceiling the engine cover Vilh Large map pocket pockets Are also installed in the backs of the four Captain s chair the Pedestal Laboc with i recessed bases for different locations a sliding rape behind the front seals rear shelf Rili ice t la so Over head console with Light switches. 12-Voli out let and several other items there Are six different models in the Chrysler military sales undue Van conver Sion program t Ach Zilba differ can Flor plan and the buyer May person Alim his vehicle any Way he pleases. Overseas delivery Price on the spurt commuter ranges from 5i Fyfo while Oiler Van conversion models arc priced from &i3,93h. Inel igl european deliver a Cost. The sport t Immier Van described in this report co is 519.57, including Hunt can delivery. Three delivery programs arc available special order Wuh delivery in the states special order with delivery in Tempe or immediate Purchase from ensling Stock in e a Rifie or in the Sipics. Information and prices on 19h7 models arc available now and customers May order 1987 vans for delivery As far away us september of l 7. Details on the sport commuter and other Dodge Van conver Sion models arc available from the Chrys Ler military sales representatives Al the various cafes cd changes. Randy Barnett registration opens Tor 2nd cars Are the stars show Kaiserslautern. Germany entry and registration Are now under Way for the second annual cars Are the stars show planned fur aug. 16 and 17 at the Kaiserslautern Easl sports Complex. Sponsored by the Kaiserslautern morale support activities division Mathis year s show is open to All cars of american and european manufacture including vans and pickups of any year. Henry Roeder mad automotive crafts chief and director of his year s show said the registration which will be limited to 400 entries will run from now until the Mart of the even the entry fee is $15 or 35 Mark Good for the Driver and one guest All entrants receiving a free to shirt prizes will be Given for the Overall show Winner oldest car Besl engine Best Interi or Bat painted car pickup and Van and of he i categories. Roeder said that a total of 40 prizes will be awarded with categories including american and european can Slock menu Stodt and custom can. Lut year s initial cars Are the Sun shoo in kaisers Uuk Drew More thin 200 visitor. Lor us us Gill l. Win Len added that the judging will be performed by a panel of automotive experts which will feature a Fisl tent games con Cessions and dancing. Camping will available for those arriving for full details and registration forms am Lott distances and a disc jockey will prospective entrants May Contact Roeder at Dill we Uwi T t vent " a Ana of hrs lantern civilian 031-411 8418, or write he 29th area support group Alln mad or. Roede Rapo 09094 or mor ale support activities Postrach 1910,6750 Kaiserslautern