What are the old Dodge vans called?
Old Dodge vans are best known by the Tradesman badge—the workhorse name that personified Dodge's full-size cargo and passenger vans for decades. The lineage also includes the compact A100 and the later Ram Van branding that carried the line into the early 2000s.
Early compact models
Dodge A100: the compact van
In the mid-1960s Dodge rolled out a compact van designed for urban deliveries and small fleets. The A100 family offered van and pickup variants and remains a milestone for collectors seeking the smallest Dodge van lineage.
- Dodge A100 (1964–1967)
These early, compact models established Dodge’s initial foray into van design, showing the company could scale from small to full-size configurations while testing markets for van-based utility.
The Tradesman era and the rise of the full-size van
Tradesman and related vans
As Dodge expanded into larger, more utility-focused vans, the Tradesman badge became the default for cargo and later passenger configurations. The Tradesman designation circulated on various full-size vans and became a common shorthand among fleets and enthusiasts alike.
- Dodge Tradesman (1964–1974) full-size van
- Various passenger and cargo variants sharing the Tradesman chassis
The Tradesman era helped define the classic Dodge van silhouette and solidified the badge as a symbol of practical, workaday transport.
The B-Series and Ram Vans
Transition to Ram branding
With the arrival of the B-Series platform in the 1970s, Dodge extended its van line into a more modern, durable frame. As corporate branding evolved in the 1990s, Dodge vans began carrying the Ram name, giving rise to the Ram Van designation that persisted into the early 2000s. In the United States, the van lineup later evolved toward the Ram ProMaster family, which serves as the modern successor to the old van platform.
- Dodge B-Series vans (1971–1993)
- Dodge Ram Van (1994–2003; branding shift to Ram)
The Ram Van period represents the closing chapter of Dodge’s traditional, badge-defined van era before the lineup moved to broader Ram-brand commercial vans and, eventually, the ProMaster family for modern utilities.
Summary
Across decades, Dodge’s old vans wore several names: the compact A100, the Tradesman workhorse, the long-running B-Series, and finally the Ram Van branding that signaled a new era. For collectors and classic-van fans, “Tradesman” remains the most enduring shorthand for Dodge’s iconic vintage vans, while the A100 stands out as the early hatchway into Dodge’s van legacy. Today, the legacy continues in spirit with the Ram ProMaster, which carries forward the commercial van tradition in a modern form.
What vans were popular in the 1970s?
The Chevrolet vans, along with those from Dodge and Ford, were a blast from the past that captured the cool 1970s iconic truck models and will always be a part of our American car culture.
What is the name of the Dodge Vans?
Dodge Grand Caravan and its shorter-wheelbase counterpart, Dodge Caravan, have a storied history among Dodge Brand models. Debuting in 1984, Dodge Caravan redefined the family van.
What are old Dodge Vans called?
The Dodge Ram Van (originally the Dodge B series) is a range of full-size vans that were produced by Chrysler Corporation from the 1971 to 2003 model years.
What was the old name of the Chrysler minivan?
Overview. Launched in November 1983 for the 1984 model year, Chrysler marketed the first-generation minivans as the Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager, along with the Mini Ram Van cargo van.
