The Chrysler K-Car, a perfect example of the right car at the right time. But that doesn’t mean K-cars are universally loved; far from it. These basic-but-reliable cars were an exercise in effective cost-cutting and platform stretching, underpinning everything from convertibles to station wagons. There was even a 2.2 liter turbo engine option, that snuck into a wide range of 80’s Chryslers, including the infamous turbo Caravans.
But one thing Chrysler never made was a turbocharged version of their Town & Country station wagons. Yup, before it was a minivan, the Town & Country was a station wagon, and this particular 1987 Town & Country wagon has a turbocharged secret. The Craigslist ad claims the car has a 300 horsepower Dodge Neon SRT-4 engine and transmission, creating a nifty sleeper that could take almost anyone unawares.
The since-removed-ad had an asking price of $5,000, awfully steep for an old K-car in any condition. In their heyday Chrysler sold between 250,000 and 360,000 K-cars per year, and the platform was stretched out to include minivans and other vehicles, like this wagon. But the 300-horsepower SRT-4 engine, coupled to the manual transmission, offers more than three times the horsepower some base models came with.
The ad claims this sleeper wagon has, among other things, a 3-inch custom exhaust, a stage 2 tune from Mopar, new tires, and a bigger intercooler. The interior is a lovely shade of 80’s maroon, though the gauge cluster has been swapped for some white-faced SRT-4 gauges. It’s definitely a nifty ride, and probably already sold.
Wagons are starting to look like they’ll make a comeback with this resurgence of interest. If you ask us, wagons are better than this whole “crossover” fad anyways.