ok so a quick Italian mini van story, it's rare that the topic comes up so I have to take advantage.

It's 1998 and I am at the De Tomaso factory in Modena. My family had owned a troublesome Deauville back in the day, so we had an interest in a tour and seeing the factory. Sadly there were no tours. Indeed, not much of anything was going on there. A few factory workers were mulling about but De Tomaso days were already numbered. There was no tour, no new cars, and not much to see. Or at least that's what we first thought. The hot receptionist, Christina, took some pity on us. "There is one thing you might enjoy seeing", she says, "Why don't you follow me." I would have followed her anywhere, but I digress.

We followed her into a generic warehouse. It's dark and dusty. Hot Christina turns on the florescent lights and they start to blink on one after another. I soon realize I am in for a treat. The room is filled with about 30 cars all covered with tarps. "This is Alejandro de Tomaso personal collection" she says, "there is something in here for everyone." She then starts walking down the row, pulling each tarp off, one by one, revealing one fantastic motor car after another. Might have been the hottest thing I ever saw.

The collection was as incredible as it was bizarre. Everything from a model t to a Daihatsu Charade De Tomaso. There were Mustangs, Porches, and a beautiful dark green 1971 boat tailed Buick Rivera. (Apparently, Alejandro liked his cars like his receptionists, with back.) Hot Christina unveiled all the cars but one. She left the last car covered, as if she was ashamed to reveal it. It was clear from the shape that it was a minivan of some sort.

"What's under the tarp?", I asked. "It just a minivan" she replied, "nothing special, if you want to see, you can see." "Sure" I replied and Hot Christina reluctantly pulled back the tarp to reveal a first generation Dodge Caravan, in Ferrari Red, with the stance of something truly sinister. It was low and wide, a Frankenstein minivan, with the widest tires I have ever seen on a minivan. This was no ordinary Caravan, this was a badass motherf*cker van. "What is it?", I asked dumbfounded.

The lovely Hot Christina replied matter of factly, "de Tomaso liked the minivan but he wanted it to go faster. It goes faster now."