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This government surveillance van is both cool and creepy, and it could be yours

Whether you're planning a heist and need to gather information, or you're a government agency tracking down the leader of a crime ring, Hollywood has taught us that the unmarked van is the ideal machine for gathering intel. And apparently that's not just a Hollywood trope, because you can buy this actual, honest-to-goodness ex-government surveillance van: a 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager. It's being sold by the Chicago suburb of Streamwood, Ill., on the government surplus auction site GovDeals. According to the description, the van was acquired by the town as part of a drug seizure and converted to surveillance duty. It looks like a plain white Grand Voyager for the most part, except for the amber flashing light on the roof. Or at least it looks like a light. It's actually the disguise for the camera periscope. Open up the sliding door of the van and you'll discover a swivel mount for the camera, a TV mounted to the back of the driver's seat, and a toolbox that holds all the electronic equipment, including battery chargers for the van and the camera. There are also solid panels behind the windows so that people walking by can't peer in and see all the equipment. It's a bit less wild than some of the vans we've seen on film, but those Hollywood vans are usually larger commercial vans that can store more people and stuff. Less interesting details include the fact that this Grand Voyager has a 3.3-liter V6 with an automatic transmission. It has just over 100,000 miles and was good for a little more than 150 horsepower and 200 pound-feet of torque when it was new. The interior looks impressively clean, as does most of the exterior, but the description and photos highlight the fact that the front strut towers are rusty and in need of repair. Included are new strut towers, but obviously the welding in and painting is the expensive part. Also, while we think this van is pretty neat, since it's an actual surveillance van like we've seen on film for years, we would feel creepy actually owning it. After all, it's a vehicle for watching people, and while a government might have a legitimate reason for doing that, your average person doesn't. Unless you need a prop for a film, are going to show it off at car shows, or are another city government needing a cheap surveillance car, we think having this would be a little too weird. But if you have one of those reasons, or are less worried about what people think, you have a few more days to bid.

Chrysler recalls 88,888 Darts, Durangos, and Grand Cherokees for two separate issues

Chrysler announced a pair of recalls for the Dodge Dart, Durango, and Jeep Grand Cherokee. They're unrelated, as the Dart recall concerns windshield washer pumps, and the Durango and Grand Cherokee recall is for fuel rails. But, as Automotive News discovered, the number of cars involved in both totals up to 88,888 cars, which is rather bizarre. Breaking down the coincidental number, we first have 34,633 2016 Dodge Durangos and Jeep Grand Cherokees recalled because fasteners on the intake manifold can come into contact with the fuel rail on some vehicles. This could lead to a fuel leak, and a subsequent fire hazard. Chrysler believes only 30 vehicles will have this defect, but it's inspecting any that could have had the issue. The other part of the 88,888 cars recalled in total consists of 54,255 2016 Dodge Darts. The windshield washer pumps on affected cars could short-circuit the wiper system, disabling the wipers. Chrysler will notify owners of all vehicles, and will replace any faulty parts at no cost to the owner. Owners can also contact Chrysler's customer care center at 1-800-853-1403. Related Video: News Source: FCA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration via Automotive News Recalls Weird Car News Dodge Jeep SUV Sedan

Subaru Impreza WRX, Dodge Charger police car from 'Baby Driver' are for sale

Fans of " Baby Driver," now is your chance to own some seriously cool bits of movie memorabilia. Allpro Subaru is currently selling two of the cars from the film. The first is one of the red Subaru Impreza WRXs that were used for some of the film's signature stunts, which made the red rally sedan the de facto hero car of the movie. There were a number of stunt cars used to represent the hero car, including a modified WRX and an STI with a WRX wing. This particular one, a 2006 model, is a little more interesting, as it was the one that was converted to rear-drive to make it easier to complete stunts with it. According to the description, it also has a turbocharger from a 2004 STI to make more power, which fits what stunt driver Jeremy Fry told us. The description reveals other interesting tidbits. The car does have a clean title and has 158,000 miles on it. Obviously some of those miles were a bit rough, and the description notes that the stunt driving has led to some cosmetic defects. The AutoCheck vehicle history report reveals more. Apparently this Impreza WRX led a rough life before filming, as it had four mild to moderate crashes reported. It also appears that it will need the Takata airbag replaced. But on the plus side, this car is a unique piece of car and film history, and its rear-drive layout should make it interesting to drive. On top of that, it also has a leather interior that appears to be in good shape. View 5 Photos You'd better have a healthy bank account before trying to buy this WRX. As of writing, the bidding has reached $40,300. If that's too pricey, though, Allpro Subaru has yet another car from the movie. It's a 2011 Dodge Charger police car in Atlanta, Ga. police livery, complete with a V8. It's also pretty thoroughly wrecked, though the description says that it is drivable. Based on the bullet holes in the windshield, the Charger appears to be the one used in the (mild spoiler alert) final showdown between Baby and Buddy. But because this car is much less famous and in far worse shape, it's also much cheaper. Bidding has only reached $3,000 at the time of writing. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2006 Subaru Impreza used in Baby Driver News Source: eBay / Allpro Subaru via JalopnikImage Credit: eBay / Allpro Subaru TV/Movies Dodge Subaru Auctions Police/Emergency Performance Sedan impreza wrx baby driver