Up-Close with Bak2Bak, Detroit’s Double-Faced Minivan Masterpiece

Zach Sutton, a 29-year-old manufacturing engineer living in Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood, paid $1,500 each for a pair of early 1990s Chrysler minivans. There was a 1993 Dodge Caravan made in the United States, while a 1991 Plymouth Grand Voyager was built in Canada. Both of these vans had the characteristic boxy form, had nearly identical mechanical components, and boldly displayed the Pentastar symbol on the hood. Sutton took them to i3Detroit in Ferndale, a nearby community workshop, and spent one hectic weekend with a group of his pals in February 2025 transforming them into something altogether new.

Sutton chose to cut each van down the middle, directly behind the front seats. He discarded the back pieces, which were no longer required. He then fused the two front halves together, ensuring that their cut edges fit exactly. And just like that, you have a vehicle around the length of a conventional sedan, with two grilles staring at each other, two windshields side by side, and doors that swing open in the middle like a coach. Each end still had its original paint and insignia, so one side had Dodge and the other said Plymouth. Both ends proudly show vanity plates that read BAK2BAK.


Only the Dodge half has power, as its standard 3.3-liter V6 engine, combined with an automatic transmission and with nearly 200 thousand miles on the clock, transmits power to the front wheels on that side. The Plymouth half is empty under the hood; Sutton converted the engine compartment into additional storage space, filled it with boxes, a lawn chair, spare parts, and even a gas tank that he strapped in place. He figured he’d need stiffer springs on the non-powered end to round up the weight distribution. Fuel economy is decent, at roughly 17 mpg.


Drivers can sit in either seat; however, only the Dodge side has accelerator and brake pedals. Both steering wheels connect to the front axles, allowing for four-wheel steering. A large red switch labeled “Pull for a good time” locks or unlocks the steering on the Plymouth side. Keep it locked, and it tracks straight forward like any other front-drive minivan. When you flip the switch, you can turn the wheel on the opposite side, letting you to perform various tight circles or sideways sliding movements. This significantly reduces the turning radius. On highways, Sutton was able to push it up to 80 mph. Handling is still soft and floaty, as is typical of a 1990s minivan, and there is some road noise coming from the floor gaps left over from the build.


Sutton registers and insures only the powered Dodge half of the Bak2Bak, regarding the other half as a homemade mod. So far, interactions with police have resulted in their asking for photos rather than issuing a fine. He’s managed to slip across the US-Canada border several times with scarcely a raised eyebrow. For the most part, the welds are neat, and Sutton isn’t too concerned with the overall polish, saying it’s “good enough.” There are some minor defects on the bodywork, and the paint doesn’t quite match up perfectly, but where the previous paint overlapped, it looks fine.

Inside, there are two dashboards facing opposing directions, resulting in a couple of little driver nooks connected by a tight corridor. Then there’s the passenger section, where once-front benches have been bolted back-to-back in a fantastic reimagining.
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