My wife & I went to the World of Wheels show here in Minnaplois. I saw a kustom Van. Something you just don't see any more. I had two of them back in the late 70's early 80's. 1st one was a 77 dodge. That I kustomized in a rollin piece or road art. Gull wing doors one on the side ( The sliding door) And 1 on the back door. Dodge had a one piece back door back then. Fender flares all crushed Velvet interior. chain link sterring wheel a bar on the side. Bed in the back. Nor Cal wing. lowered in the front. N 50 15's on the rear. With cragers all the way around. paint bright red. Sun roof in front & back. Man those were some cools days & nights in those things. So like i asked. Any old Vaneers out there. Action Vans from Detroit. Downriver custom cruisers. Toledo truckers. MOVE! ( can't remember what that stood for) pipe in guys. Let me know Rick A.K.A "ROLLIN THUNDER"

My girlfriends dad was a vanner.

He has home movies of my girl when she was younger and the van is always in the background.:D

Her grandmother painted some naked lady on the side of it.:D

Never owned one myself, but had quite a few friends that did. I hung out with them, cruised around a lot and even attended some Van-Ins........They were CrAzY PaRTaayS!

I think this an overlooked genre of classics that will see some resurgance in the future. There are still some good Vans out there that are affordable and wiould be fun to re-create the wild times of the 70's with. Something you could fit the entire family in and be an excellent vehicle for all of the modern technology in electronics; Sound, video, computers, etc, etc.

Can you still buy crushed velvet? Any old hippy air brush artists still left? Can you still find some star shaped windows? Side-pipes? I say probably yes;)

Had a customized flat front 65 Falcon van, a custom 73 Chevy short van and a 75 Dodge. Me and a couple friends would do them up for local guys. We built quite a few back in the day. Most if the parts came from JC Whitney when they were on the triangle in Chicago!:)

I never had a van, but they used to have the West Coast Van Nationals gathering in my little 'ol hometown, King City, California, back in the '70s/'80's. Pretty big deal at the time as I remember.

Yeah, ran around in a '70 Econoline back in the early '70s when the kids were growing up...302, 3 speed column. Shag carpet, black lights, ... :yes:
Good for haulin' the dirt bike around too.
My bro had a mid '60s Chevy van with the "dog house" in between the front seats during his HS days. :cool:
A buddy of ours that lived down the street had a Corvair windowed van.
Another friend used to tow his '69 Mach I to the track with his VW camper! :eek:
A bunch of hair bags we were.

...Shag carpet, black lights... :yes:From what I hear went on in those vans in the 70s, I would think the black lights would be the last thing you'd want on in there. :eek:

"why does the carpet have glowing spots all over?" :D

'76 Dodge van, bought it new. Biggest piece of crap I ever owned, but it was fun. Nothing fancy, pretty plain on the outside, white wagon wheels and white lettered tire. Carpet on the inside, bed in back. Built my own cooler under the bed, 2" of styrofoam all the way around, lined with hard plastic, drained out through the floor. That thing would keep beer cold for days. :beers: Funny, haven't thought about it in years. Had some good times in that thing, like in the parking lot at my cousin's wedding reception.;)

Yeah! When I hit phoenix. I'm going to look around for one. Ya never know! I could sell Derek's Chevelle. And buy a couple. Hell he needs one now. With family thing going on at his house. But I would be cool to have one again. I think I'm going to look for some old pictures of that van. And try & post them on here. Now where did she put those. MMMMM!!!. Yeah! Derek I agree. Why a black light. but some of them had them YUK!! ha ha ha. I took 2nd place in my class at the Silver Dome in Pontiac, Mi

I bought a brand new 72 Ford. 302, 3 speed. Did the interior, set it up to haul bikes. Have had a van ever since. The one I have now is a 95 Ford Super van. Has less than 20K miles on it. 4 wheel drive. Did the interior, set it up to haul bikes. Some things never change, well mabey they get better.

As a child of the 70's the Van thing is something I have first hand exp with, I learned to tuck and roll. My dad had a mildly successful band and his Van not only hauled equipment it was totally tricked out for traveling. I spent much time on the road in that Chevy Van. Crushed Velvet, tucked and rolled interior, Shag carpet, TV, Sidepipes, fat tires with Jellybean wheels, Solar X tint, Tear Drop side windows, Futon like bed in back, Craig 8 track big sound system and the ever present Whip Antennas and fog lights. Good memories:D

I had a '71 GMC with carpet and a bed and later a '74 Econoline. A guy I went to high school with bought a new Ford in about '78 and had it customized. He had it in shows also. It was called "Captain's Dream" and he still has it.

Paul

Paul. They used to have a great van in in Barry, Ont In 76 it was my 1st truck in. great time drinking Purple jesus!! ??? Don't ask!

I could sell Derek's Chevelle. And buy a couple.Good luck stealing a car with no wheels on it. :D

Hell he needs one now. With family thing going on at his house.Got it covered... 66 Chevelle Station Wagon. :yes:

I've got wheels to fit it! Now why would you take the tires off of it??? Now I've got to get a trailer! damn derek You don't make it ez on a guy.

This is all I need now!

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Electronic-Love-Van-Shagging-Wagon-Adults-Novelty-Toy_W0QQitemZ120217497767QQihZ002QQcategoryZ1467QQ rdZ1QQssPageNameZWD4VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638. m124

I too remember the Van days or is that haze? I didn't own one back then but a few of my Buddys did. Enough talk and let see some pics!!!!

I found some old pictures last night. Now I've got to see if I can post these old 70 photo's.

From what I hear went on in those vans in the 70s, I would think the black lights would be the last thing you'd want on in there. :eek:

"why does the carpet have glowing spots all over?" :D

"Now thats funny right there, I don't care who you are." Said in my best redneck voice.

I do remember my Mom test driving a mid 70's Chevy van when we were kids. It had the little mini-bar, shag and mirrors inside. It was solid black and had Cragars. I remember that my brother, sister and I thought it was really COOL!!!!
Frank