I remember seeing all those accessories in stores back then. If you believe the movies, the only guys with closed panel vans nowadays are Hannibal Lecter wannabes. So what happened to turn the image of the customized van from "Shaggin' Wagon" to "Creepy Cargo"?
So, were you a part of the 'van' movement?
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Originally Posted By: Benzadmiral
So what happened to turn the image of the customized van from "Shaggin' Wagon" to "Creepy Cargo"?
Feminist lol. Young girls today think just about everything male is "creepy". But you bring up a good point, there is a lot more villanization today than in the past. It seemed to start somewhere around 1992.
So what happened to turn the image of the customized van from "Shaggin' Wagon" to "Creepy Cargo"?
Feminist lol. Young girls today think just about everything male is "creepy". But you bring up a good point, there is a lot more villanization today than in the past. It seemed to start somewhere around 1992.
Like everything else when it goes out they got really cheap so my relatives had them over the years.
My MIL and her sister ran a series of Dodge Ram Vans which some how hobbled along into the 200k-300k range. They purchased for bottom dollar with 150k+. My wife said it was an embarrassing vehicle a bit with ugly brown/green stripes running lights, ladder etc.
I think fuel prices, age, and rust got them all here.
My MIL and her sister ran a series of Dodge Ram Vans which some how hobbled along into the 200k-300k range. They purchased for bottom dollar with 150k+. My wife said it was an embarrassing vehicle a bit with ugly brown/green stripes running lights, ladder etc.
I think fuel prices, age, and rust got them all here.
I was born well after the true custom van fad ended, but even as a kid I was well aware of it. Our public library's automotive section was outdated to say the least. There was a book all about custom vans from the late 1970s (I think '77 or '78). It was basically a guide to "vanning" with tips, how-tos, and lots of pictures. Being interested in any sort of light truck, I checked the book out. The basic formula was lots of air brushing + "mag" wheels + captain's chairs + carpet + wood. Bonus points for some kind of table, bar, or bed. I found the vans in the book very interesting, and I hate to admit it, but kind of cool. They definitely were cooler than the conversion vans that were in favor when I was little.
Growing up in the late 80s and 90s, I remember conversion vans being everywhere. Not true customs - just aftermarket packages that lacked a lot of the character of their predecessors. They were basically cushy living rooms on wheels. SUVs seemed to rapidly replace these around the mid to late 90s. Now most conversion vans I see are covered in paint splatter and loaded up with tools.
Growing up in the late 80s and 90s, I remember conversion vans being everywhere. Not true customs - just aftermarket packages that lacked a lot of the character of their predecessors. They were basically cushy living rooms on wheels. SUVs seemed to rapidly replace these around the mid to late 90s. Now most conversion vans I see are covered in paint splatter and loaded up with tools.
There was a weird, custom looking old 70's van in the lot I park in for work. It was unmoved for a couple of days.
Eventually they called the police and found a dead guy in it!
Eventually they called the police and found a dead guy in it!
It's a shame that these vans went extinct. I guess people figure that you can pay for a lot of motel rooms with the money you would invest in a decent conversion van. The Roadtrek Class B motorhomes are nice, but they cost around $100 grand. Yikes!
My wife has a chronic pain condition that prevents her from sitting in a conventional passenger vehicle for any length of time. If we had a conversion van to stretch out in, we would be able to get out on the road more often.
My wife has a chronic pain condition that prevents her from sitting in a conventional passenger vehicle for any length of time. If we had a conversion van to stretch out in, we would be able to get out on the road more often.
I always wanted to be!
The closest I got was a 78 Chev 1-ton hand-me-down. I was only 16 and wasn't all that motivated/handy yet. I put down some carpet, some cheap speakers, and a bench seat that wasn't bolted to the floor.
I spent all my money feeding the 350.
The closest I got was a 78 Chev 1-ton hand-me-down. I was only 16 and wasn't all that motivated/handy yet. I put down some carpet, some cheap speakers, and a bench seat that wasn't bolted to the floor.
I spent all my money feeding the 350.
I forgot how elaborate some of the airbrush artwork was. Almost did a van conversion in the very early eighties, but then got into motorcycles and lost interest.
1970's Custom Van Pictures
1970's Custom Van Pictures
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Originally Posted By: Drew2000
I forgot how elaborate some of the airbrush artwork was. Almost did a van conversion in the very early eighties, but then got into motorcycles and lost interest.
1970's Custom Van Pictures
That link rocks!
I forgot how elaborate some of the airbrush artwork was. Almost did a van conversion in the very early eighties, but then got into motorcycles and lost interest.
1970's Custom Van Pictures
That link rocks!
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