The seller only lays down 17 words in their description, three short lines of text. That’s a bummer compared to some folks who write paragraph after paragraph. Then again, this one provides pretty nice photos, so it makes up for the shortage of info a bit. This unique eight-door 1965 Ford Econoline Van is posted here on craigslist in Sedro-Woolley, Washington, and they’re asking $7,500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Scott for the tip!
This boxy, eight-door van was first offered in 1963, and it’s unique in having two cargo doors on the left side to make loading and unloading easy, no matter where you’re forced to park while making a delivery. It reminds me of my former Nissan Stanza 4WD 5-speed van/SUV thing, whatever it was called. I guess a “tall wagon”, although it didn’t look much like a wagon. It had a big sliding door on each side in the back rather than two hinged doors as on this Econoline. Let’s see, now where did I park that thing, it blends in so much with modern vehicles…
There is no mention of rust or bodywork, and I hate to speculate, but if there isn’t some of each on this van, I’d be surprised. The seller does say it’s “all original”, so there’s that. Ford made the unusual, Falcon-based first-generation cab-forward Econoline in both pickup and van form from 1960 through 1967, and it appears that this one has at least been repainted at some point, but we don’t know for sure. The color looks like Sahara Beige to me, but that was a 1966/’67 color, so it’s likely Navajo Beige, a 1965 color, which is more tan without a hint of pink that I see here. It could be a trick of light and shadow giving it that hue.
This is it for interior photos, or at least overall photos, and it looks fantastic here. The seats are clearly not original, but they look great. There is one other photo showing the 100 mph speedometer with the odometer reading 02418.5, which I’m assuming is 102,418.5, but we don’t know for sure. The seller lists the mileage as 2,418. They do show a rear view with all of the doors open, and it looks like a great space to haul motorcycles to me.
I really like this eight-door feature with the optional left side doors. The loading floor is five feet wide and seven feet long to the back of the doghouse/engine cover, more than enough space for two motorcycles, or four of my oddball ones. The engine under that cover between the two front seats is a mystery. The seller doesn’t even list the number of cylinders, but they only came with a straight-six, so it’s either the standard 170-cu.in. OHV inline-six or the optional 240-six. The seller does say it has an automatic. They say it starts every time and drives like an old van. Have any of you seen an eight-door Econoline Van?
Just think, if you were parked in this in a residential neighborhood and a police officer started pounding on the passenger’s side cargo doors, yelling, “Police- open up and come out right now!”, you could merely unlock the driver’s side cargo door and come around up behind them and ask, “Pardon me officer, is there a problem here?”
I know some may think I make this up for attention, but all my stories are legit. I actually had a van like this I never drove. A former gf had a BIL that had a 8 door van he was going to junk, so I took it. I never saw an 8 door, and found out they are extremely rare. Unfortunately, the stubs that hold the motor in were rusted, and the motor was laying on the front axle, so then junked it. Just as well, all these “cabover” vans were miserable vehicles, and most became tool sheds out back. This, however, is a great find, the automatic will help sales, and while the 8 door was a nifty feature then, I wonder how many went down the road with something sticking out both sides, but today, just a vintage Econoline would be sought after. I believe ’65 was the 1st year it was not called a Falcon, and no Falcon script on the back door. I read, only 1136 8 door vans were sold in 1965. It’s a rare beast, for sure.
Falcon vans were the passenger version with rear seats. Cargo vans like this were never Falcons.
Thanks for that, it’s still something not a lot of people know. This I DO know, the H series Ford cabover semi of the early 60s, was named “The 2 story Falcon”, largely in part because of these.
Built for narrow alley deliveries to either side of the alley.
This van could be very useful!
We need several of those vans right now.
I wonder if that particular one was Woody Guthrie’s.
In the 60’s-70’s I got to ride in an econoline van a lot that was used to death as an airport vehicle. It was only a six door but every one of those doors rattled like crazy. This one must be even noisier with two more doors.
I’ve only seen ONE in my entire life and it was in the valley in SOCAL back in the late 70’s. It was in pristine condition as a 2 owner van. Very rare!
I had 3 of the 6 door model Falcons, the last one was an old telephone van from CA that the guy had just drove to FWB, FL. I traded a VW Squareback that I payed $100 for. I packed up all my stuff and drove it to Boise, ID. I stayed there for a year, then moved to Houston, TX. stayed there a year then moved back to FWB, FL stayed there for 2 years and sold it for $400. The van was about bullet proof. That thing sold me a Fords. I wish I could afford to buy it, I am in Boise again.
“Drives like an old van,” oh boy is that true. These are certainly not a picnic to drive. Strong upper body and strong back are a must.
odometer: 2,418
gee that sounds low, just 40 miles a year
his insurance must be cheap…
I had a 65′ 6 door in 1972. We had a blast in it. We loaded it up with people and coolers. Awesome times!
Drives like an old van! Ok, welcome to king pin city! Had one in the shop for king pins back in the early -80s. Living at the time in the Salt belt, you expected to have a rough time doing the repair. But NO ONE COULD GET THE KINGPINS OUT. Luckily, there was a high tech metal shop in the area and they used a laser to burn out the kingpins. When in JR. HIGH I worked for a house painter, cleaning brushes and rollers. When caught up with that work I worked on his van that is the same vintage as this one. Tuned it up and did body work. I even drove it once. I have driven several since the first one and you can always tell if the kingpins need servicing. The steering is either too tight or the van wanders all over the road. When the front end is good, they drive ok until heavy cross winds.
The axle for my ’65 is in a shop right now, getting new kingpins/bushings. Wanders all over the road like a lost puppy.
GLWTS!
any “8dor, no window” isa winner for me. If w/the 240 that tops the list as its the 4.9L (almost) million mi motor. I’d mig up the 2 rear windows and put one of those triangles (seen on the cub wagon) behind the passenger’s head (& / or that and the 1st ‘dor window’ on that side for better view at intersections/ /stops.
I all ways imagine a ‘thru tent’ that reaches out each side of one of these w/kitchen on 1 side, bed rm or ‘play house’ on the other. Equiped w/turtle top or not (some say they’re a bear to drive in the wind) it could be plenty adiquate for one or a couple trippin around the park system or visiting family (latter is what i used my ‘68 ‘cheb 108’ for).
Would make a good candidate for a Mystery Machine tribute.
After all, when the artists at Hanna Barbera first drew the gang’s van, this is what they came up with. Very simple to draw and easy to insert into their story boards. This van was also the dream of every local musician too. These 8-door jobs really made loading and unloading their gear a real breeze. All you had to do was wait until the phone company
sold off their surplus vans, and you could get one dirt cheap.
And it was also vans like this one that founded vanning movement in 1972. And it all took off from there. Why I I’ll bet if we luxofy one of these enough, I’ll bet you could probably get Angel interested in one of these. She could use
it as a portable throne room! Nice to see one in such good shape.
A fellow musician when I played in a band in high school had an 8 door Econoline to haul his Hammond B-3 organ, Leslie speaker and amplifier. Having helped roadie for his band on a few gigs (free entry/drinks), I can attest that you are correct. The extra doors made a big difference loading in and out for musical equipment. When I joined the USAF in 1973 and had some money, I bought a new Dodge van instead of the Volvo 1800ES that I really wanted, because my drum set wouldn’t fit in the Volvo. Duh…
From 1965 to 1969 I worked for a small regional newspaper and drove one of these day and night doing pick up and deliveries of papers, printing supplies etc…the worst part of driving it was trying to stop in NE Ohio snows and ice…in the dry weather…put it in 2nd, brake enough so it didn’t move to fast…smoke tires a few blocks at a time..;good fun back then
I wanted to buy one of these from Orowheat bakery in Eugene,OR back in the day, it had no windows and the 8 doors and was pristine, it also had a 4 on the tree, which was real rare.
Those column shifted 4 speeds were, I believe, called a Dagenham, after the city in Great Britain where they were produced (also the home of the Ford Cortina). I had a 1960 Falcon wagon that had been fitted with one. They are rare, really difficult to find parts for and are fairly delicate (light duty). I can’t imagine trying to shift a column shifter with one- a floor mounted shifter was difficult enough. I had a have mine rebuilt (synchronizers were weak), which was expensive and took a long time. I bought every used Dagenham that I found, and sold them to an early Ford van owner after the Falcon sold, and he was thrilled to find them.
Wow! I never heard of a 4 speed column shifter other than a Saab or Mecedes. I also never heard of Dagenham! I guess I lived a sheltered life! I have shifted weird things like 2CVs and a Honda 600s ( which requires up, down and rotating your wrist left to right) so someone please tell me the other 4 speed (or more) column shifters I have missed.
Wow! I never heard of a 4 speed column shifter other than a Saab or Mecedes. I also never heard of Dagenham! I guess I lived a sheltered life! I have shifted weird things like 2CVs and Honda 600s ( which requires up, down and rotating your wrist left to right) so someone please tell me the other 4 speed (or more) column shifters I have missed.