We do love camper vans here, especially examples like this with some really thoughtful details and nice execution. The Dodge Tradesman 100 began life as a normal passenger van but was then converted via the aftermarket to become a pint-sized camper. The seller has built on that theme and incorporated furnishings that would make this Dodge the ideal roadtrip companion that will likely get thumbs up wherever it goes. Find it here on eBay listed for $12,400 or best offer.
The conversion into a camper occurred when the Dodge was stationed in California. Per the seller: “…where it was converted to a camper with fiberglass hightop, custom paint and sliding windows which was all completed in 1975 at a conversion company.” From there, it has remained a camper ever since with the seller adding some of the touches you see here in the form of reclaimed wood surfaces, a futon/pull-out couch, storage areas and more.
The swivel bucket seats were added at the time it was converted and are among my favorite features, next to the grass carpeting. While these van conversions are always a matter of personal taste, I feel as if the seller walked a nice line of making it hip with lots of eye-ball appeal without over-personalizing it to the point no one else wants to own it. As the seller notes, “Everything in the van has been handcrafted with reclaimed products giving it that rustic feel throughout.”
Despite wearing Vermont plates, the van is in Florida. This isn’t terribly surprising, as Vermont is pretty lax about registering oddball vehicles. With a reliable 318 V8 and 727 automatic transmission, I agree with the seller that this combo will provide many years of reliable motoring, and likely not be all that expensive to operate. Would you buy it as-is or need to convert the interior to your own liking?
Uncle Rico would approve.
http://unclericovan.com/?p=gallery
Look, there is an entire website dedicated to this vehicle.
That is exactly what I was going to say!!!!
I was just thinking that
Even though your picture didn’t load for me, I gave you a thumbs up.
” I could’a made State. “
The story behind it, I think it was on the DVD commentary, was that they saw the van driving around in the town they were filming in and asked if they could use it.
On the outside its not a bad looking van but on the inside its gut it time. Carpets and seats that bring on the need to hurral your supper up, and the thing about rustic is you can gat away with poor carpentry skills and say ( I planned it that way!!! ) there is some real potential here though great drive train and the body is in good shape. I m not a big fan of the colours but I guess I could live them as they are quite retro looking.
*hurl…
Hi Crash I don’t want you to take this the wrong way so I’ll try not to be rude. I see on this sight so many missed spelled words and bad grammar by others that I could spend my time on here just correcting people I’ve even seen the authors of our posts making mistakes from time to time. So I ask you why haven’t I seen you posting corrections all the time on this site? I know already that my spelling isn’t the best but I really don’t need you to remind me. We are not here to to be critical of each other rather we are here to talk about our love of old cars and trucks. I usually prof read my post before I hit send and sometimes there are mistakes, in fact you might even find some in this post. It is clear to me that you still were able to understand what I was saying so is it necessary for you to be the spelling police? If so you need to step up your game and tag everybody. But be careful you might find yourself making a miskake from time to time.
Typo?
That should be $1,240 – right?
Nice van, although seems a tad pricey given the interior…I’d give it a makeover, leaning towards a ‘glamping’ style of fitment.
Yet another BF’s visual flashback. Some may recall me telling the story of my old man doing this to a Maxi-van. I took it to some place in N. Indiana, where they cut the top open(someone one asked about a roof brace, I don’t remember any, just a big hole, although, I believe they left the roof over the driver) and they put a top like this on with a million screws. The ride back was 100 times scarier than the ride down. It was windy, and it blew that thing all over the road. Unpredictable, it was, even downright dangerous. Not to mention, it cut the already dismal gas mileage in half. My dad made a motorhome out of it, like this, but even he disliked the handling, and sold it. No offense to seller, but for this kind of cash, there’s better campers.
You don’t see many vans with an indoor putting green. Must be owned by a real golfing enthusiast!
I have never thought wood was the ideal material for the inside of a van. It is very heavy and there are many other lighter materials to achieve the same objective.
that link is to a camper w/a ‘lrger than turtle top” van, Jeepster. It sticks out all round while this 1 is flush w/side walls.
I agree w/several re interior style and weight.
I like that it’s only a 4 door as that’s more useable rm inside.This is a good size for 1 person or a couple to spend up to several days. I would not recommend any more time in it as I spent mo.s at a time in mine plus used it as a business (but that wuz w/engine between frnt 2 seats). But…
kids R krazy…
Free candy….
Did anyone else watch the nerds on “The Big Bang Theory” burn up a Dodge Van trying to change a flat tire. Anyway, this is a nice van. I owned a 77 short wheel base Dodge van back in the 80’s. It was alright, ran good (318), it was given to me with no engine. A good junk yard engine in Miami, Fl. was $450 back then. Drove it for a couple years before sending it to a paint shop. I wanted it gold they painted it brown so I just never went back to get it.
My dad had the same complaint with handling on his 79. I fixed it with a good set of coil-over shocks and a positive adjustment to the caster. Handled fine after that. We used it for years as a camper when traveling to NASCAR events. Great van at $4,000, at $12k? NOT! Rustytech
Cool van, half-assed interior, ridiculous price. That original Uncle Rico Santana van sold for a few thousand on eBay a couple years ago. $1,500 a day to rent it, L-O-L. I loved that movie, but no one talks about it anymore.