- Seller: Scott W
- Location: Moline, Illinois
- Mileage: 1453 Shown
- Chassis #: 2062037454
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 225 Slant Six
- Transmission: 3-Speed on column
Tackling a full-blown restoration can be daunting, but purchasing a classic where the hard work is complete can be irresistible. Such is the case with this 1965 Dodge A100 Van. It is a striking-looking vehicle that is a turnkey proposition for its new owner. They could drive and enjoy it as-is, although there is scope for personalization if the winning bidder wants to place their mark on this classic that the owner affectionately refers to as “Yea Baby.” He has enjoyed this gem on sunny days for the past six years but feels it is time for someone else to experience the same pleasure it has provided. Therefore, the owner has listed the Dodge exclusively with us at Barn Finds Auctions.
This Dodge makes a bold visual statement courtesy of its dazzling Hemi Orange exterior. The driver-quality paint shines beautifully, and a close inspection of the image gallery reveals no evidence of significant marks or flaws. The panels are as straight as an arrow, and the underside shots confirm it is rust-free. The vehicle’s rake is courtesy of a set of rear air shocks, while the chrome wheels and Baby Moon hubcaps are appropriate for a vehicle of this vintage. Other unique touches include shaved door handles and a custom molded front bumper/spoiler. These features give the exterior a clean and crisp appearance. I can’t spot any glass issues, with the owner confirming he has replaced the vent rubbers. The trim is in excellent condition, but as you will see, the bling isn’t restricted to the exterior.
This A100 came to the current owner following over thirty years in storage. Its history is unclear, but there is evidence that a previous owner splashed a lot of cash on this classic. Climbing underneath confirms that they sent the rear axle housing, springs, transmission, bellhousing, front beam, and other components to the platers. They would have dazzled people when everything was bolted back into place. The chrome has deteriorated in the ensuing years, but it would still be worth sliding a mirror underneath this baby so that people can check it out if the buyer displays the Van at a Cars & Coffee.
Chrysler’s 225ci slant-six is one of the heroes of American motoring history. These engines produce excellent power, but it is the torque delivery that made the six a firm favorite in commercial applications. This one should provide a few additional ponies because it inhales through a 390 Holley 4-barrel bolted to an Offenhauser intake. Spent gases exit through a dual-header exhaust that should offer a crisp and purposeful note. An aluminum radiator keeps engine temperature under control, while the extensive use of heat shielding and sound deadening throughout the doghouse eliminates intrusive mechanical noise. The current owner believes the slant-six may have been rebuilt at some point, although he is unable to confirm that beyond doubt. The braking system received a sensible upgrade, with the new dual-circuit master cylinder improving safety. Potential buyers should consider this A100 a turnkey proposition. The engine is claimed to be as tight as a drum. The seller states that it doesn’t produce smoke or odd noises, and the Van drives as it should. The chrome wheels are wrapped in as-new tires.
The interior is where this Van becomes a blank canvas for the winning bidder. The painted surfaces are in good condition, and the front passenger area presents well. Occupants sink into cloth-trimmed body-hugging bucket seats that started life in a Chevrolet Cavalier while the driver surveys an array of AutoMeter gauges through a chunky timber sports wheel. The custom Black carpet is excellent, and the same is true of the door trims. There is scope for a few improvements and upgrades because the owner sourced a pristine original heater, a radio with a factory speaker, and a Pioneer 8-track player. However, it is the rear where the buyer can make their mark. It is a vacant space, with the owner adding an automatic vent fan with a remote control and an auxiliary fuse box to cope with any future electrical upgrades or modifications. The only limiting factor will be the winning bidder’s imagination. Fitting additional seats to carry an entire family is possible, or the Van would make an excellent shop vehicle. However, I can’t help but think that “Yea Baby” would be at its best if someone transformed the rear into a tribute to the Van Culture of the 1960s and 1970s. That means plenty of sound deadening, carpet, a bed, a bar, some mood lighting, and a mega stereo. This baby would undoubtedly grab some attention in that form! There is an extensive list of included parts beyond the ones mentioned. The winning bidder receives a set of original seats, a windshield washer setup, a plastic turn signal switch with the correct wiring attached, and a box of sundry brackets, clips, and other small items that typically disappear during a project build. The speedometer and odometer aren’t functioning, and the owner believes a faulty sender unit has rendered the fuel gauge inoperative. Otherwise, everything works as it should.
This 1965 Dodge A100 Van is an excellent project candidate with many positive attributes. It is rock-solid, presents well, and is a turnkey blank canvas. That could be its greatest strength because it will allow somebody to let their imagination run wild and transform “Yea Baby” into the Van of their dream as time and circumstances allow. I find it an attractive proposition, and I’m sure I am not alone. If you feel the same way and yearn for a genuine blast from the past, this beauty could be your ticket to achieving that dream.
Bid On This Auction
bklain bid $12,500.00 2024-08-05 23:01:16
HNKNWAV bid $10,555.00 2024-08-05 08:25:15
jakpar bid $10,300.00 2024-08-04 18:40:10
ddh2153 bid $7,000.00 2024-08-04 10:09:07
Steve bid $6,750.00 2024-08-03 12:39:06- ddh2153 bid $6,500.00 2024-08-03 10:57:59
- Steve bid $6,000.00 2024-08-01 08:41:53
- jakpar bid $5,000.00 2024-07-31 17:37:42
Poppy bid $200.00 2024-07-31 11:51:27
Almost considered building one of these as a wheelchair van for my late
MIL several years ago. New lift vans
cost well over $100K even used. So, I
thought about one of these as a cheap way to build a lift van for her. My idea was to mount a ramp at the side doors using a long piano in two
spots so that I could fold and unfold
it manually as all that electric stuff
costs a lot of cash and is a real pain
in the ass to diagnose when something breaks. Since Mom could
Walk a little bit, all I had to do was to
secure the scooter with wheel locks
while driving. Since this van has an
extra fuse box, you could very well set
up a way to charge a mobility scooter.
A huge deal when you have a person
in your family has mobility issues that
dictate the use of a wheelchair or power chairs. And when you weren’t
carrying wheelchairs, you could make
a pile of cash using it to haul bulky
items such as large orders from discount stores or items that won’t
really fit into your average sedan. The
other day, Sis and I went to party city
to pick up a very large bunch of helium balloons for a customer on
Door Dash. Normally, Door Dash will
send two drivers to pick up an order
like this. But if I had a van like this
one, we could carry a whole load of
balloons and not have to split the Dash pay and/or tips with another driver. Just run a net behind the front
seats so the balloons won’t be floating up front, add some soft padding on the sides and ceiling so
they don’t pop on the way, and you
have the perfect balloon hauler. Yessir, around my house, this van would never run out of uses.
Someone actually built an A100 like what you were thinking. Let’s see if they’ll allow a link to it. https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/logans-hot-rod-a-fixed-up-1969-a100-dodge-van.156000/
I like this, for that matter any kind of wrapping for the slant 6 with 3 on the tree. My first car had those.
Now for something fun and different.
Brings back memories, I dated a girl in 67′ whose dad had one,He was a carpenter and carried all his tools in it.His had a V-8.
The Mystery Machine!! Get out those Scooby “Snacks”, like…ZOICKS!!!
Nice looking van I think the underside Was sprayed with chrome paint. I have some spray cans of chrome paint and it shines for a while. It for sure will make someone a good cruiser
Jim this is Scott the owner. Not chrome paint but the real deal. Can’t imagine what it cost back then but I’m sure it was a fair amount.
A friend’s older brother had the windowless version of this van back in the mid 70’s. Same orange color with black trim. Put a built 340/auto in it. Crager SS wheels, BFG’s & headers & chrome side pipes. That was such a beautiful combination.
My dad had a gmc like this.. I was 9-11 years old. I remember I had to shift it for him because he had a broken arm. The old Honda mini trails for inside nicely.
Down side is you’re first one at the accident scene.
Always part of the adventure during this van. Passengers always remember their first time approaching traffic backed up! I’ve had so many people message me crushed that I’m selling Yea Baby that it’s making it harder to watch this auction! My only wish other than I get a fair price is that it goes to a guy or gal that will drive him and share the smiles it brings. It’s a good old school van and they are getting harder and harder to find in rust free condition 😁
-Scott (owner)
Driving not during. Gotta love autocorrect
I had a 1966 A100 just like this one. Took off the emblems, painted it purple and added mags. Hey, it was the 70’s! Bought it with 80K miles and sold it with 180K. That slant 6 is a torque beast. Lots of memories!!
And how do you open the doors from the outside without exterior door handles?
Windows are always down 😁. Door poppers need to be added part of the “If I get to keep it” list. I’ve never really needed them only because it’s left wide open and if it was ever to be caught in the rain you can go thru the back doors that still have handles. Easy fix though.
Scott, I really like your van! As I said,
I sure could use it for delivering big
bulky orders on Door Dash. Sure wish
I could buy it from you. Just for grins
and giggles, could I fly in with a friend
and drive it home? I live in Florida.
Kenneth you sure can but I want to see the video of your adventures drive back down to Florida lol. She’s pretty good at about 55 mph to 60 mph on the highway, but she’s no fan of semis or highs winds😂. It’s just a real light box flying down the highway, so things can get interesting 😁
No doubt she can make the trip but I would trailer. No way is Yea Baby a highway cruiser!
That one looks great Brian! Your link
worked out just fine. When I was gonna do it, my ramp would’ve been
placed at the side doors for a better
ease of use as I would’ve been the only one loading and unloading Mom’s chair. I caught a lot of backlash a few years ago when some
readers thought I was a cheapskate
to do a DIY build on a van like this, but
another reader came to my defense,
it wasn’t long before the BF readers
put me in touch with several firms that offered used lift vans at reasonable prices. Sad to say, we never did buy a lift van as Mom contracted dementia in July of 2016
and passed away in April 2022. And
as I said earlier, this van would never
run out of uses.
I was in the van world in the late 70s. I am looking to get back into it to buy one and have it all decked out. This is a sweet machine unfortunately it has windows. And windows is not to my liking.
Looks Moline Orange to me.
Nice!
Less than a week out of ‘Nam I was 20, young and handsome. Rent on Sunset Bch, Fl was $65 water, elec. included. Landlord ‘Rowdy’ Dow offered me a ’61 E100 Ford cargo Econoline w/a 144ci that started B4 you could let go of the key for $300. But, it wouldn’t pull the hat off your head. I bought a 170ci frm a friend. Rings, main bearings and rod bearings. The head was sent off to a machine shop. Named it ‘BuckWheat’ after the ‘The Little Rascals’ After a while Rowdy wanted to buy it back. I told him no, because when there wasn’t anything to watch on TV, I liked to start the engine just to listen to the oil run back into the pan….I’ve never taken the engine apart in over 800K miles. One of its many trips was used to bring my future ex-wife back to the Tampa Bay area from Buffalo. BuckWheat has never in over 52yrs of ownership, not gotten me to where I needed to go, not once. When I gave the home to the ex and the child she had with another man while we were married, BuckWheat was home for nearly four years. Could I sell it? It would be like dishonoring a lifetime friend.
The reserve is off!
I’d like to buy this from the winning bidder I have cash,willing to pay more than he paid!
Awesome story! Now THAT is a faithful steed.
A steal@$12,500!
A real vintage vehicle that has not been restored to a ridiculous level,painted with 60 coats of $400 a gallon paint and has had a 800 HP motor stuffed in it. Then gets auctioned off on TV for $175 grand
Beautiful van….Bravo to you Scott!
They are just so hard to find like this. I’m already sad she is leaving. Thanks SS for the kind insight.
Well that’s a lot of coin for this rig looks like it may be worth it, there is one not this nice sitting next to a barn outside of Pomeroy Washington on HWY 12 if I can manage to contact the property owner without getting shot maybe I can flip it for some cash
I personally looked this van over on the 4th of July and can attest to it being at least as good as it looks in the photos, and I actually think it looks better in person. The seller is a 110% upright guy and take whatever he says take as the gospel. On the 4th of July I picked up a short bed Chevy truck that sold here on Barnfinds Auction from him. Am very happy with the truck!
I had a slant-6 van with automatic for a locksmith work van that my boss provided. It was a battle getting him to maintain it and it would stall when I lifted off the loud pedal. This happened one day at the (then) toll plaza on I95 in Westport, so the usual procedure: Open the engine cover and spray starting fluid in the air intake. This time the overspray hit the hot exhaust manifold, made me glad I wear glasses, and no eyebrows for a couple of months. Highland Park starter, Torque Flight with that strong 1-2 upshift, subtle quirky designs that were kinda fun.