It’s already been established that I was raised on schlocky old kids’ TV shows, so the direction my mind went when I saw this pair of field find vans should come as no surprise.That’s the great thing about cars that clearly need restoration, but aren’t necessarily significant enough to have to be done “correctly”—and especially vans, which are basically rolling blank canvases with tons of slab-sided metal to play with—your imagination can go wild! So, I’ll introduce you to my demented vision for these vans, a 1965 Chevrolet G20 panel and a 1967 Dodge A108, and you can let loose with yours in the comments. Both vans can be seen on eBay, the Chevy out of Kalispell, Montana with a $750 Buy-It-Now, and the Dodge from Topeka, Kansas with a $2,000 BIN.
Let’s start with the Chevy, which is presented with a few curiosities. The ad lists it as a ’68, but we can tell from the photo at the top of this post that it predates the G-series vans’ 1967 facelift, which moved the headlights down next to the grille. The ad also claims that this van sports a small-block V8 of indeterminate displacement, possibly 350 cubes, but that same ’67 facelift included enlarging the doghouse to make room for a V8 option, so if this is an earlier van, I’m not sure that such a mill would fit. We can solve the year mystery, as the seller has helpfully included a photo of the VIN—it’s a ’65—but the engine is a different matter. It doesn’t run, whatever it is, having sat for the last 20 years (the last two outside) and the van wouldn’t get far anyway, as it’s missing its rear axle. It’s also missing a title and, from the looks of things, its seats. The upside is that the body is said to be rust-free, and the general aura of mystery seems to be pointing this van toward its ultimate destiny:
Yes, the highest authorities in the land have determined that the ’64-66 Chevrolet G20 is the most likely candidate to serve as the basis for the Mystery Machine used by the gang from Scooby Doo, Where Are You? I can smell the wet dog and taste the Scooby Snacks already!
Let’s move on to the Dodge. This ’67 is an A108, which means its wheelbase extends 108″, as opposed to the 90″ of the better-known A100. It’s still sporting its original paint, and looks quite a bit straighter and more complete than the Chevy, as befits its higher asking price, although the seller only claims “very little” rust in this case, not rust-free. It’s not a runner, either, but in this case the 225-CID slant six is not only believable, it’s actually pictured. It’s also been home to some rats for a while, but they are not thought to have gotten to the wiring, or to have gotten inside the cabin of the van, which isn’t pretty but looks more complete than the Chevy’s. Overall, looks like pretty solid bones to start from; I immediately thought of one of my very favorite TV shows, and one of the very best accounts on Twitter:
ANTI-LUNATIC SQUAD pic.twitter.com/6JJgzY2uN1
— Batman 66 Labels (@BatLabels) September 1, 2017
A single Dodge A100 van (recognizable by the fact that one of its brake lights didn’t work for some time) was used extensively in the 1966-68 Batman TV series, repainted and repurposed from episode to episode and often transporting the week’s villain and his or her henchmen as they wreaked mayhem around Gotham City. Of course this is a longer A108, but that just means even more space for cryptic, yet oddly specific messages to be emblazoned on its sides!
What do you envision for either of these vans?
The Dodge all day long for a period correct mini-motor home for one tank trips. I’d leave the Chevy for the parts scroungers but I could see a 283 fitting.
The Chevy’s been lowered to $650, which is still high, & the Dodge is history!.
There were no A108. The Dodges were A100, both short and long wheelbase. Longs had a tag w 108 on it in some years.
That swb black dodge reminds me of pics of the Chrysler museums loaded swb black dodge van. Its really gorgeous.
Fantastic write up!
I like em both!! Very hard to find here In the rust belt. the v8 conversion is interesting, also!!
Our family bought a new 1968 A-108 sportsman van. Same color. Lots of windows to wash. A big metal tin can with no a/c..
I’d take the dodge hands down, with its leaning tower of power.
Luv the ol flat nose vans. I’ve owned a 66 Econoline for the last 25 years and it sports most of its original paint & has only 75k on it. Pic included below its in the back ground was looking at a low milage Pinto a used car dealer had on his lot when the pic was taken.
Put a bored 283 into a 1964 Chevy. Built boxes to cover the headers and a special wrench for the rear spark plug. Most of all I remember the roar of the flex fan next to my knee.
Where are the pics? Inside, outside, engine compartment, underneath, floors, rockers? How can they expect a sale when nobody knows what they are buying?
The ’65 Chevy finally sold for $250., and tho the seller provided a notarized Montana Bill of Sale, I later found out he’d used a fictitious name. He did say it wasn’t in Montana, ‘n it was ‘stored’ at his sisters in Idaho. You see he’d bought it from it’s previous owner, his quote ‘sister’ (NOT) off a Craigslist ad, bill of sale only, the pics having been provided by the 1st seller, and then he tried to ‘flip’ it on eBay. He’d paid the prior seller $250., then made excuses saying a ‘friend’ was to pick it up at a later date. After the eBay listing expired, I’d asked for add’l pics, and he emailed a few tempting more, so I bought it based on what he’d followed up with & said. After making arrangements with his ‘sister’ in Idaho to come get it, ‘n making the trip from Montana with an axle, etc, the sad truth came out after I arrived. Both rear quarters, drivers side, and rear were smashed in (see photo), as well as the gas tank, ‘n the top was caved-in, no motor, trans, or engine cover existed either. I ended up taking enough parts off it to sell, as the 1st seller let me strip it where it sat to get my money back, then she was going to call a junker to have the remainder hauled off.. a sad lesson I learned :(