Dodge referred to its extended A108 (108-inch wheelbase) van as being king-sized, and compared to the smaller 90-inch wheelbase it was a nice upgrade for buyers who needed more room – such as delivery companies, plumbers, construction workers, companies who made van camper conversions, etc. This 1968 Dodge A108 Van is posted here on craigslist in East Olympia, Washington and they’re asking $2,000. Here is the original listing.
Cab over, or forward control vans and pickups are an interesting concept, with the front seats being on each side of the engine compartment and often a shorter overall exterior length. I like to check engine fluids and just check out under the hood pretty often so almost any van or pickup without an exterior hood would take a while to get used to for me. I love the scared, eyes-wide-open look of these vans and pickups and, as almost always, design wins out over function for me.
This van has quite a few areas with dents and dings, but I don’t see any big rust areas, or maybe it’s because it’s painted in this gray primer and they were already fixed? The seller doesn’t say how the body is, rust-wise, and there are no closeups or underside photos, but they did provide some interesting wide-angle shots. The Dodge A100-Series was made from 1964 through 1970 and the van came with or without rear side windows. I’d want a cargo van rather than a window van, but either one would be interesting to own and drive.
My Dodge van experience is with the newer B-Series vans and having 1974 and 1975 short-wheelbase vans, a 1976 maxi-van, and also a 1987 Caravan cargo van for a commercial cleaning service I owned in the 80s and 90s. It brings me back to see a bare van interior like this, and this one looks like it’s in good condition inside, at least in the back. That same Dodge A108 brochure touts the 10 feet of flat storage space in these vans and up to 14 feet with the passenger seat removed.
The seller doesn’t show the engine under the “doghouse”, but they say it’s a six-cylinder. I’m assuming it’s a 225-cu.in. OHV slant-six, although, I believe a 170 and 198 slant-six would have also been available during the run of these vans. According to Allpar, “The Standard Catalog of American Light-Duty Trucks claims that the 426 Wedge was also optional in the vans.” Wow! The 225 tower-of-power should have 145 horsepower and the seller says it has a charging issue. I could probably change the alternator in my sleep on this thing, as most readers could. This van has a three-on-the-tree manual and with some sprucing up inside, fixing a few dents, and troubleshooting the usual (hoses, fluids, belts, tune-up, tires, brakes, suspension, u-joints, etc.) this could be a fun project for $2,000. Have any of you owned an A-Series Dodge van? How would you bring this one back?
I would get it running and driving safe add says it has a charging system issue that would need Addressed I might look into fuel injection options but otherwise keep it stock, I know where I get a parts one that’s missing its engine and transmission if I needed some other stuff
I’ve always loved these vans although with the windows this appears to be a work van. If I bought it I would go full on 1970,s. Id black out all the side windows behind the front doors and the rear windows do the body work and do a nice multi color psychedelic paint job. Inside panel the walls and shag carpet on the floor. A sofa in the back that converts into a bed. Oh yeah a great stereo and multi speakers. Do all the mechanicals. Then travel the country hippy style. To the seller GLWTS. To the buyer do it up your way and enjoy it.
My ’69 A-100 (back in the glory days!) 340/727, custom touches, out of action for the past 20? years! I really want/need to restore it!! :-)
Wow!! Very nice!! And a 340 you say? That must have been very quick.
The 198 inch six came out in 1970. Such a silly move, ingenuous as well. I am certain it cost the exact same amount to produce as the 170 or the 225. A few years later the dropped it and made the 225 standard. Just an idiot accounting office move to give you less if you paid a few bucks less, even though it cost them nothing to offer the 225 at the same price. I have always been angered by that.
198 came out in 1970.
I’d be tempted to pint the van like this!
C’mon get HAPPYYY!!!
Does a young Susan Dey come with it?
Shirley Jones is lookin’ pretty good right about now.
The author is way too kind in his uses, but we all know, anyone that didn’t get along with their old man, this was a viable alternative. The custom van movement literally began with these, and a top vent was mandatory. They got the name “shaggin’ wagons” but not sure how much actual “shaggin'” went on, it was mostly a hiding place for burnouts with “quadraphonic” sound and strobe lights. In the 60s and 70s, every municipal entity used these, and for $500, many called it home.
The vehicle itself is probably the worst engineered vehicle, vans only went up from here. I had a friend with a no window van like this, it was the poorest riding, noisy, hot/cold, V8 impossible to work on, poor in winter and always ran hot. They became tool sheds out back for a reason.
I have to disagree w/ you Howard. I bought mine from the original owner. The doghouse around the engine was completely removable, making it possible to easily work on the engine inside the van. Mine had all of the factory belly pans/insulation, so overheating/noise wasn’t a problem. I rescued some friends during an ice storm w/o deflating the tires and had no problems driving. The picture shows my installing the 340 engine. These were MY experiences, maybe your friend’s van wasn’t in as good condition.
Reminds me of the crop dusting van in “Charley Varrick – The Last of the Independents” (1973), directed by Don Siegel. The grumpy looking van. Walter Matthau and Andy Robinson drove the 90in wheelbase model, thought.
Wonder what those seats are out of? I’m looking for high-backs like those for my Econoline.
Could be a bargain. Been there & done that with my pickup, so I’m lurking.