Full-size vans are part of the strong retro craze happening in the classic vehicle market. What once was groovy is now retro-cool and baby boomers are reliving their youth through vintage vans, campers, cars, trucks, and motorcycles. This GMC Vandura is from 1975 and looks like a pretty solid project. It can be found here on eBay with a buy-it-now price of $4,250. Located in Escondido, California, based on the lack of rust, I would say this van may have spent a majority of its life in The Golden State. Take a closer look at this Vandura!
The interior looks pretty clean. Obviously, the plastic parts are sun-baked and faded, but overall, it doesn’t look bad at all. The cargo area looks just as clean as the front. There are a spare dash cover and other miscellaneous parts, which is a bonus! Since there’s no carpet, cabinets, or other furnishings, this one is a blank slate. What would you do in the cargo area to make it your own?
The engine is a 250 cubic inch straight-six that the seller says needs a little tuning but it runs, drives, and stops. The transmission is a manual on the column and the seller says they mainly use it on the weekends.
Obviously, there are a couple of big dings in the back and on the passenger side, but overall, you have to admire the original condition of this van. I’m sure it will find a happy home with a new owner who will enjoy taking their friends to the beach or camping. Do you have any adventure stories in a van similar to this?
Boy, do I ever, ( whole crowd rolling eyes) The farm I lived on in Wisconsin, the guy had a van just like this, only a V8. It, naturally, being a farm truck, was in deplorable condition, but still ran and drove relatively well, a testament to the van itself. It rattled and shook, sucked gas, all over the road,( I took the engine cover off once, to change the air filter, which was black, and never could get that stupid engine cover back on right) but for what it was intended, and no, not a “shaggin’ wagon”, but a truck for carrying things inside, it worked.
Now, years ago, after my divorce, I did shack up with a woman that had a custom van like this, but that’s a story for a different time,,,if ever.
Could be a cool camper van. Just have to make it reliable.
A lot of my best childhood memories were in a van like this. My parents bought a 1976 Chevy van that was only a few years old then. They installed some long side windows and finishes the interior with wood panelling, carpet and a diner style table at the back that folded down to a bed. We drove in that thing everywhere including a two a trip across Canada. We stil tell stories about the games we would come up with to kill the time. Wish I had it now!!