It is said that Carolina parakeets were once one of the predominant bird species in America.  Large flocks of the birds inhabited swamps and old growth forests ranging from Florida to New England and west to Colorado.  Yet these incredibly common birds passed into extinction in a relatively short period of time.  The same could be said about work vans from the seventies.  Reader Ian C. has found for us one of the last short work vans that once roamed the streets of America in staggering numbers.  This 1972 Ford Econoline van, found on craigslist in Greensboro, North Carolina, is in relativity good condition for such a vehicle.  At an asking price of $1,500, this van could fill a hole in the lineup of your local car show or provide you with a versatile collectible vehicle.

For those of you born recently, vans like this one were bought by the hundreds of thousands by telephone companies and other service providers in cities and towns across America.  Fleets of these vans would fan out across the cities and towns early in the morning, and were so common they practically faded into the landscape.  After a few years of dutiful service, they were auctioned or sold off to the local citizens for a myriad of uses.  Most commonly, vans like this one led a second life as the ride of your local painter, electrician, or plumber.  Purchased cheap, they provided excellent and economical service to their new masters.  The drivetrains were reliable, parts were cheap, and they were easy to work on.

As time wore on, vans like this were replaced by pickup trucks, larger vans, and the dreaded minivan.  The main reason was that telephone companies no longer needed so many of them.  Networks became more reliable as solid state components became the norm.  Secondhand buyers had to find another way to cart their tools and parts around.  The ones that survived either were driven into the ground and dumped in junkyards or were used as cheap but unsightly storage in rural areas.

Every once in a while you see a van like this.  A guy I work with has one that he uses to haul his hang glider and camp out of.  Dan’s van is in similar condition to the one we see here, but he painted his with white house paint instead of the black we see on this van.  On the rare occasions he drives it to work, I always walk over to look at it and see how it is holding up.  My father had a similar van for a house painting gig.  I know all of you will think I am crazy for saying this, but Dan’s van smells and looks just like the one my father had.  It’s like a trip back in time.  Too bad Dan’s wife doesn’t love it as much as he does.  The wiring in the dash once caught on fire after some tinkering, and she was angry with him for putting the fire out!

After some educated guesses based on Ford truck data found across the internet, the data plate tells us a little more than the ad does.  Assembled in Lorain, Ohio, this van has a 105 inch wheelbase, and was equipped with a 240 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine and an automatic transmission.  The engine put out just 125 horsepower, and that power was routed through a standard 3.50 rear end.  Interestingly, there appears to be no stamp for the color.  Perhaps this was normal for fleet vehicles that might receive a second color to match a particular company color scheme.

The exterior of the van is fairly rust free considering the likely fact that it has sat outside for a majority of its life.  Rust can be seen behind the rear wheels, in the bottom of the doors, and in a few areas here and there.  Otherwise, it is very solid and useable.  Inside, the interior could use some cleaning and refreshing.  The dash is complete, but needs to be repainted.  The vinyl seats are in good shape, as is the “doghouse” over the engine.  The crumbling bucket full of wonder chemicals might be a problem.  Are they filled with transmission stop leak?  If anyone can identify what they are, please tell us in the comments.

A look from the rear of the cargo area shows the usual clutter that such an open space can attract.  Later model Ford hubcaps and a whole grille and headlight assembly can be seen inhabiting the pile.  We can also see that someone has tried to put cheap paneling up on one side.  The coat hanger might be a sign that this van might have been lived in or camped out of at one time.  On the passenger side, however, I think the seat is out of another vehicle. I just don’t remember seeing such a seat in one of these vans.

Overall, this van has a lot going for it.  They are rare as those proverbial hen’s teeth we keep hearing about.  This rarity belies their production numbers.  Vans like this were an integral part of American life, but have been tossed aside like rotary phones and rabbit ear antennas.  Still, a few need to be saved to tell their important story.

Is there anyone out there that has room for this neat old van?