One of the fads in automotive history I wish would make a comeback is the van craze, which started to become noteworthy in the early seventies and flourished until around the mid-eighties. Customizing a van was once considered a form of expressionism, with levels ranging from a few small personal touches to rolling works of art, as well as vehicles primarily functioning as mini party buses. This 1983 Dodge Ram conversion van here on eBay is somewhat tranquil compared to many, but it was tastefully modified when new and still presents well all these decades later. It’s located in Moreno Valley, California, and there’s already been quite a bit of activity, with 42 bids driving the high bid to $7,500 so far.
The seller says that all the uniqueness seen here was achieved when the van was new, including the exterior, with the custom paint and finish dating back to that period. He’s also upfront about letting potential buyers know this one’s not quite perfect, pointing out a bit of corrosion around the rear roof rails. However, it seems to be a fairly minor issue, and the rest of the sheet metal gets a clean bill of health. This cool cruiser also sports Cragar S/S mags all the way around, which were popular on vans and muscle cars back in the day, fitted with a set of Cooper Cobra white letter tires.
Stepping inside, one quickly realizes this is the exact opposite of a party van that’s spent its life heading to music festivals with open containers spilled everywhere. Passengers here are treated to a high-level of luxury, with a couple of comfortable swivel seats in the back, a stationary mattress, and even a small sink with a refrigerator underneath. The front occupants relax in captain’s chairs, with a stylish game table serving as the centerpiece that sort of unites all of the commuters together, no matter where they’re sitting.
Though the owner provides a good selection of photos showing almost every area, one that’s missing is a picture from the top side of the engine, which is said to be the tried-and-true 318 V8. Thankfully, we do get a glimpse from underneath, with the bottom components appearing nice and dry. This one is reported to start easily, run strong, and drive well, with the mileage listed as 116,000. This 1983 Dodge Van seems to have plenty to get excited about, and I’m feeling it probably has a lot of fun travel time left to offer the future owner. What do you think?
Stephens if the van is rockin’ 🎶 🛌 ….