Over the years, some seriously cool vans have come out of the woodwork that were once used for promotional purposes. Denim manufacturers, beverage companies, and adventure products all used the slab sides of 70s and 80s vans for advertising purposes along with carrying whatever product they wanted to share with consumers. In the case of this 1991 Chevrolet G20, it wears all the markings of being a genuine promotional vehicle for Mongoose BMX bikes, and I have to believe it’s the genuine article. Find it here on eBay for $5,500 or best offer.
In van culture, finding an original promotion van is a big deal. And by that I mean it wasn’t just made to look authentic, which can happen quite easily. It’s the same thing in the air-cooled VW world, where old Buses were used throughout Europe for every kind of company, from behemoths like Coca-Cola to the local candy shop. The fact that these graphics seem genuinely faded and worn suggests to me this van did duty as an official vehicle of the Mongoose bicycle company, and there’s even a Johnny Lighting scale model that looks just like it.
The turbine wheels, front air dam, fog lights, and exhaust tip are all additional clues that this G20 was gussied up to go on tour. And while I’m not automotive archaeologist, everything on this Chevy looks to have faded in exactly the same fashion and at the same time. You’d be hard pressed to convince me that this van was faked with Mongoose livery that was carefully manufactured to look old. The interior is in good shape, with a consistent color pattern that shows blue plastics and red seating surfaces, which seems to match the Mongoose branding.
What I’d love to find are photos showing the G20 with the racks or other components that helped ferry BMX bikes from various shows and events. There had to be a component here that accounted for storing and displaying products. Was there a famous BMX rider who used to drive the van? Or was it simply a marketing tool to be parked at regional shows? Hard to say, but regardless, the asking price seems downright reasonable for a promotional van with genuine provenance. It still runs and drives, too! Do any of you recall seeing a Mongoose van like this one in the early 90s?
Too cool. Our buddies all road BMXs growing up in the 80s. Mongoose was a good one. Up North here Norcos were popular. Some other top names Kuwahara, Redline, Diamond Back, GT. Oakley grips, Dia-Compe brakes. 😎
Cool van. I think this was more likely a sponsored bmx bike racer. The stickers and interior look like something someone used to travel and sleep in. But I could be wrong, that stuff could have been added.
Some people put SS badges on any Chevy grill.
Absolutely not the real deal. That was a late ’70s early 80 graphic that was used on first promotional materials including the factory vans in 1977. Nowhere on it does it say it’s a factory team vehicle. If you decide you want to buy it, buy it for what the van is worth because the graphics on it or nothing but a fan tribute.
No way it’s an original Team Mongoose van…it’s ten years too new. I raced for a factory team back in the day and, I can assure you, this was not a van anyone was driving back then. By 1991, things had changed quite a bit in the world of BMX racing. It’s possible, as Mongoose did still have a team in 1991 but, this is not an original team van from the heyday of the sport…which was the late ’70’s through the mid-’80’s.