This 1976 Chevrolet G10 van has already received quite a bit of attention from the previous owner, but unfortunately, he’s now gone to the other side, so it’ll be up to the future caretaker to decide how to move forward with completing this project. The good news is this one’s running and driving, although the seller says it’s been sitting for a while. However, a 7-minute walk-around video is provided, so potential buyers will get a pretty good idea of what they’ll be taking over here.
The exterior appears to be fairly solid overall, with some yet-to-be-sanded body filler over the passenger rear wheel and a rusty rocker area on the opposite side. A new panel for the latter is included, and we get to see some good shots from underneath, with everything down below appearing solid. The previous owner welded the occupant’s side sliding door shut, giving the van a smoother look but eliminating this as a point of entry or exit, so the only way in and out is from the front or rear doors. With a little massaging here and there plus welding on that replacement rocker, I’m guessing this one will be ready for a dazzling paint job without an exhaustive amount of effort.
Stepping inside reveals a fun yet practical interior, with plenty of wood and some custom touches that are nice enough that the next driver may choose to retain many of them. This one’s got an aftermarket Stereo system in the dash, including an amp behind the passenger seat and plenty of speakers all over to deliver the tunes. Lots of storage can be had from the toolboxes, plus there’s also a compact refrigerator, but it’s large enough to hold a reasonable amount of cold beverages for you and your guests.
The standard powerplant here in ’76 was a 250 cubic-inch inline 6, but this one’s got the optional 292. The seller was told it had a rebuild by the previous owner before he passed away, and at a bare minimum, it looks like it received some excellent detailing. We get to hear it start in the video, emitting a strong when revved, although the carb is said to need some adjusting. If you’ve been in the market for a nostalgic van, this one is in Norwich, Connecticut, and seems to be at a fine starting point. It can be found here on eBay, where the no-reserve auction is presently resting at $4,225. What direction would you envision moving in when completing this project?
Great engine !
All I can think of is the Chevy van song
Most definitely. Still playing in my head
I’m not sure that a pot leaf decal would be a good idea in some locations. When I drove my custom van from Florida to California back in the 1970s after my discharge from the USAF, even though I had short hair, I wore a cowboy hat the entire trip as an extra precaution. Florida didn’t require front license plates at the time, and the state produced “Arrive Alive” front plates. Naturally, there were knockoffs saying “Arrive Stoned”. Talk about painting a target on your back…
I still have an “Arrive Stoned” plate, unmounted.
Those plates, and the “Keep on Truckin'” plates were everywhere, back in the good old days of freedom.
@ Big C: Is there a law against having a “Keep On Trucking” license plate on your vehicle? I think that expression went out of useage around the time of the death of the mullet (or was it disco?).
Why? Are you are paranoid about that phrase, too? There was a heck of a lot of freedom, back then. Like the saying goes: You had to be there.
I was stationed in Charleston SC, Navy, in those days and remember many ” Hell no, we ain’t forgetting” front plates. Nothings PC today..
Visions of CHPs dancing through my head. Especially that lonely strip of freeway in the San Fernando valley (Sylmar?) were all the cars were driving slow enough so Ponch could weave in and out of traffic during a “chase” scene.
In between house calls for mechanic work, this van has “shag wagon” written all over it!
A half decent paint job will likely exceed the purchase price of this van.
How foolish to weld the door shut. That’s why we buy these vans. Sliding no more.
Pot leaf sticker isn’t illegal, but it makes a statement that invites what I call Officer Interface Time.
When I was operating a wrecking yard the State Patrol Inspector suggested that I subscribe to Washington State Patrol Magazine. It was a good way to make brownie points with the man who held the success of my business in his hand. The first edition I received had a bumper sticker sporting a large WSP logo. Put in on my pickup. I couldn’t buy a speeding ticket. Got lots of quizzical looks from Staters trying to figure out who this bearded guy was with that bumper sticker. The magazine subscription turned out to be a great investment.
Beautiful Van to Customize at your leisure. I Had the 1995 model like this ( With the Vortex V-6 ) full factory Custom, with TV, electric folding couch, 4 Captain Chairs, and lots of elbow grease keeping the Emerald Green Paint shining. Sad thing was I went on trip, while I was gone the now ex let her sister take it and run off on a Crack Binge, when I got back the van was totaled when she hit another car head on. Sadly the Automobile industry no longer makes Van’s like these for pleasure, only work transports !
Custom wheel well flares, chin spoiler, visor over the windshield, chrome vents over the windows, side pipes, custom paint, a nice mural, better interior than what’s presently there, nice Cragar SS rims on some nice BF Goodrich rubber. Oh and a kick ass stereo and a rack on the roof for surf boards
Are you building a time machine?
yeah, i ‘went the other way’ & made cheb as incognito as possible. Wish my ’68 (newest vehicle I ever owned, 2 y/o) had this motor. Today I cherish the 4.9…
Love the ‘no dor’ model (& the 8dor). I’d put on ladder racks or sompin to decrease attention. The rest is fine (mine was 1/2 home, 1/2 wrk vehicle – w/bed to easily slide out of the way. Other accouterments placed behind frnt seats, even w/back of motor – there still were still FC style vehicles, so not intrusive). Great rig for some1 just into the twentysomethings.