As many auto buyers shifted their focus towards economy and improved gas mileage in the late seventies, downsizing was gaining popularity in the industry during this time, with several models seeing a significant reduction in both size and weight from their previous designs. However, not everyone was ready to conform, and this Dodge van must have looked like a giant on the roads for the period, especially since it features the extended rear section. Among the B-Series varieties were the passenger-friendly Sportsman, along with the cargo hauler Tradesman, such as this 1978 model B200 here on the Burns Auction site. Bidding doesn’t start until August 6th, but when that day arrives, $5 will be the opening amount. It’s important to note that an 18.5% buyer’s premium will also be added, so don’t forget to take that into consideration while deciding how much you’re willing to spend here. Pickup will be in Sugar Grove, Ohio.
Even by today’s standards, this one still looks huge, with the Maxivan option here adding about 18 extra inches behind the rear wheel section. The story goes that the van’s owner has passed away, but the seller mentions that it has been stored inside for quite some time, although the exterior is showing some rust on the sheet metal. The panel deterioration doesn’t appear extreme, and I’m guessing an average bodyman could probably adequately make the needed repairs outside. Another possibility is to just drive this one as-is, but a fresh paint job with a few custom touches would certainly make this van stand out, perhaps in a more exciting color. Changing the mirrors for something less industrial would also be a favorable swap.
While the Tradesman was marketed as more of a cargo mover, this one’s received a few custom touches on the inside, with some pretty seventies-looking carpet covering the floors in both the front and rear. That’s also an old-school phone near the driver’s seat, and the Stereo with cassette deck isn’t a recent installation either, so the interior mods appear to have been made a long time ago. The cabin area would benefit from some refreshing and modernization, but it’s also probably OK without much attention if you’re just seeking something nostalgic to drive around or move large items.
The 318 V8 is said to turn over freely, but there’s no mention that it will currently start and run, so some mechanical work will probably be needed on the engine. No word is given as to the state of the automatic transmission. I’m always grateful when a seller provides at least one photo from the underside, and several different angles are shown from down below, which seem to indicate that there are no major structural issues with the frame or platform components. What would you do with this 1978 Dodge B200 Tradesman? Is this one better left as a utilitarian van, or start over and transform it into something custom and eye-catching?
Nice vans the Tradesmans.
Seems like a decent Dodge van that has survived! Put on some period correct mag rims and clean up the inside a little more and you can relive the 1970’s again!
Well if you’re going to live in it. The bigger the better
Had the 1974 version of this in university in robin’s egg blue, bought it for $1100. It was a daily driver, tow vehicle, summer job van. 318 single barrel! It was near impossible to kill, and it never failed to amaze me how easy it was to drift it on the snowy roads. Just a great machine.
best
bt
Chrysler never built a 318 one barrel.
MOPAR Joe, if you say so. It was a long time ago, like around 40 years. I am pretty sure i was a single barrel, but……
bt
“Down by the River”
We had two different types of the Tradesman for a company vehicle. Both were very susceptible to drifting out of the lane In side winds. Increasing the capacity by adding a box at the back behind the axle made them even more unstable. Constant maintenance headaches typical of 60’s -70’s Chrysler production.
Put thousands and thousands of miles on a ‘77 maxi with full length expanded metal roof rack, bulkhead interior 360/torqueflight chrome wagon wheels!
Loaded to the hilt almost every work day
Loved that van…
Only replace the trans once over the 10 years I drove that beast…
1982-1992 in Phoenix AZ
With no working A/C either!
Boss was cheap
Lol
I just sold my 72′ Sportsman Maxie, I bought new, $5,800 in 72′. Rust killed it at the drip. but it made it all through my family growing up. A GREAT family vehicle. Don’t count on getting any good fuel milage, but it does have plenty room for all needs.
Starting in ’78 and through the 80s, almost all the carpet stores used these extended Dodge vans. You could close the doors on a standard household carpet roll. Ford Supervans were longer overall but had a shorter cargo bay, the difference being their longer hoods.
Looks like a 300 to me.
I had a B300 (One ton) 8 lugs. This van has T/A’s, which are mostly 15 inch, not 16 as the B300 were. I had some special rims made for mine, that were 15 inch, 8 lug (US Indy) and ran T/A’s, 50’s. I sure do miss them, when I took my van to the junk yard 5 years ago. The rear end on this van should be a 8 3/4, as what the B200 were, unless it was a HD option.
Says 200 on the door