These custom Dodge “hippy vans” can be trouble, as they look like a ton of fun with their period aero and graphics kits, but can also become serious projects with little financial upside. Like anything you can live in, projects like this 1974 Dodge B100 suffer not only the usual results of neglect, such as poor running or braking, but also interiors that bear the signs of inhabitation, by people, critters, and mold. This Dodge here on eBay looks the part but will need a decent amount of legwork.
The seller is quite candid about its faults (which is super refreshing, seller) noting that the Dodge will run and stop, but it doesn’t do either very well. It’s been sitting idle for years but occasionally started up. The seller further notes that the Dodge has been modified not only cosmetically but also with side pipes and a chopped suspension, giving it a fairly aggressive stance. The front part of the cabin also features ample cupholders and an aftermarket steering wheel.
Now, at first glance, this customized rear recreational area, with its fold-out couch and wood paneling, looks pretty decent. But the seller says water has unfortunately found a way in, and with the van sitting for the better of a decade outdoors, you can let your imagination run wild as to what that moisture has been able to do. The seller says the interior smells of mold, and he’d recommend gutting the shag carpeting and certainly the paneling, too.
Such is the case with vans like these: they were once someone’s pride and joy, designed to be bad-ass on the roads and a place of solitude at night (or not, depending on whether your nights were long and days spent sleeping). The Dodge does have an opening bid of $3,000 with the reserve not met, so it’s going to take more than that to bring it home – which means you better really like that paint job and stance to justify getting neck-deep in mold remediation. Is it worth it?
As vans go you could do a lot worse than this one I’d gut it out repair as required and than rebuild it to my own tastes. I’d bring the suspension back up, service the engine, brakes and I’d even repaint it. As for the broken flare I’d just repair it fiberglass is pretty easy to do. The seller is not asking a lot for this van and a cash offer would probably take it away. Sometimes it’s not about the money it’s about the ownership. We buy new cars and trucks all the time and the minute we roll them off the lot we’ve lost money. Most of us except that as a fact of life, at least with this you won’t be making $600.00 a month payments for the next 5 years. I’ve always considered that with my used car fleet that are our daily drivers how much fuel can I buy a month for the price of a car payment on a deprecating new vehicle. For the most part cars make poor investment unless your holding onto a classic or an exotic and even those are money pits that need maintaining and storing. There are much better ways to invest than cars so I never look at them in that way. JMHO.
It’s was a no-sale at $5,100+ on an earlier auction. It’s hard to say what this is worth, it seems to need the interior gutted and doesn’t run well, the brakes, tires and suspension all have issues it also has an unknown amount of rust. With all of those problems it’s probably better to wait for a different van, one that has survived in better shape, to come along.
Steve R
Kids…. That’s HIPPIE. A Hippy is a person that needs to use the “Buns of Steel” training DVD. Fer shur, right arm, outta’ state.
Thanks, DICK lol
Ohhh wow, mannnn. No charge.
We have a neighbor out here that has farmed for his 12 other brothers and sisters for decades. He looks and sounds like Tommy Chong, maaannnnn.
I have served as an interpreter for him during school board meetings and during caucuses.
You should see his picture book of Woodstock and all of the vans he’s had.
Wow, you just sent a chill down my spine! I was at Woodstock myself! How time flies! Made me realize just how old I am? Dammit boy!
When I think of a hippie van I think of a paisley covered VW bus all clapped out. This is a not something that could be put together on a commune. These took MONEY to build. Hippies typically lived off the grid and were not moneyed or materialistic. They also were all about the environment and this van does nothing for the environment.
TLDR: A van being from the 70’s does not make it a hippie van.
There was a guy here in New Mexico that had a van he built called the Iron Butterfly it had a blown 350 great looking paint, it was the ultimate van later a friend of mine bought it anyway, I had a couple of vans in the day I hope someone will at least get it running enough to enjoy it before it goes to that big commune in the sky, long live C and C
Yes, I went to high school w the builder of Iron Butterfly. One of the first real show vans w a blown small block, two radiators w 22 gallons of coolant or something like that. A model train inside a nice interior w a terriariam (sp?) A real Hinsel & Hass paint job too that got painted over.
Hey boxdin I hadn’t seen a picture of the Butterfly in a long time. I had a friend who bought it pulled the engine ( put it in a 3 window coupe ) painted it red with a grey interior, it was never the same thanks for the picture
Paint it black with a red stripe, get some gold chains to wear around your neck, and “Pity the Fool” while you smoke a cigar…..
I love that they did the photo shoot “down by the river”!