The Ford E-Series of vans and pickups arrived in 1961 and were commonly known as the Econoline. It’s first generation was based on the new Ford Falcon’s compact platform, modified to accept a “mid-engine” layout (the front seats were over the wheels with the engine in a “cabin” behind them). The seller’s 1962 Econoline is the cargo van version, customized with side portals and (maybe) a moonroof (hard to tell – no interior photos). It’s in Valhalla, New York, and is available here on craigslist for $12,000. Our appreciation goes to Mitchell G. for the tip!
Some variants of the E-Series were built through 2014, racking up 54 years of sales to the tune of more than eight million vehicles. The Ford Transit was the E-Series’ successor. The basic van had four doors, but other configurations were available (including a pickup). Due to the placement of the engine, only inline-6 power was offered. In 1962, that would have been either 144 or 170 cubic inches in displacement, and most came with a 3-speed manual transmission. These were stubby vehicles with a wheelbase of just 90 inches and 168 inches in length.
Seller-provided details about this van are few and the photos don’t help answer many questions. We’re told it runs, but we don’t know how well or if any mechanical mods have taken place. The odometer figure of 1,000 miles is likely just a placeholder. Some body work has been done given filler material in a few places. Is it wearing tired black paint or an old dark grey primer? If the interior has also been customized, we don’t know to what extent. At the asking price, the seller may want to beef up his/her presentation.
“If this van’s a’rockin, don’t come a’knockin”
Black light sold separately
Don’t laugh. Your daughter may be in here.
What does this have in common with a submarine?
you’ll be underwater as soon as you buy it?!!
Round portholes on the Yellow Submarine.
$12,000 is at least $9,000 to much for that thing
Remember when you could buy them for 500.00 bucks.
Pepperidge Farm remembers
And I actually did…lol
My dad traded a broken snowblower for his! It was pretty cool, an all-window extended body van with two sets of barn doors. It had served as our town’s ambulance, and when the town sold it, they used something like an angle grinder to chew off the livery.
My dad was driving back from a jobsite in Pennsylvania with three other guys when he lost controll (or fell asleep) and crashed it into a cornfield. Miraculously, all escaped injury, but it was the end of the van.
and Kris Hicks-Green, I traded a cassette deck stereo system for a ’68 Impala SS almost 50 yrs ago … those days are long gone. Nothings cheap anymore, in fact prices may fluctuate but will always go up.
But but but they dont make em anymore!
I was going to suggest maybe typo and it’s supposed to be $1200
Just to clarify because there’s no interior shots, the engine is between the seats, not behind, and the lid was often used as a very sketchy jump seat. But I imagine most of you would already know that.
Our big dog really loved that feature!
Yeah, I was sitting on the motor box, as a kid, on a winters day. My uncle had to slam on the brakes… Damn near broke my nose… Ahhh…. The good ole days…
My late brother had a super rare one with the double doors on both sides.
Another neighbor friend had the super stretch one in orange with the front end raised. As a kid, mountain roads in that thing with ole Rog driving made me nervous!!!
I pad $250 for mine in 1982, an old ’66 Bell work van with full windows. Drove it all over the place that summer after freeing up the
Sold it for $750 that fall. Loved it but not a comfortable ride with solid axles & leafs.
Now have a ’65 Econoline pickup.
This one will require a ton of body work. If anyone here buys it (worth $5k max) I can direct them to a South Jersey yard with six of these, ’62-’67.
I pad $250 for mine in 1982, an old ’66 Bell work van with full windows. Drove it all over the place that summer after freeing up the
Sold it for $750 that fall. Loved it but not a comfortable ride with solid axles & leafs.
Now have a ’65 Econoline pickup.
This one will require a ton of body work. If anyone here buys it (worth $5k max) I can direct them to a South Jersey yard with six of these, ’62-’67.
I used to drive these on the flight line. Air Force blue. Loved these vans, liked sitting right over the front wheels.
These vans were well known for the steering box to fall off the frame. I only paid 150.00 for mine an old retired Ohio bell service truck. Loved that thing cheep to drive and great to camp in. Way over priced.
The worst place for rust was the rain gutters, and no pic of them. What you can see is in good shape body wise. Way over priced.
I bought a blue 63 for $300 in 1970. Paneled the inside, built a bed, and installed a stereo. Also painted an orange Japanes type sun on each side. Drove it all over the east coast for a couple of years. It was a cop magnet, but I had a lot of fun in/with it. Never got busted but…..
From my days working part-time at a used car lot as a kid, I recall that these vans were all straight-sixes. The larger engine, painted red, performed well and was fairly robust. But the smaller, blue, engine was problematic, often burning and leaking oil.
Had one at my shop in the’90’s for some resto, also had an older landlady! She smiled and observed ” oh ya’ I remember those” 🤗
Left everyone hanging twice! Sorry…
The king pins were frozen so however you turned the wheels, that’s where they stayed…a challenge to drive until I found an old mechanic at a Sunoco station that told me how to free them (if they could be freed):
Put a propane torch on the trunnion, connect up a lube gun. Heat it until the steel/brass bushing expand a little. Pump the gun; if it’ll free up, it’ll start taking grease.
I got lucky & got them both freed up & lubed.