You don’t see very many of them cruising the streets today, but for those who grew up during the hippie generation, a party van was once a cultural icon back in the sixties and seventies, especially those with custom paint jobs and other mods that reflected their owner’s state of mind for the times.  When it came to the number of alterations a van received, this 1967 Ford Econoline here on eBay was active in a counter-culture period when more was better, and the owner is hoping someone will appreciate what this one represents and get it back on the road again.  It’s located in Montevallo, Alabama, with the high bid only up to $1,500 so far.

The seller reports that this van was transformed during the early to mid-seventies and boasts that it hasn’t been redone or modernized, calling it a surviving piece of Americana from the bohemian era.  One option mentioned is to keep the nostalgic look without any cosmetic improvements outside, which isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but I think a better one would be to try to maintain the cool vibe and bring the exterior to a higher level.  Those teardrop windows are classic for a vintage custom van, so I’d certainly retain those, but I’d also probably smooth out the body and repaint it in a similar color with some fun highlights here and there.  I’m envisioning a set of Cragar S/S mags and maybe some white-letter tires as well.

I’m guessing the interior was fairly cool a few decades ago, but it’s weathered now and needs a full refresh.  I was expecting some cool seating throughout, but it turns out there’s only half a seat left, and it’s said a mattress was previously in the rear area, which I’m thankful is no longer there.  One of those popular aftermarket sunroofs from the seventies is on top, and if it’s not leaking, that might be worth preserving for the retro feel.

The base engine for the Econoline in ’67 was a 170 cubic-inch inline-six, and that’s what is under the cover here.  Unfortunately, it’s locked up, so it might make more sense to install something different and more powerful instead.  One groovy feature is the transmission, as it’s a manual with a three-on-the-tree shifter, so that setup is probably worth keeping regardless of what happens with the engine.  As long as the price remains reasonable, this seems like a fun van to get running and make some improvements on.  What would you do with this 1967 Ford Econoline?