The appeal of old-school 4x4s is immense, in my book, mainly because it combines two attractive qualities that should appeal to almost any enthusiast: one, older vans and trucks are enormously cool and simple machines. You get in, you drive, and account for an occasional adjustment you can make with basic hand tools. And two, the 4WD conversions of the 70s and 80s focused on ground clearance and heavy duty hardware, and not much else. This 1979 Dodge Ram Van is a Pathfinder conversion that needs some fine-tuning, and is now listed here on Facebook Marketplace.
The work done by Pathfinder was nothing short of transformative. While the recipe varied from time to time, the basic upgrades included Dana 44 axles and New Process transfer cases; custom subframe reinforcements and additional engine bracing; coil springs and dual track rods on Dodge vans; and the requisite tire and wheel upgrades. Because the OEMs didn’t want to build this model themselves but saw a market for them, they often worked with Pathfinder to provide standard warranties and financing options for customers wanting to buy one new through the dealer.
And since this was prime-time for van life in the United States, the rest of the customizing was left up to the owner. If you wanted to bring a few friends with you, captain’s chairs and a fridge made for a fine off-road adventure vehicle, but if passengers were limited to yourself or a plus one, a simple arrangement of a bed and two bucket seats – along with plenty of space for extra gear – made sense as well. I’m guessing this Dodge has been driven with a few different interior conversions throughout its lifetime. However, the seller notes it currently has no heat or A/C, and needs some further work done on its electrical systems.
The body has also seen better days, too, but it retains those awesome decals and stripes that were born from the peak of the custom van era. If the dents can be hammered out and the bumper straightened, this Dodge would look significantly better. But for an off-road rig, does it really matter? I took a trip to Iceland a few weeks ago, and vans like these are set up with massive wheels, tires, and fender flares, built for brutal off-road adventures in the snow and ice. I would love to see this Dodge exploring the unknown once its assortment of mechanical issues are figured out. The seller is asking $10,000, and thanks goes to Barn Finds reader PRA4SNW for the find.
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