This 1976 Ford Econoline van is an impressive survivor, and the seller is just the second owner after buying it from his friends who owned and stored it since new. It remains in highly original condition with low miles and shows lots of period-correct touches as it relates to the interior. You’ll find it here on eBay where bidding is just over $5K and the reserve remains unmet.
There’s under 60,000 original miles on this bright orange “Chateau” edition, which comes well optioned with the following equipment: power steering, AC, cruise, sunroof, dual tanks, and an 8-track stereo. It’s also equipped with the venerable 460 motor and the seller says it runs quite well, but it could use new tires. It’s just done the occasional summer drive and parade circuit for the last several years after retiring from vacation duty.
The seller’s friends converted the interior when the van was nearly new and proceeded to use it for U.S. tours. The inside is both comfortable and typical, owing to its fur-lined doors and mood lighting. I’m not sure whether the captain’s chairs in the rear convert to beds, which would sure be ideal for a van used to tour the country. While the Harley Davidson and skull graphics are a matter of personal preference, the inside is at least period-correct.
The cleanliness of the interior continues up front, where the bucket seats and woodgrain dash all appear quite nice. These conversion vans rarely lead gentle lives, often falling into the category of band vehicles or tired campers, and neither group is known for its ability to preserve survivors like this. The seller notes he couldn’t bring himself to use this as a hunting rig, and we’re glad he didn’t. Would you preserve it as-is or modernize the interior?
Wow, they optioned this one out just right. If had the room for it, I’d catch myself driving it on a lot of nice days even when I didn’t have to carry people or big things. Another example of something that should be preserved for future generations, simply because so few were preserved. I grew up riding in vans & would love to have one of the vans my family owned in that era, preserved in that condition.
The only things I’d change…would be the infotainment system…and the shag carpet. There’d still be enough 70’s vibe after those mods.( imo)
What’s wrong with the 8-track player?
Ga-chunk…
Nice old artifact, but I would definitely want to detail the interior with black light in hand….
Nice van, but that 460 will pass everything but a gas station. I’m looking for the bumpersticker that says- If this Van’s a rockin’, don’t bother Knockin’……
Good luck to the new owner!!!
Gas, grass or ass, nobody rides for free!
Don’t laugh, your daughter may be in here!
Keep on truckin’!
Aah, the ’70’s!
There’s a number of your desired bumper stickers on Ebay; for some reason they are shipped from Australia. I’m sure there are sources somewhere in the US.
How about this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/IF-THIS-VAN-IS-A-ROCKIN-DONT-COME-A-KNOCKIN-LICENSE-PLATE-FRAME-CUSTOM-CHEVY/362078096721?hash=item544d894d51%3Ag%3AR3oAAOSwkklZnHRn&_sacat=0&_nkw=if+this+vans+a+knockin&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=m570.l1313
Nice looking survivor. Dad had a Club Wagon this vintage and it was great truck from what i remember. I remember it having radiator/cooling issues every now and then with the 351W, but never any other problems. I’m a GM/Chevy guy in general, but props to Ford trucks. Seems like Ford always had better paint, sound systems, and trim. BUT, I’d say as the old adage says, a Chevy will run ragged while others have stopped running period. LOL, why am I a Chevy guy again?
I had one for 6 mos but was upgraded to a
Craig “Powerplay” Cassette Player w/2 Jensen 6×9’s facing the front from the U shaped Couch (which converted to a bed)
Unfortunately, it was demolished leaving DC after a 3 week “1776 Bi Centennial Celebrations” along the East Coast. Myself, wife and newborn were all ok but always missed my ‘86 Ford Van and would like another!
I own a 1976 Econoline that was purchased new with a special order DSO number to use a long wheelbase Econoline instead of a short wheelbase version. I purchased it from the original owner in 2011 with 93,000 original miles. Ford called them Cruising Vans back in 1976 and 1977. Basically you could buy your custom hippie van right off the lot. I took pictures but I could not handle the shag carpet. So I removed everything to restore it. Everything will be put back period correct except for the shag carpet and a bed/couch combo.Mine has tinted glass, factory captains chairs, Chateau grille, Chateau dash trim, luggage rack, factory A/C front and rear. It is propelled by a 351W with a C-6 automatic. Runs and drives beautiful but it now has 185,000 miles on it so its time to restore it. It was my daily driver until a month ago when I parked it to start the body off restoration. Oh yes, for some reason Ford didn’t use a Chateau trim level for the Cruising Vans. They used the mid-line Custom trim level and then added Chateau elements. Go figure.
wish they still made a van, liked the motor between the seats in mine.
Hard to work on “1/2 in 1/2 out” ones.
Hope the new 1s R ‘all the way out’.
fare as I know that orange color did not come out until 1978 , I had bought a 77 and wished I had waited . I ended up painting mine orange in 79 , long box e 150.
As far a I know you are correct about the color. There was however a way to go about changing the non-stock color. You could do a DSO. (Dealer Special Order) My 1976 was done that way to get midnight blue instead of the Cruising Van graphics package that consisted of two tone paint, argent bumpers and stripes.
I now own this 76 Ford van and the color code on the vin is the orange paint. Now just starting the new interior couldn’t do the old shag carpet, it was turning to dust and powder. The 8 track now works great,
I did own a 1979 ford van in orange but the company called it persimmon a different shade of orange.
Thanks
Art
That’s a good observstion about the color. There was however a way to change colors. Using Fords DSO (Dealer Special Order) you could sometimes change or add options, including colors. My 1976 was used for that to get a solid color midnight blue instead of the Cruising Van graphics and colors.
I like the orange, would update the interior And try a Gear Vendors overdrive and an EFI conversion to make it drivable.