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Plaid Packmule: 1979 Champion Trans-Van

Let’s see a show of hands for those of you who had a pair of plaid pants the same color as this 1979 Champion Trans-Van. Ha, I thought so, quite a few of you. I don’t know if AMXBrian did or not but he found this one and sent it in, thanks! This plaid RV (I never thought I’d say that) is on Craigslist and there’s no need to put it on the CL archive as there is just this one photo, sadly. I know, there are no interior photos of a camper that’s listed for sale. THERE ARE NO INTERIOR PHOTOS OF A CAMPER THAT’S LISTED FOR SALE! Hopefully by looking at this one photo and knowing the price, a seemingly-reasonable $1,700, any potential buyers will have enough info to at least get in touch with the seller for more photos and info.

This is not the TransVan, or Trans-Van, that’s for sale, but this is more of what it would have looked like. The seller hasn’t provided much info on the plaid Trans-Van that’s for sale other than “Unfortunately I can’t finish what I started. The van runs drives and stops but the interior and exterior need work text or email with any questions.” Since there is so little information about them even on the ol’ interwebs, as they say, here’s a YouTube video of a crash test of a 1979 Champion Trans-Van on a Dodge chassis by the NHTSA (National Highway Transportation Safety Administration). The crash test starts around 2:40 into the video. There isn’t much info on these vans out there other than they were made by Champion Motorhomes, one of the biggest makers of RVs and being on a van chassis they were a Class B motorhome. Most of them were on a Dodge Chassis but there were also Chevy and Ford versions as well. Is $1,700 worth a gamble on this plaid packmule?

Comments

  1. Avatar chad

    RI is still pretty depressed economicly even 10 yrs in…
    17, 19 & 21 ft on these, which 1?
    Lotta smoke there~

    Like 0
  2. Avatar JW

    I wanted one to pull a car trailer with the Mustang behind it but the wife said no to anymore camping now that the boys are grown and out of the house.

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  3. Avatar Mark

    I was sure to put holes in the knees of those pants as quickly as I could.

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  4. Avatar Beatnik Bedouin

    That colour scheme would be ideal for a soft-serve ice cream biz (which is my polite way of saying, “No thanks…”).

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  5. Avatar Ikey Heyman Member

    It’s hard to think of a vehicle I could want less than this.

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  6. Avatar Mike

    Seller states: “Unfortunately I can’t finish what I started”. So you want me to pay you for it and finish running it into the ground? No thanks…

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  7. Avatar Rube Goldberg Member

    Looks like the ol’ 360 seen better days. Probably a couple empty bottles of Lucas oil treatment( formally known as STP) under the seat. Again, monster truck show,,,
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Gre6MVs7M

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  8. Avatar AF

    No offense but…trash. Go ahead and scrap

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  9. Avatar Rabbit

    Mister Tarlek?…Paging Mister Tarlek?…Your van is ready at the Service Counter…..

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  10. Avatar Alexander Member

    A still photo of a running vehicle. Well now I’ve seen it all…and a white cloud to tell us everything we need to know about the condition of the motor.

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  11. Avatar sluggo

    In Europe they had some weird looking transport vans for race teams, JPS aka John Player Special Norton Factory race team had a couple versions of really odd looking space ship transporters, Seen a few others. In old race pictures sometimes would see US versions as well,. Evel Kneivel had some weird road trip rigs in his time. It is what it is.

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  12. Avatar Mark

    The antennae on the top, the clever use of plaid and the American flag….don’t be fooled guys, all a simple ruse to hide the sophisticated espionage this beast is capable of. The Google Earth camera cars are child’s play compared to this thing. My local news said they are interested in the story….one of those live, local, latebreaking deals….

    Like 0
  13. Avatar sluggo

    EM50 UAV, (Urban Assault vehicle)
    Where is your Sergeant??
    “Blown up Sir!, Thats a fact Jack!”

    Like 0
  14. Avatar Jeff

    I’ve been looking for one of these for a long time (not like the POS for sale, but the example of what one should look like) They have all been: 1) trashed as pictured here, 2) all the way across the country or 3) in good shape but way too much $$$. Sometimes both 1 & 3. Finally found an ’89 Dodge Xplorer, but I’d still love to find a decent, reasonably priced Trans Van.

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  15. Avatar Todd Fitch Staff

    Love the plaid, but I’d stopped wearing it by the time this van hit the road. I thought these things were like Instant Cool when they were new. What’s hipper than a self-contained mobile party pad? I can only imagine that the interior must be a total crime scene. If this thing was in my next-door neighbor’s yard I couldn’t help but play the “What if?” game. Nice one, Scotty!

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    Scotty.

    if you know anyone who wore loud plaid pants……well I…..um…um…..

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Chebby Member

    I’ve always hated these Trans Vans…dual rear wheels, yet you can’t stand upright in the camper section. What’s the point. Even for free this one looks like trouble.

    Like 0
  18. Avatar PLMBRDON

    Would look great with Gravedigger parked on top of it.

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Wes

    Wants to go to the scrap yard under its own power. Respectable

    Like 0

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