Custom 1970s vans are hot right now but we don’t see too many second-generation Ford E-Series vans like this custom 1972 Ford E200. This van can be found on Craigslist, or here on the CL archive, and it’s located in Post Falls, Idaho. The seller has it listed for $6,500. Thanks to Harlan B. for sending in this great looking van!
Ford’s second longest-running vehicle is the E-Series van after their F-Series pickups. That’s pretty impressive given that it has been almost six-decades now since the first one rolled off the line in 1960. Finally, something older than I am! The seller has, believe it or not, only provided one exterior photo of this entire van. I know, but hey, that’s getting to be more common than not these days for some reason. If anyone knows the reason, please clue us in. You can probably guess that there are no engine photos but presumably it has Ford’s 302 V8 since that was the only one available and the seller mentions that it has a V8 which was rebuilt 15,000 miles ago.
The interior is shown in a few photos, or at least bits and pieces of the interior are shown, and what is shown looks super cool and super nice (Ohhhh yaaaaa, I’m from the upper-Midwest, how did’ja know, eh?). I had carpet on the ceiling of my vans but I never had fancy padded vinyl, this van looks like it’s quite a pleasure palace. And, a sunroof! I WISH WE COULD SEE A PHOTO OF IT FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD. On a good note, this van “is mechanically sound and has had thousands spent on the drive train including a rebuilt engine 15000 miles ago. Transmission, suspension, brakes have all been done recently.”
This van “was customized with a camper conversion in 1974. This van is in amazing condition and has always been stored in a heated garage. Never winter driven. The paint was done in 1977 and still shows very well.” It looks a bit dated inside now, and not in a cool, funky, hippy, trendy, unusual way that’s so popular now. The crazier the better, but this one just looks dated, sort of like a late-70s high school graduation photo. Those materials can be changed, of course, if the next owner wants to add a bit of pizzazz to match the nice exterior look. With just one exterior photo do you have enough info to jump on this good looking custom van?
Wow. With most of these early “hippie” vans you would want to bring in a hazmat team to do the interior disassembly. This one actually looks presentable and liveable! I’m amazed at the overall condition. Looks like a slice of history and a steal if this is what someone wants.
This was converted professionally into a camper van directly out of the factory. So it’s not a home made, or even professional “sin bin.”
Even though, these suffered all the hassles of these “sit over the steer axle” vans, I think Ford was the best. Maybe not the nicest, but clearly the most dependable. Drove many of this era Ford pickups,( which all the mechanics are on these) and couldn’t kill them. Personally, I couldn’t justify spending that on this, but for someone traveling, and doesn’t want to drive a barge around, this can’t be beat. Just don’t go in the snow. Pretty helpless.
My dad had one of these, 302/ automatic. Windows all around, great truck. Very useful. Loved it. We were building a house up in northern Wisconsin at the time and seriously overloaded the thing with drywall and building supplies we hauled from Chicago. It never complained.
In the 80’s I had a early Ford window van, yes very dependable and I flipped it to my brother inlaw who was a carpenter who used it for many years as his work truck. This one is pretty nice for it’s age.
Bring an ultraviolet light for the interior when meeting with the seller to knock an additional grand off it.
It seems odd they would use a 3/4 ton van for this.
The ride is much harsher on the 3/4 ton.
An E-200 is not a 3/4 ton van. It is more like a heavy 1/2 ton. An E-200 still uses 15 inch wheels that are 5 lug. This only applies to these older vans. Once the body style changed in 1975 Ford then went to the E-150, E-250 and E-350 models. Those are 1/2. 3/4, and 1 ton vehicles.
Shoot, if I was in the market for a rock climbing/mountain biking/trail running rig to live on, this would be it! And all for $6,500? SIGN ME UP!!!
love it , if it was closer it would be in my garage , Dad had two of these I had one , never let us down 180 k on mine when I sold it
Just to add some prospective to the price, I recently bought a ‘77 Dodge ‘shorty’ and between purchase price, body work, paint and interior, exterior and interior, I’ll be in the $12k range. So basically half of what I’m spending buys you this great survivor van.
Sweet looking van! I’ve always loved this generation Ford Econoline van. Given its condition, I think $6500 is worth the money for a well maintained 70s survivor. I’d buy it if I were in the market for one.
The sunroof is clearly visible in photo 3
My old man had a brand new 1973 Ford Econoline E200 for his business. 302 and a 3 speed stick. Believe it or not it had a manual choke! I bought a brand new 1974 leftover E300 and it had an automatic choke. It also had a dipstick that I kid you not, was six feet long. Here it is out in a blizzard the first year I owned it: boy the QC was not all there on mine; the driver’s door was mis-stamped and hard to shut, the windshield gasket had a major leak of water at the top.
well, at least it was allegedly stored in a “heated garage”. why do so many junkers advertise that? I have two vintage vehicles parked in my garage, which is definitely not either heated or climate controlled. Does that reduce the rust or rot or something like that?