This is either the coolest or creepiest van ever! It was modified for undercover police surveillance work and still retains all of its special features. From the outside, you’d never guess that it was loaded with surveillance equipment (obviously the point) but is a bit strange for a regular person to have a need for. I’ll let Matt F tell you a bit more about this van below. If you’d love to have this unusual Tradesman, you can find it here on craigslist in San Mateo, California with an asking of $4,000 or best offer.
From Matt – This 1978 Tradesman 200 Van has seen just 73k original miles. It was a former undercover police van from the Central Valley. It’s a basic cargo van that has been converted for surveillance duty and still features most, if not all, of it’s original equipment. It’s also equipped with a 318 cid V8 with a 727 automatic. It runs and drives but could benefit from a tune-up. It is chock full of surprises and cool modifications including: a CB radio, police band radio/scanner, blackout windows, custom AC designed to run off a few deep cycle marine batteries, a door to separate the cab from the rear of the vehicle, and best of all… a periscope that comes out of the vent. Everything seems to work on it, but I haven’t done much driving in it since it is not currently registered or insured. I have another one already, and with two jobs, and school, I don’t have a lot of free time to convert a second van. I may consider trades as well.
Some features, like the AC system and CB radio would be sweet to have in any van, just imagine how nice it will make tailgating! Other features, like the workbench and pass-through hole in the floor, could be done away with. As for the periscope, it’s probably the coolest part of this van but doesn’t serve much of a purpose, other than taking up headroom, for the average vanner. It would certainly make for an interesting conversation piece and could be put back to work if you are a PI. So, would you leave the interior as is or would you get rid of the surveillance equipment?
This really is an interesting van and could be turned into a sweet custom or even put back to work. It will be up to the next owner to decide what exactly to do with it. I’m quite interested to hear what each of you would do with it, so leave your ideas in the comments below. Take a look at his craigslist ad and don’t forget to message Matt with your best offer there or via the form below!
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If the horn is wired to play “every breath you take” by the police I’m in!
The most fitting civilian use for this that comes to mind is a rolling meth lab for a really paranoid tweaker so he can scope things out while “who can it be now” by men at work plays in the background. I strangely find myself wanting this van now.
Hilarious.
Somebody call Anthony Pellicano, he just got out of a long stretch inside. He might be able to put it to work spying on Hollywood types for other Hollywood types
No, no, no. The right song is “I Always Feel Like Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell.
This really puts the lotion in my basket if you know what I mean……..
Oddly enough, this is the 2nd surveillance van I have seen for sale lately.
My type of thing.
Thanks for sharing!
If this wasn’t on the other side of the country I’d buy it in a heartbeat, to use as a ham radio VHF rover.
All this van needs is a pair of Levis painted on the side with a zipper opening to get a good view of who your spying on, Up in Smoke Style.
calling Hardhat, Hardhat…………….Lardass, Lardass
As the owner of a PI company for the last 30 years with anywhere from 10-20 surveillance vans at any given time, I’ll give you one guess what the “pass through floor vent” was for….
In case the person in the van did not have an empty water bottle?