While we tend to fawn over the shag-carpet-covered van conversions of the 70s, there’s still a strong market for unmolested examples, or at least vans that haven’t become a rolling art mural with chandeliers inside. This 1964 Ford Econoline has some period touches, like bright red carpeting in the cargo bay, but otherwise remains a nicely preserved example that the seller says doesn’t have much rust. Find it here on craigslist in Minnesota for $2,800.
Now, being in Minnesota, you’d think rust would be a serious issue for anyone attempting to restore this Econoline. But to be fair, it does look fairly straight up and down the sides, although the seller would do well to point out where the rust issues do exist. The period “Wolfrace”-style wheels are a popular look for this era of van, and I don’t even mind the green-over-brown color combo.
If you’re looking for some Econoline and Dodge A100 projects and Minneapolis just isn’t in your travel plans, then check out this collection of van projects from the large Georgia collection we’re helping to market and sell off. Pictures are limited of the driver’s cabin, but the seats will obviously need re-upholstering and the carpets appear non-existent. The seller does mention the sale will include an assortment of spare parts, so maybe a carpet kit is included.
Do you think this was a stalled “vanner” conversion or did this rear cargo bay at one time hold a collection of beds, pillows, coolers, and hidden compartments? The carpeting doesn’t really fit with the exterior, so even if I planned to go full-shagadelic with this Econoline, that carpet would be pulled immediately. How would you restore this largely stock ’64?
I had one of these 62 or 63 and as far as the front drivers area they did not have carpet only rubber floor mat. The back cargo area looks like the poor guys way of having a place to do his thing whether coaxing young ladies back there or sleeping at the nearest rock concert parking area, really low key & cheap. I would say his asking price is quite steep for what work this van needs. I would rather have the pickup version myself as I had one of those too.
“I would rather have the pickup version….”
Geez, who wouldn’t. Harder to find, but cooler.
It’s about time the seller upgrades from his Kodak “Brownie” camera.
Oh my, on a trailer, a bad camera, and I bet it’s got red houses. Count me out
I had a 64 in Alaska in the 80’s. Much better than this offering for much less money. But cold as you would expect in the winter, even with a extra add on heater, if you did not close off the back, which I eventually did. Side note. Even if you have to pay to ship your hearts desire in a older vehicle to the states from there, usually they are in much better shape, with no rust unless they come from or had spent a few winters in Ancorage. Salt was used there on the roads before cost and environmental reasons made them cease in large part. Elsewhere in the state, especially the interior, no rust ever, and I mean NO rust. There was one old coot in Fairbanks who had around 20 old cars and pickups lined up outside on his property on his 5 acre’s by his log cabin, year round. Most ran. They were buried in snow feet deep in up to -50 below zero and for they were more or less pristine compared to a lot of 40’s, 50’s, and 60s unrestricted vehicles I see here (no “patina”, LOL. And most would run fine.
This econoline, as much as I love ’em, is pretty in crappy shape and, in my view, worth a grand tops. I looked at the ad and I assume it has a 200 or maybe 240 6 cylinder. Damn good engine, if sort of gutless on power, it runs or turns.
Ah wouldn’t ya just love to see this roll up to pick up your teenage daughter. I bet the hippie male life expectancy was pretty short back in the day.
Or, if sold were a perv pedo they could buy it, get it running, paint “Free Candy & Puppies” on the sides and drive it slowly past grade schools and playgrounds.
Nobody mentioned the 70s panelling, now that’s cool.
My grandfather had one of these that was old enough it was marked “Falcon” and not Econoline. Had been the ambulance at the local race track. That meant it had super low miles on it BUT it was also the base model in every way. it was (under)powered with a 144 cu in engine. It had a habit of back firing and catching on fire. This caused some street scenes where, as it was an ‘in” thing at the time, people THOUGHT we were performing a “Chinese fire drill” whereas we really WERE responding to an actual fire. Good times…
Dad bought a 67 Supervan with the 240 engine and the extra length added behind the rear axle. A better vehicle, not the best vehicle. Didn’t like snow..at all…
Also, the gas gauges on these did not work. Not ONE of them. I was asked to take a young lady home from a meeting and on the way to her house the van started to lose power. I pulled up on the choke (located on the front of the engine box) and it pulled pretty good for a few more seconds and then died…
I coast to a stop in the darkness. She’s looking at me expectantly. I’m gripping the wheel and staring out the windshield. Finally I gather the courage to speak the words “I think we ran out of gas”. Instead of the harangue I was expecting, I got, instead, her simply roaring with laughter. She later admitted that it was my mortification that did it for her. When she could draw a breath and speak she asked if, perhaps, my dad, like her dad with HIS Econoline van, kept some spare gas in the back. We looked and, sure enough, there it was. We were never a couple but we have been best friends for over 40 years and it was the Ford van that started it all. VERY good times.
No telling what sort of nastiness is resident in that carpet. I’d want to pick up a hazmat suit before I disturbed it. Just to be safe. Don’t really have much of a desire to own an old van but if I did it’d be one of these guys.