Am I the only one who thinks these ’70s airbrushed custom vans get a bad rap? There’s always a joke or two with some combination of “rocking” and “knocking” or cracks about what kind of biological pathogens may be living in the shag carpeting. How about some appreciation for the artistry involved in creating the stunning vista on the sides of this 1974 Dodge Tradesman? This recent warehouse rescue can be found here on Craigslist in Fort Myers, FL for a mere $11,900 (hat tip to Patrick S for the find).

Okay, so yeah maybe their reputation is a bit well-deserved… Yes, that is a mini wet bar, complete with sink, TV, and “medicine” cabinet. I think the fishnet curtains really tie the lounge area together! Whatever your thoughts are on the aesthetic choices of the previous owner, these vans are certainly always cool time capsules and reflections of the owner’s personality. They’re also a fresh canvas for their next owner, and ready to be re-customized into something new.

This B-series van features the 3.7L slant-six engine with an automatic transmission. I’m curious as to what kind of stereo may be hiding behind those cabinet doors in the dash? My heart tells me an 8 track player and a bunch of Deep Purple and Steppenwolf tapes, but the more modern speakers in the back indicate maybe a bit of an updated sound system?  The van also sports a CB radio, so you can talk to all the other airbrushed 70’s vans that have been popping up on the front page of this site lately!

Price seems to land a bit on the high side, regardless of the custom artwork, but these custom vans do seem to be creeping up in value lately. The seller does also state that it is fully serviced and road tested since being pulled out of storage. Not to mention the seller claims documentation for the actual mileage of 42,000. It’s certainly a turnkey head-turner, and this Tradesman looks ready for a camper conversion and a long road trip!