I’m not sure if the kids are still watching Scooby-Doo reruns on TV, but describing a van like the one seen in the hit cartoon hasn’t lost its popularity among van enthusiasts. The “Mystery Machine” had a very specific paint job that certainly made it an instant icon, so now any van from the same period with a slightly psychedelic color scheme gets lumped into the category. This 1974 Ford Econoline here on eBay was a runner before getting parked for a few weeks; now, it’s said to not want to fire up and is being sold as such. The seller claims the engine and transmission were rebuilt a few years ago, and bidding is currently at $1,525 with no reserve.
There’s no denying this Ford wears very authentic patina, the kind you can’t fake. The paint job by itself is worth saving, but I think I’d also leave the sunbaked surface rust as well. The fender flares indicate this Econoline was someone’s toy back in the day, and while this Ford doesn’t have one, I’d add the deep front air dam like so many of the later ones have. I’d also track down and color-match some period-correct “turbine”-style wheels. The seller notes that the paint is original – or at least original to the period in which this van was customized – and that it’s missing one of the iconic diamond-shaped bubble windows. He says you can just get one 3-D printed, but I’m not so sure it’d be that easy.
The interior has been largely stripped like so many other project vans, which does save the next owner some of the work that would be involved in stripping out an old, funky interior. But it can also make a project seem more daunting, as it lays bare how much work the next owner will have to do to bring it back to life. The listing notes that the driver-side back door doesn’t want to open and that the passenger-side front window is missing a regulator. The seller notes that while the Econoline is largely solid, there is some rust in the driver’s side door; otherwise, the description indicates your rust issues will be minimal if you decide to take this van project on.
While the listing calls the rebuilt engine a 318, the seller amends this to note it in fact has the venerable 302 under the hood. Despite being a non-runner at the moment, I suspect any issues dealing with lack of mechanical motivation will be pretty easily remedied given how bulletproof this drivetrain is. The seller adds that the Econoline has headers and dual exhaust and that it sounds pretty mean when it runs. Although he indicates a few times that the mechanical restoration has been completed, it’s hard to say whether he is attaching any and all mechanical work to the engine rebuild, or if the engine rebuild is the only thing that’s been done. Either way, bidding is super low at the moment and certainly cheap enough to take a chance on this awesome, period-correct van!
Sadly, my life, at least, just doesn’t include most of the things that used to be so great about vans. Meaning getting wrecked with BFs and GFs on the beach of Padre Island during spring break and waking up next morning in a puppy pile of same with all the doors flung open and a dead battery cuz nobody turned the stereo off.
I had to comment on this one, and confidently speak for most every 2nd gen Econoline owner, this is NOT an f ing scooby doo mobile !
The scooby van was obviously drawn from a late 60s Chevy van.
As for this van, i can again say with cetainty it is badly rotted, and in spots not easily repaired.
When these vans are parked by beach, or worse have un-rinsed surf boards kept on roof, the salt water kills the van pretty quick.
Fords rain gutter design was poor, so water doesnt drain and, well, look close at the gutters on this van ..
ya, and its worse than it appears.
If you own one of these, rinse your roof of salt water and keep gutters dry. If you can clean, cure, and reseal great, if not, at least use a little brush and some of your used motor oil and keep gutters oiled.
Most of these vans perish for this reason.
If your good at metal fab, this van might be salvageable..
I would have to say that you are right about the Chevy van and Scooby-Doo, but jinkies, I have to side with Jeff on this one. The first thing that popped into my mind when I saw this was the “Mystery Machine”
These bad boys were such a joy to work on!
Someone needs to put this back in the junkyard they hauled it out of.
gimmie the 1st gen (’60/7) with the 300/4.9.
Such a body style !
up to $5100 for this?
Headers? Sure look like stock manifolds to me.