Five slot mags, raised white letter tires, shag, and bubble windows take this van and its passengers back to a time when vans were never “mini,” and inspired fear in every teenage girl’s parents. Buyers hoping to recapture some of that edgy, “What happens in the van stays in the van” spirit must immediately check out this 1977 Ford E-150 here on eBay. The listing claims “no rust,” and No Reserve, so bid to win, Cheech and Chong fans. The well-kept Econoline hails from Fontana, California, and if this thing doesn’t trigger a drug-sniffing dog, I’ll eat my hat. At least 14 bidders have this running, driving classic’s market value over $3000 so far.
A sharp aftermarket steering wheel and 27 square yards of comb-ready shag carpeting set the stage for fun. Someone’s hit the brakes so many times that the pedal is (worn) to the metal.
Bravo to the seller for taking the time to pull the engine cover to reveal this 351 cid (5.8L) V8 and stout C6 three-speed automatic. My ’89 bucket truck has the same combination, and it’s slow as molasses, but this rig probably weighs less, and these things will run forever, occasionally eating parts that can be found at nearly any parts store for under $50.
The owner has exhibited great restraint by not adorning this mod van with the obligatory bumper sticker warning, “If this van’s rockin’, Don’t come ‘a knockin’.” Tinted windows render contents and the activities of occupants incognito. “Do you have probable cause to believe a crime has been committed, officer? If not, I must respectfully decline your offer to search my van.”
Whoa! Tufted headliner and side panels take this Econoline to the next level. Easy to clean and handy for muffling the screams and fleeting objections of passengers. Check out that amazing mirrored Cheetah or Leopard. I’d wager it’s not the most frightening thing that’s ever prowled the interior of this van. When I was dating the young woman I later married, my friend Casey and I picked her up in Casey’s orange ’76 Ford Van with heart-shaped porthole windows and shag carpet. I knew enough to never sound the horn and always went up to the door. My future father-in-law went about 6’5″ with hands like canned hams. He peered behind me at my buddy’s orange shag-mobile and calmly said, “Don’t ever pick up my daughter in that van again.” Yes Sir! Creepy van jokes aside, this thing looks amazing and should be cruised and enjoyed as-is. Would you daily drive this slice of the ’70s or enshrine it in your personal museum?
Fun write-up Todd. It’s such an over-the-top (especially inside) example of its era, the only way to proceed is to just make sure it is running, and keep it as-is. Beyond that, well, I guess it’s up to you. Just remember, “Yes Sir!”.
Oh my goodness Todd!!!. That was a funny story. I’m kind of surprised he let you take her in that van after all is said and done. At 6’5″” I’d say the exact same thing…. Yes sir. I remember as a kid in the 70’s it was a crazy popular thing to do, to customize a van. I still remember the different shaped windows in the J.C. Whitney catalog and the dog house covers and other accessories they sold. Back then it wasn’t just young guys who drove vans like this. A very good friend of my Dads who was a teacher ( married with 4 kids) had a Dodge Tradesman with a V8 and 3 speed stick on the column all done up, fancy windows, nice interior, etc. He just liked it. I’m with Bob. Keep it as is, sort it out mechanically and enjoy it. The 351 and C6 is absolutely a terrific combo. Great write up Todd I enjoyed it!!!
Dave
Get it before it goes “Up in Smoke”!
I’ll see myself out. Tip your servers and barkeep
And it may just go “up in smoke” if that shag is laying on the exhaust manifold as it appears to be 😱
Would love to have this..lol..i’d remove the shag from the engine compartment..that’s a big badaboom a waiting to happen..otherwise it’s glorious.
Um…that’s the interior with the doghouse removed.
Buddy had a Dodge ( think it was a Tradesman ) boogie van. Had a stick shift 😎 too cool. Party 🥳 time 🍻 🎶
Buddy had a 78 Ford 4 wheel drive HD van packing a 460 bigblock and lifted. It was brown, had stock white rims, lockout hubs and big skinny offroad tires. The interior had a bench seat behind the front seat, a rubber mat for carpet and a gunrack mounted to the side with guns! This thing was so ugly the tide wouldnt take it out. But it would go places local law enforcement couldn’t and we had a blast running around Southern KY in it!
Running moonshine throughout those hills???
Jay Leno’s Garage has an episode on a factory F-150 Boogie Van. And now, here’s another cool option. How the heck do you get the seeds dropped while screening your weed out of that shag? (asking for a friend of course)
Fondly remembered the van craze during the 70’s…fun times at meets, listening to 8-tracks of ELO, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, KC and the Sunshine Band…and just hanging out to be cool. Now I have this strong desire to turn back the clock once again… on a nice ’76-77 Dodge Tradesman van. Have it painted black with deep colorful spacey murals…aka dark side of the moon theme…crager mags, side pipes and naturally shag carpet and an 8-track player…as they use to say…keep on ‘truckin.
I want a 74 short Chevy black with flames, raked forward with wide cragars on rear and skinnies on the front and chrome sidepipes. Heart shaped window at the rear with some bright orange shag throughout! Dice around the rear view and Hawaiian Lady wiggle doll glued to the dash pad! I can smell the aroma of reefer and stale beer already!!
Always wanted one 40 years ago, now I would look like a pervert driving it. Spray entire inside with Lysol!
One word: throwback!
I bought a Dodge van in 1979 318 4 speed od. To be the tow and service vehicle for my Pro-Rally Scirocco. The next weekend was a race weekend at Road America and the wife was a tech inspector and I occasionally worked the speed traps out in the woods before the shut down before turn 5. So we tossed in a mattress and took off. (The in-laws were parked next to us with their gigantic motorhome so showers and toilet were handy.) The next morning we had the side doors open and we’re just sitting there taking in the Road America ambiance. (Burned rubber and bratwurst getting grilled) When a friend came walking by. She was this mid-30s prim and proper school teacher who was married to a Racer that I crewed for on certain events. She did not know that we had a van and when she walked by and we said hi. She was so surprised that she shouted You have a f—k truck!?? We laughed so hard we cried. She immediately jumped in and laid down on the mattress so that she could claim that she had been in a “sin bin”!
Great van and great fuel economy. This 351 C6 not so good on the fuel economy.
I bet I can still find my original big chrome feet pedals for the gas pedal and the light dimmer switch.
Just looking at it I can smell weed and hear Led Zeppelin IV blasting at some ungodly volume