Going back nearly 20 years ago, the seller of this 1970 Ford E200 says the van was backed into a shed and left there untouched until just recently, which leads me to wonder why somebody would park a functional hauler and leave it there undisturbed since 2005. That question goes unanswered, but it’s finally seeing the light of day again and appears like a good prospect for a vintage panel van project that may not end up costing an arm and a leg. This one’s located in Ham Lake, Minnesota, and can be spotted here on Craigslist, where the seller has set his asking price at $6,800.
There’s literally no information about why the operational van was parked and stored for such a long period of time, as the seller mentions it was driven into the shed under its own power, so the engine and transmission had at least some functionality back in 2005. Although we don’t get to see it, a small V8 is said to be the powerplant, but no word on whether or not it’s the original born-with component. The only other detail we get regarding anything mechanical is that the fuel system will require flushing, so this one’s not quite ready for consideration as a driver.
Once pushed outside, a thorough power-washing followed, with the bath results revealing a blue finish which, all things considered, actually still looks fairly decent overall. The paint is stated as original, with the seller mentioning after the dirt was removed there were only a few pinhead-sized bubbles visible, which we’re assured are repairable. He also says the van is not a victim of road salt, and the body is free from any serious rust issues.
We only get to view the front section of the interior and just a couple of shots from even that area, but from what I can tell it still looks OK in there, with some wear and tear visible on the driver’s seat. No photos from the back portion are provided, but the owner pulled up carpeting from the back part and reported a very clean floor underneath.
While the mystery remains of exactly why this one was pulled off the road nearly 20 years ago, the Ford van still appears to have some positives going for it, with hopefully not too much effort required to get it back to just driveable condition. This also seems like a reasonable starting point for a nice custom if the next owner wants to take the E200 to more than a service level, plus the seller also adds that respectful offers will be welcomed. What’s a reasonable price for what we’re seeing here?
Cool 😎 70 Econoline. In the classic Ford robin egg 🥚 blue 🐦 paint.
Say Stan, you’ve got a way with those emojis 🤣
Ham Lake is in MN. Thought you’d want to know.
Yes- Thanks for the state correction Rich!
Hello Mike, This van was sold long ago. Thank you, Dan
https://barnfinds.com/shed-find-1970-ford-econoline-e200-van/
ALLL RIGHT! No rust a 302 automatic, no windows. What’s not to like, OOOOOOW….BABY…..OH BE..haave. It would look nice next to my 77 Nomad.
Very cool van I bet you could fry bacon, eggs and pancakes on the metal engine cover.
as an owner of a couple of these, drove one yesterday to a big meet up, and days prior on a 2 hour round trip i can assure you, the ‘dog house’ doesnt get that hot.
It insulated and has a cover over the metal.
This van is in exceptional condition for whats left out there, a rare color, and was a treat for me to see one here, and a real barn find.
A good price too, someones gonna get lucky
Would make a good work truck, or party van going to bonfires. Picking up materials for a job would be handy, just don’t leave tools in it overnite they will be gone in the morning. It’s worth 8K but will need brakes all around as well as ignition and cooling investment.
This would make a good TV repair van.
No one fixes tv anymore, thanks to our disposable economy. But I still get your gist.
It was backed into the shed because none of the forward gears worked?
This van was part of the fathers estate and the son went to work with him everyday, since that time son has passed and van does not have a stuck motor and all original with the stock working C-4 transmission.
My father had a 70 Ford E200 Supervan – windows all around but only two seats. He parked it when he retired and bought a Subaru which got traded in on a Plymouth Sapporo and then a front-drive oldsmobile sedan. I got the van after it had been parked for seven years when I needed something to move north. My brother and I got the brakes unstuck and got the motor runnIing, then I packed and drove north, The carb plugged up a few times along the way with crud from the gas tank, used it as a daily driver once I arrived, changing the fuel filter on a regular basis until I was able to change the gas tank. What eventually killed it was rust eating through the frame structure where the steering box attached. There was only one bolt holding it in place and a local body shop declined to take on the job of rust repair as it was impossible to tell the true extent. The engine and transmission went on to a Ford collector for one of his mustangs, the bucket seats are still in my garage waiting for my project to accept them.
i have parts for these vans, and can cut you the section to repair that steering mount ;
assuming your ‘project’ is the van.
My dad had a 69 that fell victim to the exact same rust issue. His steering box just fell off one day while pulling into his driveway.
My ’74 Club Wagon had the same problem. But, with 170,000 miles on her, and she was sitting axle deep in mud when I bought her? That van gave me 6 years of all kinds of adventures, in the early 90’s. Sold it for what I paid for it ($500), to a guy at work, that just had to have it. He drove it for a week, the exhaust fell off, cut a brake line, and he parked it in his back yard for 3 more years. Tried to buy it back, when he moved, but no luck. Still wish I had it.
Bad valve seals?bad brakes?and wore out steering box good luck !
Perfect creeper van
My first car I got was a 1969 Ford Econoline Supervan. It had a 302 ci engine and it was a dark blue color with fire painted on it. I had lots of fun driving this van and just cruising around.
These “cab-over” vans are just the worst vehicles, BUT, they served a valuable vehicle for just about any business that had any type of service dept. From flowers to rocket parts. Millions were sold new, and even used, continued to serve relentlessly, until it wore out and became a shed in the back. Along came the teenage son, with his struggling band, that needed something to haul the amps, and the old van came back once again. THEN the hippies came in, the band had a new tour bus by then, and the old van was called to action once again, for a very different reason. The hippies were usually the last ones.
Awful vehicles, but probably the most important vehicle of all.
once again, H.A. , i gotta agree and disagree..
especially considering all the positives you mentioned
how are these ‘awful’ ?
Id say theyre awesome, whats not to like .
I can assume that you are referring to the placement of the engine and access to subsequent maintenance tasks. “Awful” reminded me that the older mechanics called the GM G-van the s#!*box. Fifteen years in production and you could still hear the drive shaft center bearing howl on a new Beauville.
Howard, My boss had one of these in the 70s and he had me use it to pick up purchases he made. The damned thing scared the HELL outta me!
Technically the cab over, or forward control vans, were 1961-67,and flat nosed, and engine cover almost behind seats, they changed them for 69,due to the strike of 1968,but these are not cab over, despite all the flaws.
Did anyone notice the sliding door on the right? I thought this was an option starting in 1972? These vans also suffered from front end king pin corrosion, which in turn puts a tremendous strain on the steering box that can tear it off the frame. I had 3 of these back in the 80’s. It looks clean, but the price I think is a little over the top.
On of my HS jobs was helper to a lady who reupholstered furniture in her basement. Her truck was a 72 Club Wagon. Five passenger with the same driver seat. Six cylinder, 3-speed, pb and manual steering. We picked up and delivered furniture all over in that van. Easy to drive but glad the speed limit was 55.
I know saying I’d snap this up if I didn’t have to many projects but I do. Looks like pretty solid machine. 4spd with a big block and now we are cooking with gas! And of course side pipes and inside done up! These old vans where cool back in the day and I think they’re gonna make a come back….
I’m not a Ford guy but I do like these old vans. An office supply I used to work for in the 1970s and 80s had one that was as dependable as the day is long. We’d deliver fire files, desks and nearly everything else office related. Back in those days as we were driving around the city, our upper arms became quite sore from all of the ‘bug slugs’, lol.
Later, after I moved onto an acreage, I owned a host of old vans. A ’69 Chevy 108, several 74-83 Chevy’s and even a couple of high mileage 85/86 Toyota’s. Down to just one now, an 81 Chevy 1 ton ‘Stoner’ hi-top ambulance type but never used for that. It’s still outfitted with high voltage test equipment from a rural electric cooperative. It uses two batteries and has a v-belt run 120-volt generator with outlets throughout. It’ll be pretty useful after I gut it for swap meet use.
The ‘awful’ part is sitting right on top of the front axle, which was single I-beam (upgraded to dual I-beam in future years?). Driver & shotgun take it right up Broad Street on every bump. The longer the tour, the worse your hemorrhoids get. The ride anywhere else that is not bad.
I have a ’65 Econoline pickup and it’s work to drive it, but fun enough for short hauls
Buddy in HS had a ’69 Club Wagon. That one rusted out the left front spring perch (for all I know the steering box mount may have been gone too…). He asked me to weld it up for him, but in one of my first sensible decisions at age 17 I declined. Were it mine, fine, but I wasn’t risking anyone else’s neck.
this is not a 1970…in 1971, that grill was standard. in 1972 a sliding door became an option.