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Street Custom: 1975 Dodge Ram Van

Modified vans seem to always tell a story, which is a large part of the appeal. Every detail is an extension of the previous ownership, giving you clues as to what turned them on and what was happening in the vanning community at the time to drive the styling decisions made over the years. This 1975 Dodge Ram Van has been a custom showpiece for many years, with a previous owner using it as their camping rig while hunting, and another using it for “partying,” according to the seller. Find the van here on eBay with a Buy-It-Now of $19,500 and the option to submit a best offer.

Wow – I hate to use this terminology, but the first thing I thought of was that this interior is the bomb. That’s a piece of slang I never use but it seemed appropriate here. There is seriously too much to list but it checks all the boxes of a period-correct custom van: “….fold out bed, electric outlets, swivel captain chairs, shag carpet, brick facade, parquet floor” – and the list of custom touches goes on. It even has aircraft lights, for some reason. There’s also a stove, water hook-up, heater, and more. There is no air conditioning and no mention of a bathroom facility on board.

That’s some crazy love for a van when the mural actually features the van itself. This had to be a product of the owner who loved taking the van into the great outdoors, as this mural seems to capture perfectly the sentiment behind using a custom cruiser like this as a hunting vehicle. The other features that make this Dodge a standout include two sunroofs, a luggage rack, step ladder, sun visor, pop-out windows with curtains, special lighting, “Fuzz Buster” radar detector, a musical horn, and functioning side pipes. Hell, I’d buy it just for the mural alone.

Now, the seller seems quite honest, as he could have told me the Dodge was in showroom condition and I would have believed him. Instead, he does the right thing and confides that there is some minor rust bubbling visible, but it doesn’t sound like anything to worry about in the near term. Two fender flares are cracked, but aside from normal wear-and-tear, it doesn’t seem to have much in the way of cosmetic faults. The Dodge benefits from a new battery, voltage regulator, alternator, and air cleaner, and those polished mag wheels look absolutely perfect on there. What do you think: is this Dodge van better suited for hunting with your buds or dancing with a stranger?

Comments

  1. Avatar RichardinMaine

    “If this van is rockin’, don’t come knockin’ “
    “Don’t laugh, your daughter is inside.”
    Anyone want to check that interior for DNA?

    Like 7
  2. Avatar Bob McK

    Don’t see them in this condition very often. I would love it for a summer travel van. But would need to add AC and evaluate the cooling system. Great find!

    Like 6
  3. Avatar Ed Casala

    Digging the shagging wagon!

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Steve Clinton

    Stick in an 8-track of KC and the Sunshine Band (“That’s The Way, Uh Huh, Uh Huh, I Like It…”) and head to the nearest Disco.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Motorcityman

    “Like a picture she was standin there, moonlight shinin cross her hair, I’m gonna Love her in my Chevy van and that’s alright with me”

    Like 7
  6. Avatar Motorcityman

    “Like a picture she was standin there, moonlight shinin cross her hair, I’m gonna Love her in my Chevy van and that’s alright with me”
    I know it’s a DODGE but I couldn’t resist.

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Mike

    Back in the day I had a great VW VAN, not a bus. The rear was dominated by a huge bed, and, provided you used a coat or something similar to “mop up” it was available for what we called free love.
    How many children were conceived in the back of the van? No idea.
    I should have had an agreement with all parties concerned that the middle names of all the children made in the back had to be Eyeball, as the name of the van was EYEBALL AIRLINES, with the accompanying logo.
    I’m left wondering here some 50 years later how many children with that infamous middle name there are still running around.

    Like 2
  8. Avatar Tony Primo

    Looks like a Boogie Van to me.
    https://youtu.be/ng0yavQjfAA

    Like 1
  9. Avatar AndyinMA

    In terms of vans telling stories and what turned on previous owners, I really don’t want to know.

    Like 5
  10. Avatar Gary

    I had a 77 Dodge Maxi Van when I was in my teens, longest van made at the time, I believe. Daughters were definitely in the van and it used to rock all the time back then.

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Mountainwoodie

    How much I hated the Seventies………….from shag carpeting to polyester is encapsulated in this van. I would suspect that someone born afterwards might find it attractive but ….pas moi. But then there’s an ass for every seat as my late sainted father used to say.

    Get your shots first though.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Motorcityman

      Hate the 70s, r u serious?
      I’d go back to the 70s in a Heartbeat!!
      Much less complicated times and simple life pleasures and the BEST Rock & Roll EVER!!
      Before AIDS and other nasty chit!!
      The cars weren’t the fastest but still many Sweet looking ones like one of my favorites the F Body FIREBIRDS, FORMULAS and TRANS AMS.
      They looked fast standing still and the SD 455 made in 73/74 was a jewel.

      Like 6
  12. Avatar Bob P

    From cruising Van Nuys Blvd in a 63 Ford Econoline (back when we customized them ourselves), to those disco years cruising the hotpots and the beaches of Miami in a Dodge similar to this (oh, how I hated “no A/C”), I have TOO many dear memories to sneer at captain’s chairs, murals, and shag carpet. I always wanted to name mine “The Mayflower” (Don’t laugh, your daughter may have come over on this). I wonder how I’d look cruising downtown Palm Springs in that. If this van’s a rocking, don’t bother knocking.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar MoPar Mike

    “Changed the gears to get better fuel economy” which results in lugging a smaller engine trying to pull something this heavy with the aerodynamics of a brick then ending up overheating, worse fuel economy and less power. Awesome van otherwise. I’d put some proper gears back in place, 5.9 Magnum would suffice and if you’re worried about fuel economy (that you’re not going to improve) go buy a Prius.

    Like 0

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