Talk about the Jack of All Trades. What vehicle better epitomizes that phrase than Ford’s Econoline series? Launched in 1960 with cats-eye headlamps and a mid-engine configuration, the E-Series could do almost anything: haul your soccer team, help you change apartments, day camp, even run a business out of the back. Today’s example is located in Streetsboro, Ohio, and despite its lack of proximity to the ocean, it’s been thoroughly restored in the style of a surfer van, complete with pinstriping, a suave satin-finish paint job, and an engine upgrade. Check it out here on eBay, with bidding at just $9100, reserve not met.
While the Econoline was launched on the compact Falcon chassis with a mid-engine layout to compete with the Type II VW, the second-gen E-Series shifted to a longer wheelbase and a front-engine layout. Ancillaries were accessible from under the short hood, but the engine doghouse sat between the front seats. This shorty runs a 302 cu. in. V8 with an electronic distributor and a re-cored radiator. New equipment includes the timing chain, water pump, hoses, belts, and battery. A later Ford automatic overdrive four-speed has been installed. To assure a swift halt, the front brakes have been upgraded to discs. A 2″ lift was completed professionally, with accompanying alignment. The tires are nearly new. The seller notes that the van runs and drives well.
The interior matches the exterior not only color-wise but also in condition. Nothing to complain about in here, and whatever decor you don’t like – the seller is fond of the hula motif – is easy to change. The carpets are custom-made and molded to fit; a memory-foam mattress is installed in the cargo area. The van has a new MaxxAir roof vent, 110V campside hookups, and an auxiliary battery to power lights and the fan. An AM radio is mounted in the dash, with a Pioneer Super Tuner and remote situated below.
After 1974, the Econoline became the Club Wagon, and the layout became much more conventional. A longer wheelbase, a longer hood, and a shift to body-on-frame construction generated a chassis that could be utilized for a wider variety of purposes, including heavy-duty hauling and emergency services vehicles. While its array of uses expanded, the van lost its vintage looks. The earliest Econolines are my favorites, but I would compromise for this second-gen version. It’s just vintage enough, and the build appears to be terrific. The current bid is too low; here’s hoping the seller is able to find someone willing to pay a bit more.
The first units were called Falcon, a couple of years later Falcon Econoline, then just Econoline. I remember a time where a day couldn’t go by where you wouldn’t see at least three or four on the road.Short ones, long ones, those with side windows and some without. Now finding any of them in usable shape is a challenge and one as nice as this one, almost unheard of.