As far as I know, we’ve only seen one other Dodge Van Yamahauler here on Barn Finds over the years, and that one was also a tribute rather than the real thing. That isn’t a bad thing at all. I can’t imagine there are many, if any, original ones out there in the wild. This 1977 Dodge B200 Yamahauler van is listed here on eBay in Monroe, Washington, and they’re asking $21,500 or best offer.
Quite a few liberties were taken in the recreation of this Yamahauler tribute van, but it’s unmistakable in the overall look. It helps to have big Yamahauler decals on all four sides, now that I think about it. The originals came out for 1972, so they were based on an older B-Series Dodge van, and I don’t believe they would have had painted bumpers. Or, the roof scoop in the back, but that’s a cool addition, I think.
The black and white stripes were sometimes seen as solid black, but if they were this blocky pattern, I believe they would have been going in the opposite direction, as in the top of the blocks would have been pointed forward. Maybe the seller saw an example like this and recreated it, and it works perfectly with the roof wing in the back. The Yamahauler was a joint effort (maybe a bad term for the early 1970s and van culture) between Dodge and Yamaha, and Hot Rod Magazine was also in the mix. The van was the top prize in a contest and came with two Yamaha motorcycles, a 125MX and a 125 Enduro. Both presumably fit in the back.
It’s unfortunate to see a gaping hole in the dash, but maybe someone was in the process of putting in a modern touchscreen stereo and backup camera system or something. They say there’s a radio, but it isn’t connected. You’ll want to get a 70s wood cupholder tray for the top of the doghouse engine cover, just to keep things on point. The rear cargo area would have had cabinets, indoor/outdoor carpet, and a small refrigerator. This one just has a bench along one side and some tracks to tie down a motorcycle or two.
The seller says it’s a solid van (the B200 is a 3/4-ton van) with really no rust issues, and it has a new crate 318-cu.in. OHV V8. It sounds like it’s loaded to the gills with new parts, so please click on the eBay link and check out the listing to see everything, including the many photos inside and out, and underneath. For such a custom van in this condition with this many new parts, the price seems reasonable to me. Have any of you seen a Dodge Yamahauler in person?
“..joint effort..” 🤣
Awesome pun, Scotty. All this needs is a clean bumblebee ‘77 RD400 to go with it-watch it rip the trophy right out of the judges hands at every pre ‘90’s car show!
Great tribute, neat find.
Always good stuff here at BF.
Cool van but either build up that 318 or swap in a big block Mopar v8
Or at least a well built 360ci
360’s are GREAT truck engines.
Move over Scooby and Velma. ha. What a cool looking van for a ride. My brother had a 70s van with the unmistakable starter whirring and going on. He called it a hard times van. We had a kid in high school in late 70s that had a decked out van with the carpet and bed in back. Progressive dude I guess. I was not ever a super big Mopar but they seem to be the only car company pushing the limits on new stuff the last few years. This Yamahauler is a fine example of that ingenuity. I hope somebody keeps it just like this.
Like Scooby-Doo, but they solve mysteries while riding Yamaha YZ400 dirt bikes. Demons, phantoms, and blue smoke!
This is just so cool. This Dodge Van SCREAMS 1970’s. The rims, the graphics, the fender flares, that wing on the back. And it all works so well together. Nevadahalfrack is totally right with what he said above. This would have no problems winning a trophy. Or should I say, “No Sweat” ( that was a 70’s term right???) Can you imagine in 1972 winning that Dodge van AND the two Yamaha’s??? I’d be on cloud Nine for months. I’d love to know if there are any actual genuine surviving ones out there? This is a terrific find and write up Scotty. I enjoyed it a lot. This tribute is very nicely done.
Although this was before the Jet Ski release, a couple of bumblebee Jet Skiis would be the perfect addition into the van.
My parents had a 1978 B100 Tradesman & it had white painted bumpers from the factory.
Mark Worman on Graveyard Carz did an episode where Will’s son was in charge of painting one of these, with the notation that it will make a great Yamahauler clone. Wonder if this is that van?
My same thoughts when I saw it. Based on the location (northwest), it could be the Worman recreation. I seem to remember that he couldn’t wait to get rid of it, for some reason that I can’t recall.
How cool. Remember, If this vans a rockin, don’t come a knockin.
Every so often there’s a Barn Finds ad that makes my eye open wide and click the link very quickly. This is one of them!
Here’s a couple articles published two years ago from 1972 Hot Rod magazine Yamahauler build and info.
https://www.hotrod.com/features/yamahauler-september-1972-982-722-64-1
https://www.hotrod.com/features/yamahauler-the-yamaha-contest-van-gets-the-finishing-touches-november-1972-982-694-70-1
MyClassicCarTV episode with Yamahauler.
https://youtu.be/i66I938x3cI?si=9NBh3TccxUSJa3uW
There was also this one that I have the poster of.