Dodge’s B-Series vans, dubbed the RAM, were in production for more than 30 years (1971-2003). The first generation ran through 1978 and was divided into two categories, Tradesman for cargo vans and Sportsman for people vans. The Tradesman was popular for conversion during the “custom van craze” of the 1970s and 1980s. The seller’s transport is one of them and may have become something of a “desert hippie van” at one point given the graphics. This 1976 edition has been off the road for more than two decades and will need restoring. Located in Peru, Indiana, it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,200.
Vans like these were a “cab-over” design meaning the engine was largely in the passenger compartment as a divider between the two front seats. Both cargo and people vans came in two wheelbase lengths, 109 and 127 inches, with the latter being great for hauling folks to/from the airport or church functions and the like. A Tradesman could easily be distinguished by its lack of side windows, unlike the Sportsman. All sorts of engines were offered, including the Slant-Six. We’re guessing the seller’s van has the venerable 318 cubic inch V8 though a 360 and a 440 would have been available.
Most of the van conversions were done by contractors, some sanctioned by Dodge and others not. We don’t know who did this one and whether it happened earlier or later in the van’s life. Portholes were added on each side in the rear and graphics were affixed that contained cacti, suggesting this van was sold or converted in the Southwest markets. The seller has owned it for a few years after finding it baking in the Nevada sun for some time.
Thanks to some tinkering with the fuel delivery system and brakes, the van will start, move around on its own, and stop. But it seems to be unusually cold-natured and could probably stand for a tune-up and some carburetor work. It’s been off the road for so long that the tires will surely need replacing once you get it ready for regular use. The seller has replaced the roof vent with a sunroof where some rust had developed.
The interior looks to be a mess and we’re not sure how it was set up back in the day. You could get it running and fix up the passenger/cargo space and leave the desert patina alone. Or go for a full conversion. 40 years old, vans like these were hot properties and – when converted – usually reflected the tastes and interests of their owners. The seller will entertain no discussions of a trade. Another great tip brought our way by Barn Finder “Ted”!
I love it, ahh memories, remember the sticker – “if this vans a rocking, don’t come a knocking”?
Not sure why you’d call this a hippie van, (a yank thing?), over here it was manly suffers.And don’t knock the 318, it’s a great motor.
318, Torq-flite combo, could argue
THE most reliable Dave 🏄♀️ 🌊
Yep, had a VJ Valiant Safari VIP wagon, with a worked 318 Fireball, and a 727 tranny.
Best burnout car I’ve ever owned.
Hippies are really more of a 60’s van, not 1976.
Correct. These were called Custom Vans, nicknamed Sin Bins.
or “shag wagons”. Many cargo vans saw these conversions, especially GM ones that lacked rear windows.
Ad a “VW” into it. I bought a 72′ Dodge B-300 Maxi Sportsman new. I called it my everything van. Got rid of it in 2020, due to the rust on the drip rails. Sure do miss it. At the time, I could have bought a 426 Hemi, for less. $5,800. As a kid, the vans were the ones to have.
This aint a hippie van..LOL..VW buses were hippie vans..this is just a custom van.
MorgaPulsar is generally correct, but you have to remember that, in those pre-internet days, the rural Midwest was always 3-5years behind in fads and trends. In eastern KY, in my 1970 graduating class of nearly 500,, about 5 people smoked weed. In the class of ’71, about half did. So the Vans of the 70’s were, here, indeed ” hippie vans “,
You didnt have to smoke weed to be a hippie , many were just high on life – the freaks, however, just hung out and smoked
I lived in California almost my entire life, so I was aware of the custom van movement early on. I was living in Omaha in 1973 when I converted my first new van. No one around there had seen a van with mags, wide Radial T/A tires, fully carpeted inside, bed, sunroofs, overhead console, custom woodwork, component stereo, etc. I got stopped often by the police- they wanted to take a look. They had never seen a non-commercial panel van before. On a trip through Tennessee, it drew a small audience every time that I stopped to eat, including the local police, who, in one instance, parked across the street from the restaurant that I was in until I finished and then followed me out of town. He must have gotten a message that an outsider with “radical ideas” was in town to corrupt their youth… 😊
We preferred to call ourselves “Vanners”. Hippies were a done deal by the time the van craze happened.
This is known as the Dodge STD.
A STD is a possibility, but not for me. My first lay was in my van at 16. She was 14 and it was all her idea. 30 years later the van was still rocking with her and I.
My Uncle was a semi pro bowler who
had a black Tradesman van that was
converted by our local Dodge dealer
before Unc took delivery. He traded a
Mazda wagon for it in ’74 or ’75. The
Mazda had one of those unreliable
rotary engines that caused the car to
spend more time in the shop than it did in your driveway. When he wasn’t
working, he’d pack up the van and go
in The Pro Bowler’s Tour. He was almost on the TV show they had on
ABC from the ’60s to the ’80s by the
same name. Sadly though, he missed the cut by 10 pins. He must’ve racked
up a lot of miles in the five or so years
he drove it as it was worn out and ready to be retired by 1980. It had everything he needed like a bed, a small ice box, and a clothes rack for
All of his bowling outfits. I still recall
how great it looked with that black paint, mag wheels, and gold trim. Sure wish I had it now.
I had a 1982 Dodge short box and customized it in & out & murals myself, and the 318 could easily smoke the rear tires no problem. Lots of great memories with my “Shaggin’ Wagon . Good luck to the seller!
I had 3 in the 70s one from each of the big three. Fantastic memories from all three.
My problem is no one is talking about THIS van. I’m sorry but this is a $1,500 van. Even if you do the work yourself your talking atleast $25,000.00 to get it back up and useable.
Great starter for someone but I wouldn’t plan on driving it for atleast a year after you start working on it. Imho
True!!!! If I still had my van, I might possible think about taking on the project, with all the parts I had from my van. Many Hi-Po and factory panels I could of used.
We are still “Vanners”.
Drove this van in the 70’s. friend of mine painted the mural. Another friend at the time drove a 57 Pontiac Hearse. Both of them got lots of looks, especially the hearse. West Texas was a tough place to grow up in if you had long hair. Heck it still is.
I remember being part of flower generation and the vw buses of the time. The chevy, ford and dodges came on changing style as the years progressed. What a great example of Imagination fabrication and production of asscorries and parts .
I also wanted to say that this is why the hobby is so great . All the different people and ideas keep it moving instead of stagnation . WHAT’S NEXT?
Ram didn’t come about till 81.
I had a 1976 Tradesman that was customized inside with shag carpeting and couch that folded down. It had a 318 with a factory 4 speed on the floor. I loved that van.
Dodge started selling vans in 1971 2yrs after WOODSTOCK 😂
Also ford’s econoline1961 chevy 1961 greenbrie corvan 1964 chevy vans start 😂
This van had A/C? these were the rage with the umm frat types when I was in high school and college while us middle classes were still driving muscle cars or sports you could buy one with potholes from dodge Called the street van If memory serves me correctly?
Yes. the “Street Van” was one of the special named vans, but all I could see different with them were the “Decals” stating it was a “Street Van”. All the ones I seen were short body vans with a little of the Sportsman package. I had the Sportsman Royal B300 Maxi (72). The AC on these vans did not work well, being as large as they were. Later Dodge came out with the duel AC, which worked better for the rear of the van.
Look up the women folk Paw! Theys a stranger here abouts!
The A Team?
I pity the fool However I believe that was a Chevy van
Actually, it was a GMC van
Foooool!