This 1968 Dodge A108 appears to be a decent foundation for a work truck or camper build, presenting as an honest runner with plenty of room for improvement. The seller notes that it runs well and has had the brakes and tires sorted but there are still some unnamed issues to sort. Find it here on craigslist for $3,200 or best offer. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Rocco for the find.
The battleship gray paint works well here, especially when paired with the black bumpers and steel wheels. Some dents are present, and the seller says there is rust as well but doesn’t elaborate as to where. The abundant glass all appears to be intact and the doors look to shut tightly.
Inside, the cabin is tired, with plenty of cosmetic issues to sort. The door panels aren’t great and carpeting is non-existent (if it ever had any to begin with). The best part about vans like these is the endless potential they offer for customization like this Barn Finds Exclusive several Dodge A100 and Ford Econoline projects listing for in Georgia.
Out back, this is about as perfect as it gets for creating a van straight out of your imagination. Plenty of room for racks if a work van is your thing or shag carpeting and couches is a vanning-era creation is in your future. And of course, making this A108 into your perfect vintage camper is also a no-brainer. How would you restore this Slant 6-equipped A108?
Make a neat camper for two..as long as it’s in Kansas.Otherwise,I’d swap out the engine for something a bit beefier.
This would be perfect for that one troll on the nautical theme custom van listing a few days ago.
Actually Dean, this would make a great
wheelchair van for my MIL. With finished
lift vans selling north of $300K here in
Central Florifa, this is a bargain! Just add
a folding manual ramp for the chair, a 727
automatic and electric power steering for
Mom, roof mounted A/C, and front disc
brakes, and I’d have a winner. The reason
for the $300K amount came from the price a disabled friend paid for a new Ford E-350 wheelchair conversion van
he bought several years ago. If that
was the going rate then, it scares me to think of what it could be now. Some-
thing like this makes sense to me. Here
is a blank canvas for the perfect all ’round
van for my family. Add to that, you’d never lose it in a supermarket parking
lot!!
Kenneth, you’ve mentioned wanting a wheelchair van before, and if you are seriously looking, eBay has plenty of professionally-built ones between 10 and $25k and some clean older models in the four figures.
Actually, Kenneth, you could get away with a 904 Torqueflite swap if the van’s not going to be towing anything for any distance.
Anyone interested in this example should have a closer look for structural rust.
Nothing says that you love ❤️ your mother-in-law more than stuffing her in a 50 year old van! My wife would be signing the divorce papers quicker than you could convert that transmission.
Nothing says that you love ❤️ your mother-in-law more than stuffing her in a 50 year old van! My wife would be signing the divorce papers quicker than you could convert that transmission.
Hey–Jack we ALL aren’t as rich as You must be, having a means of transportation Vs NOT is a BIG gift. Disabled people often don’t have the tens of thousands laying around to buy a shiny new van conversion–something about being disabled–you know~~
Your certainly preaching the truth there Jack.
Okay guys, I get it. This van would be
completely gone through and sorted
BEFORE I’d even let Mom use it. It’s
merely a blank canvas for me to provide
something she really needs without her
having to take out a second mortgage
on her house to do it. Yeah, I could put
a bumper lift on her LeSabre, but that
would be even more dangerous as the
Buick is FWD. Factor in the weight of
the chair on the rear of the car, and the
down force of that weight will cause the front of the car to lift, causing the car to
wander. I’ve seen drivers of FWD cars
equipped with bumper lifts bobbing and
weaving all over the road because of the
very poor steering caused by their cars
wandering into other lanes. I’d rather put
the chair inside a van and have better
weight distribution than a regular sedan.
No fellas, this van would be as safe as I .
could make it. After all, the person driving it is precious cargo.
Kenneth, I admire the fact that you would even be thinking about doing this for your MIL. She is one lucky woman to have a son in law like you. Not everyone has money to throw around like some do. I am physically disabled after years of working and I completely understand the problems of driving, or even trying to get into a vehicle, with a disability. You are one to be admired. Thank you from one who understands your point of view.
Kenneth something like this would probably be more reliable for your mother-in-law.
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/1986-ford-e150-xl-disabled/6751777998.html
2, 3 co.s here will convert (or sell U prts to) convert that van.
Try here for sim
vintAGE-VANs.com
I like the split window just dodge had (ferget VW) but would forgo the ‘inside engine’. Mine was loud/noisy but great for tune up wrk. W/the over/in frnt of axel motor (further ahead than these) she wouldn’t even hafta transfer. She could roll right up & secure the chair down as a driver’s seat.
Thanks for the help guys, we truly aporeciate it. Jack, that E-150 you sent
me looks great. For $600 more, Mom
would have a van that she could use
right away. I’ll probably need approx.
$2K more (The Ford is $3800) to cover
either shipping or driving it back to Florida plus the cost of paperwork to
register it here. Like the 302 V-8 too.
Should be easy on gas around town.
Chad, is that the correct address for
the web page you gave me? I’d like
to check it out just in case I can’t buy
either of the vans we discussed here.
Will check on the Ford ASAP and look
into your info too. At least we have
options now. Mom’s still able to walk–
but not very far before her legs give out.
It really frosts my backside when we go
shopping and there are no wheelchairs
for her to use inside the store. I always
keep a manual wheelchair in the trunk
of Mom’s car, but it’s a real headache
trying to carry whatever we’re getting
and push the chair at the same time.
Shoot, I’ve even thought of buying a
surplus Penske truck just to carry
her motorized wheelchair so she’ll
have something to use while we’re out
on the town. Thanks again guys, got
some research to do.
Someone with a silver tongue could maybe get the one in the background also. Hell I’d drive it daily.
This one is probably a bit closer for you Kenneth.
https://tallahassee.craigslist.org/cto/d/1995-ford-conversion-van/6752102438.html
When thinking of swaps for this van, you should be aware that the auto transmissions are supported/suspended by a top mounted bracket. Swapping six to V-8 requires flipping the motor mount base. I put a ’73 340 c.i. engine in mine (picture from back in the day!):-)
Thanks Rock On! It’s closer on 2 counts.
1. It’s in Tallahassee. And 2, the price is
almost doable. Seems like the owner
has done a lot of repairs to it over the
years. Seems he’s fixed a lot of the
problems that are common in these
vans. Knowing all this, the 273K on
the clock doesn’t scare me one bit!
Yeah, the captain’s chairs in the center
would have to go to make way for Mom’s
power chair, but the folks at Qualimed in
Winter Haven could most likely fab up
everything I might need to do the con-
version right the first time. From what
I see here, all I’ll need is the folding
manual ramp for the chair, and the tie
downs to secure it while we’re driving.
What a birthday gift this would be!
Mom’s gonna be 77 next Monday. I
can just see the look on her face when
I hand her the keys! Now that would be
priceless!
Good Luck Kenneth. Let us know how it works out for you.
These with all the glass are hard to find.
But I would look for one with a V8
Years ago, we owned a Dodge Caravan in Black Cherry with red cloth interior. I dreamed of cannibalizing it to rebuild a ’68 Dodge A108. Combined with modern suspension, brakes, creature comforts and tasteful bodywork, it provided many hours of imagination fodder (in my dreams, I rebuilt the slant six with an Offenhauser split intake manifold and headers).
So, I like weird. d;-)
I might still have the drawings laying around somewhere.