I'm not sure how it happened, but I'm becoming obsessed with old vans from the 1960's.

I really like the Chevy, Ford and Dodge vans, but there are some other obscure makes that are very interesting as well.

Originally I was considering buying an older VW bus but I think I like the American makes better.

Does anyone here know anything about this era of vans? I plan to buy one in about 2 years, so I need to do all my research now and see what I'm in for.

Dodge


Chevy




Ford

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Make sure you start taking yoga now! Some of the one from that era are a bear to work on. But by the same token they are unique in there own way. Try to find one that has an updated motor/tranny. will make life a lot easier.

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86 300SDL. 250,xxx on #14 Head. One eye always on temp gauge.. Cruising towards 300K

Cool vehicles - watch the Corvair-based van, as the air-cooled engine configuration and air-to-air passenger compartment heating system made for carbon monoxide safety issues.

Cool to look at, but I remember how they rode.

There's a guy around here with an old van painted to look like the van from the Scooby-Doo cartoons.

I replaced a water pump on a 1966 Dodge once. It was a six and it was very difficult. Later I learned that the entire engine cover was usually removed and this would have made changing the water pump easy.

But removing the engine cover was a big job as well.

Vans of the 60's had radiators that would cool the engines. There was no room for a larger radiator and A/C was unheard of in a work van. For this reason most of the vans then that had A/C had aftermarket units with the condenser mounted on the roof. I am sure advances have been made to make sure it all fits in like it should, but the ac vents still need to be mounted on the ceiling if it is possible.

They do handle better than you might think since a lot of them could be called mid-engined. But with the engine mounted between the front seats it can get rather hot on a long trip.

Gas fired heaters were also common. If you wish to add or replace one of these they are still made by WEBASTO and they are much improved from the ones that were made back then.

I am not trying to discourage you. Any car 50 years old is not going to be up to today's standards.

At one time the 'forward control' vans were thought to be the hot item with collectors but I think this has cooled off a bit.

I used to work on my fathers 1986 Chevy short wheel-base van. It was a bit difficult to get to everything, but I don't really mind that. I also really liked driving it with the 3-speed on the floor.

I was looking at the Chevy Corvans since they have a longer snout and that seemed like it would make it safer in the event of a head on crash. The comment about the carbon monoxide issues coupled with the fact that I like the looks of the shorter front end vans is making me think of removing them from my list.

I think the Chevy or Dodge vans would be easier to get glass for since they are all flat panels, but I've seen good candidates for restoration that all had clear, crack-free glass so maybe that shouldn't be a consideration.

I'm thinking that I'd like to get something that's a complete runner and fairly rust free needing some cosmetic work and interior work. I'd like to customize one with an updated interior and modern safety restraints.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

What is your budget?



.

When I'm ready to start looking seriously, I'm hoping to find something for under $3500. From what I've seen so far, I think that's possible. I've even seen some fully restored ones for under $10k, but I want to have the fun of doing the restoration myself.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Spend a few bucks more and find one from the Southwest or some other steel-friendly area. Rust resistance was not a strong suit of any of these vehicles.

I used to love the idea of those cab forward vans. I had a decent little 63 valient convertible and got it in my head that a dodge van would be the nuts. I went to a dealer that had a decent looking dodge van and test drove it. Whoooooooaaaaaaahhhh! It had a solid front axle and at anything over 30 mph it was all over the road.

I forgot all about vans after that.

I suggest before you get too fired up find one you can drive.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Once of my coolest auction finds to date was this van. Listed it on craigslist and sold it to a guy in Florida for $3500. He flew up and drove it home without a single issue.

I don't think you saw it, Chad.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=283625

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I forgot about the solid front axels. That is something to look for.

Dodge did have a number of options for their vans that made getting in and out easier. One was a step for the side door that retracted when the door was closed.

Not many of these came with seat belts that were any good. If it is possible you should look into installing three point belts like we have today instead of just the lap belt these vans came with.

The Dodge also had a unit body construction, so a rust free one is important.

I would stay away from the Corvair, though, if you plan on driving it much. The fan belt makes a 90 degree turn and has a rather short life because of it. If it breaks, and it will, you will overheat in short order.

You're in the ballpark.

I wouldn't buy anything but a 4bbl 383 V8 Dodge Magnum. But I was alive and riding in 'em then.....(early '70s......) The Honda MC shop I worked at had a 383 4 bbl Dodge hippie van that ran like a scalded dog!

In college, a guy had an orange Chevy as you have pictures - we called it a hippie-van. This was in 1970 when smoking dope was almost more popular than drinking beer.

I worked at a Honda MC shop for a few months in the early '70s, and there was a short, fatass (nice) bearded guy from Houston, TX. named Randy Dornan. He had the Ford - as in your pictures.

Keep in mind, that having a clean hippie-van was tantamount to having a Z28 or GT Mustang in 1970-72.....

I think Dodge had a factory camper set-up much like the VW's did. Their rare to find one but pretty neat if your into that type of vehicle. I had a 1968 and two 1969 Chevy vans with the straight front axle and don't remember any handling problems other than the rough ride of leave springs on the front. But at that age it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

Tyler - that is NOT a HIPPIE-VAN.

That is an old person's conversion van.....for chrisakes it even has an RV ladder on the rear as my friggin' coach has!