I love these old vans! - Page 2

rockbender · 02-28-2013, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroncoHauler

It would look even better with cow-hide interior. Just sayin'.

Herb

ooh! that gets my vote too, Herb!

I know that worse purchases have been made. I think that van is awesome! Pretty sure it could be a company write off too!

**daveb** · 02-28-2013, 10:30 AM

Wonder if Bruce Berry drove it

Oh, wait it's a 74.

I had one of those in 77, man it was a real rattle trap but fun.

twogone · 02-28-2013, 11:02 AM

aaight... just off the phone with the lady that owns it. She's an old car fan... has a Westfalia-type VW van and has/had a variety of older veeks. Pulls her own wrenches. Seemed very honest. Moving to another state and has no where to keep it there.

She's had it about a year. Overall good condition, everything works. Off-the-lot, badged, Pathfinder straight axle 4wd. She drives it regularly, locally. Loud (pax) and rattly at interstate speed on the 3 speed automatic. Interior in better shape than pix show. She's gonna email more pix tonight of good and bad.

Downsides are: Came from Ohio (salt on roads). There are a couple of slight rust bubbles at the blood channels, but no apparent "cancer". Has had bodywork @ fenderwells in the past, but you gotta be looking to see it and underside is really clean and straight. Tranny ocassionally shifts "funny". She said it seems to have a (hard-to-describe) slight slip/uncertainty but could not attribute it directly to gearing or 4wd, but is not a hindrance. And the dang thang is 40 years old, after all.

For us it would be used more in ratrod/toy mode. Christine is up for it, as am I. Just waiting to see more pix before driving 4 hours to see. I want it, but it will be a financial burden for us to buy it at this time, as we are POURING money into our regular rig ($2760 this morning) to get ready for our big tour and complete the current wishlist. Mississippi doesn't have a state lottery, so I'm screwed there.

I can safely say I have never been more perfectly on-the-fence about a vehicle in all my life

vwteleman · 02-28-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogone

I can safely say I have never been more perfectly on-the-fence about a vehicle in all my life

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogone

I'm 40% hoping it has already sold.

Methinks you have a definite lean one way ... go for it!

Cheers,
Brent

Chrismw · 02-28-2013, 02:50 PM

I'm completely jealous. Hope you get it and when you're done with it, let me know.

I did see this FYI

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-E-S ... 232866a0b8

**BroncoHauler** · 02-28-2013, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrismw

I'm completely jealous. Hope you get it and when you're done with it, let me know.

I did see this FYI

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-E-S ... 232866a0b8

Nothing like a little added pressure.

jage · 02-28-2013, 03:20 PM

Marc, give me the money and I'll buy it.

Problem, solved.

twogone · 02-28-2013, 04:08 PM

Update: Didn't get much of anything done today worrying about this van. I got the updated pix that are on the ebay listing that Chrismw put up. Christine and I went into final-decision-making mode a little while ago...

Points for: Coolest little rig available anywhere at a good price. Rare as all get out! (c.'74 expression). It is close to where we live. Straight-up honest seller offered many details and judgements, both good and bad.

Points against: We would rarely drive it, certainly not more than 100 miles per year (excluding to-the-shop mileage), and I wouldn't even want to test the 4wd on more than wet grass. Owner says it is pretty rugged for long-distance travel, she tries to avoid 55mph.
I'm already selling plasma and old wedding rings to pay the bills on the monster I have now... don't need no more dirt in my ditch, boss. We are saving to redo our PH, and if we buy the '74, that won't happen soon enough to suit us. I'd go bankrupt chasing the rust out of it.

Sooo, I am going to "sleep on it" and finalize the conversation tomorrow morning, I just can't bring myself to let it go right now

twogone · 02-28-2013, 04:14 PM

@jage... I'm thinkin' the forum is ripe for a little ol' Credit Union

vandiesel · 02-28-2013, 08:51 PM

I'm so glad someone is close to getting it. If it was in my backyard I'd be in trouble. Seriously the coolest looking old ford van ever. I just watched the documentary sound city done by Dave Groel of Nirvana. He was drummer and now has his own gig. Anyway the dialog with him is mostly with him sitting in the drivers seat of his mint '74 for van completely restored. Pretty cool and this reminds me if his.