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Hate vans all you want, but back in the '70s they were big, big, and big. Hot Rod kept fanning the flames as it became a nationwide craze overnight. By the '80s it died out along with horsepower.
Why are the vans hated today, and what killed the custom van craze?
Well, disco didn't survive either, so chalk it up to changing tastes. Vannin' was a fad then, just as hopping up mini-trucks was in the 80's, and oversized SUV's with spinning rims of the 00's.
The "van craze" was about the time I came into this world, so I dunno what killed it. I would think it would still be a fairly popular thing. Me personally I'd like to one day find a short box Chevy cargo van with a 400 sbc. Saw a pic of one launching a wheel stand at the track where it did a 10 second 1/4 mile time IIRC.
10 years ago my uncle had a short box GMC cargo van that he decked out into a small little camper type vehicle...had paneled walls, the pop up skylight with screen, a bed for 2 to sleep in, a small closet. Very nicely done if I may say so. He had a ton of money and sweat in it. Then he hit hard times and had to sell it. I know he's still hurting from it. Poor sod never has had much of a life, or a home so that was his home.
Thank you for posting this thread with the pics. Reminds me of some very happy times in my youth.
Those vans were beautiful. They were great to fool around in
I had one, a 67 chevy with the engine between the seats. The seats were hi back out of a Ford tornino. The mural was mountains with deer.
Right now I have a rust free 86 Dodge 3/4 ton factory conversion van, with a great bed. The paint is factory still which ain't great, but it blends I guess. Can't have everything in real custom paint, which I do elselwhere, which marks me. It's nice to have a sleeper in basic paint once in awhile.
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