Jalopnik: Dodge Van

Awesome Dodge Tradesman 200, Shag Carpet Included

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 30 May 2008 13:00:00 EDT

If there's one wacky automotive fad we missed but wish we hadn't, it'd have to be the vannin' movement. That wacky, proto-dekotora trend fueled by polyester and facial hair just speaks to our better sensibilities. So when we saw this groovy 1975 Dodge Tradesman 200 for sale on eBay, the urge to grow a handlebar 'stache and pick up the latest from REO Speedwagon was nearly overwhelming. This baby has got it all, sun roofs, a fridge, mirrored ceiling over a convertible bed, shag carpet, a CB radio, impossibly bitchin' paint job and matching side pipes. Go check it out over at eBay. (Thanks for the tip Dave)

The Red Green Way To Power Windows

Ben Wojdyla — Thu, 29 May 2008 14:20:00 EDT

We loves us some Red Green Show and despite it being out of production for years now, it's little gems of genius like this that keep us looking for more. Let's say you drive a beat-to-crap Dodge Ram Van and you don't have power windows — like our hero here, and you're looking for an easy way to upgrade? Why old Red has a brilliant solution to your problem. Next thing you know he'll be building an amphibious Honda Civic DX, oh, wait... [Youtube]

Dream Factory Blow Papa Rider

Mark Arnold — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:40:00 EDT

The other day we showed you some cute little Japanese Kei cars converted to look like vintage American vans. Turns out they were the creation of a company called Dream Factory Blow. They're sort of an American-style surfing-obsessed customizing shop, but since they're in Japan, they work their magic on JDM rides. While stumbling around their non-English website, we found this thing. Apparently, they call it the Papa Rider, but it may not be what you initially think it is.

Now, this may look much like a vintage Dodge van that some stoner accidentally had shipped to the other side of the Pacific. But give it more than a passing glance, and you'll notice that there appears to be a Toyota Hiace van somewhere in there. Our Japanese skills are limited to what gets translated into English by BableFish, so we're not too sure and what the rationale was behind this, but we do know for certain that this thing is totally awesome.
[Dream Factory Blow]

The Japanese Convert JDM Boxes Into American Iron

Mark Arnold — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Apparently, the custom van fad of the '70s never died in Japan. But what if you want all the style of a vintage American full-size, but you need the efficiency and small size of a Japanese econobox? Well, do what these guys did, and convert the front end to look just like a Dodge or Chevy Van. Auto-Otaku found these custom creations at the Japanese Mooneyes Street Car Nationals, a gathering of all kinds of American iron in the land of the rising sun. Besides the vans, there were also a couple JDM rides transformed into old Chevy Suburbans, as seen above. [via Auto-Otaku]