What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time? - Jalopnik Comments

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

virtualvanner — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:21:27 EDT

I actually have two favorite vans and they were both at the National Truck-In in Cortland Ohio last year. Both these vans were originally built over 25 years ago.

[IMG][showtrux.com]]

There's a thousand more pictures of custom vans on Showtrux.com

virtualvanner

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

VanTastic — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:57:30 EDT

i bought this van today,out of a farmers barn for 500 dollars.
shows 86,000 original miles and appears to be a streetvan made by dodge,came with sidepipes special fuel cap,like a dodge charger,streetvan emblem-s and custom interior with rear bed.
motor is a 318 2bbl,with 3 speed manual transmission and posi rear..has wheel hop something terrible when you get on it,but accelerates like a bat out of hell if you can hookup and go.

i bought it with crusty cragars but returned them to seller...wheels shown are 15x 50-s rear and 15 x 225-s front.

does anyone know where to buy one streetvan emblem?
and know where to find a club or info on this rare? van
heres a link to the van and thanks for any help possible

[cid-868cec27cc88f73c.spaces.live.com]!868CEC27CC88F73C!110/

VanTastic

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

VanTastic — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 01:02:28 EDT

i just bought a 74 dodge van that at first i thought was aftermarket..but it appears to be a factory streetvan machine? part of the adult toys line for dodge back then?

im having a real hard time locating pics of other streetvans,if anyone has any links?? would be greatly appreciated
its a shorty custom with sidepipes and all 318 with manual floor shift 3 speed.

and i couldnt believe how many cool vans were show here..thanks for sharing..the imigination is running overtime now :)

VanTastic

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

BMRFILE — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:50:38 EDT

@LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot: Amen. The mid 90s Delicas rock. Especially the diesel 4X4. So much torque and so smooth.

BMRFILE

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

texajeff — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:50:31 EDT

1974 Ford Econoline with a 3 speed manual transmission and a column shifter.

texajeff

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mad Maxxis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:59:03 EDT

@Mad Maxxis:

better description

[www.4x4offroads.com]

Mad Maxxis

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mad Maxxis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:55:25 EDT

@kleinlowe: what about van + 6wd?

[www.icechallenger.co.uk]

Mad Maxxis

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

e30 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:46:20 EDT

I have two favorite vans. The first was our 1979 Volkswagen Westfalia camper. Light tan, slow, unstable, but we took it all up and down California on road trips, commuted daily in it, and camped in the mountains, desert, and beach. Hell, I even had fun playing in it when it was sitting at the curb. My aprents sold it years ago, and I have many memories sleeping in the pop-top, camping, and hauling all dorts of stuff around.

The second is my parent's 1989 Chevy Conversion Van. My Grandfather bought it in 1990 I believe, and my parents got it after he died in 1992. It had four captains seats and a bench seat in the back, shutters, a small TV, and the back seat folded down into a bed. I drove it in high school, gladly, because I was excited to be driving anything even if it did weigh more than the entire parking lot. My parents still have it, black and gray 80's paint job and all, my mom drives it daily, and it always comes in handy when somebody needs to haul something.

e30

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

valeriomassaro — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:58:37 EDT

This! and its fore sale too!

[moncton.kijiji.ca]

valeriomassaro

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Hello_Newman — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:23:00 EDT

My dad had a Westfalia with the bathroom and it was awesome for how useful and cheap it was for travelling, he took that thing everywhere. Chevy Astro was good looking, the Grand Caravan was the most comfortable one I've ever driven, and the Pontiac probably the best looking.

Hello_Newman

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

brad442 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:01:47 EDT

Hot Rod magazines "DeniMachine"!

brad442

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

MadHungarian — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:20:04 EDT

have we all forgotten the original Multipla?

[microcarmuseum.com]

MadHungarian

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

HoubaHouba! — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:17:58 EDT

I'll take my old Syncro back, please, but this time with a 3.6L instead of the 2L engine upgrade...

HoubaHouba!

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

jnostalgics — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:44:20 EDT

@Uncle_Bo: Bongo!

jnostalgics

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

sparksinner — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:39:27 EDT

I'll always have a soft spot for the 1988 Plymouth Grand Voyager. It's the first vehicle I got to drive on my own. It got me and my friends through the last 2 years of high school, if not in style, then at least in spacious comfort.

The 150hp Mitsubishi V6 had no trouble moving me, 12 friends and 500 rolls of TP.

sparksinner

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mehugtree — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:15:33 EDT

we need Maximum Van Day!

I love all vans. Even Van Halen.

mehugtree

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

sos10 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 18:03:29 EDT

A Jalopnik favorit and mine too (although the Citroen Van is obviously very high on my list)

sos10

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

deletealt — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:52:22 EDT

SYNCRO!!

or sportsmobile.

or the Hi-JET, with dubs of course.....JK

deletealt

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

kleinlowe — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:54 EDT

I believe the applicable formula here is (van+4wd)*awesome=win. Beyond that the fallable human factor of 'favorite' is irrelevant.

kleinlowe

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

tumblingwall — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:23 EDT

Mudmaster C!

tumblingwall

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

petersterncan — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:32:59 EDT

@Mojito5000: You're probably thinking of this: [www.turbovan.net]

petersterncan

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

petersterncan — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:28:11 EDT

@boostedvan: I'll second that!

petersterncan

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

cazart — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:15:24 EDT

@Murph:

#1) VW Synchro
#2) Ford E350 survivalist style
#3) Mid 70's Dodge Tradesman with "Gas, Grass or Ass, Nobody Rides Free" license plate bracket.
#4) HiJet because if you get it stuck, you and a buddy can just pick it up and move it.

cazart

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Buji — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:03:01 EDT

Still love my Ford 350 Sportsmobile. King Size bed, shower and toilet, two fridges, microwave, in motion satellite tv, 1k watt 7.1 surround sound with a 24" monitor. Second bed up top for guests, go anywhere 4x4, super nice air-ride suspension, heated seats and plenty of room for two plus pets...

I'm hoping to take the month of June off from work to get some more miles on it...

Buji

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

BriGaid — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:01:33 EDT

@BriGaid: Does a 250 GT Breadvan count?

BriGaid

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

BriGaid — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:00:31 EDT

Does this count?

BriGaid

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Parkington — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 16:00:18 EDT

Mazda Autozam Scrum
Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear Super Exceed
Suzuki Every Joy Pop Turbo
Subaru Sambar Dias Astonish!!
Toyota Estima Lucida G Luxury Joyful Canopy

Pick one. Actually, it's the badges that I'm in love with.

Parkington

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

SpeedWagon - Needs COTD bailout. — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:51:06 EDT

[i131.photobucket.com]

SpeedWagon - Needs COTD bailout.

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

SpeedWagon - Needs COTD bailout. — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:49:39 EDT

[IMG][i131.photobucket.com]]

SpeedWagon - Needs COTD bailout.

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

TRUEBLUE'STANG — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:57:38 EDT

[www.transitvanclub.co.uk] = Awesome

TRUEBLUE'STANG

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Andrewpetty — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:54:13 EDT

@my favorite car is a motorcycle: indeed

Andrewpetty

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Uncle Bo, averting foreclosure — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:31:54 EDT

My favorite van before:

My favorite van after

Uncle Bo, averting foreclosure

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

jeadly — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:31:11 EDT

My very favorite van is the pimped out locksmith matchbox van my 2 year-old nephew gave me for Christmas. He fraking loves cars (he yells out out "uncle jeremy's car!" every time he sees an RSX on the road; and he knows his Dad has a TSX and his Mom has a Passat, and Bob has a Jetta...) and I think vans have a special place in his heart. So he probably asked himself why wouldn't uncle Jeremy want this van for Christmas? Its Effing Awesome!

jeadly

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

stu-rock — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:24:38 EDT

As a van owner, I love this QOTD. I'm pretty fond of my '98 Dodge shorty van. It's a stripped down model with three options: windows, a 318 in^3 V8, and a 3.55 LSD axle. But it's not as awesome as some of the ones posted above.

As far as style, the old Dodge A-series vans are tops in my book.

For real-world usability, it's hard to beat the current Express/Savana.

stu-rock

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Murph — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:20:33 EDT

Well, personally I'll take a nice VW Syncro Wesfalia, please:

Murph

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

DWMILLER — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:19:30 EDT

GMC G3500 VANS-CUTAWAYS AND CARGO. BOTH WERE GOOD AT HAULING TOOLS AND MATERIALS DURING THE WORK WEEK BUT CAME IN VERY HANDY ON THE WEEKENDS.

DWMILLER

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Greg A. — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:15:04 EDT

I had a dull gray dual-tank Econoline cargo van for a while when I was a semi-pro noise rocker in Chicago. When it wasn't loaded with amps, we had a few beanbag chairs on the Empire Carpet remnant custom fit to the floor. The throttle cable got stuck wide open on the PA turnpike during an overnight trip to NYC, and we were hemmed-in by cement construction barriers for a thirty mile stretch before getting a chance to exit and fix it. It was like skimming the Death Star's trench. Pretty hairy. Otherwise, it was idling around town with both fuel needles pegged on E and one hand on the steering knob. Favorite all-time van purely for selfish nostalgic reasons.

Go Google "Jet Powered Caravan" for something more Jalop-centric.

Greg A.

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Goety — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:15:00 EDT

The George Barris Supervan is for sale: [www.guildclassiccars.com]

Goety

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

P161911 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 14:06:56 EDT

Here is a better picture:

P161911

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

karmatramp — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:58:28 EDT

If Mitsubishi hadn't toned the Delica D:5 down, it would have been sweet.

[images.google.com]

karmatramp

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Turboner — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:51:58 EDT

There have been so many cool vans in my life, I can't choose just one. In real life, It's a toss up between the '76 Dodge shorty window van my dad used to tow our snow sleds with, and a pair of checkered slip-ons just like Spiccoli's that I wore without socks.

As far as TV/movie vans, it's got to be B.A.'s GMC. The UAV from Stripes is technically an R.V. so it can't compete.

Turboner

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

eltonito — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:48:51 EDT

Same answer as yesterday.... Citroën H van.

eltonito

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

my favorite car is a motorcycle — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:45:18 EDT

Van Halen

my favorite car is a motorcycle

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Andrewpetty — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:43:56 EDT

In 1972 a crack commando unit was sent to a military prison for a crime they didn't commit. They promptly escaped and bought the awesomest van of all time.

Andrewpetty

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

BlackIce_GTS — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:35:42 EDT

This is one of my favorite Jalopnik headlines: [jalopnik.com]
The referenced van is also pretty good.
@racerx: Said van works at the bike shop on the end of my block. Is cool.

BlackIce_GTS

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

biminitwst — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:31:11 EDT

I really liked my various air cooled VW vans/busses from the '60s, especially when driving on beach sand.
In my heart,however, I longed for the power [and the heater] of the mighty Ford Econoline.

biminitwst

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

RoninianHoon — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:25:54 EDT

I just want soccer mom vans to die just so I can have some REAL vans...

RoninianHoon

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

NatefromOgden — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:20:10 EDT

Its gotta be the Commer Caravan I owned when living in England. Painted battleship grey with a brush, forward controls, bunks a stove and fridge and so ugly that the BSU hated to see it sitting in the driveway. I had to Bondo the windshield/roof joint where it had rusted out so badly that the incoming air pushed the headliner down onto your head while driving.

NatefromOgden

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Spasticteapot — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:17:10 EDT

@13oostedwgn:

Sabine Schmidt is the paragon of awesomeness.

There are few things better than watching a hot chick in a van simply fly past dozens of yuppies in Porsches as she does a hot lap of the Nurburgring.

Furthermore, the Ford Transit is supposed to be decent to drive....and you can get one with the 2.5 liter 5-cylinder Volvo engine from the Focus ST!

Spasticteapot

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Naters4 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:15:57 EDT

There are some sweet vans up here, and I appreciate the diversity shown. Having a killer A-Team Van, or an old Ford or Corvair one would be sweet, but there's only one for me:

Vanagon Synchro. The transporter comes a close second. Slip a Subaru swap in there and you've got the coolest, most capable van around.

Naters4

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

LTDScott changed his name! — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:12:56 EDT

Oh, and my answer:

LTDScott changed his name!

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

acarr260 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:11:32 EDT

@POLAЯ SAYS EVEЯYONE HEЯE: Damn... I just ate.

acarr260

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

LTDScott changed his name! — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:11:17 EDT

@mytdawg: I could never figure out what kind of real life van that was modeled from. Looked most like a mid-70s Dodge to me, due to the turn signals in the grille and the angle of the "b-pillar" on the door (for lack of a better term).

LTDScott changed his name!

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

drauzy — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:06:16 EDT

Import: the VW Bus, of course.
Domestic: No one put it better...
"Bruce Berry was a working man
He used to load that Econoline van.
A sparkle was in his eye
But his life was in his hands."

drauzy

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

EndlessMike — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:05:49 EDT

Dodge Turbo Caravan
Ford 4WD Aerostar
Toyota Van (mid engine goodness!)

EndlessMike

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

evil2win — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:04:51 EDT

as far as vans I've owned goes, liked my 1963 VW campervan for it's livability but that 1200 cc engine really wasn't enough, but '88 Toyota 4wd lE vanwagon had/has enough power to move at hiway speeds, enough space to be comfortable (or haul 4x8 sheets of plywood) and with the 4wd you can drive it almost anywhere.. I love the old cab-over vans..

evil2win

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

smalleyxb122 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:03:40 EDT

Someone has to have done a driveline swap from a Syclone/Typhoon into a Safari. That's what I want.

smalleyxb122

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

KingRoyale — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:02:52 EDT

@Omaxem:
Dangnabbit!

KingRoyale

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

KingRoyale — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:02:15 EDT

The Williams Renault Espace F1 - the only van that truly deserves a bid for the JFG:

KingRoyale

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mark Miller — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:53:54 EDT

How about the original Pontiac Trans-Sport concept?
See more pics and read about it at [www.highperformancepontiac.com]

Mark Miller

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:48:00 EDT

@Thirty-Nine: Drop the last > after the " and it should show up. When you see it in preview, stop typing.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:46:44 EDT

Yeah baby, that's what I'm talking about. Absolutely friggin insane.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

42Fordtrucks — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:45:09 EDT

In the 70's my Uncle Dan took a used Chevy plumbers van and painted it green metallic with wild orange stripes. A big smoked glass window behind the driver and porthole windows on the sides in the back, along with some kind of mags finished the exterior. The interior got the swivel buckets, table that went to a bed in back and orange shag carpet on every surface. The CB and 8-track finished it off. Everywhere you went in that baby you felt like the coolest dude on the street. What I wouldn't give for that van (and that feeling) again.

42Fordtrucks

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Goety — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:45:09 EDT

I wish that I could have brought my Honda Acty, yellow plate (kei-car) microvan back from Japan. With it's extended roof and big doorsit was the perfect town car, and the motorcycle engine hidden under the floor got seemingly endless mileage. Plus, it was fun to drive.

Goety

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Thirty-Nine — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:44:06 EDT

I'm with you mytdawg. That's awesome.

(BTW, why is it my images don't show up when I do a typical img tag in HTML?)

Thirty-Nine

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:42:49 EDT

Forgot about the George Barris Supervan.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:40:50 EDT

Beritone Gullwing Van

POLAЯMISSESEVEЯYBODY

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

selfhatingotaku — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:40:42 EDT

Alo the Toyota Previa for being futuristic looking.I remember someone saying it looked like a van astronauts would be diven around in before being sent into space.
And of course the first gens had a mid-engine setup which mean they can be used for someting like in the video below.

Special mention for the Mystery Machine.

selfhatingotaku

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Feds — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:38:24 EDT

Mitsubishi L300 Delica. I'm looking at getting an early 90's example. Aside from diesel, 4wd, 5-speed pajero-chassised goodness, they also have swivel seats, individual skylights with powered shades, and a hot/cold storage box.

Ultimate van, pre and post appocolypse!

Feds

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:37:28 EDT

Basically I love any "over the top" custom van, 70's style. It was an affront to society to use them in the Odyssey commercial. There aren't many of them left but their legacy lives on the the few remaining. They were very cool and remain strangely attractive to me.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Pete Gaines — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:34:40 EDT

Pete Gaines

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mazda Eric has his own radio show — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:31:51 EDT

I loved the Wylde Stallions van from Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey

Mazda Eric has his own radio show

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

orangeroller — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:31:30 EDT

@mytdawg: great choice!

i am going to have to vote for the third generation international version of the honda odyssey.
[files.windingroad.com]>

orangeroller

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

MaxSmart32 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:31:13 EDT

Oh this is too hard..

'72 Dodge Tradesman with a manual
'78 Ford Econoline with a three on the tree
'60 Ford Panel van
'96 Ford Transit
Any Austin / Rover van
those funky little Pinto / Vega vans in the '70's..

MaxSmart32

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Ω ß®ªғғ — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:29:24 EDT

here are a few to toss into the ring... (though I still stand by A-team as the winner, foo')

Ω ß®ªғғ

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:27:53 EDT

I prefer the Hot Wheels van to the Matchbox.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

devilock138 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:27:49 EDT

I love the Chevy Van converted into an ambulance that Bill Cosby drove in Mother, Jugs and Speed.

devilock138

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mysterious Utility Bento — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:27:43 EDT

This one from my dorky, nerdy youth!

[www.timemachinetoys.com]

Mysterious Utility Bento

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

selfhatingotaku — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:25:30 EDT

Renault Espace cause at least they went to the trouble of designing them to be pretty stylish looking.
Can't believe I forgot about the F1 version, I remember driving it in Gran Turismo 2.
Also any vans that have bodykits, loud paint jobs and chromed wheels, as they automatically fall into the stupid/cool category.

selfhatingotaku

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Robin! — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:24:55 EDT

Supervan 3 FTW!

My father built the original Cosworth HB F1 engine, before the silly V6 went in there.

Robin!

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:24:21 EDT

I'm partial to this one also. Didn't like the movie but I did like the van.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Kelly — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:22:41 EDT

1967 Dodge A-100, long wheelbase...which is all of 108", window van. 318 hooked to a three-speed manual and a 4.11 posi rear end.

It's a wonder tires on that truck lasted more than 8K miles, with me at the helm....

The only things it lacked, which I wanted, were: disc brakes, A/C, and a wicked, Uluru-class 'roo bar.

Otherwise, I loved it. Amazing how many teenagers you can put into one...rendering braking more of a theory than reality. Also, it belied it size/shape in 0-50 runs. After second gear, it was a dog, but you're gotta love a second-gear chirp from a forward-control monster.

Kelly

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

13thfloorelevator — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:19:46 EDT

A bright red MKII Transit that belonged to a friend of mine. He swapped a clapped out Escort & some drugs for it. It had a tweaked Capri engine and a chrome emblem on the rear door that said 'SuperVan' & was scary fast...

13thfloorelevator

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

P161911 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:19:10 EDT

I like these: [images.google.com]

A van with TRACKS!

P161911

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Thirty-Nine — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:19:10 EDT

Thirty-Nine

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

SundaySunday — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:18:57 EDT

@SundaySunday: Holy schnike's! Re-reading my comment, I'd better lock my office door. The Prepositional Phrase Police will be knocking soon.

SundaySunday

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Thirty-Nine — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:17:50 EDT

Basically, any mildly customized Japanese van.

Thirty-Nine

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

SundaySunday — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:15:32 EDT

I like the Westfalia VW Eurovans a lot, but if I had to drop everything and buy a van tomorrow, I'd probably get a Mercury Nautica Villager. They look sharp, and seem to have a more normal driving position.

I once had to take a day trip from Detroit to Cleveland in a Villager with 4 other co-workers and it was a pretty comfortable ride as I recall.

SundaySunday

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

layabout — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:15:10 EDT

@mytdawg: Obviously all the wings & spoilers are needed for downforce due to the vans huge power.

layabout

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

danio3834 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:14:46 EDT

Turbo 5spd Caravan?

danio3834

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

danio3834 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:14:20 EDT

The Dustbuster Vans

or a 440/4spd Dodge Tradesman.

danio3834

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Maymar is convinced M.C. Escher engineered his car — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:13:54 EDT

Pre-apocalypse, I'll take a Nissan S-Cargo. When the Zombies attack, I'll need a VW Vanagon Syncro.

Maymar is convinced M.C. Escher engineered his car

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

smalleyxb122 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:13:39 EDT

@Omaxem: @chazt:

Yep, Renault FTW!

smalleyxb122

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mojito5000 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:12:25 EDT

Back in the day when I had my GLH I remembered a guy who had a 12 second caravan. I believe it was a '88 or '89. The funny part about his van was he used it to pull his 9 second Daytona. He would unload the Daytona and park it in staging, then he would unload the family, food, and tools from the van and park it in staging....

Then I came across this: [videos.streetfire.net] and now I feel reborn!

Mojito5000

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:11:27 EDT

I'm not even sure WTF this is... There appears to be a van under it though.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

will — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:10:58 EDT

@boognish:
good call, i just saw one of those 80s mitsu's on the street last night. such funny proportions, totally scifi.

that or that 11 second, 14lb. boost 80's caravan

will

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

chazt — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:09:11 EDT

I have to agree with Omaxem, the Williams Renault Espace F1 is the best van ever. Second the A-Team GMC van, both kick the A$$ of my Honda Odyseey.

chazt

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mad_Science — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:08:18 EDT

It's a tossup between the recent PCH candidate:

And CalTech's autonomous 4x4 from the '05 DARPA Grand Challenge:

Extra Points for trying to take out the media:

Mad_Science

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:05:23 EDT

This is my favorite van but just because it's in my driveway. It has a sink, fridge, and microwave in it. The stuff is useless as tits on a tomcat. I've never used anything but the fridge and it's out of freon now.

But it's a great dirt bike hauler and it's gone 240K so far. And the two bench seats in the back face each other and turn into the biggest bed I've seen in a van. Too bad I'm married.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

rasdsm — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:02:53 EDT

The Daihatsu Hijet. Hands down.

rasdsm

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

boosted-lego-wagon — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:59:32 EDT

@layabout: If you think he's bad, what about Van Diesel. Terrible.

I nominate the Transit that Sabine chucked 'round the Nurburgring.

boosted-lego-wagon

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:59:16 EDT

I can tell you my un-favorite is definitely the Honda whatchamacallit after their "Slow Ride" ad trying to ride on the coattails of the classic 70's vans. I'd like to pimp slap the fool that came up with that ad. Actually it would be a great ad if it weren't so sacrilegious.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

pjsammy — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:59:03 EDT

1984 Toyota Van LE 5MT. And yes, I'm the original owner of the one in my garage :)

pjsammy

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Number_Six — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:57:45 EDT

Late-'80s Dodge short body with 318 and 4-spd manual. It was hard to go anywhere without leaving a single two hundred foot stripe on the pavement.

Number_Six

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

boognish — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:57:31 EDT

I always had a soft spot for the mitsus and toyota space vans from the 80's. My friend's mom had one, had mid row captain chairs that swiveled to face rearward, curtains, rear bench that folded flat, and a table with cupholders. What else could a 16 yr old want? Oh yeah, I also like the Mazda MPV 4WD.
Right now, for work, I drive a Dodge Van. Biggest piece of crap evar. I have driven many, many Dodges over my career, and they all suck. Badly. We are now in the process of getting Chevys, which seem to be of better build quality... we shall see. I was hoping the company would spring for a Sprinter (Turbo diesel please), because those rock.

boognish

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

layabout — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:55:44 EDT

Least favorite is van Damme,the guy is too full of himself.

layabout

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

mytdawg — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:55:37 EDT

I've got a friend with 2 of these. They're pretty cool. Not my favorite but they are definitely his. I'm working up to mine.

mytdawg

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

loyter — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:55:34 EDT

From the pages of Jolopnik:
[www.jalopnik.com]

loyter

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

crankcase — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:55:15 EDT

Mazda Bongo van.
Just because it sounds like the name of a chimp.

crankcase

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Ω ß®ªғғ — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:55:04 EDT

@Unevolved...?: There should be no more comments after yours...

This post is (un)officially closed

Ω ß®ªғғ

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

boostedvan — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:55:04 EDT

1989 or 1990 Dodge Caravan Turbo with a five speed. Ive owned a hanful of these and they are just a great sleeper. The one I have now runs about 14.3 at the track and makes a great tent while camping too!

boostedvan

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Mike the Dog — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:54:20 EDT

Any mid-60's Ford or Dodge (they looked a lot alike). Like this Ford, perhaps. [image.truckinweb.com]

Mike the Dog

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Al Navarro — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:54:07 EDT

In second place to the Hijet? The conversion van my high school girfriend drove for a while. I will not sully my formative years with any suggestive suggestions.

Al Navarro

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

bswinfor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:53:52 EDT

Have to be the pea green chevy panel van (late 70's I'm guessing) that my parents used as a honeymoon vehicle. I'm told my sister was conceived in that van. Even if she wasn't, it's a good trashy story.

bswinfor

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Stoatmaster — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:53:13 EDT

Van Helsing.

A Commer with the wheels that you could barely see.

Stoatmaster

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

ZWECK — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:53:12 EDT

Type 2 natch. Wait that's a bus.

ZWECK

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

badco/LoJ — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:56 EDT

Any mid-sixties sub-minivan sized Ford, Chevy, or Dodge van.

badco/LoJ

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

NICKNICK — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:55 EDT

Supervan 2 FTW.

my matchbox, my heart.
a golden v8-powered hope upon my breast. freedom.

NICKNICK

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Omaxem — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:49 EDT

Sooooo easy...

[www.supercars.net]

Omaxem

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Al Navarro — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:48 EDT

Daihatsu Hijet.

Al Navarro

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

layabout — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:47 EDT

@Unevolved...?: Original is 80's cool,not so cool when people try to do this to a Ford Transit.I pity the fool that does that.

layabout

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

graverobber- My Yugo Nova! — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:28 EDT

Favorite:

[jalopnik.com]

Second favorite:
[jalopnik.com]

Forward-control vans rule.

graverobber- My Yugo Nova!

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Badgers — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:52:13 EDT

The Renault Espace F1

[www.supercars.net]

Badgers

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

racerx — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:51:04 EDT

A jacked up 3rd gen (late 80s) Mistubish Delica. Turbo diesel, 4wd and manual and badass looks...what else do you need?

racerx

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

CafeRacer1200 — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:50:31 EDT

I have to go with a mid-sixties Chevy Greenbrier.

CafeRacer1200

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

DRFS Rich — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:50:07 EDT

Either a new Winnebago-converted Sprinter or a mid-90's Chevy Conversion with a Quigley 4wd Conversion.

- R

DRFS Rich

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Isetta — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:49:53 EDT

Van Morrison or any Vanagon Westfalia.

Isetta

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

Unevolved — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:49:47 EDT

/discussion

Unevolved

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

clinto — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:49:04 EDT

[jalopnik.com]

clinto

What's Your Favorite Van Of All Time?

abgwin — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:47:49 EDT

you're kidding, right? sooooooo easy - VW Transport, circa 1950 - 1967. doesn't matter whether it's a 23 window Samba or a doublecab work truck, they kick everything else to the proverbial curb.

abgwin