Custom Vans - what happened?

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Bud Smiley said:
I want a ridiculous mural on the side of one of my vans. Something from a mid-80s heavy metal album cover. I'm not even kidding.

If you're absolutely serious, let me know whereabouts you are and I'll hunt somone up for you...I have the connections... :)
 
LeeRevell said:
We van folks are a dying breed, like true musclecar folks.

Coincidentally, I still hang out with a group of "ahem" older muscle car guys at a particular coffee shop early Friday mornings.
 
Almost There said:
If you're absolutely serious, let me know whereabouts you are and I'll hunt somone up for you...I have the connections... :)

I might take you up on that once I get the roof buttoned up. I'm near Santa Cruz/Monterey so I wouldn't at all be shocked if you have connections out here.
 
I pretty much missed out on the whole van craze of the 70's and 80's....I was into motorcycles, jeeps, 4by4s, and trucks...plus, I grew up mostly in the center of the country, where it's less populated and less people means less customs and shows to see them at. I have only seen a couple of custom vans in person...but nothing like these...

I would love to attend one of these van shows:

[video=youtube]
 
Great video! Love the ship motifs and the log cabin. The orange bondage van? Not so much.
 
tx2sturgis said:
I would love to attend one of these van shows:

Next big one is this July 12 to 16th in Mansfield OH.

But there's smaller shows all over the country all during the good weather wherever that may be!

Let me know if you're interested, I'll get you the inside scoop!
 
Yeah, lots of nautical/pirate themes. The Log cabin was probably the best.
Lots of them had a door to the bedroom.
 
cool, sorta old thread bump..

I grew up in them. Dad customized several. we liked the fords leg room most, the chevs handling, and the dodges speeds. mostly fords because they just seem to look better no matter what rims and parts you put on them.

I watched them slowly disappear from the streets. what happened? mini trucks came along (even stupider than elcaminos and rancheros) and most all the young potential vans customizers started on the mini trucks. wasnt much longer and the great custom vans era was over except for a few here and there.
 
I think for modern day urban van dwellers it might have something to do with trying to maintain a somewhat stealth footprint... Beautiful murals and very visible external modifications stand out to LEO, security patrols, and perhaps most importantly, criminals...
 
It was basically a fad that was once popular but whose prime time has past. Nostalgia for our youth will always linger on and someday might enjoy a brief revival in our senior years when again at leisure along with fewer demands on income. The biggest one of those for creating no spare time and no room in the budget factors being raising children who use up the money as well as being pretty effective destroyers of carpets and car upholstery.
 
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My opinion on the matter is that the appeal of a van to a lot of people these days is that of functionality. Meaning, they might not have a surplus of income, and/or spare time apart from just trying to eat, keep clean, work, and pay whatever essential bills they may have.

Therefore a simple, cost effective, low maintenance, mobile shelter is all they desire...I personally have come to appreciate vehicles in stock form for many of the reasons listed above along with ease of repairing/parts sourcing. I always have and always will do all my own repair work - minor or major, was a Ford dealer mechanic for a bit but got out of that. I usually even change my own tires by hand, and I'll say that stock steelies and factory size tires make that process A LOT easier than custom wide or large sizes!

The "no build-build" appeals for many reasons, and can make a utilitarian living space transformable into a cargo van or work van within an hour...and back again...or mix a combo of all 3 into one :) Super quick to clean, and also easier on the mind to let it get a bit dirty if need be.

There will always be creative artists in the world who enjoy modifying and creating cool things - it's something I surely admire about them! But in the grand theme of my book it's rather pointless, adds complexity and maintenance issues while being time, money and resource consuming...all counter productive to a minimalist lifestyle. I'd rather be relaxing, hiking or gardening.
 
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