Top 3 Vans from last 3 years

Late-model custom Vans

Posted March 9 2009 09:42 AM by DanWard-Editor
Filed under: Editorials, About Features/Should-Be Features, Past Events, Chevy, Blessings and Beatings

Response from the VAN community has been great recently and it got me thinking of the 3 best vans we have featured in the last 3 years. Here they are. Notice all 3 combine current custom trends.

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I'm curious to see how much hate comments I'll receive after saying this, but does anyone agree that the older VANS would look better with newer, larger wheels filling the wheel wells and if some of the mods were more current?

I look at these 3 vans and see custom suspensions, big wheels, clean paint, great interiors- all the things a Truckin' reader looks for without the (here is comes) Van stereotypes that so many of you have commented on- such as "hippies, long-hairs, and Scooby-do Van guys." I think if more vans were being built like these, more guys, especially the younger crowd would be more interested in vans. I understand many of the older vans have a history and large amounts of money invested...but how about a refresh with some modern touches?

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Reader Comments:

1. i like classic rims over the new huge rims

hippieluke - Posted March 9 2009 12:05 PM

2. I personally do like the big wheel look on the older vans. However when you are driving hundreds of miles to an event it's not all that practical to be running 20" wheels on rubber band tires. The last vanner owned van you featured was Never Enough. The pictures were taken in Michigan at the Nationals, that van drove in from Rhode Island towing a trailer some 500 miles or more away. Custom vans are all about practicality. The roads in the Midwest and Northeast are prone to potholes and I have unfortunately seen what they can do to a 20" one off billet wheel. I suggested to the owner of this Safari that was featured in Truckin' that he should have some road wheels and save the big blings for the show.
One of the other problems is that there is little interest in a tire/wheel company to sponsor a van that will not get exposure in a magazine. Currently there are no pro built or fully sponsored vans on the show circuit or trying to line up magazine covers. Maybe that would change if you did give some coverage to some of the vans running practical 18" Foose rims or 18" Torque Thrusts. Cragar would love to see some vans running running their SS wheels I'm sure.
I'm hoping you don't get a lot of hate comments. We're all about being positive about this and really do want to see vans back in the magazines.

Showtrux - Posted March 9 2009 01:59 PM

3. As far as the older vans (1961-1970) I think it would be great to show people both the old school and new school versions of what can be done with these vans. I am currently building a 1965 Econoline that incorporates old school with the latest in A/V in it,32" TV, 17" drop down TV and 7" Clarion popup DVD with Arc Audio amps and Clarion subs and 6x9s. Micro wave, 25 farad capacitor and a 3500 watt power invertor and two Optima batteries. The interior is a very clean looking light blue and white tuck and roll accented with polished aluminum diamond plate. The motor is a 200 ci straight six with Clifford Performance cam and headers. It will eventually have three weber carbs with throttle body injection and should put out 300hp and 450 pounds of torque. It already draws a lot of the younger generation to it at car shows. They are particularly interested in the A/V system and the unique exhaust.

IMVANISHINGBREED - Posted March 9 2009 03:42 PM

4. If you are lookin' for a lot of the Midwest's best show panels and vans then you need to attend the midwest's largest van event Spring Fever hosted by Vantasia Vans of Kansas City May 15-17th at Down Under Campground approx 40 miles north of Kansas City for more info www.vantasiavans.com

phrog7 - Posted March 9 2009 04:19 PM

5. I like both the old school and new look, vans are very versatile and can easily go either way, its just up the owners tastes! I cant wait to see what you guys come up with in the pages of Truckin'

Snotty - Posted March 9 2009 05:53 PM

6. My comment here is I like what I read so far here. People forgot about the van yrs, the public that is. The younger crowd never saw any vans. I take my old 76 Ford and the kids love it,They don't see this everyday. They didn't even know you can do this to them customize. Yes we have to show old and new school so that your old crowd sees vans again and the new generation sees both ends of this hobby.maybe they will even start making product for vans again. They just took a back seat for awhile. now it's time to ring everyones bells. They will see wow vans are cool. I remember them,What happen were did they go?

vanmachineman - Posted March 10 2009 04:13 PM

7. We presently have a full size hightop for convience in camping. We are show & shine spectators. We both have had several vans in our 35 years of vannin. Just love be part of the sport & the huge family we have gained along the way.
We do like the look of the old school vans & the chopped vans.

DeeJaye - Posted March 10 2009 05:17 PM

8. My van is built for comfort. I travel 1000's of miles every year to truckings and live out of my van for days at a time. My greatest joy is probably driving to the events, and of course carousing with my friends. Hence, I want a comfortable ride so I can't get on board with the big wheels. I understand they're a pretty rough ride. I don't want to lower it because of the body damage that is likely to occur. Nor do I want a 4 wheel drive because of the mileage. However, I can get behind clean paint and kickin' stereos. I would rather build an interior than an exterior. That said, I replaced the rocker panel on my '89 Chevy last summer and have plans to get a new paint job. Seeing vans in the public eye, however they're done, are inspiring nonetheless. Thanks for the opportunity.

steveanner - Posted March 10 2009 05:59 PM

9. I can't imagine a pre-1970 van (cab-forward design) with anything over 16" rims. But when Ford full-sized vans emerged in 1969, followed by GM and Dodge in 71... a body style that suits modern rims was born!

I'd like to ride 20s or 22s on my 85 Chev around town or just for show, but I would definitely roll on 15s or 16s for general use!

sasktrini - Posted March 10 2009 06:40 PM

10. Vanners love vans. 14's or 22's, bagged or jacked, custom paint or rattle canned. Early, mid,late or modern. Visit a truckin and you'll see the beauty is in the vanners themselves. It's the worlds largest family.

CatFish0 - Posted March 11 2009 06:03 PM

11. like both...old school as well as tuner...each one for each other

mugsyville - Posted March 12 2009 08:44 AM

12. My 93 E150 has over 300,000 miles on it, and I am running 15x8 American Racing Aluminum rims with p255/70 tires. They fit without being crazy, the ride is second to none, and they are tough enough to handle the crappy roads out here in the midwest. About 80% of my mileage is traveling the highways of North America to and from van events. Together we have driven in all 48 states, and covered the entire length of the Trans Canada from Vancouver to Halifax. I started my vanning career in a 1961 Econoline-six and stick. did 300,000 in that also. The late model is much more comfortable! I am looking forward to seeing van coverage in the mag once again, and also looking forward to seeing Bob Ryder at the Van Nationals in Pa.! Breakfast at our camp again, same as Michigan!

mvlhoward - Posted March 16 2009 06:39 PM

13. The van Truckin' built is my favorite.

MoeThirteen - Posted July 1 2009 08:52 AM

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