Car Porn

Very very nice.

 

September 16th, 2017:

Forgot about the older Ford vans I photographed at Keystone Madness!

Here, we have a "restomod" 1969 Ford Econoline cargo van! It looks like your typical 1970's-era shaggin' wagon. However, this van has equipped with all of the modern features you'd find in a new van! For starters, it has a 302cid V8 mated to an automatic transmission (I think it was originally 3-on-the-tree). It did not originally have power steering or power brakes, but it does now. It has front disc brakes too. It also has air-conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering, power windows, power locks, and a killer stereo system. The owner's wife showed me the back, which was still "under construction." You can tell by looking at the interior shot that the interior of the van is still under construction (note the plywood on the door). However, this is a fully-functional vehicle that is reliable enough to be a daily driver. The A/C is ICE COLD, the heat works, and the cruise control works. The dashboard was made from bits and pieces of a 1975-newer Ford van if I remember correctly. It also has Dakota Digital gauges!

The owners of the van drove all the way down from Rhode Island (note the license plate)!



The owner of this van was VERY, VERY NICE. He was all too happy to show off his creation, and he even invited me to take a look inside. The unwritten rule of car shows is "LOOK, BUT DO NOT TOUCH!" I was afraid of merely smudging this beautiful machine, and the owner saw that I was a bit hesitant about getting a closer. He encouraged me to open the door and take a look inside. This is the one and only picture I took of the interior:

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

One of two early (1961-1967; first gen) Ford Econoline panel vans I spotted within a few feet of each other...

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

The second Econoline panel...

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

Back to the Dodge vans!

1979 Dodge B-series cargo van...

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

This is "Blues Traveler," a 1-owner 1993 Dodge Ram B250 cargo van...

I met the owner of this van at the concession stand and he started telling me about how cool his van was and how he'd be happy to give me a tour. Unfortunately I didn't end up meeting him back at his van, but I did get plenty of pictures of it.

The owner is from New Hampshire special ordered the van with every available option. For starters, he ordered it with the venerable 318cid/5.2L Magnum V8 engine and a limited-slip rear differential (most of these vans had open rear differentials). A 4-speed automatic transmission was the only available transmission with V8 engines. The van has A/C, cruise, tilt, power windows, and power locks. It originally had an AM/FM cassette, but the owner has since installed a CD/cassette combo head unit from a newer Dodge vehicle so it looks stock but still has a CD player. The owner also informed me that it one hell of a sound system, so I'm guessing it has several speakers and a subwoofer. This is the van I wish I could go back in time and buy. Even though I'm a diehard Chevy guy, I have always thought the 1979-1993 Dodge vans were the best-looking full-size vans. 1993 is the last year for the boxy styling. For 1994, the exterior was rounded off, but the interior was carried over from 1993. Aside from the addition of a driver's side airbag as standard equipment in 1995, the dashboard and overall interior designed remained unchanged until 1997. For 1998, the exterior stayed the same but the interior was completely redesigned and a passenger's airbag became standard. The Dodge B-series vans remained pretty much unchanged from 1998 until production ended in 2003.

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

1996 Dodge Ram B150 short wheelbase passenger van...

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

 

1941 Willys?

Did you take this at a cruise night or car show in your area?

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

A one-of-a-kind 1994 Chevrolet Astro CS with a Janis Joplin theme!


The "Vanner's Creed," etched into one of the rear windows...

 

Just a pic off the net, but I did snap a pic of a red one the other night at a car show.

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

Aside from the rims, this is actually a largely stock Astro conversion van. I believe the owner said it was a 1998 model. It's very hard to find Astro stock conversion vans that haven't been driven into the ground...

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

One of at least two vanners who came from North of the border for this event

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

Just a couple of stock Express G1500 cargo vans; Really nothing special to the layperson. However, the owner of the blue 2002 model closest to me was blasting "Like a Rock" from that red Milwaukee boombox...



FUN FACT: The Astro was the only Chevy van to be featured in any of the original "Like a Rock" commercials. The "Like a Rock" ad campaign ran from 1992 until 2004, and the G-series and Express were never featured. However, I am lifelong diehard Chevy guy and I do love the old vans, so I figured it would be only appropriate to give the old G-series and Vandura full-size vans some screentime in my tribute videos. The same goes for the 1996-2002 (seen here) and 2003-present Chevy Express and GMC Savana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEpN6aSm3nc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qArKyRDMg4k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsOxr3toy2w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs3s-M8RKr8

An Astro that has been converted into a wheelchair van makes an appearance in a particularly patriotic scene about 10 seconds in:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2VgRiaDHWw

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017

Nicely done Chevy Express G1500 conversion van...

 

September 16th, 2017:

Keystone Madness 2017