Unbelievable Van Story

So i'm at my the guy's house who does the upholstery for the guys in my car club and I mention how I wanted to do a paint job on a thunderbird and he tells me he has a 1964 econoline van that's been sitting in his backyard for the last 30 years that was painted the same way. I tell him my dad (who past away when I was 21) had a cool old econoline with a custom paint job in 1970 that my mom made him sell because she wouldn't be caught dead driving the thing. I went home without looking at it and tried to find a picture of my dads van. My mom said she hated that van and only kept one picture of it. I brought the pic back to the guys house and low and behold, it was the same van. Not the same year or kind, but the actual van he owned. My mom said the wood paneling inside was put in there by my dad. Needless to say, I had to buy it from him. The guy isn't a sucker and he knows how much sentimental value is worth so when he stood firm on a $1000, I had no choice but to pay it. Towed it home, changed the battery, oil, plugs, ran gas to the carb and it started on the second crank. Haven't driven it yet, but had to throw some supremes on it so it looked good sitting there.

I do have a question for anyone reading this. I've looked everywhere for replacments panels in the spot I need and i've come up with absolutely nothing. It looks like I'm gonna need a panel off a donor/parts van. Here's a pic of the panel I need.

The wheel well is fine, it's just the outter sheet metal that's ripped away in places. Way beyond my abilities to fabricate. If anyone has any ideas on how to get one of these, I'd really appreciate the feedback. This is an amazing website and i'm sure there's someone out there that can help. Thanks for letting me tell the story.

That is a great story. Congrats !!
Only a $1000 ,sounds to me the guy might have been sentimental.


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mike

That is one cool story...it doesn't get any better than that! Congrats! Looks like a very cool van!

Right On!! Thats a great story and I think 1000 bucks is pretty fair too!! I think I may have that panel you need and any other ones, but its still on the van, I am going to start parting the thing out pretty soon and I will put your name on that panel if you havnt found one by then. where are you in Nor-Cal?

Very nice $1000 bucks can't go wrong there. So are you going to bring it back to the original paint job???

Those wheels alone must have cost $1000.
Great story as well, but why did your Mum hate it so much....?

Amazing story DJ !!!! $1000 for the van your father owned is Unbelievable!

I think this guy has listed the panel you need before. You might want to send him a message and ask.

Dan

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-Van-Econoline-Panel-Below-Cargo-Door-61-68-/270676288388?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f05906384

WoW what a story is right.I would love to see this van with a paint job on it just like the old one! Bill

Great story & van DJ. Oh Yea Welcome to the site

Great story! I'm not sure it matters what you paid it's worth it.

cool story now you have to take your mother around town in the van

What are the chances it would be the same van. Cool story indeed!!!!

Unbelievable story indeed! As a tribute to your dad, you've got to paint it like it was in back in the day! What are your plans?

EconoUSAparts, he has a bunch of stuff, PM him.

goosebumps....its ment to be. awesome.

Thanks for sharing the story. It is one of those goosebump stories. You just had to buy it and I think the price was cheap considering what you got. I hope you do your dad proud.

DirtyJerk wrote:So i'm at my the guy's house who does the upholstery for the guys in my car club and I mention how I wanted to do a paint job on a thunderbird and he tells me he has a 1964 econoline van that's been sitting in his backyard for the last 30 years that was painted the same way. I tell him my dad (who past away when I was 21) had a cool old econoline with a custom paint job in 1970 that my mom made him sell because she wouldn't be caught dead driving the thing. I went home without looking at it and tried to find a picture of my dads van. My mom said she hated that van and only kept one picture of it. I brought the pic back to the guys house and low and behold, it was the same van. Not the same year or kind, but the actual van he owned. My mom said the wood paneling inside was put in there by my dad. Needless to say, I had to buy it from him. The guy isn't a sucker and he knows how much sentimental value is worth so when he stood firm on a $1000, I had no choice but to pay it. Towed it home, changed the battery, oil, plugs, ran gas to the carb and it started on the second crank. Haven't driven it yet, but had to throw some supremes on it so it looked good sitting there.
<some snippage>
. Thanks for letting me tell the story.

Thanks for all the kind words! To answer some of the questions, I'm definitely going back to the original paint job. In fact, i'm probably gonna roll it around the way it is for a while. I kinda dig it. My plans for the thing are probably not what half want to hear and the other half don't really think's possible. But the tentative plan is doing a 4-inch body drop, i.f.s up front with a 4 link in the back and bagged all the way around. I've read every thread on doing these things and I can't understand why it seems the people with the most knowledge on the subject are always the guys who haven't tried it before? Most likely because they're the smart ones. If there's a will, there's a way! Right? As for the price, I agree there really wasn't a number I wouldn't have paid. I had a pretty weak pokerface anyway when I saw it. As for the guys who got back to me on the wheel arch. I'm located in Sonoma County. I'll send you a PM and hopefully we can figure something out. I really appreciate the responses. Oh and the wheels did cost as much as the van and I'm not sure why my mom thought the van wasn't a 'family' car. Probably the rake.

Mike

That's one of the best stories I ever read. Shivers & goosebumps.

Great Story!

When I got the van bug again, I hoped to have a story like this to tell. When I sold my old van in the 90s I knew I'd regret it. For a while I'd see it around town. Then, years later, when I wanted it back, I started to track it down. I went to the DMV with an old registration. She said she couldn't divulge who the current owner was (as I strained to try to read her computer screen). Then I thought to ask, "Well, can you at least tell me if it's been junked?" she thought about it for a second and then told me yes, it had.

I'm the sentimental type. That's a GREAT story!! It DOES beg the question... Is Mom still talking to ya???
Larry in East China Mi.

Hust remember- when its finished= Dad will be in there with You!!

Great story.

Here is a site that has body panels for vans and pick ups. I have not bought from them yet but will be in a month or so for my truck.

http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.asp?ZTM=cadefmfd&GHOME=www.surplussupplyco.com&TITLE=Surplus_Supply

Awsome story...Awsome!!!! i would restore it back just the way your Mom hated it!