Well, Isn’t That Special?

I just got this 1965 5-window pickup.  The PO had installed a roll bar, exhaust stacks, air horn on the roof, luggage rack on the roof, and had installed one of those boxes that makes the horn sound like the General Lee.

The door tag is missing, but it has a 170 engine, manual transmission, and light-duty rear axle.

The VIN on the rear brace is E10TH685156, which puts it right in line with the Spring Specials.  I can see where the holes for the trim were welded over before this custom paint job was applied.  The original Marlin Blue paint is showing through.  Might this be a Spring Special that someone has taken the time to make “really special”?

looks like you have a winter project, just don't let the po. help.

no comment on the special SPECIAL but I do see a whole bunch of econos in the back ground

Really, looks like you have me beat. I only have 8!

I don't mean to brag, but I now have 13. I have seven more coming to me in February, which will give me an even 20. It's hard to say no when they are practically giving them away. I'm glad I don't have to pay the West-coast prices on these vans.

The dark green 2000 Econoline in the last photo is my daily driver that I use to haul the classics.

Most Specials were poppy red but there were other colors. I've seen black,white, and carribean turquoise but never blue. Post the whole VIN plate data for decode at OldEonolines to find out for sure.

Barnabas wrote:I don't mean to brag, but I now have 13.  I have seven more coming to me in February, which will give me an even 20.  It's hard to say no when they are practically giving them away.  I'm glad I don't have to pay the West-coast prices on these vans.

The dark green 2000 Econoline in the last photo is my daily driver that I use to haul the classics.

barnabas, do you ever sell any of these econos or do you just walk around the herd and smile, if you don't I understand 20 is a nice round number!

Thats a fun one

Great find! A diamond in the rough. I love that windshield visor. Let me know if you ever want to get rid of it.

EconoUSAparts wrote:Most Specials were poppy red but there were other colors. I've seen black,white, and carribean turquoise but never blue. Post the whole VIN plate data for decode at OldEonolines to find out for sure.

Tim, mine was originally light  blue. Fred

mark-t wrote:
    barnabas, do you ever sell any of these econos or do you just walk around the herd and smile, if you don't I understand 20 is a nice round number!

I haven't sold any in 30 years. I've been without a garage for that long, but have plans to build one in the next two years. I keep finding great deals, and sometimes I get them for free. Most are complete, so I'll eventually fix them up and sell them.

I'm fortunate to have a sister nearby who owns a farm and lets me store them in exchange for farm work. When families tour the farm, most dads head straight for the Econolines!

Code:

EconoUSAparts wrote:Most Specials were poppy red but there were other colors. I've seen black,white, and carribean turquoise but never blue. Post the whole VIN plate data for decode at OldEonolines to find out for sure.

Unfortunately, the door tag is gone, though it looks like the original doors. I got the VIN off the rear corner brace. No title with this one.

fmc56 wrote:

EconoUSAparts wrote:Most Specials were poppy red but there were other colors. I've seen black,white, and carribean turquoise but never blue. Post the whole VIN plate data for decode at OldEonolines to find out for sure.

Tim, mine was originally light  blue. Fred

Fred, not saying there weren't any just saying I've never seen any. Was yours this same color blue?

There are at least 61 Spring Specials in the database at http://www.econolineid.com

Other than the usual Vermillion (Poppy Red), here are the other colors on record:

B- Caribbean Turquoise (of course, the B might really be a dirty 3)
M- Wimbledon White (4 trucks on the list)
J- Rangoon Red (odd since it is close to the Poppy Red)
F- Arcadian Blue (is this Fred's?)
Mine is W- Marlin Blue (I don't have the door tag, so I guessed based on the color under the dash)

I'm curious, is the dash gauge panel white? Is the drivers seat knob white? Both would be if an original Special.

Gauge cluster is white. No seats. Steering wheel is black.

Steering wheel should be white also. Of course that could have been swapped out though, just like the guage panel.