by What is your preference and why
+12
bugeye bob
Nightmoves
ditdater
panelmanrd
Big W
itruns
Space Truckin
Joe Van
Seth G
xjamesx
Twinpilot001
weirdbeard
16 posters
window or panel van?
weirdbeard- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2374
Location : Forked River, NJ USA
Registration date : 2014-04-15
Twinpilot001- Number of posts : 6186
Location : spokane ,Wa.
Registration date : 2009-09-28
#1-Window van-cooler, visually better =safer! #2- Display van = same reasone & not many around! 
xjamesx- Number of posts : 378
Location : Rural Maine
Age : 50
Registration date : 2008-05-14
I love the look of a panel van with meaty tires in the back and sidepipes but after years of having panel vans, I got tired of the looks and jokes about it being a chi-mo van or similar bad jokes.
Now that I own a window van, I'm partial to them cause they are easier to see out of when driving and still as versatile for hauling, etc.. Maybe even more so since now passengers aren't afraid of riding in the back, which was harder to do when it's a straight panel van.
I'm tired but I hope that makes sense.
Now that I own a window van, I'm partial to them cause they are easier to see out of when driving and still as versatile for hauling, etc.. Maybe even more so since now passengers aren't afraid of riding in the back, which was harder to do when it's a straight panel van.
I'm tired but I hope that makes sense.
Seth G- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2087
Location : Anacortes, WA
Age : 51
Registration date : 2013-04-24
To me, window vans are cool, stylish, family friendly... BUT the panel van is just rock and roll, dangerous 
Sure you get the bad jokes but it's totally worth it, panel all the way.
And isn't it the "no window" van that really creeps out parents on the street LOL
Hell I'd drive one of those to
Sure you get the bad jokes but it's totally worth it, panel all the way.And isn't it the "no window" van that really creeps out parents on the street LOL
Hell I'd drive one of those to
Joe Van- Moderator 1st Class
- Number of posts : 4619
Location : Ocala fl
Registration date : 2012-10-11
I love the Panels for the "Hot Rod" look and I love the window Vans for a "Stock Look"... ....
...._________________
1966 GMC Handivan "Panel"....1975 Chevy Van G10 "Panel"....1991 Chevy Van G20 "Conversion"
Space Truckin- Number of posts : 1279
Location : Upland,Ca
Age : 69
Registration date : 2009-10-17
^^^What he said^^^X2
weirdbeard- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2374
Location : Forked River, NJ USA
Registration date : 2014-04-15
I love the look of the Panel van myself, but I was selfish when I bough one and did not consider the kids, now they get to sit in the back and not see out. I plan on putting window doors on the passenger side so they can at least see out of there. I may just have to buy a Chevy Sportvan down the road.
itruns- Number of posts : 1605
Location : Chicago, IL
Registration date : 2008-07-03
Window vans:
Ventilation (side operable windows), fish bowl effect, passenger friendly (no motion sickness).
Curtains required for privacy. When camping, the morning sun can be a PITA.
Panels:
Privacy, security (as in Christmas gift getting stolen), easier to customize interior and insulate, "blank slate" for graphics.
I'm partial to window vans, but as I recall, the A-Team van did not have windows.
Ventilation (side operable windows), fish bowl effect, passenger friendly (no motion sickness).
Curtains required for privacy. When camping, the morning sun can be a PITA.
Panels:
Privacy, security (as in Christmas gift getting stolen), easier to customize interior and insulate, "blank slate" for graphics.
I'm partial to window vans, but as I recall, the A-Team van did not have windows.
Big W- Number of posts : 3282
Location : Saskatoon,Sask,Canada
Age : 60
Registration date : 2011-01-13
I also prefer the panel for the "Hot Rod" look and all around agressiveness when you add the wide rear tires and pipes. Family friendly, probably not....but it's just me and the wife now so this style is perfect for us. Maybe down the road I may build a window van just for hauling family around...maybe 
weirdbeard- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2374
Location : Forked River, NJ USA
Registration date : 2014-04-15
Has anyone here used a panel van to drive around a family or friends and if so what is the general consensus?
panelmanrd- Number of posts : 801
Location : kcmo
Age : 63
Registration date : 2009-10-04
panel van, they always look like you have something hiding in there,
window van, no question about what u have in there.
window van, no question about what u have in there.
ditdater- Number of posts : 590
Location : louisville ky
Registration date : 2010-11-06
windows all the way ,as far as more practical. , and I still get thumbs up , and they walk past the vettes to see what this vehicle is , besides cool !
weirdbeard- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2374
Location : Forked River, NJ USA
Registration date : 2014-04-15
ditdater, sell me your sweet chevy window van then.
Nightmoves- Number of posts : 2214
Location : Old Hickory Tenn.
Age : 64
Registration date : 2008-11-17
Ditdater has the only van I know of that still has the 4 cyl. motor still in it.
bugeye bob- Number of posts : 383
Location : atlanta georgia
Age : 68
Registration date : 2009-02-02
when i was looking i wanted a panel but the opportunity for my window van could be passed by - hey it's a vintage that's all that matters i like them all.
kookykrispy- Number of posts : 1533
Location : Helendale, CA
Age : 51
Registration date : 2009-05-22
If you're building a pure hotrod, panel vans are much lighter than window vans. All that glass weighs alot. If you've ever moved a window side door, and then moved a solid side door, you'll be amazed at how much heavier the window door is! I'm trying to go fast with my van, so I don't need the excess weight of the glass. Also, I play in a rock n roll band and sometimes we load all our gear in the van and use it for gigs. I don't need prying eyes looking in windows seeing what's available to steal.
ditdater- Number of posts : 590
Location : louisville ky
Registration date : 2010-11-06
DONT YOU JUST LOVE THAT ONE FOOT OF AIR IN FRONT OF RADIATOR !Nightmoves wrote:Ditdater has the only van I know of that still has the 4 cyl. motor still in it.
Nightmoves , Whats up ! been a while hope your doin fine
Thanks Weirdbeard , Its been such a blessing that He has let me borrow this van for a while ,whenever The Lord says that I/ve used it enough in helping spread His Good News , that's when it/ll be thrown up here for sale . May God Bless all on here !
ditdater- Number of posts : 590
Location : louisville ky
Registration date : 2010-11-06
ditdater wrote:DONT YOU JUST LOVE THAT ONE FOOT OF AIR IN FRONT OF RADIATOR !Nightmoves wrote:Ditdater has the only van I know of that still has the 4 cyl. motor still in it.
Nightmoves , Whats up ! been a while hope your doin fine
Thanks Weirdbeard , Its been such a blessing that He has let me borrow this van for a while ,whenever The Lord says that I/ve used it enough in helping spread His Good News , that's when it/ll be thrown up here for sale . May God Bless all on here !
PS will try to get new pics of Chromed bumpers , and very Smooth custom made radio delete plate ,awesome radio mount in glove box (still w/ half of it w new box cut to size)
m1dadio- Chevy Guru
- Number of posts : 1778
Location : north saanich
Registration date : 2008-10-06
thats cool
m1d
m1d
panelmanrd- Number of posts : 801
Location : kcmo
Age : 63
Registration date : 2009-10-04
looks like a motor from an antique fork lift. kool
diamond dave- Number of posts : 565
Location : canal fulton, ohio
Registration date : 2012-04-24
ive got one of each. and I love my panel. the wife likes the sportvan, but loves the privacy that we have in the panel at truckins. both my microbuses were window vans, and I always had the curtains snapped into the widows for some reason.
weirdbeard- Vintage-Vans Listings Manager
- Number of posts : 2374
Location : Forked River, NJ USA
Registration date : 2014-04-15
One of each is the answer
vanner68- Number of posts : 655
Location : Eastpointe MI
Registration date : 2008-09-22
Panel = van
Window = station wagon.
Two different purposes, like comparing apples and pomegranates.
Window = station wagon.
Two different purposes, like comparing apples and pomegranates.
Joe Van- Moderator 1st Class
- Number of posts : 4619
Location : Ocala fl
Registration date : 2012-10-11
I Will 2ND That..!!!..weirdbeard wrote:One of each is the answer
_________________
1966 GMC Handivan "Panel"....1975 Chevy Van G10 "Panel"....1991 Chevy Van G20 "Conversion"
