Last ride for a '67 108?

A while back I spotted this '67 108 panel in a vacant lot surrounded by trees and growth that was being used as a storage shed.  I left a note inside pleading with the owner to share this van for parts or sell it as a whole.  Its very far gone, rusted out floors and doghouse but plenty of other good parts.  Its has a V8, 283/307? and a three speed manual.  I recently passed by the property and saw it had been cleaned out, and pulled into the driveway.  The tires were inflated and a few old school mags were on it.  Looks like some one is going to save it or its on its way to the crusher!  I've been watching this van for over 20 years now!  My note was gone BTW...some pics, it was getting dark...

Well Hopefully .. Some one is coming for it  ( Not the Crusher ) I'm Sure there's a lot of good parts There .... if someone's Not going to save it !!!!!!!

I acquired my 68 108 panel van in a very similar way......I'd been watching and considering buying it for over two years. It was just sitting in the rear of a backyard where nobody ever seemed to be home.
One day, I saw activity at that house, so I got up my nerve and went and knocked on the door.....The door opened, but I could not see anybody because the sun was shining brightly across the screen door, so I didn't know if I was talking to man, woman, or somebody about to shoot me......I just spilled it....."That old van in your backyard, Might it ever be going up for sale?"......I about s#!+ myself when he pushed the screen door open and stepped outside (startled me)......."I might maybe sell it for the right price" he said. So I asked him "what kind of price would motivate you to sell it to me?"..... He threw a number out that was WAY within my expectation, so I asked if I could look it over and said that he probably had a deal as long as it isnt a rusted mess.....Turns out, it was a two-owner van that had been purchased new in PHX and spent it's entire life in AZ....Andy is a reluctant snowbird from Wisconsin that visits his childhood home here that now sits mostly empty because his parents and brother (who owned the van) are deceased.....In talking more with him, it was revealed that he had been about two weeks away from towing the van back to WI, where rust-free stuff is a sure sale, so I came within two weeks of losing a deal I had been considering for over two years, had I not stepped forward to ask about claiming the prize.....
Over the years, I've watched stuff disappear like this and other times that I've asked about stuff, it went to somebody else because maybe my offer wasn't as enticing as what the seller could get the "waiting in the wings" guy to bid and beat my offer.....I think having this seller throw out a number was the key, and if he had put that on me, I would have simply said that I'll pay $100 more than any other bidder..... In that scenario, if the other (maybe fake) bid was astronomically high, I'd just let it go.... The point is to establish a "right of refusal" for myself.....If you want that van and it isnt gone yet, MOVE ON IT!

AzDon wrote:I acquired my 68 108 panel van in a very similar way......I'd been watching and considering buying it for over two years. It was just sitting in the rear of a backyard where nobody ever seemed to be home.
One day, I saw activity at that house, so I got up my nerve and went and knocked on the door.....The door opened, but I could not see anybody because the sun was shining brightly across the screen door, so I didn't know if I was talking to man, woman, or somebody about to shoot me......I just spilled it....."That old van in your backyard, Might it ever be going up for sale?"......I about s#!+ myself when he pushed the screen door open and stepped outside (startled me)......."I might maybe sell it for the right price" he said. So I asked him "what kind of price would motivate you to sell it to me?"..... He threw a number out that was WAY within my expectation, so I asked if I could look it over and said that he probably had a deal as long as it isnt a rusted mess.....Turns out, it was a two-owner van that had been purchased new in PHX and spent it's entire life in AZ....Andy is a reluctant snowbird from Wisconsin that visits his childhood home here that now sits mostly empty because his parents and brother (who owned the van) are deceased.....In talking more with him, it was revealed that he had been about two weeks away from towing the van back to WI, where rust-free stuff is a sure sale, so I came within two weeks of losing a deal I had been considering for over two years, had I not stepped forward to ask about claiming the prize.....
Over the years, I've watched stuff disappear like this and other times that I've asked about stuff, it went to somebody else because maybe my offer wasn't as enticing as what the seller could get the "waiting in the wings" guy to bid and beat my offer.....I think having this seller throw out a number was the key, and if he had put that on me, I would have simply said that I'll pay $100 more than any other bidder..... In that scenario, if the other (maybe fake) bid was astronomically high, I'd just let it go.... The point is to establish a "right of refusal" for myself.....If you want that van and it isnt gone yet, MOVE ON IT!

Good story, I left a note and a fellow member here who has a yard and trailer to move it offered to help, but they never replied.  There is no one at the property to ask about.  But when I passed by a few days ago, the note was gone, so maybe they will call after all.  If its still there on Sat., I will leave another note just asking to call and chat about it....I'm thinking some one is gonna save it because a recylcer wouldn't bother to inflate the tires and change the wheels up front for towing from the rear?, would have just winched onto a flatbed and goodbye....it would be nice just know another local van guy and offer to help!

I stopped by over the weekend with my van,still there but ni sign of life on the property.  I put a note inside with contact info asking status, if they'd like help restoring or would they be willing to part it out before sending to the crusher, no response yet!  This van has that rare air cooled conversion doghouse lid in it though! Plus its got a modified floor system to cool the back area...There's also no floors left in the entire front seat area....
check these pics out:

Custom airflow system...I Like It!!! Still though, rough as it is, might be some good usable parts in and on it. I'm surprised someone hasn't contacted you yet. Would be better than just having it crushed and gone forever...