Panel Vans in the 70s

[Chopped]

Thought some might enjoy this short vid from a 70s panel van meet

[Tonz]

A type of panel van is still very much alive especially in UK.
The humble VW Caddy can be turned into something crazy.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by Tonz

A type of panel van is still very much alive especially in UK.
The humble VW Caddy can be turned into something crazy.

image

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Christ almighty, How are you goin to get a Legover in the back of one of these little Things...

[Tonz]

A type of panel van is still very much alive especially in UK.
The humble VW Caddy can be turned into something crazy.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by Tonz

A type of panel van is still very much alive especially in UK.
The humble VW Caddy can be turned into something crazy.
image

image

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What's the good of that tho, a van for midgets.

I had a HX Sandman 5.0L van and a XC GS 5.8L van and a 3.3L one that chewed just as much fuel as the 5.8L but she was decked out in the back.

I never see done up P vans or the CF Bedford's and Transits anymore.

Fork it or walk it, no body rides for free. stickers on them and If the Van's a rocking don't come a knocking.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by mick taylor

What's the good of that tho, a van for midgets.

I had a HX Sandman 5.0L van and a XC GS 5.8L van and a 3.3L one that chewed just as much fuel as the 5.8L but she was decked out in the back.

I never see done up P vans or the CF Bedford's and Transits anymore.

Fork it or walk it, no body rides for free. stickers on them and If the Van's a rocking don't come a knocking.

haha the good ol days !
Shaggin wagons, our Mums and Dads used to think all the baddies naughty boys owned them and the girls in them were Sl-ts !
Drive ins.
Memories indeed.
Loved our V8 vans, they looked and sounded tuff as.

[jaydee]

Many, many years ago, an old neighbour had a black 1977 XC van, 351, with a mural on the side of Pink Floyds album, Dark Side of the Moon.
Looked great.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by jaydee

Many, many years ago, an old neighbour had a black 1977 XC van, 351, with a mural on the side of Pink Floyds album, Dark Side of the Moon.
Looked great.

A guy i worked with had a 350 HQ PV with the cover art of the Bat Out Of Hell album down both sides, beautiful van.

[ford71V8]

OPs video not working for me.


Ironically I posted this video in the eBay / YT thread last night....

[hackney]

Owned one of these in 1974,exact same spec & colour(Chrome yellow) $4044 on the road!

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by ford71V8

OPs video not working for me.


Ironically I posted this video in the eBay / YT thread last night....

While there is still a smattering of vans getting around which is great to see, it's sadly nothing like the 'culture' that it used to be.

[Burnout]

The Van Nats were held in Parkes this year.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Burnout

The Van Nats were held in Parkes this year.

Went to the van nationals held in Albury-Wodonga 2019 (hosted by the Majestic Vanners club) still plenty of great vans getting around.
Late 70s, early 80s van scene, those were the days.

[Vesper Martini]

watched this the other day. forward to 2min mark for the Police panel van
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoRp_YFu2pY

[nstg8a]

Mines still hibernating in my garage, will be done one day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Mines still hibernating in my garage, will be done one day. image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice. Love the idea of the black outed barn door window frame. Gives the impression of a single upper tailgate.

[Raptor]

I'll just leave these here

showcar


even better in colour with a model


someone had a pretty good crack at making one for themselves


back when you could buy kits


and for something retro cool
Holden Sandman Concept from 2000.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Raptor

I'll just leave these here

showcar
image

even better in colour with a model
image

someone had a pretty good crack at making one for themselves
image

back when you could buy kits
imageimage

and for something retro cool
Holden Sandman Concept from 2000.
image

And these days there's multiple posts and Bookface pages on the chrome exhaust tip they've just fitted and have to brag about.

[FTE217]

Got to say I was jealous of the Sandman :(

[Pis-ton broke]

i love the '70,s VP. it was like an artist canvas for some. i love murals on them, thats a lot of work and talent. bubble windows. its was a real dick measuring contest. barns doors vs top and bottoms doors. at the drive ins the top and bottom type were good i think, (but be fore my time). different front ends, they where customizable. and the fun and stigma that went with them. imo nothing compares today, people are so clinical with there new flash investments.

[nstg8a]

I took mine to a few van shows when it was on the road, the scene now has flipped 180, before it was customises as crazy as you want, now it’s all about body codes and originality and future values etc.
not many customise anywhere near the extent of its heyday.
There is still some crazy examples, just not as common.

[roKWiz]

Lets not forgot Valinats efforts to get in on the action. Drifter to the Denim Machine.





Holden wise.....John Strachans "Alley Cat" was my all time favourite show van. All V12 Jag drivetrain.



So many great vans at that time.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

I took mine to a few van shows when it was on the road, the scene now has flipped 180, before it was customises as crazy as you want, now it’s all about body codes and originality and future values etc.
not many customise anywhere near the extent of its heyday.
There is still some crazy examples, just not as common.

Anal collectors, its taken all the fun away from what it was all about. Girls, the beach, the drive ins.

[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Anal collectors, its taken all the fun away from what it was all about. Girls, the beach, the drive ins.

Yep the amount of vans you see at a show these days was just a normal daily occurrence back in the 70's and 80's, and for the most part they where basically stock with a few mods, that's the culture I'm more familiar with not the show scene...Show vans where around for sure but you didn't see them down the beach that much....

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by DJR-351

Yep the amount of vans you see at a show these days was just a normal daily occurrence back in the 70's and 80's, and for the most part they where basically stock with a few mods, that's the culture I'm more familiar with not the show scene...Show vans where around for sure but you didn't see them down the beach that much....

Loved both the show scene and day to day vans at the time.
Got so many idea's from Custom vans and Trucks magazine.

Even today when I take the panel van to work or quoting jobs, people approach me commenting on the laid back panel van era.

I would buy another Sandman in a heartbeat for the right money but it wouldn't be a trailer queen.

[DJR-351]

Even me dear old mum had a Escort Sundowner PV

[FormulaFG]

Damn this thread........now I have the urge to buy a panel van and go driving around the country.

[ford71V8]

The older kid that lived opposite us took ownership of his dads XC pano, in orange with blackouts. We used to get a lift to school in it and then when the son had it he decked out the rear with audio and spent every weekend washing it while blaring Back in Black over and over.... i wanted that car so bad and dad was looking for something similar....he ended up bringing home a friggin Bongo Van

[DJR-351]

A nicely done Landau front end....

[Franco Cozzo]

That XH van would have to be fairly rare