[S.Brothers]

This incredible vehicle was briefly for sale on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/...37498a55e#v4-41

If you're looking for a vehicle for your Church group or to take the kids to soccer practice, this is probably NOT the vehicle for you.
If you want a time capsule straight from the 70's that makes people smile and blows peoples minds, take a look at this wild classic 70's Show Van.

This is the "SLAYER" Van.
I picked this crazy Van up a year or two when the original owner/builder died. It's in pretty good 'survivor' shape, but it's a 37 year old vehicle. It's needs some work to be a show van, but it's a fun driver. I lost my storage and rather than have it sit outside I've decided to put it up for sale.

THE BASICS- it's got a 350 Chevy engine. I've probably put less than 200 miles on it since I've had it but I replaced the alternator, water pump, fuel pump, and master cylinder. Someone replaced the carb and battery just before I bought it. It seems to be good mechanically and runs and stops fine. The odometer's showing around 25k, I'd guess that's 125k but don't know for sure as it's exempt. It has an automatic trans with a Hurst shifter. The engine has headers, probably from when it was originally built. The engine has 2 filters and a remote trans filter. The suspension has some sort of extra air shocks and what looks like a really heavy duty suspension all around. It was built right back in the days when the weekend Truck-ins and Van Shows were all the rage.

THE EXTERIOR- Wow. Where to start? This thing is covered in crazy murals all over. I'll try to tell my interpretation of the scene beginning at the Driver's side front fender (follow along in the pics if you're so inclined).

1.) Some sort of Alien is hatching out of a pile of fish-egg looking stuff. This alien zaps rocks and turns them into living Rock People.
2.) The newly formed Rock People are ordered into action by an ugly green Rock Hausfrau. Thankfully, the artist had the common sense to paint a dress on her.
3.) Along the way, the Rock People seem to evolve a little more and dabble in assault and cannibalism. This is the 'KFC scene'. I'm guessing that the original builder might have asked the artist to add the KFC bucket to cover up the dead guy's junk? No one wants to see dead caveman wiener on a Van. Either way, the cannibal Caveman is eating his friend and for some reason there's a KFC bucket.
4.) From this craziness, one of the semi-evolved Rock Cavemen gets his hands on a Dinosaur with strange 6-pack abs on his back. He rides it up the hill to attack the "Slayer", a very evolved early man who carries a gold-leaf sword and scores all the naked Cavewomen. The naked Cavewomen are appropriately terrified of the attack.
5.) The next 3 photos or so are details of this scene. Aside from the gold leaf sword, the word 'Slayer' is also gold leaf. Notice the bubbles lead to the small bubble window.
* -Intermission- *
6.) The next 2 photos are the back of the Van. The spare tire mural doesn't really fit with the story, if there even is one. It's "Slayer" partying with the naked chicks in front of some Castle. The one chick has a really long torso and a pretty big booty for a Cavewoman.
* -Side two- *
7.) We continue with our story- The next 3 photos show the aftermath of 'Slayer's' confrontation with the Ab Dinosaur. The Dinosaur is beheaded. He's Slayed. The Rock Caveman dude is knocked off. The Cavewomen are in shock and awe. Lightning comes from the bubble and strikes the gold leaf sword. Other stuff is undoubtedly going on that can only be understood with the right amount of 1970's era recreational drugs.
* Now we're up to the photo with the Z in the brown/white divide in the paint if you're following along*
8.) The Cave People seem to be continuing to evolve into some sort of Caveman Hillbillies. They're no longer eating each other. They're wearing clothing and have a keg. They go from clubbing each other to dancing. There's a giant cobra and I have no damned idea what it has to do with anything.
9.) Cobra!
10.) The Cavemen Hillbillies seem to have discovered drugs and one is snorting some white stuff off of a rock while is friend is passed out. There's a pile of Alien Eggs behind them and it looks like the whole Alien/Rock/Caveman/Hillbilly/Slayer is set to start all over again. (Note- this is just my interpretation of these wacky murals- I don't know who originally painted them 'back in the day')

THE INTERIOR- The interior's a basic camping setup with 4 captains chairs up front, a bench in the back, and a stove and sink. Wood paneling. The stove and sink are disconnected and completely untested. It has an octagon shaped steering wheel and a new CD player. The Van has a split sunroof in front and a square vent in the back. The plastic's shrunk up on the back vent cover and it needs replaced. The original carpet is in place but it's kindof beat.
The Van has add-on power windows, the motors bolted on over the regular window cranks. The guy that built the Van had a glass company so the front windows are etched with a flowery pattern. The driver's window has the builder/owner's name at the bottom, the passenger's side says 'Do It In A Van'. Both mirrors are etched with the words "Get Slayed". There's a wood 8-track holder over the dogbox.

THE WHEELS- The original aluminum slot wheels and tires are on it. They're awesome for shows and photo ops, but won't hold up long for everyday use. I'll include a used set of Cragar mags. I was going to get tires for the Cragars and run them for everyday use.

THE BAD- As I said, I've put less than 200 miles on this Van in a year or two so it's still relatively untested mechanically (but seems to run OK). The hood is cracked at a few spots (see detail photo) and is starting to rust a little bit. At this point it's only on the white background and not effecting the murals, but it will need to be fixed and should have nice indoor storage. The slider door is tricky as with any Van with super-wide flairs. Because of people not using the right method to open it, there's a scrape mark on the rear flair where the door bottom hit. I haven't tried to touch this up. The roof is looking a little faded and would need to be painted if you're restoring this to its old Show Van glory.

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[Kerry]

Worth every penny!

The owner sure is funny and can paint a picture just swell


KFC bucket and junk is a total riot


3.) Along the way, the Rock People seem to evolve a little more and dabble in assault and cannibalism. This is the 'KFC scene'. I'm guessing that the original builder might have asked the artist to add the KFC bucket to cover up the dead guy's junk? No one wants to see dead caveman wiener on a Van. Either way, the cannibal Caveman is eating his friend and for some reason there's a KFC bucket.

[oldschoolbmx]

Grrr... let type this again since my POS HP computer crashed aaagain.

Anyway, I loved vans and vanning. I have always wanted a '70s style van and actually looked at one last year, but it was $1500 and too much work. I think buying a time-capsule like this would be WAY cheaper in the long run.

BITD it was a family friend who had a a yellow Dodge Tradesman lowered on Cragars with the small fiberglass fender flares and a metalic brown stripe all the way around from front to back, between the body lines. I remember going to the van shops and always dug the whole scene.

I awlays thought it would come back in some form, but it is a very small group of enthusiests who keep on truckin'! Glad to see at least some of these old vans are being saved. Here is a Facebook page with some of them, there are some cool old vans in there too:

https://www.facebook...ps/23649868063/

[S.Brothers]

Maybe Grey will post his van... it's the pinnacle of heat

[mmmmitsajelly]

This thing is SPECTACULAR! What an example of the ostentatiousness of 70s vans...The interior is also a smashing success...like a parlour!

[dayride]

My dad had a custom van in the 70's. He sectioned off the back and put in a bed and lined the walls with fur, he also installed a cabinet with a sink and fridge. Of course he had the standard wood grained tray attached to the console are in the front. I attended a couple of van ins with him I was too young and was asleep by the tiume the real fun happened.

[greyboy]

I've loved street vans for sometime now, and i finally found the one that i wanted a few weeks ago 1978 Dodge B200 tradesman shorty, 74,000 original miles...customized in '79 by the original owner and well preserved its entire life

[Dirty]

That's F'n COOL Grey...can't wait to see it in person!

[COASTY]

Very cool vans guys. I'm on an Aussie Van forum and love them. I've owned two Aussie vans back in the 80's and would love another one.
Our Vans are very different to the US style. We had both but traditionally Aussies drove Holden or Ford PanelVans.
Like these.

[I am the owl...]

Greyboy that van is badass!

[oldschoolbmx]

OMG GreyBoy! That van is badass! If I found something like that I would jump on it, except for the fact that time, money and space are issues for me.

[blikum]

Grey, that Van is Van-tastic! Speaking of kick ass vans, remember the A-Team van? Well, here's a pic of my daughter yesterday with the A-team van...

 A-my Team van.jpg (1.66MB)
Number of downloads: 2

[DAN]

Van's rule. Check out the Vandelero's site for some radness!

[greyboy]

ya vandaleros site is sick

its funny because i never associated street vans to the A-Team...but everyone else seems too! all i ever hear is stupid A-Team jokes

[CharleyGnarlyP290]

I really dig the colors of the vans from back then. Especially the browns, tans, yellows and oranges they used.
Anybody remember the flick "The Van" from 1977? A really great snapshot of the '70s.

[Brian Hays]

The wheels and tires on that van are so awesome!! Grey, yours is saweeeet. The Speed Shop Ive worked at for the last 18 years started in 1971 and from 76-81 was mostly a van customizing place. My boss who has been here since the beginning said for a period of about four years, they sold an average of 150 van seats a week between the three stores along with sun roofs and tables. LOTS of slots and Crager SS wheels. Once the van craze died, we migrated towards hardcore performance parts and have stayed there. Ive always thought it would have been cool to be around for the van craze days but I was only 5 in 76

[greyboy]

thats a rad story brian, i bet he did some insane custom work on some vans

he wouldn't by any chance have any old 'van stuff' left around there???

[DAN]

Check this out from the mighty Selvedge Yard.

http://theselvedgeya...mization-craze/