So yes, I wanted a hippie bus in 1971, like the ’46 Chevy in the previous post. But as I noted in that post, it wouldn’t have really been the right thing for a guy as mobile and restless as I was back then. Not, this is what I really wanted and needed when I left Towson and headed West. Well, actually, in my alternate life, I did just that. But that was a short wheelbase Econoline 100. This is even better; a long-boy 200. More room, for more girls and a proper propane cook-top and refrigerator and a bigger bed and…
This generation of Econoline hs become rare on the streets, but nifticus found this one in Burnaby, BC., a place that seems to be another Curbsidelandia. This one is in great shape, and looks to be in regular use. A good camper van always has its use and keeps its value. Happy trails!
That is a sweet looking rig! It makes my imagination run wild what fun could be had with it…
I could have used one of those for touring Australia in the 80s & 90s except for the petrol bill, I tried a Volkswagen van instead.
If you haven’t read it already, get a copy of “Blue Highways” by William Least Heat Moon. It’s a great travelogue in which the author, a Native American, travels the back roads of the US in a straight six, 3-speed Econoline.
Still available on Amazon. If this book doesn’t make you want to wander the country, nothing will.
I was brought up in a GM family, but an Econoline with a six and three on the tree would fill a warm place in my heart.
Great book, Evan- –
In the early ’80’s, NPR had a program called “Radio Reader.” At the rate of 1/2 hr./day, the calm, moderate tone of Dick Estelle, of U. Michigan (?), would plow thru a series of current bks.
As he read “Blue Highways,” I made all manner of excuses to remain within earshot of the radio between 8 – 8:30 AM. Good one !
When the provincial Ministry of Health owned and operated the province’s ambulances (as opposed to local municipalities), white early 70s Econolines were the default vehicle of choice in Ontario. As they later switched mostly to Dodge Maxivans.
I bought a new1970 Econoline E-200 long WB cargo van in that year. It was that medium blue color that all Ford trucks and vans seemed to come in in those days.
Served me well for several years.
An Air Force buddy of mine had one of these back in the mid-seventies; as I recall his had the 302 V8 with the column shifted three speed. The person he bought it from had started the conversion process but had given up early on, very little had been done to the interior short of installing a bench down the driver’s side and across the back. I’m not sure why Steve purchased the Econoline but it definitely was the go to vehicle for road trips. We would routinely load 6/8/10 people into the van to go to concerts, sporting events or even late night runs to Jack in the Box. There were no real seats other than the two “buckets” up front so we would routinely use beanbags and folding lawn chairs for passenger seating. Looking back now I realize that this practice was incredibly dangerous but we lived to tell about it.
These are cool old vans that were ubiquitous on the streets till the next gen Econolines replaced them.
I’ve always thought that these vans had a European look to them. As if some of their lines were borrowed from the English Ford Thames vans of the early 60’s.
They may well have been. After penning the ’58 Edsel, Ford desiger Roy Brown was shipped off to England (under cover of darkness, one presumes) where he spent the next 5 years. I know he did the terrific ’62 Cortina during that period. Probably other Anglo Fords. Upon returning home from exile he created the industrial-chic ’68 Econoline.
Always wanted one of those 2nd Generation Econolines. Now it is pretty much too late to find one.
“Ford Econoline”, memorialized in song by Nancy Griffith.
Chuck Prophet too.
I delivered TVs in one of these in the 80s; a ’71 as I recall. LWB one-ton, 300 six, three-on-the-tree. The thing rode like a buckboard wagon.
That style of Econoline ran from what, ’68 to ’74? There were a lot of them. Knew a guy that had a ’72 ro so, short wheelbase, 302 with a C4 automatic. Great little van, nicely fixed up in the 70’s Disco Van style. I rebuilt the transmission in it. I think it took less than 1/2 an hour to get it out!
I had a ’74, same powertrain. Bought it used with shag carpeted and wood paneled interior and an airbrushed mural outside. Bean-shaped hole aluminum rims and Pos-A-Traction Torque Twister tires completed the package.
“Bruce Berry was a working man, he used to load that Econoline van.”
If not for the Mustang and the F series pickup, is there any brand of car from 1968-71 as near to extincttion as Ford? These Econolines are nearly nonexistent in the real world.
The family of a high school friend had a 69 passenger version, basic right down to the metal floors. It was either a 200 or 300 chassis (full floating axle with 8 lug wheels) and rode hard as a rock. But they racked up something like 200k miles on it, including a coupe of trips from northern Indiana to Alaska and back. It was getting pretty rusty when they traded it in on a new 76 Custom Club Wagon (with luxurious color-keyed rubber mat floors.) But the six/3 speed combo was tough as nails.
Fun to look at the ’71 brochures and be reminded of all the configurations these were available in. Ford made a point to tell us of all the maintenance checks that *could* be performed from the front, without having to open the interior cover.
Paul, I hadn’t already read your “alternate life” 1971 tale, and it was great fun–a reminder of the time and aura (to our generation, anyway), when even “2000” was the distant future….