I can never resist a van-up, but after Jim’s Radio Flyer Wagon, they all seem so crude. At least the ones that I encounter here. This one reminds me of the infamous Pontiac Transvertible, although that seemed almost well-trimmed compared to this. But leaving aside the hack-job aspect, doesn’t this make a rather nice compact pickup? In principle, I mean.
I forgot to get a shot of the inside of the “bed”, but it’s every bit as crude as can be. Looks like it was just chopped, or maybe this is all they’re up to. I do like the fold-down seating arrangement; very clever indeed.
Aren’t the Astros on an S-10 frame?
Nope! They are front subframe/unit body like the older Camaros and Novas. This POS is an accident waiting to happen. Heaven help anyone around this guy if he pulls a trailer with it.
I’m all about creativity but cutting the rigidity out of this one was a big mistake.
BTW, Astros have the large bolt pattern wheels (5×5)..the same as the full-sized pickups & vans. These are normally great vehicles: I spotted one at the scrapyard with over 400K on the odometer several years ago.
I hate to say it, but even if it was structurally sound…ehhh, I just can’t give it a thumbs-up, sorry!
On another note….the V8 will bolt right into these without cuttin’.
They do have “frame” rails running all the way to the rear. It isn’t much different from the Chrysler and Chevy van based motorhomes and high cube vans. Those were “unibody” too and they don’t fold in half and are fine for towing too. Not saying I recommend this but it has been done before and it follows precedent started by the mfgs going back to the original Econoline pickup and the Chrysler too which were also “unibody”. Just because a vehicle is “unibody” does not mean that the majority of the structure isn’t under the floor. It certainly isn’t the first or the worst.
I’ll have to take a closer look then… because I’ve seen many an Astro on its side & would be hard pressed to believe cutting the roof off of one wouldn’t compromise its “frame”.
It certainly wouldn’t help it’s integrity but as I said it was done from the factory for years with the early FC pickups, and there are a bunch of converted Astros on the web some done up quite nicely. Plus there are some Chrysler versions as well.
Would the factory jobs have reinforcing to compensate for the loss of the roof though?
It would seem like the biggest issue with the Astro pickup’s body integrity (as opposed to the old A100 Dodge or Econoline pickups) is neither the Dodge or Ford had the Astro’s sliding side door.
Of course, the old Corvair ‘Rampside’ pickup had a big ‘ole side door that flopped down, which wouldn’t seem too awfully different from the Astro’s sliding door, either.
I wonder how well that sliding door works. Maybe a guy could rejigger it into a modern-day Rampside pickup.
I have come into a kind of grudging respect for these after doing a CC on one last year. The Sawzall treatment is kind of interesting.
There are still plenty of the AWD versions running around up here in Truckee/Tahoe. Both as family haulers and work trucks for tradesmen.
I think I could go for that treatment on my S10 frame. Did not know they weren’t body on frame and identical to my S10. IINM they have the same running gear.
I was not a fan of the S10 for years. Couldn’t tear myself away from Nissan pickups. After discovering the fragility of their head gaskets (NAPSZ anyway) the hard way, I am liking my truck more and more. An electrical misadventure took out my AC Clutch and Speedometer and I still like it.
Chevy should have gone to this on the truck to maximize utility. I think the execution of a really good idea in this poor manner really reeks.
i really don’t know why someone doesn’t mass produce one of these for real. not on an astro, of course, but something sustantial, like a ford econoline. it would take very few unique parts and there is bound to be a market for them. it just seems to me to be a much more efficient design than the standard pickup. hey but what do i know about pickups?
If you go up a size class you can get a Isusu LCF or Freightliner/MB sprinter chassis cab upfitted with a pickup or ute style bed. I suspect it would not be that popular in the US.
Ford could do the same when they bring in the Transit van – bet they don’t though! Not for concern that it wouldn’t sell, but that every sale would be a lost F150 sale…
No they won’t and it doesn’t have anything to do with the F150. It is because they’d have to chop them here. They only get the Transit through the chicken tax door by importing them as station wagons and then throwing away the back seats, if the end purchaser doesn’t want them. The also take out the glass and throw it away and put in solid panels if you don’t want windows either. Much cheaper to build it there and throw away the unneeded parts hear rather vs paying chicken tax or building them here. Now they don’t make and sell the designed here for here F100 (Global Ranger) for fear of stealing a few F150 sales.
I like it! I wouldn’t have thought to do something like this, but why not?
Obviously, I know why, but really the concept isn’t bad. It reminds me of the old Greenbriar (and Falcon, and etc.,) wagons/vans/pickups of the early 60’s.
I wonder if there’s an actual way to get this to work aside from the Neanderthal Sawzall method. It would be a pretty nice little pickemup truck.
That tailgate would be a bugger, though… Maybe keep the swinging doors…
Use Google images and you’ll find a couple that are done nice including an extended cab version.
Some Astros have the “half” barn doors with a flip up rear window. That’d be two less panels to cut.
This was in my writer’s block queue…
Oops; Nice to see that it’s being put to good use.