My uncle had a '77 Trademan short wheelbase 318 auto. Bought it new and ran it for 30 years. Had over 300k on the original, non rebuilt engine when he sold it. It now has a second life as a KISS tribute van and is featured at car shows and parades all over the west coast
@timothykeith136710 ай бұрын
The popular B series vans gave Chrysler the confidence to develop the minivan
@michaelatkins978010 ай бұрын
No, not really. Iacocoa brought the minivan idea with him from Ford. Chrysler had no plans for a "minivan" in the works.
@MichaelJustice-ng7by10 ай бұрын
Nice old van I had one just like it in the 90s
@MichaelJustice-ng7by10 ай бұрын
I had one just like it in the 90s
@RoadRunnergarage857010 ай бұрын
Cool Plain Jane van!!
@CoastalAutoReactionCAR8 ай бұрын
Those engine doghouses can get so hot when the insulation comes off the backside of them lol
@gregzubrod901010 ай бұрын
When I was in college I worked as a summer janitor at an elementary school that had that exact van (except it had a straight six). Cool video!
@danielulz164010 ай бұрын
Neat van, I love the color. Similar to a 90 Econoline van that I used to have.
@ObsoleteAutomotive10 ай бұрын
Oddball color.
@danielulz164010 ай бұрын
Beautiful light green metallic. I remember seeing a lot of Monacos painted that color back in the 70's. It is unusual to see a work truck in metallic. My old Econoline was dark blue high metallic. It looked like a Lincoln glamor color.
@jamespn8 ай бұрын
The dodge tradesman maxi van was popular with carpet installers where they could haul an entire bolt of carpeting and close the rear cargo doors.
@jamespn8 ай бұрын
I like the block out plate to the left of the head light switch that would’ve been an AC vent if the van had AC. The bucket seats although not captain chairs, look like a step up from stock seats. Glass and pop out hinges anywhere on the side and rear of the van were optional.
@johnkendrick730410 ай бұрын
Sweet van! Very well equipped for a cargo van. You're lucky that the person that put those door speakers in did a pretty good job. They actually look pretty good
@ObsoleteAutomotive10 ай бұрын
I do wonder if this van was originally destined to be a conversion van. It has a lot of options not usually found in a cheapo van. Plus the chrome bumpers and oddball color and such.
@johnkendrick730410 ай бұрын
@@ObsoleteAutomotive most definitely was going to be a conversion van or as they call them, boogie vans
@hayneshvac210 ай бұрын
@@ObsoleteAutomotive What you have there is one step up from the stripped model. I had an 83 stripped model, that did have a factory stereo, but did not have the cruise control, or the 318. Mine was a slant 6, and wouldn't go over 75 top speed. Hilariously, any speed after 55, the kick down would actually slow the van down...lol. I bought mine from the original owner, and the thing about the vans, they were all produced as cargo vans. The customizations were mostly done by other companies. If you look into it, that's why the names were often across many platforms. I have seen imperial vans made both by Chrysler and Chevrolet. Chrysler did do some of the options such as cruise control, and so on. There were some that would have aftermarket cruise control add On's that were done by the dealer, these were not found on the turning signal stock, these were usually mounted below the headlight switch. These add On's were still considered factory. The original owner I purchased mine from did have the check list from his order, his was ordered as a fleet van for the Heating company he owned. It was an interesting document, but apparently that's how it was done back then. Basically to say, option wise, it is hard to find any 2 that are alike these days.
@nobodycares389710 ай бұрын
I had a 79 B200 with ALL of the windows... just try to find a replacement with the corresponding tint!!! IMPOSSIBLE 😮 UNLESS YOU WANT TO REPLACE ALL OF THE WINDOWS 😊
@michaelwilder923110 ай бұрын
My stepdad had a '77 Tradesman van with a slant 6 and 3sp+OD on the floor.
@ObsoleteAutomotive10 ай бұрын
Very cool. I recently looked at a 318 manual OD trans 1984 model.
@joedepoto10 ай бұрын
Being a 1979 model year van, I wonder if it is a Chrysler Sales Bank vehicle? I say that because such those “orders” were oddly equipped such as this vehicle which is very basic. Yet it is equipped with factory cruise control! 😮
@agviator8 ай бұрын
Whoa boss, only thing that would make it better would be candy and puppies
@tripp-n-drive10 ай бұрын
Love the camera work , cool video, has something reminiscent of a VHS video warmth to it. Keep up the great work, love those vans.
@chrislemaster269510 ай бұрын
Red Green Show. Red's called it the Possum Van
@ericblair838010 ай бұрын
You could get these in a gear shift.
@MichaelJustice-ng7by10 ай бұрын
It's a nice van I would love to have it
@youtubecarspottersguide110 ай бұрын
@6:08 handles to open the windows to pop out same at 6:41 to push out the window for vinalation
@briandjordjevic99699 ай бұрын
😮💨 what’s a great little van
@jeremygranier60865 ай бұрын
I've got an 83 except with non sliding side door and a slant 6 and 4 speed. Do you have any source for parts. I could definitely use a new grille and rear bumper like that.
@ObsoleteAutomotive5 ай бұрын
Best bet is joining van groups or scoping out local junkyards.
@318willrun10 ай бұрын
nice van !!
@ObsoleteAutomotive9 ай бұрын
Thanks! It was a clean machine!
@cesarquan473010 ай бұрын
La puerta lateral hay que cerrarla suave, y para que cierre bien se levanta la manija que sirve para abrirla y no hay necesidad de golpear fuertemente la puerta 😠
@67SportWagon9 ай бұрын
How much did it cost to pick up a decent van like this?
@MichaelJustice-ng7by10 ай бұрын
Did you fix the carburetor problems start when it was hot and you had to spray it with carb cleaner to get it to start did you fix did you fix those windows for rain was blowing through them
@ObsoleteAutomotive10 ай бұрын
The non start issue was due to a crack in a fuel hose.
@MichaelJustice-ng7by10 ай бұрын
@@ObsoleteAutomotive I really like that van I lived in the hickory Morganton area for 35 years I'm in WV now I still have family in Burke county
@Todd-s9v2 ай бұрын
Ok when I saw your 1966 wagon video I just found you first time ever and I said I like to road trip in my 97 b2500 van ram well I see more videos now. I thought you just bout the wagon and did vids on it. Now I see many. So I feel dumb lol
@prograde_adv4 ай бұрын
My 75 B200 has more steeze! That thing got hit by the accountants... 😂
@Dinkymaster710 ай бұрын
subscribed!!
@dorrancehoffman456810 ай бұрын
Do you sell the cars your showing on your videos
@ObsoleteAutomotive10 ай бұрын
Some are for sale. The van has already sold.
@727100bear10 ай бұрын
nice little van and sexy fella!
@stickshiftdriver18322 ай бұрын
I would buy it with windows. Panel vans have bad reputations as being perpetrator vans or vans for abduction
@craigstewart68796 ай бұрын
Is it for sale? Let me know thanks
@ObsoleteAutomotive6 ай бұрын
I sold it and it was flipped and I have no idea where it went after that.
@martinperez13810 ай бұрын
How much and where are you guys?
@jeffreyrigged10 ай бұрын
Hes in nc. Idr the town.
@jeffreyrigged10 ай бұрын
im upset. No rope duct tape or shovels in the back.