How I Rescued a RARE Bell System Telephone Van

BaT auction: bringatrailer.com/listing/197...
Hagerty article: www.hagerty.com/media/buying-...
When was the last time you saw one of these? They used to be everywhere, but now they're nowhere. Over the past 50 years, Bell System vans have nearly gone extinct. Here's the story of how I found and resurrected one of the last ones in the world, a 1974 Ford Econoline E-200 Display Van originally used by Pacific Northwest Bell.
If you enjoyed this video, you know what to do... like, share, comment, subscribe! Thanks for watching. Stay tuned for more.
Here's the pitch film that Saul Bass presented to AT&T in 1969: • AT&T Archives: Saul Ba...

[@ShervinsGarage]

The van's auction is now live! Get your bids in! bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-ford-ex-bell-system-1974-ford-econoline-e-200-display-van-project/

[@ford-oz3vs]

Best video on BaT.....ever.

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@ford-oz3vs Thank you!

[@melanieenglert931]

Why are you selling it? You worked so hard to get it and made this video. :(

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@melanieenglert931 I really wish I could keep it and restore it, but I'm moving and no longer have the space to keep it. I also have accumulated too many projects. It was a very hard decision. 😕

[@tomromanski7925]

I really thought it was a vintage bell system film until I saw the faded lettering on the truck. Very impressive, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you so much!

[@sunbearwizard]

​@@ShervinsGarageits seriously looks so good, best real looking 70s footage effect ive ever seen

[@user-ht1xu4gv2u]

@@sunbearwizard yeah real retro intro and he should shop ventage stock to outfit the van

[@garbagebanditdayz819]

This video was fantastic. I legitimately thought the “footage” at the beginning was a corny Bell Telephone promo film from 1974. That van is really really cool, telecommunications history and automotive history all rolled into one funkadelic package.

[@Karmy.]

I thought so too until the actual van showed up

[@ShervinsGarage]

I definitely aimed for corny! So glad you enjoyed it.

[@parichehrsadoughi6637]

Keep up the good work.

[@seanplace8192]

The side burns really helped sell the intro.

[@Splicer1970]

As a current Bell employee I thought the same thing!😂😂 You missed your calling Shervin!😂😂

[@THOMMGB]

Hi Shervin, I am the proud owner of a Southern Bell Telephone truck from 1967. It is a display van which means there’s only windows running along the passenger side, presumably for safety reasons. When I found it in Atlanta around 1983, it was in a back yard, laying on one brake drum and two flat tires and a dog was living in the back! It was mostly painted yellow and white and had led a pretty rough life. The good news is that it is very straight and rust free. The inside is still painted the original dark green and the Bell System “safety decal” is still on the dashboard. This was built, according to Ford, on December 7, 1966 so the van is titled as a 1966. I drove it to California when I moved to the Los Angeles area in early 1985. Hauling a small trailer, it didn’t miss a beat the whole way. It has a three-on-the-tree manual transmission, a 240 CID straight 6 engine and a 9 inch rear end. Over the decades, I’ve been all over the place in this van. I still have it, and it still runs. It just got a new set of tires this year. Amazing van.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Amazing! Glad to hear another one is out there, albeit of the pre-Saul Bass style. Has it been repainted the original dark green again?

[@GreenCanvasInteriorscape]

That's a really neat story, will it pull freeway speeds pulling a trailer with a six and a 3-speed? What's it comfortable cruising at? I had a 1939 BSA M20 500 cc motorcycle that was comfortable all day long in daily use in modern traffic up until you went 50 and then it grew a hinge in the middle, maybe could have fixed it but didn't need to use it like that so I didn't

[@THOMMGB]

@@ShervinsGarage Hi, I’m sorry it took so long to reply to your message. The plan is to eventually repaint my van the original dark green color. It really needs some bodywork done first, though. The good news is that, over the years, I’ve collected lots of spare parts and spare body parts. That should make things go a little easier. As it is right now, it’s rather ugly.

[@THOMMGB]

@@GreenCanvasInteriorscape On my trip to California I generally didn’t push it, cruising along in the mid 50’s, thereabouts. I was fully loaded, of course and I was quite surprised at how quiet it ran. All of my stuff in my van acted like sound deadening material. I have no idea what the real mileage is on this van, having a 5 digit odometer. That 240 CID keeps chugging along, an amazing engine.

[@Mayala285]

That was the best aged film filter I ever seen

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you!

[@Triumph-dg4bv]

you should fully restore it and cosplay as a 70s telephone worker on car meetings.

[@ShervinsGarage]

That would be a dream!

[@DJSubAir]

​@@ShervinsGaragecould you do a follow up and show us it fully restored if its completed by the buyer?

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@DJSubAir A follow-up is definitely in the works!

[@DJSubAir]

@@ShervinsGarage you are the man! Thank you

[@St0rmcrash]

That intro was absolutely amazing! Hope this van makes it to a wonderful home to finish the restoration

[@Karmy.]

I legit thought that was a real video from the 70s in the intro until the actual van showed up

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@Karmy. That's the highest praise I could get! Thank you so much.

[@iguanamoat]

@@ShervinsGarage It's well deserved! I even wondered at the start if it might be fake, just because I'm naturally paranoid and suspicious like that, but even with that critical eye on it, I quickly became convinced it was real. Script sounded way too genuine, the acting, the props, the look - nailed everything. Hollywood couldn't have done better (except maybe have the budget for a fully restored van!)

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@iguanamoat Wow, thank you immensely!

[@yuris6125]

​@@Karmy.You're not alone, I was convinced it was a 1970s video, down to period-correct fonts etc.

[@RetroFreak85]

I haven’t seen a Bell system van in 30+ years

[@ShervinsGarage]

I haven't _ever_ seen another one in person. Granted, I wasn't alive when the Bell System broke up... but still. Very rare.

[@mjc8248]

Same here, I remember seeing them all the time when I was a kid.

[@dougtodd305]

I used to see some olive drab trucks kept as collectors items, but never the newer trucks

[@CJbrinkman602]

There is a telephone museum in Seattle called the Communications Museum, they are in an old Bell System Telephone exchange that was decommissioned in the 80s. They collect a lot of old telephone equipment and memorabilia. You should contact them, I’m sure they will bring it back to its old glory considering those same vans were based out of their office in the 70s.

[@ShervinsGarage]

I will definitely do that! Fun fact: I was actually planning on selling the van before embarking on the cosmetic "refurbishment" (in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't). One of the places I contacted was the Telephone Pioneer Museum. I found out it has since closed, but during the time it was still operating, it was housed in the decommissioned telephone exchange building of Pacific Northwest Bell... in Eugene, Oregon. It turns out that that very building is where this exact van drove in and out of every single day! Today, it's owned by CenturyLink (who kicked the museum out).

[@born_again_torinos]

Centurylink is evil.@@ShervinsGarage

[@samanamman]

This is REALLY a piece of history, it needs to be preserved! 👌👍

[@ShervinsGarage]

Agreed!

[@darrenstafford7492]

I remember seeing these vans all over the area that I used to live in,same color scheme but corresponding system name.

[@Nuttty]

I have one of there hard hats from back then they left it in my parents house and I claimed it as my own

[@annenelson5656]

Indeed!!!

[@1972glm]

That was really well done intro. I actually was tricked into thinking it was old footage at first (never seen the channel before).

[@ShervinsGarage]

That is the highest praise! Thank you so much, glad it worked. 😉

[@grabasandwich]

Fooled me too! That was unexpected 😂

[@1972glm]

@@ShervinsGarage Yeah I've seen the 'faked old footage' thing before but this actually fooled me. You also have the look and cadence down to a T of one of those old educational video hosts.

[@georgevan3102]

My first time seeing this channel too I just subscribed

[@markedwards9153]

Very well done video. Alexander Graham Bell would have been very proud. The museum in Baddeck, NS might be interested in seeing this

[@dcdanger6151]

I started my 45 yr career in fleet maintenance working on Pac Bell vans and equipment. They still had a few of the Ford and Dodge olive green vans around then with the dog house engine covers between the front seats. The nice vans were the E-250s with a Onan generator unit mounted in the back.

[@ourlifeinwyoming4654]

I was a Bell kid - my father worked for Bell. This van is so familiar. Flood of memories! I've still got his hard hat.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Amazing!

[@Fresh-tw7ev]

Same here. Some fabulous memories of being a Bell brat!

[@TheKimmer1969]

The 70´s intro almost had me fooled. Well done, it was spot on... Nice vintage sound and noise filter on the video... It was very creative and fun to watch....

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you!

[@TheKimmer1969]

@@ShervinsGarage You´re welcome, it was well made.... I liked that the editing followed the tempo of the narration, especially on the "......but bass was game" followed by the horn-section fanfare in the music (could be a happy accident, but i don´t think so since everything else was right on money) It seems to me that you put alot work into the background info, i learnt something new that day. But again, well done.... More if you please 😉👍

[@nicholascortez728]

As a current AT&T (Illinois Bell is still on checks) systems tech I love this kind of stuff.

[@flyonwall360]

As soon as I saw this I recognized it. When I went to pole climbing training in Milwaukee, there was one of these rotting away. The old Wisconsin Bell van was being used to train technicians how to remove and load a ladder from a van. However, the tires were flat and this lowered the van's height, making it way too easy for removing and placing the ladder. Last I knew, the truck is still there.

[@Joshtk94]

This video is fantastic, you genuinely had me convinced i was watching a promotional video at first

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks so much!

[@nielsm.5813]

You hit the nail on the head - we’re more caretakers than owners of these overlooked vehicles. I spend more time caring for my three vintage cars than driving them, all in the name of preservation. I want them to exist for future generations to enjoy and keep them from going extinct. Cars (and vans) are made to be driven, but there should still be at least two or three surviving examples of everything so we can experience firsthand how beautiful and important each of these machines are. Thanks for everything you do for these great historic pieces of machinery, Shervin! I’m so fortunate to know you. 😀

[@ShervinsGarage]

Absolutely! The more we preserve these vehicles, the more of them there will be in several decades for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. Thanks for the kind words!

[@sw201444]

I say this all the time about my 3 FX's. This is another chapter in both of our books. I'm going to make sure those things get another one after me

[@cwhitley.sawlabs]

Back when vans and trucks were tools and not status items... Can't wait to see this one cruising around again! Keep us posted, aye?

[@stevepreston2309]

What a blast from the past! When I was a kid I worked on Bell fleet trucks. At one time I assembled every coin truck in the north east territory! I did many electrified’s, mail trucks, a lot of the blue and gold striping, etc. etc. also got to know many Execs, played around with the bucket trucks out in our back lot. Once I was even on the cover of their newsletter, Oh to be young again!

[@fractaljack]

My hard hat's off to you, sir! I haven't been duped like that in a long, long, long time. You even got the audio nice and muffled like it should be. You totally blew my mind when you panned out to show the side of that rusty little piece of Americana. That alone is worth a subscription.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad the intro worked. 😄

[@analog_memories]

@@ShervinsGarage Did you shoot that footage with a 16mm camera? Or was it all done in post? I'm with the fella above, I was completely duped at first. Kudos to you sir, that was spot on. I had to smash that subscribe button!

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@analog_memories Cheers! This was all done in post. More filters used than a coffee shop! I spent a lot of time studying real industrial films and commercials from the era, trying to replicate their look, sound, and feel.

[@lorenzojauregui1100]

​@@ShervinsGaragehell of a nice remarkable work....indeed.congrats! Yo got my sub!!😅

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@lorenzojauregui1100 Thank you!

[@JL-hy7ve]

My step dad was lineman for pac bell and his aunt was a telephone operator, young people may not know back in the day you dialed 0 and it would be answered by a operator asking what they could help you with. He collected Studibaker trucks and he was very proud he had a pac bell 53 studibaker pickup from prineville of course that was prior to being rebadged.

[@KK4CNM]

These things used to be all over the place back in the day. The last time I saw one it was owned by an old plumber. It was pretty banged up but you could still see the bell logo and stripes. This was about 10 years ago.

[@fly4fun610]

Wow! While in college in '74 I had a summer job with Mountain Bell driving both the old olive drab Econolines and the fancy new ones with their snazzy paint schemes. I proudly wore a helmet nearly identical to the one in the video. Great memories. Thanks for bringing me back to those times.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Amazing! So cool that you got to drive both. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@21299]

@@ShervinsGarage Yes, my father drove that olive drab work truck/van before they upgraded to these new ones. I remember the day my dad drove this new, fancy work truck home. I played excessively in both trucks. I remember how the inside felt, the rattle of the tools and chains hanging on the metal divider wall between the cab and the van part. You had to walk out and around the truck to get into the work part. There was a small metal box under the passenger seat that had a first aid kit and another with the stand up reflectors and flairs in case the truck broke down on the side of the road. My dad serviced our entire county with about two or three other guys who might have to go as far as two more counties to service a phone depending on who was available amongst the service men.

[@jefbarnhart3363]

Growing up, we had a used mountain bell Dodge window van. It was converted to be a custom van. Painted grey with flairs and side pipes. Went to many van events.

[@PhilEdwardsInc]

fleet as large as the army's! wow. very cool van

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks, Phil! That means a lot, coming from you! Love your videos.

[@agy234]

Makes sense. In the 1970s they had more than a million employees

[@Shiznaft1]

The production quality was insane. You had me going for a while. Really well done!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you!

[@davidlarson4164]

When I started working at Southwestern Bell in 1999 they were still using some training films from this era. I have not seen you or your channel before and when this video started I was wondering “have I seen this one?” 😂. Great job!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Haha, that's amazing. So cool to hear, especially from someone who has seen these old industrial films!

[@the_rocs_roost]

I have toy versions a C&P Telephone van and a bucket truck that I've had since my childhood in Virginia. They are cherished artifacts. A man from the phone company gave me the toy truck one day while he was here on a service call. They sit on a shelf in my office in a place of pride along with the two rotary telephones that we had in the house back then: one red and one green. All this is to say I'm glad to encounter another Bell System fan. It's really cool to see one of these vans again. Thanks for making this video!

[@rickbledsoe5064]

This video brought back a lot of memories. We had a Michigan Bell depot behind our house, Roseville,Mi. 1970s I saw those vans all the time.

[@redmesa2975]

That’s awesome ! My late uncle worked 20 years for Mountain Bell in Western Colorado. First as a lineman, then a fleet mechanic. He passed away in 1990. My aunt gave me his lineman’s equipment. Climbing spurs, belt, and rotary phone with the alligator clip leads.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Amazing! May his memory live on through stories like these.

[@makeupyourmindinator]

My Dad used to work for Illinois bell. I always enjoyed going with him on a late night call, or going to the substation where he was based out of. It was amazing to hear the clicking of all the switches realizing that each one of those clicks was another call going through. There were whole walls of mechanical switches and it was hard to talk in there.

[@ShervinsGarage]

What an amazing thing to witness! Thanks for sharing such a cool memory from the Illinois Bell days.

[@savagenomore]

man you had in the first few minutes, I actually thought I was going back in time. I grew up under the Southern Bell system which then went to AT&T. We used to make all sorts of things from that multi colored copper wire they used back then, I miss those days.

[@hughsonj]

FYI: Pacific Northwest Bell became USWest in 1984. USWest became Qwest, then CenturyLink, and now Lumen. Lumen is considered the third Baby Bell after Verizon and AT&T. I worked for CenturyLink from 2001-2017 and I have a lot of old legacy Bell collectibles to show for it. Your intro was a spot on homage to the old Bell System films that I have seen.

[@matthewglasser8310]

My mom worked for Mountain Bell for a short time when we lived in CO for a short time I think I was just a baby (42 now) . Most of her career she worked for Southern Bell in NC , Southern Bell became ,Bell South then was acquired by AT&T which completed a 35 year career for her . She started as an operator then became a lineman.

[@secondcreekworkshop3908]

If that van is anything like the vehicles at the telecom I work at it was started and in gear and full throttle by the time the key returned to the run position, neat looking van.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Could be. I do know that some models of this generation of Econoline came with a manual choke, which this one didn't have.

[@eriksmith6873]

Wow! I grew up in Spokane in the 1970s -- and I remember seeing these Pacific Northwest Bell vans EVERYWHERE. I never stopped to think that they vanished from the streets of the Pacific Northwest some 40 years ago. I never thought about their absence. I never considered how much emptier my life became. Seeing these vans on the street with new paint and fresh decals was a reminder of the importance of the Bell Telephone System in our daily lives. How chaotic things became when the Bell System was broken up and suddenly we had choices to make about our phone service!

[@ShervinsGarage]

So great to hear the perspective of someone who was around when these were everywhere! They were everywhere, until they suddenly weren't. "Surviving" examples (I'll put quotes around that word when referring to this one) are reminders of a different and simpler time.

[@user-tp2pe4vd8y]

This is spectacular! I can’t imagine how much work you have done to rescue this unique Bell System van, not to forget the labor, visuals, and production! I hope it will be acquired by a connoisseur of Bell System to appreciate its value and uniqueness!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Me too! Too many hours to count... glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for watching. :)

[@DJSubAir]

@@ShervinsGarage thanks for doing it! I as a viewer very much appreciate it!

[@JK-js2td]

​@@ShervinsGaragehey Shervin...my Dad worked at the cable making factory near Atlanta, GA. I was born in the 60s and grew up in the 70s and absolutely remember these Ford work vans. They were "Southern Bell" around here. I wanna say they had some Dodge Tradesman vans too but i could be totally wrong. Anyway...what a great find you found and now a serious opportunity for its next caretaker. Thanks for your great video and good luck to its new owner.

[@ShervinsGarage]

@@JK-js2td Thank you so much. And your memory is right: Southern Bell definitely did have the Dodge Tradesman vans as well.

[@Evmoy15]

This needs to come up to the Puget Sound and go to the Connections Museum in South Seattle. Lots of other bell gear there, 5ESS, etc.

[@ShervinsGarage]

I already contacted them before I started working on the van, and they said they didn't have the space. Maybe things might be different now! I'll ask and see. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@v-g-z3689]

Your recreation of the 70´s look was incredibly authentic, it´s fascinating!

[@gregmilliken5538]

I owned a 1964 Chevy van that had started her life as a Telephone Company service truck. That was back in 1975. I turned her into a camper, my brother and I drove her until she was completely worn out. I'd love to have another van from that Era!

[@wagonswest]

OUTSTANDING period intro, you really had me going there. A very unique rescue indeed!

[@royfrye2871]

Ok, This actually is very cool. I grew up in a small rural area where the local phone providers didnt have the cool vans. Just old trucks or an occasional station wagon and party lines😂. Went to Denver to visit when i was about 9 and saw these all over the place, thought they were neat🤷‍♂️😊. Then one day they were just gone😮😢. Would love to see it finished!👍 thanks for saving it

[@PearComputingDevices]

One of the things I notice still about AT&T they're always about consistency and uniformity. The bell system still exists today, just it's called different things like Verizon, AT&T and Tmobile who use that system. But underneath it all is still the bell system. One piece of history some may still see today is these seemingly windowless towers. At one point damn near every major city had one and the buildings themselves where nearly indestructible.. very few windows, very military like looking buildings that housed servers, switches and offices to keep this bell system operating in tip top shape. We still have one in downtown South Bend. It's about 8 to 10 stories high. It's interesting history..

[@ShervinsGarage]

Definitely. The AT&T Long Lines building still stands in New York City, and it's just as you described.

[@BallistaBomber]

This is Incredibly high quality and needs more attention. What a peice of history

[@ww21943]

I remember growing up in the 90s seeing NJ Bell Dodge vans from the 70s and 80s. Eventually I saw newer Doge vans. Of course it changed to Bell Atlantic and finally Verizon. I liked the weird hybrid transitional paint schemes that you saw at that time. Also, it’s amazing your van still has its original paint

[@huskysteel1621]

Man this is a super cool piece of history! I really wish i could buy this time capsule. I live in eugene and it would be too fun to cruise around town with it!

[@ShervinsGarage]

That would be amazing!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Great news... the van is now being auctioned at no reserve! You can bid on it here: bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-ford-ex-bell-system-1974-ford-econoline-e-200-display-van-project/

[@huskysteel1621]

@@ShervinsGarage thanks for the heads up! Il check it out for sure!

[@Daniel-lv8ze]

Working vehicles of the eras seem to get forgotten. Love seeing one saved.

[@ryurc3033]

I had a 78 dodge 4x4 that had a utility bed and yellow light on top. My favorite part of driving that truck was you could do almost anything you want. Especially if you had on a high viz vest and some saftey glasses.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Yup, those trucks had their own style of livery too that's detailed in the Bell System Vehicle Graphics Manual. The cabs were all Bell White with stripes, logos, and lettering only on the doors, and the beds were painted a sold Bell Grey-Green. Cool that you had one!

[@JasonFlorida]

Okay, this is as cool as it gets! I remember seeing these all over as a kid growing up in the 80's! What a time machine indeed!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Cheers!

[@quintenpabon2799]

Wow! Super informative 😮

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

[@jaydogtitan-ok3vw]

Ive worked with the C&P Telephone guys in the 1980s out in the field in Virginia who drove those classic vans , The color scheme alone on those vans are truly vintage. Great video!!!

[@tallpaul9475]

Wow, this is a HUGE flashback for me. I can remember vans with the logo running around Northern California. Even though it is long ago, it doesn't feel like it was. That was mid to late 70's for me.

[@ShervinsGarage]

That's great! I'm in Northern California too. Our vans here said "Pacific Telephone" on the side.

[@cougrs48]

I was born in 1993 and I feel like a kid seeing this! Bless your hard work!!

[@hatednyc]

Born and raised in NYC and THIS is such a big part of my childhood world. I LOVE the old Phone Company and ConEd vehicles, buildings and infrastructure.

[@smorris281]

Wow, what a sweet find! I remember being a kid in the 90's and fondly seeing the Bell Atlantic vans around town. We only lived a few blocks from the central office. The day Bell Atlantic became Verizon was a sad day. Verizon is definitely not my dad's bell operating company.

[@texling93]

My dad and I bought 1971 models. His was repainted purple and white and mine was repainted black and grey. We bought them from a used car dealer in Southeast Texas. They had been used in New York for the telephone co. They were both 6 cylinder's and standard. With the same window setup on passenger side. We used them for a seamless gutter co work van. Both hauling 1000lb gutter machines for 10 years. best work vans we ever had! Good luck with the restoration.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Cheers! So interesting that New York Telephone vans ended up in Southeast Texas. I would have expected them to be ex-Southern Bell vans.

[@Mindfullynikki]

AMAZING

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you!

[@TysonHugie]

... and just in time for this van's 50th birthday next year. Imagine if someone got it running and driving in the next 12 months so it could debut in a show or parade. Great work on this -- both the rescue itself, and the high-quality vid to accompany it.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks! That would be incredible. The van was actually built on December 21, 1973, so we're only a little over a month away from its 50 birthday!

[@herbienbrian2]

​@@ShervinsGarageIf it still has good compression it should fire. Someone needs to contact ViceGripGarage.

[@westhavenor9513]

I grew up in SoCal in the 1970's. My father worked for Ma Bell and had the same van parked behind our garage every night. Actually, before that we had the dark olive green van before they went to the new color scheme. I miss my father. He died a couple years ago at 93.

[@ShervinsGarage]

May your father rest in peace, and thanks for sharing his memory. I had no idea that the vans were driven home nightly by the employees! I always thought they were parked at the local telephone exchange building and then the employees would drive their personal cars home after they had left for the day.

[@TheOtherBill]

@@ShervinsGarage Most company vehicles were kept at company buildings separate from the central offices. This was where the outside plant employees reported every morning. The only time I was ever allowed to take a company vehicle home was when we got hit with a bad snowstorm and I was located much closer to home than I was to the garage, so it was safer to go home and wait for the roads to be plowed. This was in NJ in the 70's.

[@westhavenor9513]

@@ShervinsGarage Yeah, mostly he commuted in his own car and the van was in Pacific Beach. Sometimes he brought it home, but maybe that was just for lunch--can't really remember. In the 1980's he had the little Pontiac station wagon that he did bring home everyday and parked in the garage. I think he was at Lucent at that point, post company break-up.

[@thomassmith5548]

Nice work on the video it even looked like a real bell system opening

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks!

[@thomassmith5548]

@shervinsgarage your welcome it is cool you are able to own a piece of the bell system

[@tambarskelfir]

That generation of Econoline Ford's had such character. They have a soul.

[@DozIT]

Having not seen you or your channel before, I did not bat an eye at your intro, assuming it was a period-correct workplace training video of sorts! Awesome job! Also cool van!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you! Glad it was able to convince you. :)

[@glennblum6410]

I remember those Vans and the colors. My Dad retired from Bell Atlantic the former Bell of Pennsylvania in the Early 90s. I had the Bell Telephone Van Piggy bank too.

[@ShervinsGarage]

That's great! The toy van you see at the beginning of the film is actually the same piggy bank you described. :)

[@Bigfreeb]

My dad worked for PNB for 38 years. He retired in 1983 before the break up. He was a Supv and had one of those vans and also an F100 pick-up. Way back they used to be almost an Army green color. I still have his hard hat that looks like the one you have in the video.

[@bradrichards6107]

We had a rotary telephone like one shown in the video when I was growing up. I remember those vans too.

[@dkjoses12]

I got to say this is one of the best videos I’ve seen this year. Amazing job putting this together. I love the bell systems history. I’d love to get it running and bring it to the bell labs in NJ

[@glpilpi6209]

Same story in the UK. Genuine Utility BT , GPO , Gas ,Electricity supply service vans are extremely rare with their original logo writing. Morris 1000 , Vauxhall Viva HA. Ford Escort , Morris Marina , Commer ( Chrysler ) etc.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Very cool info, thanks. Cheers from across the pond!

[@johnnaughton2364]

Thanks for Sharing! As a teenager in the 80's i picked up one of these vans (a'69) from a guy. It didn't run well, shifted horrible, and I could barely turn the steering wheel, but it was cheap. I replaced the points and plugs, new valve cover gasket, cleaned the carb, got the bushings for the shift linkage, and an idler arm bushing, and a junkyard passenger seat.... I had a running vehicle, that got me to work, hauled firewood, helped friends move, got me to parties, and taught me a whole lot about fixing things..... I still remember fondly the times in that van... I used it for a couple of years and sold it to a painter for what I had into it, and he was happy to get it...

[@ShervinsGarage]

So cool! Thanks for sharing your memories of that van!

[@SommerFamilyDad]

My dad bought a used Southern Bell van like this in 1982. We removed the ladder rack and interior racks and mounted a school bus seat in it and had a wood bench that faced the side door. It had the orange roof light and spotlight that could be aimed most anywhere. No interior heat unless you were in the front seat. We drove it for a couple of years for music purposes. Southern Bell finally reached out to my dad to paint over the iconic stripes at their expense because we were driving like bandits and not getting tickets. Last I heard my dad had sold it to an electrical contractor around 1986 and he was using it as late as 2000.

[@redneckcommie]

As a young telecom technician (the new job title for telephone technicians) getting my first company vehicle next week, I'm glad your trying to preserve the history of such a niche yet important part of my trade. We spend a lot of time travelling in 3/4 ton vans. I'd love to see what one of these looked like when it was being driven daily with all the telephone material and equipment inside. The way they did things back then was so different compared to now.

[@ShervinsGarage]

So awesome to hear your perspective as someone new to the field, especially since you're about to get your first company vehicle. Take good care of her, and maybe she won't end up as neglected as this one! I have actually gathered a lot of extra footage of these old vans in action that I was planning on putting in the credits, but the film was running a little long. I may include them in a future video, so stay tuned! And best of luck to your in your new career. 😊

[@DJSubAir]

This video had me hooked on the line! Thanks for showing us the journey to grab this little piece of history!

[@aliassmithandjones9453]

super cool that you rescued this piece of Oregon history!

[@ctg6734]

Man, what a nostalgia trip! Every so often I still see a piece of equipment that still bears the Bell symbol, and I'm reminded of my youth.

[@SourenaParham]

It is excellent Shervin. Couldn’t stop watching it because this character, the van, became too interesting 😂 Good humor, well-researched, professional writing, acting, directing! I hope the van finds a good new home!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you, Sourena!

[@bobsmithinson2050]

This was simply PHENOMENAL. the authenticity of the “70’s” bits you made is something I never thought anyone could do. Your dialogue, body language, and of course the vintage video quality, all came together and completely fooled me as this is the first video of yours I’ve ever seen. Your video randomly showed up on my feed. Anyways great work and I instantly subbed.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thanks so much, Bob! Really appreciate the compliments, and I'm glad you enjoyed it. 😃

[@bobsmithinson2050]

@@ShervinsGarage This video style is very unique. I know this ones going to blow up. I hope you continue to do more videos with cars that include period-correct videos like the one you made here. Makes for such an immersive experience. Closest thing was when Hoovie did the Chrysler Lebarron video, where he did the same as you and dressed up, and made it look like an old vid at first.

[@roguedalek900]

Verizon was a merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE. I Grew up in this era and would love a vintage Bell van. My uncle was a technician.

[@HODGEPODGEDODGEGARAGE]

*Bravo* on the video man! 😧 The retro introduction and just the production quality itself deserves a round of applause. Those of us gearheads who actually care about the history of the vehicles we own, should strive to make a video like this. Really enjoyed this whole video and the history. Nice work 🔧🔩

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you so much!

[@TheREALOC1972]

My uncle had one of these in the mid-late 70's. He and his wife both worked for Southwestern Bell and when his service van was taken out of service do to mileage and being auctioned off he went to the auction and bought it, the reason the logo and name of the division (Pacific Northwest Bell, Southwestern Bell and so on) wasn't there is because they made the person who bought it at auction had to asand the logo off and paint over it. He bought his because they worked at SBC headquarters in Dallas but they would come back to Missouri several times a year and they would just bring the van to keep the miles off their cars and they would use it as a camper when they went on vacation to our family land in Northern New Mexico.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Wow, amazing that he actually bought his own van from the phone company! How cool. He must have really liked his job! I hope the van has survived somewhere.

[@TheREALOC1972]

@@ShervinsGarage Yeah idk, haven't seen them in years

[@124BILLION]

You’re general 70s format on this is spectacular… you should start a whole other channel just doing this

[@ShervinsGarage]

I'll be continuing it on this channel! Stay tuned for more.

[@zuzutheinfectedelf]

I used to see these vans all the time. I'm pretty sure we had that exact phone, too.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Many households did!

[@visnichba]

Great job on the video., Nailed the 1970's feel at the beginning. Well done! I hope the van finds a good home.

[@CoolToysandCoolThings]

😎 I remember seeing these vans driving around, When I was a little boy brings back so many memories. I love vintage history When the world in another way was a way better place then it is now! 👍

[@jadynwilliams-hazleman2104]

I love 1970s adds and informational films! That clip you played at the end was awesome!

[@waynepike8136]

I can remember the local garage I frequented after school working on , jump starting in fleet numbers on extremely cold days , and even towing them and winching them out of stuck situations on roadsides and customers driveways , Later a local cop converted one into a rolling room custom van . Nobody ever thought or cared about them that much . Great video and awesome find 👊🏻

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you so much. I always wondered how many of these were turned into custom vans after they were decommissioned.

[@tandy5811]

I cannot tell you how overjoyed I am by you finding and saving this priceless piece of Americana From the paintjob, to missing radio lol, then the vintage garbage, IT LITERALLY SCREAMS FORGOTTEN The editing for this video was absolutely PHENOMINAL, I really dig that uniform, the helmet and belt buckle really added to the overall theme of the van itself. Also the beginning and end sequences made to look like actual 16mm film footage, thought that was a neat touch. 10/10 video

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you so much for the kind words. Putting this film together was a lot of hard work, but I'm glad to see that people like yourself have enjoyed it so much. Stay tuned for more!

[@IVR02]

This is absolutely incredible. Old fleet vehicles like this are the sort of thing that you don't normally think of, but seeing this video has really given me a new appreciation for them. You've preserved an amazing piece of history, and I hope the next buyer is able to carry on the project as well as you have. Also, that opening bit was really well done. I've seen a lot of people try to imitate old information films when opening videos, but yours was the first one I've seen that actually nailed the look, to the point where I actually thought it was an authentic Bell System video until you showed the paint job on the van. So that's pretty cool.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Amazing to hear. Thanks so much for the feedback! I also hope that people look at fleet vehicles in a new light. The fact that they haven't until now is precisely why there are so few of these left!

[@21299]

THATS my dad's Work truck!! My father was a Bell Telephone "repair man" from the 50s through the 80s. My dad WAS that guy who stopped by your home. I have bell telephone in my blood. I used to play in my dads work truck (just like this one) all the time and I was always in the switching office with him (It was a small brick building with no windows Verizon has their signs all over most of those buildings now). I also have that toy truck. Its a coin bank. My dad got that for me about 1977 ish. I still have it. I also have the hard hat!

[@ShervinsGarage]

That’s incredible! I love stories like this. Thank you so much for sharing. By the way, when you say it was your dad’s work truck, do you mean there’s a chance that the exact one featured in this film was your dad’s, or that your dad had one like it?

[@TheGuyMullins]

One of the best videos I have watched in a while, you put history with a restore... that is why a person restores, "know your history." YOU ROCK!

[@ShervinsGarage]

Cheers, and thank you!

[@Mr_brut3]

This was awesome ! You're video is a history lesson plus a restoration in one . All your hard work paid off van looks original .

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you very much!

[@DutchDeLorean]

I had a Dodge B200 bell van once. I purchased it from a guy who owned it for 40 years. He used it as a surfer van throughout the 80s and 90s then let it sit in his yard until I bought it in 2019. It was green and white and the blue and yellow vinyl was still present in the door jams, all the text on the van was vaporized by the sun but the paint was still pretty good. It had almost no rust and the original roof rack. I fixed the van up and used it to haul stuff around for a couple years. I have since sold it as I didn't need a van anymore but it was great fun to drive with its 3 on the tree manual.

[@ShervinsGarage]

Wow, you just described my dream van! I have always loved the look of the '71-77 Dodge vans. I may reach out to you and ask to be connected with its current owner once I clear up some space in my fleet.

[@rogeriomaurofelicettimelen2859]

LET´S GO CONTINUED,CONTINUED,CONTINUED!!!!!😊😊

[@toolsteel8482]

My father had a 1971 ex bell telephone van. It had a three speed manual transmission, column shifter & I think a 240 cubic inch motor. I like the snub nose style of these vans.

[@ShervinsGarage]

I do too. So cool that your father had one as well.

[@amb3cog]

This is great. Thank you so much. Just sent it to my Mom who worked for Ma Bell (well Verizon at the end) from 18yrs old. Till she retired at 61. That was about 16 yrs ago now. She did very well for herself working for them. ✌️

[@ShervinsGarage]

Wow, thank you! Cheers to your mom and her long career. 🔔

[@danieldaniels7571]

I remember seeing these all the time when I was a child in the ‘70s. What a blast from the past!

[@powellsd75]

Being a Communications guy, this would be awesome to drive around for work. Going on 25yrs in the industry.

[@ShervinsGarage]

That’s fantastic!

[@mattfields3052]

This is really cool to see. I had a 84 Chevy C30 single wheel bell truck, not near as rare as this but I still wish I would’ve kept it lol

[@dougf94912]

I really appreciate the time and effort you put into creating this video and partly rehabilitating the van! 🤓

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you very much!

[@markhash4759]

I’m the guy who sold you that license plate. Glad to see it’s still in better shape than the van.

[@ShervinsGarage]

I was thinking of sending the video to you! Glad you found it regardless. Thanks again for the plate.

[@massimoronaghi9176]

Amazing history and great job to restore bell van ,So proud of you keep up the good work and many more successful projects looking forward to see 🤛👏

[@ShervinsGarage]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@chrisnorcross618]

One of the best produced videos on KZbin. Fantastic! You've earned my subscription.