Jeff Dunham’s 1976 Ford Econoline Chateau | Jay Leno's Garage

Shag carpeting? Check. Porthole windows? Check. 70’s graphics? Check. V8? Check! Jeff Dunham’s factory conversion van brings back a wave of nostalgia.
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A new video every Sunday! Visit Jay Leno's Garage, the Emmy-winning series where Jay Leno gives car reviews, motorcycle reviews, compares cars, and shares his passion and expertise on anything that rolls, explodes, and makes noise. Classic cars, restomods, super cars like the McLaren P1, sports cars like Porsche 918 Spyder and Camaro Z28, cafe racers, vintage cars, and much, much more.
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[@dennisbrown2571]

As a guy that built these vans, it was great to see one. And I'd like to thank anyone who ever bought one, as I retired from Ford. In spite of misinformation, the line workers were proud of what we made and were always pushing management to let us make the vans better.

[@ronaldknisley9792]

My Father’s Boss bought one new in 1975 351 W automatic NO power steering must have bought it cheap for Buckeye paint Contractors it got the job done for many years Dad cussed no power steering Lol!!!!

[@shitloveaduck]

I believe there was a push to management for better vehicles back then. I wanted one of these when they were new!!

[@Bugaboo-wq5sc]

I believe you that the assembly people TRIED at Ford but a few execs ran Ford almost into bankruptcy by KNOWINGLY creating rust buckets so they could steal more money from the public. I just read a very good article of how this happened, but in a nutshell, Ford invented something called E-Coat, an electronic primer bath to coat the bodies/frames, but the execs wouldn't employ it and instead licensed it to the competition. So these execs were most definitely white-collar criminals and by all means should have done time. This is an excerpt and link: "So what did Ford do with E-Coat? They sold the rights to the competition, but didn’t invest (some $4 million per plant) to install it in their own faculties. GM paid big license fees to Ford for E-Coat, and the Japanese started using it too. Actually, Ford of Europe, which was always run more progressively, did install E-Coat fairly early on. But the domestic Ford plants were laggards. Needless to say, this really rubbed Ford’s manufacturing staff, headed by Marvin Runyon, the wrong way. More than ever, it confirmed the arrogance of the executives toward the customers. But Lundy’s (and in effect Henry Ford II’s) response to their pleadings was always the same: that the manufacturing guys couldn’t actually prove that improved quality would improve sales in the short term. Seriously. One day in 1973 Iacocca got furious at a meeting with Runyon, exploding into a rage about the poor quality of their cars, especially in terms of rusting, which was now affecting warranty costs alarmingly. Runyon pointed out that he’d been begging for E-Coat in his plants for almost a decade! Finally Iacocca got the message and started advocating for its wider adoption at Ford. But even then, it was dragged out over a decade. By 1975, it was in half the plants. And it wasn’t until 1984, almost 30 years after inventing the process and 25 years after first utilizing it at Wixom that E-Coat was finally installed in all of Ford’s plants." www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/automotive-history-why-fords-were-the-worst-rusters-in-the-late-60s-and-the-70s/

[@relicman]

Do you think the early 70's models are a bit cooler? I like the flat cabover look myself.

[@shitloveaduck]

@@relicman - the look is cooler, but hate to have an accident in one,,,,,. That being said, I would still like to get a nice rust free (good luck, I know) Econoline Pickup.

[@Fony_turgeson]

It's gonna be a sad day to lose Jay Leno. What a legend. There will never be another

[@karnathracklar9596]

You know Jay's driving when the car is drifting into the other lanes.

[@KutWrite]

i was wondering if he's under meds or "something." His speech was slow and a bit slurred. He's always been sharp and funny in other vids. ...and this was before his accidents.

[@AdamG1983]

​@@KutWriteIt's called old age

[@sidv192]

I was waiting for him to roll it

[@mikeyerian2562]

This may have been the first time he ever drove a van.

[@gordocarbo]

@@KutWrite Im betting he does it to keep other cars from cutting into the filming path.

[@peteschutza3566]

My favorite take-away from this; Jay says, "I like single-purpose vehicles, none of this utility mumbo-jumbo". Jeff says, "Okay, but not everyone can afford to have 8 or 9 cars, Jay". The custom vans of this era very cool and fun. Hit the beach, go camping, help a buddy move, go cruising for chicks, good times!

[@pdoylemi]

I got my license in 1978 - every guy would have loved one of these!

[@snoopdoggthecertifiedg6777]

Could you not have taken the time to not completely screw up the original quote?

[@stevenbrown5210]

​@@pdoylemi one of your licenses?!?

[@arnieb.6506]

It's amazing how popular you are when people need help moving, either people or crap around. Go rent a van or truck....your not using my van to move your garbage, then after that call it a "stalker van". I use it for my purposes or my family's purposes. Can't have it both ways.

[@AdamG1983]

Jay Leno, who has 100 cars: "And I took that personally"

[@treasuretravelers5558]

My favorite episode! I drove a 66 Ford van in college (1970) and then bought a short wheel base E-100, 78 Ford van with the 351. The 78 pulled my boat 350K miles before the 351 finally wore out - The van was used for hauling surf boards, hauling music equipment, camping, towing my boats, hauling motorcycles, and conceiving 2 of my kids - It got as high as 16 MPG (at 55 MPH) and around 10 towing my boats. Seeing this van on Jay’s show meant as much to me as seeing his viper and Ford GT - Thanks Jay!!!

[@landdealsCA]

The difference between going 55 mph and 70 mph was like 8 mpg.

[@BigBodyRacing]

One of the better episodes in a while two dudes just sharing history. I've been wanting to do this with a modern Sienna but obviously broke life, and insane mark ups.

[@nathanjones4039]

Agree, this was great episode.

[@mattshansen9814]

Hello my name is..,.......................

[@grrwuff4099]

Good vibes...

[@Omarllioner]

Facts!!

[@MisterMister5893]

Toyota Sienna? That's not cool.

[@virtuestreams2616]

Geez-i remember seeing these vans in the trailer parks we lived in during the ‘70s, and since there were 300+ families in the parks, we saw a lot of different rides; I wouldn’t trade the experiences I had for anything, even though we were mostly, destitute. Delightful conversation gentlemen-thank you for the trip down memory lane.

[@AndrewAult]

My dad bought one os these when they came out. We all realized how ugly it was, but there was a sense of humor and not taking life seriously. Ours had yellow, orange and purple stripes. One detail is that ours had silver, not gray vinyl seats. Later, dad traded it for a metal flake orange jet boat with a blown 454 engine. Dad was definitely a fun guy. :-)

[@Fundaddy5000]

Roman Craig was your dad?! Cool 😎

[@daweigo6851]

Go dad....

[@watsisbuttndo829]

I don't know your dad, but i like his style.

[@michaeljohn9263]

@@Fundaddy5000 LOL that was the first thing I thought of too, Long live the Great Outdoors!

[@Fundaddy5000]

@@michaeljohn9263 Yessir, “Suck My Wake” can never go wrong with a John Hughes flick

[@scottdelaney98]

That dual fuel tank set up brings back memories. About 20 years ago I flew in to Austin, Texas to pick up a 1970 Ford F100 and drive it home to Chicago. It had the auxiliary tank with the toggle switch on the dash, and I couldn't figure out why it kept dying; the gauge said I had a full tank. Around St. Louis I discovered the valve next to the driver's seat after I got towed into a gas station for the third time. 🤣

[@michaelwallbrown3726]

would have to take out a loan to fill both tanks up today let's go Brandon

[@Saintbow]

@@michaelwallbrown3726 #LetsGoBrandon

[@frederickmoller]

I had it on my '76 and my '81 F150s 4x4s, the '76 was a real gas hog with the 351 4 barrel HO carburetor.

[@peanutbutterjellyfish2665]

@@michaelwallbrown3726 Leave it to a cultist to make it political. Do you want to know why gas is expensive, or you just like to complain like a child? You’re a parrot, parroting parrots who parrot you.

[@peanutbutterjellyfish2665]

Something similar happened to me in my f150.

[@frooke2]

My dad had a '78 Econoline standard shift with a straight 6. We spent hours and hours in that van going back and forth across the country for our family vacations and weekend outings. It was fun seeing this van because I remember all the body lines, the dash, instruments etc. Fun memories, thanks for sharing.

[@RJMay3]

My 93 E150 had the same 300 engine. 192,000 miles and never had or needed the valve cover removed. Serious Truck engine.

[@renko9067]

Three great things about Jay Leno: 1) He made his money making people happy, not ripping off people or wrecking the environment of exploiting others 2) He invested a lot of that money into a hobby he loves, a lot of which involves saving history and art 3) He shares his immense knowledge and his collection (and his friend’s collections) with everyone

[@RBCharger]

I guess it is part of #3 but he will leave a legacy museum when he dies.

[@lesterclaypool2194]

Somebody is feeling some man love.

[@FWDSUXARSE]

He seems like a cool guy. While I never really got into his comedy I could talk cars with him all day.

[@lanesworld4000]

Jeff needs to be on the channel more often. Two friends cruising and talking about good memories. 👍

[@gotchagoing8843]

Jay, you have to have this guy back with his pinto, and some of his other vehicles. You and Jeff played off of each other perfectly, and was very entertaining. Jeff isn't shy in front of the camera like a lot of your other guests. Great video and lots of fun, thank you.

[@ericbelletynee5448]

OMG not the pinto juch lol

[@billysmidway7032]

Yes, I was hoping they’d show pictures of the Pinto and the Econoline. The 75-91 Econoline body is my absolute favorite vehicle. I’ve owned three of them and still have a 1987 shorty with a 302 and the overdrive transmission, so it’s a peppy van. My other two were 351W and only the 3 speed automatic. The engine access through the dog house opening is impressive. You can change most of the spark plugs from inside during a rain storm and you won’t get wet. It had its weak points too: like leaky rear door seals that cause rust on the rear floor and the leaky windshield area that would rust out the front floor, especially if you had a carpeted floor that holds the moisture. Seriously.. those are the worst problems with the entire van. It’s got one of the best sliding doors / barn door and window arrangement options.

[@Tmrfe0962]

Yes!

[@JF-lt5zc]

Who remembers the Hot Wheels Poison Pinto?

[@billysmidway7032]

Jeff has a video about the Econoline and Pinto on KZbin too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmO2fIR_eL1kgZI

[@Quiksilversurf311]

I need this van. The 70’s are the best.

[@williamwright1281]

Van craze never died. Still going on. Look it them now. Sprinter and full size. Awesome

[@ButterfatFarms]

Today they're just an RV. Nothing to do with the custom van craze of the past. I'm so over all these big oversized van life sprinters, transits, promaster's etc. If anything they are the complete opposite of the custom van craze. Today it's people who want to live the van life while trying to keep it as bland and low profile as possible on the outside so that nobody knows they're living in their van, and failing miserably at it and obviously living in their van, that's all bland and white and commercial looking and failing miserably to not look like an RV that they're living in. Trying to be stealth but there's nothing stealthy about them it's so obvious. 😂

[@ButterfatFarms]

The custom vans of the seventies weren't anything about living in your van while trying to be stealthy about it. It was all about having a super cool looking custom van that you could party in. If you actually wanted to live in a van they were terrible for that. They weren't an RV. There's a reason they were called things like shaggin wagons.

[@annavariumful]

LOL!! I've never seen Jay have to ask, about four times, "well can we take it for a drive". A great episode! Two car guys, cruising, and having a chat. Loved it!

[@themonkeyhand]

LOL, I was just coming to say the same. Was it just four?

[@1928ModelA1931]

Old Ford dealer employee here. The Chateau was the top of the line Ford Econoline back then. Sort of what the Lariat was to the pick-ups. Usually the Chateau was a multi-passenger van with a lot of seats and plush upholstery including the front "captain's chairs". What Ford did with these was add the Cruisin' option to the top-of-the line Van. No way Ford would have shoe-horned the Cleveland in that dog house engine bay. That was a 351 Windsor engine in there. Same basic engine as the 302 and 289. I think the Cleveland was out of production by '76. Done in '74 due to emissions etc. The round bubble port holes were there to let a little light in but people couldn't really see into the van for obvious reasons. Eventually you could get all sorts of shapes (diamonds were common) but in the beginning the simple round hole was easy to make and install. The Pinto grew out of the panel version Ford made for commercial light-duty work. The bubble window and graphics made for a cheaper version of the full van. The aux. fuel tank was a Ford option on trucks for years although that one is an aftermarket. The factory set-up would have had two fillers. One in front of the wheel as shown and one behind. Those are the original belts.

[@awilson2385]

Probably a 351M in his van. They get mistaken for Cleveland motors a lot, since they're derivatives of the Cleveland motor. Few will notice the taller deck height or the 429/460 bellhousing bolt pattern.

[@ButterfatFarms]

To Jay Leno if it's a 351 it's Cleveland, the Windsor doesn't exist. Hardly the first time he's babbled on about the legendary 351 Cleveland as he's staring at a Windsor. He did the same thing when Jeff Dunham's Bricklin SV-1 was on the show. It's a 351 Windsor. Yet Jay starts talking about the Cleveland and how it was in the Pantera etcetera. Yeah that's not what's in the Bricklin Jay. 😂

[@FlameBlue9016]

Jeff has a interesting collection, I always like seeing what he brings by the shop.

[@Hanzyscure]

The Opera windows allowed you to register as a station wagon for cheaper plates. Otherwise you paid for commercial plates.

[@NamathCB]

@@Hanzyscure interesting

[@twoblacklabs904]

Jeff did a KZbin video of the beginning of the restoration process of this van, and he also drives the matching Pinto wagon around town…

[@robskully3539]

Wow .. just wow …. brings back pleasant memories of my past. I bought a 1974 Dodge Maxivan with a 318 V8 and a manual transmission. It was the Tradesman version with no windows down the side except the driver and passenger window. It did have window in each of the two back doors. I originally bought it because I started racing motocross here in New England. I did insulated and panel it with plywood which was stained. I only raced for two years after deciding it just wasn’t my thing and went back to just trail riding in the woods. At that time in 1976 the Van craze was just hitting here so I did change out the interior to shag rug and crushed velvet. Also change the tires and rims to Craiger mags and wide tires. Replaced the column shifter to a Hurst stuck shift on the floor. Exhaust was changed out to Hooker Headers and gas pack mufflers. Out side was all done up with pin stripping. Wish there was a way to post a picture here. Yes … the young girl that made the van rock back then became my Wife and now together since 1974 ;-) ….. 10-4 …. Peace Out from the Red Rider …

[@harrygaul4475]

One of the best of Jay's car shows I've ever seen before! I have a 1993 green Ford Aerostar van Eddie Baur addition (4 bucket seats) that only has 128,000 original miles on it. Paid $1750 five years ago when it had 79,000 original miles on it. This is my 2nd Ford Aerostar van

[@ront769]

I drove the same one as part of a fleet of them for a pizzeria back in mid 90's. Great to see someone keeping one as it was. I'll take an Aerostar over the Econoline any day.

[@grantrichards4950]

Great conversation! I had a '74 Dodge customized van. It had a 360 V8, 4-barrel. When you stepped on it, you could feel the front end lift up a bit. In the back, there was 3" of foam with shag carpet, vinyl tuck-n-roll on the walls, velour on the ceiling, fiberglass fender flares a vinyl roof with a swamp cooler. I added a CB radio, driving lights and fog lights. The license plate frame said "Make a friend tonight." There were no windows in the back and it had a curtain behind the seats. Complete privacy. It was, literally, a rolling bedroom. Good times. On another note, I don't there's a video where Jay knows less than this about the vehicle he's driving. Very entertaining.

[@tedium37]

You can tell Jay was really enjoying the drive. Good friends, good conversation and he must have put half a tank's worth of miles on it that day. No destination necessary.

[@kingcosworth2643]

Sounds like it must of been loud inside, they were yelling at each other, but, that's 70's cars for you I guess.

[@carrestorationxbcoupe4494]

This is one of the greatest jay leno clips I have seen. He opened up so much of his life I haven't heard before. Absolutely loved it.

[@gurneyforpresident2836]

Cool Van. I remember when custom Van's were everywhere. Real trip down memory lane.

[@TOCC50]

We had to grow up in a Pontiac station wagon unfortunately

[@JCredTV]

Custom vans are simply the best. 🤘

[@blackwoodslawn]

Keep on rocking the free world

[@jedibusiness789]

I don’t think the younger folks understand what a craze Vans were in the mid 70’s. Blacklights, disco balls. Pin ball machines, and oh the shag, or dark paneling. Remember the choke knob, and feathering the throttle to start. Kids today have no idea how good they got it😏

[@dryroasted5599]

I dreamed about having one of these when I was a teenager, and endlessly perused the J. C. Whitney catalog for all the cool stuff I would trick it out with. You drove my dream car; I'm so jealous!

[@Sci_fi_and_cars]

About the age thing and how it feels to drive, I'm 31 and my first car was a 1965 VW bug. No power anything. I love driving that car (still have it) over driving my brand new truck. I can feel the road in that car. I love going through the gears on a windy road. I think you just got to find the car you love and all will be groovy ;)

[@noth606]

Heh, I'm in Europe, my first car was a poo brown 1983 Opel Ascona 1.6D, the odometer had rolled over 3 times and it had been hit in the right back door by an idiot on a bike so hard it bent the car. We pulled it straight using chains and a tractor LOL.You had to kick the front right side door open from the inside, didn't open at all from the inside. The right back seat door was a silver one from a junkyard. I got it for free from my mom who got it for free years earlier. It could usually almost hit 100kph/60mph flat out, and used more oil than diesel. Epic POS car, unbelievably enough we actually later sold it to a dude who took these things to Russia and sold them there, it was in the mid 90s.

[@dr.mantistoboggan4746]

CRX was the last of these type of analog cars

[@travislostaglia8861]

@@dr.mantistoboggan4746 crown Vic -caprice and trucks to 96-98 . The crx was nowhere near the last

[@dr.mantistoboggan4746]

@@travislostaglia8861 ok weirdo

[@edsnotgod]

@@noth606 and of course Germans blame GM for ruining Opel

[@ShamWowProphet]

So much fun to watch! Love watching Jeff and Jay together talking about the less "posh" cars back in the day!

[@Hillclimbfan1990]

These two together is always great. The stories are great and Jeff always brings something wacky and interesting.

[@flinch622]

Funny they brought up black & white movies - it was/is great for character studies. Color is a distraction to a deep dive on personalities. Could Gaslight play the same in color? I don't think the impact would be the same.

[@markbigbadbear]

I nearly pissed myself laughing when Jay went "Well, let's find out!" discussing the safety / quality of those seatbelts. Jeff needs to come back more often, love them just having a good time and taking us along for the ride 🙂

[@grandetaco4416]

My 75 olds cutlass had three point seat belts similar to today's belts so those were probably the OEM belts in that van.

[@richardprice5978]

belts in cars go bad after about 12 years ( id get kicked out of the drag strip as the NRA/FIA/F-1 has dating standards ect. ) so no you wouldn't want to trust them as there probably dryrot-ed by now same for my 1950 - pre-1990 classic's that iv been meaning to replace the safety system's with fresh

[@Cammi_Rosalie]

The first van I ever drove was my Uncles' 1966 Ford Econoline "Supervan" when I was 15. Straight six, 3-speed on the column. Just a bare-bones van with the front two seats beside the engine. I always thought it was funny that you could reach out with your foot and touch the back of the headlight bucket while you were sitting in one of the front seats. I can remember several times while he was driving down the road and the oil light would come on. He'd just pop the little latch, lift up the lid and add a quart of oil to the engine as he drove. Someone had built a little bed into the back that was just a bit of plywood and 2X2 framing on hinges that would swing up and latch with one of those old hook & eye screen door locks. My uncle took that out and put in some old bus seats. But they weren't the typical school-bus seats. these folded flat. When both seats were laid flat that made into a long twin bed. Eventually those came out so he could haul lawnmowers in it. He had that van for years. Not long after, my Dad bought a 1986 Chevy Astro van. We road-tripped that thing a few times and when I turned 20, he gave it to me. I did some tinkering and tuning to it. and got it so that it could do burnouts and donuts on dry asphalt. I kept studded tires on it year 'round so when I did a burnout, the studs would dig little grooves in the pavement. That is until they wore down and popped out. But I could get studded tires really cheap since they are only legal here for a few months out of the year. Being young & dumb, That Astro lasted me maybe two years. It eventually got so weak, and just guzzled oil. It would go through two gallons of oil every three days. Never leaked a drop. But If I was being tailgated I could stomp the gas and coat their windshield with a nice film of oil while leaving a smoke-screen behind me. One night I was driving it it was running so badly that it just stopped going up this long uphill grade. I got out and saw an orange glow coming from underneath. I leaned down to look, and the cat, muffler and half of the tailpipe were bright orange. I let it cool down a bit and limped it home. It became a storage shed. Some years later I was the owner of a 1991 Ford E-350. One of those long vans with like 4 bench seats in the back for hauling 15 passengers. It used to be a school van. The interior wasn't anything special. Just seats and acres of flimsy flaky plastic. It did have two heaters that would boil your feet inside your shoes though. I didn't drive that one much as the fuel tank leaked horribly if it was over half-full, and it cost more than I made in a day to drive it to work. The engine on that one was also on it's last leg.. or cylinder I might say. That one also got used as a storage shed for a few years. It's last ride was when I drove it to the salvage yard. I still have two of those bench seats from it. I now have a 1990 Dodge B-250 High-top conversion van. The interior can be described in one word: PLUSH! Deep pile carpet, padded burgundy-red velvet, recliner-like leather seats, Aircraft style swivel light pods and about a trees worth of oak trim. The rear bench seat had a center armrest/console that folds down with more oak woodwork making up two cup-holders and a little tray. (The weed tray as Jeff would call it) It also folds out into a bed with a push of a button. the two middle seats swivel and recline and have lumbar supports. The front seats are power and lack the swivel aspect, but are otherwise the same as the middle two. The windows are dark tinted and have curtains and those accordion type window shades on them. It has two table-sockets in the floor for the little table, but I don't have that. Yet. It has already taken me from Pennsylvania to Wyoming. I have been to Yellowstone, Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore, Sturgis, and many other little points of interest along the way. I love my big van. But my wallet hates feeding it. 50 bucks get me little more than 1/4 tank. I might have to pull the Fiero out of the shed and put it back together...

[@ianmangham4570]

Three on the tree 🎄

[@edsnotgod]

burning through them vans.....

[@johnlucier5654]

Let me guess the fiero is an early year with the iron duke that had all the engine fires.

[@donbraugh185]

Dunham said '76 was the first Econoline

[@donbraugh185]

Detail it asap. I had a minister when I was young who bought a Fiero in 86. Black fiberglass! 😆

[@Omega30t2RG]

This type of van was the nightmare of every father who had a teenage daughter in the 70s 😁

[@vegvisirphotography5632]

You do wonder, with the trend in naming kids where they were conceived (Brooklyn Paris etc), how many kids are called "1979 Ford Transit Van" Registration plate - CR3Mpi3 The shagging wagon.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

I remember these vans well. Being a car crazed child in the 70's, I told my Dad "I want onea those Chat-aww vans when I grow up" My Dad, wondering what the heck a Chat-aww was, told me to point out one to him when I saw it. Dad explained to me how to pronounce Chateau correctly, that it was a French name😁 Fast forward to the eighties, and my first vehicle was an AMC Hornet😁

[@superdave626dc47]

Hornets were cool.

[@geoffreyacree6797]

I grew up in a Hornet. Mother mistakenly thought she was upgrading when she traded it in to get a Citation.

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

@@superdave626dc47 I had good luck with 'em😁 Had my first one 4 years, a '75 with the 258 motor, than bought a '74 Sportabout wagon with the 304, drove that one till '96. V8 Hornets were fun😁

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

@@geoffreyacree6797 Citations were junk, a definite downgrade from a Hornet.

[@jimmywaters8929]

The sub tank was a must, its prefect for when you find yourself in 70's Horror flick and you run out of gas, whist being chased by Freddy or Jason, as the van stalls and the girls scream, you impress them all by flicking the switch and restarting the van, a must for any Custom van.

[@ButterfatFarms]

That's not how it works it's an old Ford with dual gas tanks and the switch over valve is notorious for failing and leaving you stranded with neither tank available. The fuel selector valve gets little use and is a last resort of desperation on an old van or pickup truck. Good luck with that maybe it'll work when you need it. 😂

[@jimmywaters8929]

Relax, It's ok, it's only a Movie, it all works out in the end, but thanks for your wisdom 🤣😂 @@ButterfatFarms

[@Winters_Folly]

Can also be converted to a water tank

[@davelowman3574]

He remembered the stuff from his childhood because he's a real car guy, those memories will always be vivid.

[@markscungio2996]

This brings back Happy memories of growing up in SoCal in the 1970s !!! These types vans were EVERYWHERE...MANY dealers took vans to local shops to have them customized 1st, and then sold for a good profit...Jay PLEASE have Jeff come by more often - two comics make for GREAT CHEMISTRY !!

[@danielsoukup2850]

As the owner of a 1977 ford van of that era that I ordered from the factory this van is a factory version of a custom van but most of the stuff in it are after market things. I had a 138" wheelbase 300 CU six with a standard shift dual tanks tinted side and back flip out windows and step bumper west coast mirrors power steering and brakes passenger seat with armrest sun visor and full length headliner . Drove it across country many times and got 18 MPG which gave ne a range of 936 miles . She cost me $5400 out the door.

[@gearheadcg]

I remember the van craze when I was a kid in the late 70's. There were some really cool ones cruising the roads. I had a 78 Chevy Custom van in my late 20's back in the late 90's. Wish i had it back. Very nice chateau Jeff !

[@frankpavan7865]

I learned to drive manual on a column mounted shifter in a late 60 s econoline. Very practicle vans. 👍👍

[@highdesert50]

I bought a very used sixties short econoline work truck with a column shifter. With cab-over-engine it was an amazingly easy to handle vehicle compared to today's land barges. I built a camper interior. Put in a rebuilt six. Painted it. Did a north American loop through US, Canada, and Mexico. Met many wonderful people. Had many adventures. Times have certainly changed, though.

[@LeeBlaske]

Great to see this. I had a 1978 Econoline E150 Chateau van with the 300 six cylinder engine, and a four speed manual on the floor. It was two-tone (tan and dark brown) with the captain's chairs. It was insulated and paneled from the factory (wood grain vinyl). Great vehicle. I used it to haul around a LOT of instruments to studio sessions and gigs. Bought it at Tenvoorde Motors in St. Cloud, MN. It cost slightly less than $6k, new.

[@michaelchan8915]

Those manual transmission versions were very rare, but I do remember seeing them. In fact I've driven one before.

[@robertbigler7743]

A good episode! I am sick of the Ferarri, Lambo, McLaren, cars being shown. This was a real car for ordinary people.

[@BuiElec225]

Absolutely! 👍

[@edwardpike3386]

Right on.

[@mcrowley8460]

Remember the Levi's "Denimachine?"

[@fakevirus8828]

He does more old cars and bikes than any other channel tbh. Considering the amount of vids he does I'd say he's got the balance spot on. No joke, I would agree with you I'd you posted this on other channels I watch. I don't think it applies for Jay though he even does police cars and stuff with Rolls Royce merlins in🤣

[@doomusrlc]

@@mcrowley8460 that the AMC Gremlin? IIRC Jeff Dunham was on an earlier video with his Gremlins, one being a denim edition

[@BruceAFairchild]

I remember the windows being referred to as, porthole windows. Went with the Captains Chairs, in the theme of land yacht.

[@robglassgold]

Great conversation between the two! Lots of automotive history and memories are interwoven. One of the best Leno episodes I've seen!

[@ijaxon6675]

Jeff is interesting in that he preserves the cars most people ignore.

[@WW-wf8tu]

Also interesting that he has little to no clue about what they are or any statistics about them. lol. Would think he might do his homework knowing he was going to be with Jay. A man whom has a lifetime of knowledge that he is forgetting now, but still, I would not want to bring a vehicle to Jay and say.. idk, idk, idk, idk. That would be embarrassing.

[@DSP1968]

Love this van, and I'm so glad Jeff shared it with Jay and the rest of us.

[@rafael-4607]

Two thumbs up 👍👍 for Jeff showing that car enthusiasm comes in different forms and even childhood nostalgia is sometimes the most memorable form of car craze

[@charlesgall7829]

Hi Jay. My mom also bought a 1964 Galaxie XL. It was Burgundy with tan bucket seats. I was 13 and she had me tell the salesman (Tony Tizzano) what motor ,etc. He stopped me when I said the 427 option with a 4 speed. I vividly remember him leaning over his desk and saying "I don't think mom needs a 427" ! So settled on a 289 with C4 Cruisamatic.It was in Sayreville NJ ,next town from ours. Went back in 1968 and I saw a 68 red fastback Mustang still stickered in their lot across the street. Apparently someone ordered it but did not purchase. Went home and told my parents I found THE car ,of course mom said I was crazy. Had $1500 for a used Mustang .Well , they added to that and surprised me with it on my birthday, Still have it today , but put in a 69 Boss 302 to drag race. Did total rebuild in the 80s .Remember those times like it was yesterday.

[@MrSteve280]

Jeff Dunham seems like such a decent guy. And kudos to his car collection, a very unique and refreshing spectrum.

[@wolfieziggy19]

While in high school I had a 68 Dodge van with shag carpet and wood paneling with black light posters and stereo system on the inside, wide tires mounted on Cragar mags, surfboard rack on the top, etc. My friends and others would ask me for the keys during school so that they could hang out and listen to music, etc. in the school parking lot while cutting class. It was like a time share on wheels.

[@magiccheeseball]

Was Jeff Spicoli and his buddies getting stoned in it?

[@wolfieziggy19]

Many times a large cloud of smoke would pour out when the doors were opened...lol! Cocoa Beach Florida

[@magiccheeseball]

@@wolfieziggy19 i used to surf at cocoa beach Florida back in those days were you from there?

[@wolfieziggy19]

@@magiccheeseball Yes; lived there from 69 to 1975.

[@magiccheeseball]

@@wolfieziggy19 oh cool i was there just a little after that later 70s and early 80s back when Kelly Slater and his brother were there i went there when you where there too when i was a little kid with my parrents

[@bbb462cid]

I aways love how Dunham's vehicles are essentially a mystery even to him

[@stinky_barista8199]

mostly because he's a jackass

[@edw.b856]

👍👍

[@garyg7145]

Just like my wife. She knows some jargon, but it might not apply to her car.

[@chiwowowo]

Yeah, Jeff isn't a full blown tool-turning motorhead, but he knows what he likes, which was like a majority of the guys back in the day....

[@3g2000gt]

Cause he has the money to buy what he likes

[@vettekid3326]

Dodge dealers in my area would have the vans sent to conversion centers to fit out the vans before they hit the lot. Some people would buy the basic van shell and do everything themselves as the aftermarket parts started showing up at the local speed shops in the early 70's like the captains chairs, top vents, overhead consoles for the sound systems and all the many rear window options. Mural painting on the sides and rear was very popular as well.

[@JackOSUrulz]

One of my uncles had a nice van back in the early 80s. Carpeting, swivel chairs, nice tables, and a couch/sleeper. I doubt you could have a van with today’s prices on everything, at least not tricked out with all the fancy goo gahs and schmoodiddles that those things had in the 80s. At least not without auctioning off some body parts or children. Or both.

[@storyteller1749]

I have always wanted a customized van. Preferably a 70's Dodge. I've had several friends throughout the years that had them. But never had one myself. Definitely a piece of Americana. I thoroughly enjoyed Jay and Jeff swapping stories. And Jay was really chomping at the bit to drive it at the beginning of the show. Pretty funny.

[@alexmartinez7278]

And Dodge put the 440 Magnum in their Vans..

[@nni4nni]

More van episodes, please.😎

[@stevenchristy3175]

I bought my Ford Eco 99 in 2017. I’ve been in it from the beach to the snow. I call her the Cannabus because it gets more cloudy in there than a Willie Nelson tour bus.

[@godfellas483]

I love it when two comedians get together for a while in a casual setting, but the cameras are still on. So many one liners...! Very nice Van. Brings back memories! 🙂

[@Sativic]

Agree. I would like to see Gabriel Iglesias "fluffy" next, and he has some nice vans

[@godfellas483]

@@Sativic Jay has done a video with him. Very funny stuff I loved the one with Brad Garret had me ROFL🙂

[@jeremyb4493]

I like Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars getting Coffee for that reason...Jay was on an episode too

[@Sativic]

@@godfellas483 thank you

[@paulhooker8718]

I was always the van guy in my town. Until about fifteen years ago i always had dodge conversion vans. Made alot of money doing work on peoples vans. The engine cover thing always intimidated them. I loved it cause i didn't have a garage. And it was easy to stay dry and warm while working on them. Save for front end accessories.

[@21Piloteer]

I've nothing but vans for years. Started out with an early flat-nose Dodge (1970 A-100).

[@paulhooker8718]

@@21Piloteer nice. Oldest i ever had was1974 dodge cargo. Managed to squeeze a 400 Chrysler in it. Was a blast!!!

[@kingelvis7035]

Try working on a modern pickup. It's like a van without the inside engine cover. YOu can't get at anything.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

If you live where it there is a rainy season like here in Portland Oregon, the typical contractors pickup is a cargo van. My Cargo E-150 is a power tool, and the most rare version. Mine has a 351W, 4 speed stick and 411 9ich posi...

[@tombryant1104]

@@davidhollenshead4892 I suspect Jeff's also has a 351 Windsor, the Cleveland was was discontinued after 1974(so much for being in current Mustangs, which were Must II). AFAIK Cleveland never used in trucks. What they received were 351M(modified) which were 400 with 351 crankshaft.

[@AmraphelofShinar]

My dad had a Dodge van in the late 70's/early 80's that was customized with the carpeting and swivel chairs and a stereo in the back. It had a straight six and was the last manual transmission vehicle my parents owned. It was that classic refrigerator color avocado green! He got rid of it in '86 when he bought an S-10 Blazer.

[@jeffreychristopher5953]

Wow this is a blast from the past ! I'm 67 yrs old, l grew up in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn and the local Bodega owner had one of these, exactly the same color as Jeff's. ! 😮😊

[@Contreras-z4e]

Jeff Dunham an jay leno started from the dirt up real gangsters 🤵🏻‍♂️ Hard work pays off

[@JESJACKDAD]

I have the giant smile watching this video, I enjoy the heck out of the Jay and Jeff videos.

[@adambennett7348]

It’s funny to see how two people can both love cars, but for completely different reasons and have entirely different tastes. Jay, “how many miles on it? What kind of brakes does it have?” Jeff,”I have no idea and don’t care, but look how awesomely Weird this thing is!”

[@giovanni4070]

In 1969 I had a friend we called Soppo that had a carpet and Indian cloth upholstered 1955 milk truck. That milk truck was the bomb. Went to a Doors concert in Long Beach in it. Good Times

[@TSL73]

@@giovanni4070 that had to be a rad ride

[@kevinsellsit5584]

You could tell this was a new experience for Jay ... as he was using two lanes for most of the drive regardless of the car next to him. At 27:10 , 27:46 , 33:01 etc...

[@TheBandit7613]

@@dodgersfan8598 I miss drive ins. Hell, I miss decent movies. Both are extinct.

[@QuietDriver97]

Always love these episodes with Jeff. Just two buddies driving around shooting the breeze like good times.

[@edby1498]

Thank you. ғᴏʀ ʙɪᴛᴄᴏɪɴ/ ᴇᴛʜ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴅᴇᴀs ✍️📩𝑊ℎ𝘼𝙏𝙎𝘼𝙋𝙋 ±𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟗𝟐𝟗𝟑𝟖𝟒𝟎𝟏 ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ ʀᴇғᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ…

[@archipelago93]

This is great, definitely brings back childhood memories. I remember a couple that was friends with my parents and owned an Econoline conversion van. It had a heightened roof, 2nd row captain’s chairs, some wood trim along the sides, and a TV with a VCR to watch movies in the back. I thought it was literally the coolest thing I’ve ever seen lol 😂

[@georgechickful]

You can't beat a bit of random car/culture related chatter. We had he customised Van culture in the UK for a while, including the stickers, portholes, Viking murals, etc. We also had the lax attitude to children's safety in the 70's, on the parcel shelf, in the back of station wagon, waving at cars behind and vans, rolling around unsecured.

[@jonathansparks7558]

Jeff gets my respect since he’s got an AMC Pacer and a Ford Pinto

[@TheBandit7613]

Don't forget about his gremlins.

[@ajay-xjs]

I've really enjoyed this episode, such a fun cool van and two great people - really enjoyable

[@randytolle6706]

My Wife's Paternal Grandfather was the engineer /tool and die maker when Mound Metal Craft first was created. They later changed the company name to Tonka.

[@edby1498]

Thank you. ғᴏʀ ʙɪᴛᴄᴏɪɴ/ ᴇᴛʜ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴅᴇᴀs ✍️📩𝑊ℎ𝘼𝙏𝙎𝘼𝙋𝙋 ±𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟗𝟐𝟗𝟑𝟖𝟒𝟎𝟏 ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ ʀᴇғᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ

[@KennethStone]

I could listen to these two talk all day! Love them both. I'd also love to see Fluffy on here, too. He has a lot of VW vans.

[@bekbob]

I remember the van craze. I was just a kid and my dad would buy me the custom van magazines and took me to a few custom van shows. The airbrush graphics on the outside and the custom interiors were just outrageous. Waterbeds in the back and plush upholstery. I used to dream of my own van, but by the time I was old enough, the craze was over. Remember the custom van in the movie Corvette Summer, that was a good example.

[@jakybakey8473]

I love Jeff's visits with Jay, great back and forth... You can see the overhaul of this van on Jeff's site, just as good or even better than this.

[@ddcraun]

"You put your weed here..." Cut to odometer with 420 miles. Timing is everything.

[@sickjohnson]

At the end of the video seeing Jeff and Jay just out for a drive hanging out brings a big smile to my face. What an awesome video guys...keep them coming.

[@petesmitt]

How does Jeff look so young? looks like a 40 year old but he's 60.

[@kove]

Hearing them exchange stories is just great.

[@mikesuch9021]

Jay hitting all the right boxes for his Dad's 66 Galaxy is my favorite story of all. JC Whitney sells the portholes. And fuzzy dice.

[@nunyabuziness8421]

I had a 76 Econoline with Shag carpet a sink a bed all done up as a camper and I was 16 years old it was my first vehicle given to me by my grandmother had it until a rod blew out of the engine

[@lukemeier1853]

Those vans drive really nice, it would surprise you. I have a conversion ford in very nice shape I drive now as a third car and I really enjoy the panoramic view from the window, fantastic ride and just general comfort. Also you can take a nap anytime you want in comfort. I think I will always have one for now on...

[@bcgrittner8076]

55 MPH was Nixon’s baby. Jeff, you need to replace the front shocks on your van.

[@duygukayhanisaskank4915]

Hello bcgrittner, I agree about replacing "ALL" the shocks; if it hasn't been recently done. But the excessive front-end bounce we see is due to worn-out front coil springs. Age, sitting idle for years & that very heavy 351cid engine have taken their toll on the coils. Best regards, Ben

[@nkgoodal]

I drove a 76 Ford Van Chateau in high school in the early 90s. It was a two tone brown and tan. No crazy graphics. Two bench seats. Had the dual tank setup shown in this video. It had a 460 and could move out...

[@Ostsol]

My parents took us camping all over western Canada in a 1979 Ford Econoline 150. V8 and dual fuel tanks, two-tone red and white. They had a vent installed on the roof in the back and a fixed window on the driver side. At first it had a big bench seat in the back that could be folded down, but when that became too small to fit four kids on, my dad installed five old airline seats. Both configurations still left plenty of room in the back for a bed. If one of us kids got really tired during a long trip, we'd crawl back there and have a nap. Safety standards and concerns in the 80s were so much different than they are today...

[@firefighterps2]

You can tell these two are good friends.

[@edby1498]

Thank you. ғᴏʀ ʙɪᴛᴄᴏɪɴ/ ᴇᴛʜ ɪɴᴠᴇsᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪᴅᴇᴀs ✍️📩𝑊ℎ𝘼𝙏𝙎𝘼𝙋𝙋 ±𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟗𝟐𝟗𝟑𝟖𝟒𝟎𝟏 ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ ʀᴇғᴇʀʀᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ.

[@blueblade455]

Hold up, is nobody going to mention that Jeff Dunham is 60 years old already? WTF!!!

[@ericrobinson7184]

This was my first van, bought used in the 80's, I love it. Then, I was driving looking for work, got pulled over and arrested, my sticker was 2 weeks expired, I didn't even know. Didn't have money for bail, and was released a year later...homeless. Go to tow yard, state-owned, and they ransacked it. Stole about 3 grand worth of tools, and all my guitars. If your black, they never needed a reason to arrest you.

[@GeorgeStar]

White supremacist domestic terrorists KKK mobsters see black people as a cash machine & free labor.

[@horizonsky9269]

every time I see a beautiful classic like that it reminds me of the movie 1976 massacre at Central high

[@kingmaat6721]

Cant tell me leno’s not high as giraffe balls here.

[@blanej0j0]

Both of them

[@LUISRIVERA-ew7ts]

I always loved Jeff and Jay. I could hear them talking for hours. I was always laughing. One of the bests episodes. 👍

[@BurblyWurbly]

Jay tries to keep the show on track but Jeff doesn't care. He's there for a fun time no matter what they're talking about. I like that. Also, I knew instantly what that 8-track storage rack was all about. Not that I'm old enough to remember. Probably. Maybe.

[@21Piloteer]

Vanning events are still going on, just not on the large scale they were back in the 70's/'80's. The 49th National Truck-In is in July. The Dodge version was called "Street Van". "If this van's a-rockin', come on in we like orgies".

[@imbdileva]

My friend's dad had that van for a road trip from Southern Ontario to Daytona back in 1980. Effn amazing!! I can remember the layout and tunes on the 8 track! I was 13 years old and my first long road trip! We listened to ELO and Bread on the 8 track!

[@markmoorhead1442]

I drove an E-250 with a 460 all thru the 80s. A gas hog for sure but very reliable and a real multi purpose vehicle. This video brings back memories.

[@joanwilliams1873]

Jay says it "handles" reasonably well. Just watch the way it wallows over bumps and rolls in the corners.

[@michaeltrivette1728]

He said "handles well for what it is"

[@mannypuerta5086]

A set of Bilstein shocks would do wonders.

[@porschetech72901]

Joan..... show me something automotive made in the 70s thats doesnt wallow an roll compared to today.... lol

[@mannypuerta5086]

Grady Anything with a Colin Chapman suspension. I drove a Lotus Elite in the 60’s that would be extremely satisfactory today. Pretty much everything else was just as you said.

[@01Bouwhuis]

@@porschetech72901 European cars.....

[@Stubones999]

The odometer was 420... at least at the start of the video. Also it looks like it has the original shocks and needs new ones.

[@hubriswonk]

I saw that as well!

[@ironmikehallowween]

Very enjoyable to watch. I had a van growing up, as well as a Mustang, a Bug, a cougar, and a Jeep. I loved them all for different reasons. The van definitely had its purpose however, and was very fun to have around. My mother had one of those pintos just like this van. She liked it a lot, but my father traded it off for something Else.

[@wakelesspluto1792]

These vans are still all over the place in the midwest. I see them all the time.

[@danam0228]

Lol, "Chateau" I enjoyed watching this more than most, the car not being the only star, but definitely the biggest and very interesting, unique to say the least. Thank you Jeff and Jay. Love how Jay remembered Shawsheen Motors given that it was named after that part of Andover, MA, and the salesman whose last name was that of the neighboring city, Lawrence. Being from the same area, I would not forget that either. I also still remember the person and place I bought my first car from.

[@Madmetalmaniac42069]

Damn, we live pretty close by to each other! Small world

[@barrettwbenton]

"Shag wagon" to minivan…otherwise known as "cause and effect." 😉

[@Walker983]

So easy to laugh at this vehicle but actually it was brilliant, and very profitable.

[@holeefuk4614]

laugh? why?

[@kentlarsen5834]

So many of the guys were buying vans in California, it was kind of the in vehicle. They would put refrigerators and stuff in there so you could live in it for days, memories, memories, memories. When you saw the van driving down the street with it's colors it was telling everyone, we're here to have fun, follow us.

[@hfontanez98]

I can't remember the year, but my dad had a beige Econoline. It was so much fun just laying down on the shag carpet on road trips.

[@alansmith4734]

Jeff Dunham: If the van is rocking, it just needs new shocks!

[@Pr3ct]

It goes down the road with a porpoise.

[@guytansbariva2295]

I hope Jeff isn't in the van with Peanut or Achmed 😂

[@alansmith4734]

@@guytansbariva2295 Silence, I keel you! =P

[@guytansbariva2295]

@@alansmith4734 I saw Jeff about 10 years ago, it was a great show. Better than Seinfeld whom I saw about the same time. Best was George Carlin before he died, and Gallagher, the guy who used to smash watermelons. Both of them were hilarious. Too bad Gallagher doesn't smash stuff anymore.

[@aircates]

They had a Pinto wagon that had the same paint scheme with the port hole windows… My neighbor across the street has one… Hasn’t moved since 1981…. And then a tree fell on it….

[@dwalker399]

What a bummer man.

[@mexicanspec]

Jeff has the Pinto to match as well.