Room for Vroom

A 1968 Chevy G-10 Van shows how GM kept improving the breed - and making way for V8 power between the front seats. In the back- watch for a special appearance from Rudolph Dieselhead…

[@chriscadman6379]

The way Steve looks back at the camera during the opening cracks me up, I can't help but grin.

[@bluehillcemetery2887]

Dig the old skool zero emission weed wacker

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@Chris Cadman it cracks me up also Steve definitely has a sense of humor.

[@SteveMagnante]

@@Daniel-fd3wp Hello Daniel, I shot that open sequence on a hot, humid day and was just showing the facts of the moment with my "scowl" to the camera man (the capable Shane Richardson). Thanks for watching, and writing! -Steve Magnante

[@ventura455]

You certainly have the ability to talk about any car and make it soooooo interesting. You are a natural teacher.

[@frogwizard5637]

In The Evil Dead, It wasn't a bad acid trip it was the Evil Dead. Hence the name!

[@hershellhodge1814]

My favorite thing about this series of videos is that he doesn't just focus on popular or sought after cars. KZbin is full of those types of videos and they do have thier value, but to see cars that I've never heard of and less popular cars from my childhood is very interesting to me.

[@scoobyroorogers]

Yep, I enjoy the less popular or unpopular vehicles as well. I believe that is what makes the Junkyard Crawl videos so much fun. Oh yeah and Steve's knowledge and excitement cannot be matched. All these Crawl episodes are real gems.

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello scoobyroorogers, THANKS for the kind words. I agree that if every junkyard video focused on Pontiac GTO's, Dodge Chargers and Chevy Camaros, it'd get kinda boring. Yes I do feature Goats, Chargers and Camaros but happily give equal time to the oddball stuff that was actually FAR more prevalent on the open road when these cars were new. So THANKS again for watching and writing, Steve Magnante

[@roberttucker805]

I've never heard anyone say funky old carburettor. The junkyard certainly is a classroom!

[@daynadiggle8169]

Steve , you crack me up ! When you opened the back doors on the van I was going down memory lane . The video stops and a rag commercial comes on ! Boy , that brought back lots of memories in my 66 Chevy van back in the day ! Or like the night at the drive in I got so drunk I earned my RED-WINGS and when I got home at three in the morning my mom asked me if I had got in a fight . Such great memories ! Keep em coming !

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello Dyna Diggle, red wings give you wings! If you catch my drift. Ahhh, the memories...THANKS for writing, Steve Magnante

[@larryrowe5259]

Had a 1966 Handi-van. (GMC) Micky Thompsons on the rear. We got all of our equipment in it with the rock band I was in in the early 70s. Good times.

[@abeneufeld9690]

Steve I watch every video of yours with my wife and two daughters and three sons we never missed an episode, we love you ..keep on doing what you’re doing.. wishing you good health and long life we love you thank you for your knowledge and Sharing ♥️

[@SteveMagnante]

Hello Abe Neufeld, THANKS for watching and especially for sharing this fun hobby with your kids and wife! It is sometimes said that "old cars are a guy thing" but we can all beg to differ! Heck GM is currently being run by the very effective Mary Barra! So THANKS for sharing these Junkyard Crawl with your family (the boys too!). Today's "kids" are tomorrow's "Captains of Industry". Thanks again, Steve Magnante

[@gilbertnowak5770]

Steve My Dad had a RARE 1967 Chev Van 3/4 Ton with the 325 Hp Truck 4 bolt main One year ONLY 327 which was also avalible in the 3/4 ton Pickup....Engine was ONE YEAR ONLY!

[@kroge007]

My Dad had the 66 GMC refrigerated food van then traded for a 70 GMC refrigerated food van. I learned the three on the tree with the 70 one!

[@rogercamp6071]

A friend owned a window van like this in orange with white top,had a 307 and Powerglide in it.

[@greggcollins4215]

Used to work with a guy that had the earlier version with the flat windscreen. It was white and he took offense when I compared it to a Nabisco cracker box.

[@reaper20015]

TV repair man......now the youngsters are confused.....lol.

[@88SC]

Lots of early van material popping up, and I’m liking it because there’s a lot I don’t know about them. Being hung up on rods and muscle cars for years, they got overlooked. I’ve noticed a bunch of unique engine and drive train details that were obviously necessary due to packaging.

[@SteveMagnante]

Right on!

[@jimc3688]

That deer mount would be great for someone’s haunted house this Halloween

[@garyjohnson4575]

That was a crazy movie at first watch! We were hysterical, constantly rewinding!!

[@michaelreynolds1904]

It's always good to have an Evil Dead reference!

[@gregorydavid7755]

I worked as a truck helper for a large daily newspaper from 1967-1970. The paper bought 5 or 6 of these vans and I remember they were called ChevyVan 108 and they had the the 283 with an automatic transmission, assuming power glide, in them. When empty you could smoke the tires very easily.

[@richdiscoveries]

There seems to be an oddly high amount of deer head in this junkyard LOL

[@leonardhirtle3645]

Steve,your automotive knowledge never fails to amaze me. Thank you for your informative videos.

[@ScottDLR]

It always amazes how you come up with brochures and such extensive background for all these segments, Steve. Enjoy absolutely every one of these!

[@rupe53]

I would bet Steve has been collecting paperwork for decades, and if you go to neighborhood tag sales you can always find vintage magazines with advertisements from the era. Heck, I have been on old homes and found newspapers from the 1800s. Always wished I had saved a few.

[@SteveMagnante]

@@rupe53 Hello rupe53, Yes Indeed, I love "vintage paper" and have been collecting it for over 40 years. I have a bunch of magazines and dealer brochures and enjoy using them where applicable to give a "then" perspective to the junkyard vehicles I feature. THANKS for watching and writing, Steve Magnante

[@jeremytaflinger4212]

i always liked these flat face face vans

[@jonstachler5380]

With that deer head being on that van, I'd keep an eye out for a cream-yellow delta 88 with a hand mount chainsaw nearby. Clatuu Verata.... Nictghthggg!

[@speedfreak8200]

I believe I had (many years ago) the original forward control.... the 57' Jeep FC 150. It was a fun quirky truck

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

I always wanted to get a 170. Everything I always found was nothing but a pile of rust and broken windows. :(

[@speedfreak8200]

@@hilltopmachineworks2131 back in the day there was an FC170 (3/4 ton) in the next town over Scappoose Oregon that had a big block Pontiac.... painted on the door "Big Red"

[@hilltopmachineworks2131]

@@speedfreak8200 Cool.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

We're all pulling for you Steve. Hope to see you soon

[@ClaremontClassicGarage]

Check it for fingerprints. Penguin, Joker and Riddler loved those vans.

[@planetwisconsin9901]

The ultra rare option of an additional swivel cab on the roof. GM called it The Strato-Revolving Vista View Elevated Control Cab. 😐🤭

[@barneywing9876]

Always looking forward to your videos every day. I always learn something new from you. Thank you and keep up the great job.

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

I agree Barney!

[@vikapica8123]

I had a 75 G10 with a 283 in high school in the 90s in a small mountain town in Colorado

[@jimchristy573]

I had a 67 chevy van. It had a 283 2 barrel with a 2 speed powerglide. Fun little van

[@zoltanliszkai2162]

I had a "64 chevy 90 van that i did put a V-8 in it, it had a powerglide and 3.36 ptrac

[@UberLummox]

I had a '68 that was a Navy ambulance with NO side doors. Rare shlt! Gee I hope Rawlings doesn't crash again.....😁

[@haljohnson5729]

Reminded of the song "Chevy Van"

[@michelletaylor5691]

"A town so small you could throw a rock from end to end " thanks for the memories Sammy Johns ❤️

[@leahcimthgirw3163]

I just watched this video yesterday and as a matter of fact today I just saw the GMC one in the brochure with side pipes very cool van

[@rixkafer56]

About 1980 my mom went to work for the school district driving kids to school in these vans as she went to night school to eventually become a preschool teacher for the next 20 years... i remember she was incharge of getting each van repainted a dark green and relettered as they were starting to age by 1980 Thanks for sharing

[@Zooooom01]

I used to love the junkyard crawl on the last page of the magazine! Good job

[@robertlyman9789]

Love the front tire

[@chrisscearce]

Steve that was funny mentioning that Richard smashed up his Hellcat along with losing the race! I think he had too many Lite beers by race time. To be honest I never paid attention to the bigger grill in the later vans. Thanks to you I'm educated once again. How many of you everytime you here someone say "Chevy Van" the song pops in your mind and the girl with face of an angel the moonlight dancin off her hair those long legs that were tan and brown she was let out in a town you could throw rock from end to end along a dirt rd Main St walked away in barefeet. NAMASTE BRO 🙏🏼 🤙🏼

[@michelletaylor5691]

Kudos to the late great Sammy Johns ❤️

[@chrisscearce]

@@michelletaylor5691 Sammy was born and lived not too far from my home. It was barely mentioned in the local papers when he passed. Namaste 🤙🏼

[@michelletaylor5691]

@@chrisscearce nice, loved this song when I was a teenager, so cool knowing Sammy, I met Kelly Clarkson when she was in high school in Burleson, Texas, just a snotty little girl, you never know

[@user-ue8vd8vz7r]

I’m always impressed how Steve does all these videos in one take, a true professional.

[@2011joser]

I remember riding in one of these many times as a kid in the early 80’s. Unlike the other f/c vans I had been in, that one was very quiet and had none of the fume/ heat leakage into the passenger compartment that was common. It was a full window passenger version in great shape but the thing that made an impression on me was that it had actual cardboard panels inside. They were properly fit and painted body color, but actual cardboard.

[@oldskool1979]

Such a cool looking van

[@thman6453]

Gives a new meaning to cab over design lol

[@lab1042]

Hate to be in a head-on collision in one of these things.

[@JimFlanagan4206]

The forward control van. Where your legs are the crumple zone!

[@robertmedsker5305]

Its alwat cool to see the progression of Automotive development.

[@clutchkicker392ison5]

Some nasty 'Daggers' in that windscreen.

[@myretirementlife8731]

Steve, I can't believe you walked past that side door without talking about that powerglide sitting inside!

[@joeinmi8671]

That's a 250. The 230 valve cover Is a basic rectangle

[@scootosan]

The Phone company and Sears had these. And after their service life was used up they would go to auction and usually sell around $50 to $75 (1972) as I 13 year old I wanted one of these and saved my grass cutting money and by the time I had the money .50, 75, 1.00 at a time they were not auctioned anymore.

[@waterheaterservices]

Old used cars and trucks were ridiculously cheap in those days. Bought a 46 Dodge sedan in pretty decent shape for $50 in '72.

[@robertreynolds9184]

Elcamino rob Steve I ran across your channel and enjoy your junkyard craw when I saw 2nd gen chevy van I had to watch . I have my dad's 1970 GMC van

[@maxboya]

Ha! Nice rip on Richard. I’m best friends with his kid👍

[@Babarudra]

I see it has the optional textured curved windshield.

[@Jupitermustangmike]

They always smelled like something was burning in them!

[@jarrettwalck3409]

The classic G van

[@jeffclark2725]

I remember as a kid the neighbors had one of these,Thumbs up, always enjoy the videos

[@oldsledpurgatory3595]

Judging by the glass sediment bowl I'd say that carb and exhaust manifold came from the same engine.

[@edwardmalfroid946]

I had a 68 & a 69. Loved them both! No giddy up and go, but would haul mucho tonage all day long. I miss them.

[@bradwilliams4921]

You are a treasure trove of information Steve. Thanks for the junkyard videos.

[@googleusergp]

No VIN, can't win, but it might go something like this: G for G Series van, S for six cylinder equipped, 15 for possible 1500 # load capacity (1/2 ton), 8 for 1968 model year, then maybe P for Pontiac, MI assembly and the rest is the production sequence. That is not correct, not all were assembled at Pontiac, MI. Some were code "4" and assembled at Scarborough, Ontario Canada and code "5" for London, Ontario Canada assembly. Most were Pontiac, MI assembled, but not all. Pontiac was also the "home" plant of Pontiac Motor Division and the Pontiac car side of the plant closed in 1988 after the last Fieros rolled off the line. The last "G" body RWD cars were also assembled at Pontiac, MI. There was a famous Pontiac GTO ad that showcased Woodward Ave. It was photographed/illustrated at the famous "turnaround" on Woodward Ave and the caption read, "You Know The Rest Of The Story". GM management was infuriated as it was an obvious nod to street racing which was against GM policy by that time. It would not be the first time that Pontiac management drew the ire of either top brass or the EPA (later on the Humbler/VOE option got the EPA's attention). Possible code 507 or 537 Light Blue exterior paint.

[@remylopez4821]

That cab on top of that van was a rare custom cab big rear window very desirable just saying

[@hondanation9375]

Good video! I barely remember them cab over vans but I remember the straight 6 was a tough engine

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

That whole Chevy Body. Looks like the Chevy Corvair Greenbrier Van.

[@rupe53]

it's very similar in style but slightly taller and wider because in that era people were trying to put 4x8 sheet material in the rear. The Corvair version would fit sheet material, but due to the narrow doors (about 38 inches wide) it had to go in on a diagonal. BTW, the short wheel base on these was too short for 8 ft lumber. The Corvair was 9 ft from the seat to the back door. (I still have a Corvair van)

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@rupe53 I had a 1962 Corvair Rampside with the mystery shifter because the shifter was rubbing on the fuel tank. Long story short bought it from my buddies Dad about 8 years ago sat in the backyard for 25 years . Put a new fuel tank from Clark’s Corvair in Massachusetts. And I rebuild the brake cylinders. And the wheel bearings. Freakin thing fired right up when I got the timing done. That’s the beauty off air cooled vehicles they can sit for a long time and no water corrosion.👍

[@rupe53]

@@Daniel-fd3wp ... the early Corvair shifter used a series of linkages, which wore and got sloppy. (mystery shifter) The later ones used a solid rod with no bushings, except to support the rod up front. The drawback was that version had a tube going through the center of the fuel tank to make it a straight shot. What a joy to clean the tank and do the Eastwood "cream coat" to seal it up. Later I find that Clark's now makes a reproduction tank. I drive it regularly and even on some long trips. Last summer I put about 1500 miles on it.

[@Daniel-fd3wp]

@rupe53 That’s super kool. I only bought that truck because my brother in law had a 1961 corvair monza and he agreed to help me fix it up. I sold it about 4 years ago a guy from Las Vegas came and picked it up. I live in San Diego got triple what I paid for it ran great but had a lot off rust.There is a guy on KZbin I used to watch called Corvairwild years ago he has good videos on Rampside

[@Ian-of9oi]

Saw a van like that in a junk yard up in Saskatchewan Canada one time. It had like a 4” chop. Looked cool.

[@markmundle2104]

love these episodes, sure do miss junkyard gold

[@adamthomas9829]

Love the van, wish I had one!

[@jasonz7788]

Great work Sir thank you

[@NebukedNezzer]

for 16 years I owned a 67 chevy van like this. its a wonder I never ran into anything. they do not stop on a dime. mine was 283 v8 3 speed manual the valuable thing was the 12 bolt 411 rear end. I put a 57 chevy power pack 4 jet 4 barrel carb and manifold on it. the carb you found inside the van is the same carb as I had.

[@edog7059]

Shortly after high school I had a white '69 windowless, short wheelbase chevy van like this one. 250 ci 6, 3-on-the-tree. Originally belonged to a local dry cleaner business. Great for hauling my Bultaco Pursang around. Kind of hurts to see what can become of an interesting vehicle in a short (?) 50 years - but I rolled mine on an icy road one morning so can't exactly say I pampered mine either. Short wheelbase and slab sides means that a sidewind can send you skidding into a ditch pretty quickly! I replaced an engine mount and a radiator hose and it stayed on the road for another 10+ years. Sold it to my sister and she ended up living in it on a California beach for a short while. I had a couple VW busses after the chevy so you could say I was familiar with the cab-forward design.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Hugh's bultaco. I'm sure ya dealt with the guy over the years if you ever needed parts. My dad and his 2 bros used to race back then, and about 10yrs ago we took a ride up to Hugh's, what an awesome place. Lucky to be within a 30-40min ride.

[@edog7059]

@@MrTheHillfolk I certainly know about Hugh's but never dealt with them. Owned that bike for 40 years and except for the first 3 or 4 years, mostly just looked at it. The perfectly beautiful dirtbike! A couple years ago I sold it to the son of an old friend who remembered seeing and loving that bike when he was 4 or 5 years old! It's in good hands.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@edog7059 Cool deal man. Heh, I'm trying to remember what my dad said they did to mod those sometimes. Something about using a 350 top end on a 250. Or maybe a 250 top end on a 350 to make it a revver? And I do remember he said pursang. Can't remember if that was the parts donor bike or the one that got the parts though.

[@house9850]

holy crap this guy is a jeenyus

[@jarrettwalck3409]

My dad had 2 of them for are floor care Business

[@terrygugel3803]

Great video, worked on a farm in the late 70's old man that worked in the shop had a van just like that same color, we didn't want to look in it as well lol

[@Bullseye120]

Steve, thanks for video and education. Supposedly as told by Corvair enthusiasts, the Corvan, and Greenbrier vans were less profitable as compared to the newer forward control vans that GM debuted in 64. Every time I see either example, I can't but help think of the lack of safety provision of each. What did Jay Leno say about the Corvair 95......"the driver is the first one at the scene of the accident".

[@jamesblair9614]

Siamese centre exhaust ports, not the hot ticket for performance, but people had been seeing the same thing on Ford V8 flatheads for 20 years already, so they didn’t question it.

[@TrashcanGarage]

Older than those 4-jets are the Rochester 4GC models. I've got small stash of 'em to keep my 57 Pontiac happy. Welcome back Steve. Do ya miss California yet? 😁

[@CR7659]

I kind of want to drive one to see what it's like but not sure I'd daily one.

[@bluehillcemetery2887]

If you squint the moss on the side makes it look like the mysterymobile

[@jamesjones-qj5jg]

Thank you for all your hard work you are a great tour guide into the past of automotive keep up the good work thank you sir

[@timkis64]

those old straight 6 engines would run nearly forever.they didnt make enough power or rpms to hurt themselves.the old ford 240 was like the energizer bunny.CRAZY simple & reliable.

[@vettekid3326]

Years ago a volunteer fire department I was on used a 1970 one of those as an equipment hauler. 350 automatic but I never liked the feel of driving it because you were sitting forward of the front wheels and it exaggerated all the bumps and dips in the road but then I was used to a 1970 Ford van where you were in a more conventional position slightly rear of the front wheels. Oh and that Ford had a 302 three speed manual with one wheel peel and unloaded you could smoke the rear tire all day long with so much of the weight up front.

[@danielcarroll5667]

Thanks for a great video , as always ! You always amaze me with your knowledge , I did not know that about early Cad & Olds V8's and I was around back then ! Had a buddy with a '48 Ford pickup with a Caddy V8 swap ! It would go any way BUT straight when you floored it !

[@pjcornell9691]

The Scooby Doo Van🐕

[@pdennis93]

Is that the mother-in-law seat up on top? 🤣🤣🤣

[@donwest259]

my dad's 67 van had a fold away passenger seat

[@bryanphipps9131]

Lol that would be designated as COE!

[@brianbloom1799]

Steve I rebuilt that carb, Its a good carb with very little work

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

Those where the suicide vans! If you had a head on collision! You might as well kiss you tail goodbye!👋😂👍man I can imagine Steve library 📚 full of automotive memorabilia, books, magazines etc. Steve in a walking automotive library! Great video Steve!👌😎👍

[@rcnelson]

Where does Steve get all those old pictures and articles? Good stuff.

[@andrewpardell9701]

Love the movie Evil Dead! Great reference big Bruce Campbell fan and now for the big question....would you ever consider doing a video with "The Character"? I miss him from the magazines. He was the shiznit!

[@rscamarolover]

I need that whole van for parts for my 69 gmc handivan 108

[@zacharyclement8100]

I have a 327 in my 68 90" non accessory fuelie heads. I'm on 2.5 hr from here.

[@zacharyclement8100]

Also very dne disk brake conversion up front with pontiac and chevy parts. And custom brackets from a fellow vannner/van owner

[@born_again_torinos]

Ah yes, the cabover vans. Where the driver becomes the crumple zone in a head on crash.

[@tony66au]

Still more a fan of the A100 with a Slant but nice to see the differences!

[@21Piloteer]

I had a 69 A-108 with the 318 V8 & 727 auto. Was my daily driver for years. Miss having it.

[@missygosnell6170]

I'll bet those we're fun little vans to shoot around town in! What era GM cars used that type of carburetor?

[@suzi_mai]

Late 50s to mid 60s.

[@houstoncowdog]

I’m assuming that 99-07 F250 in the background was powered by the notoriously awful 6.0 powerstroke and that’s precisely why it’s in the junkyard

[@mikechurch2359]

Good to see you back in junkyard where do you get all the magazine in video ?

[@mangomcpoo475]

in Australia we don't get access to Roadkill.

[@rctopfueler2841]

funny you show this i just ran into a 67 i had in 83 ,it was a 4 speed column shift 230 6cyl and its for sale again 900 bucks

[@rupe53]

Funny how that style of interior door handle was used by Chevy and GMC well into the 80s, and even into the 90s on full size G vans. I worked on a V-8 version of this van around 1970 and let me tell you, changing plugs was NOT a fun job in that small space.

[@rupe53]

@Bo Blu ... if you mean the stalk that just plugged in (with some force) then yes. The larger GMC trucks (30k lbs or so) were still using interior parts that were similar to mid 60s Chevy trucks, well into the 80s (end of production) when that segment was bought out by Volvo.

[@mikepotter6426]

I wanna know what’s in the bags

[@galencurrington8704]

Everybody was trying to copy Vw and the success they were have with their buses. Some don’t realize a Vw bus is actually rated 3/4 ton. The big three was loosing out in that market so they had the gov. Put a tax on imported commercial vans and trucks.

[@markgrace659]

4:00 I don’t believe you, Mags. Tell us what it is.