(first posted 3/14/2013) Now here’s a find I’m really excited about; I haven’t seen on of these high-roof Dodge A108 vans in ages. And I’m having a difficult time identifying who exactly made this conversion or what it was called (these pictures were made through a fence). Here’s the thing: I’m pretty sure these were an “authorized” conversion, and sold through Dodge dealers. They were not that uncommon in the day, but I can’t find anything in my google searches. Is this the only one on the web? The last one still out there? Update: a commenter identified is as a Corey Cruiser.
As I remember these, they came with a nice camper interior, in very vintage decor, colors and fabrics. One can see the little vents and the propane tank valves below the rocker. But it wasn’t a full-on camper (Dodge sold those too); it was more like a big, roomy family van, with some limited camping capabilities (small propane cooker/sink/cooler). It had more seats than a typical camper, and no upper cabinets or toilet/shower stall. If I remember correctly, they did all come in this popular-for-the time bronze-brown color, as well as the two “accent” stripes.
For those of you less familiar with these vans, this is the long-wheelbase (108″) version of the A-Series Dodge van that first arrived in 1964, as the swb A-100. The lwb A108 arrived in 1967, and both were replaced by the new B-Series in 1971. I owned a 1968 A-100, and did I ever lust after these high-roof A-108s when I saw them, typically in California. They had the slant six, and the LA-series V8s were optional (273 and 318).
The outside rear spare is not stock, to increase interior space. This one has Texas plates, so it’s along way from home. It also seems quite rust free.
Darn good shape for such an old vehicle. Solid body is always a good place to start a restoration.
I sold this to cheap
TO cheap??? What’s it like there??? These Dodge vans were popular in BC area bc I saw many hi-tops camperized around over the years! Very practical and comfy, being able to walk around in back without stooping!
This is a new one on me. I thought I remembered seeing some ads for these, but cannot find this exact one. The picture here is close, but not quite the same thing. There are also some ads showing a couple different configurations of pop-up tops. Dodge was certainly a player in the early RV market.
Yes, that one has a different roof shape to not be from the same molds (and likely the same source). The one you show is a serious camper. The one here was designed more to be a big wagon/cum occasional camper, which explains all the windows and no upper cabinets (or shower/toilet stall). It had plenty of seats for kids, but could still be used for light camping.
I could be wrong about these being sold through Dodge dealers, but that’s what I seem to remember, as well as seeing a fair number of them back then. Of course, it may have been that I noticed them more than the average person, distorting my sense of how many there were 🙂
It’s almost PopeMobilish!
The one in the brochure looks identical to a Travco Family Wagon. Interesting that it is a Dodge advertisement and that Travco is not mentioned. Perhaps there were in-house conversions? Dodge may have also sold Travcos right off the dealer lot.
I can’t find ANYTHING about Paul’s find. Off to surf the Vannin’ forums…
Travco and Dodge had a very close relationship. At times, the Travcos were just called Dodges. Probably both sold at the same time under different names. https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/curbside-classic-travco-motorhome-the-granddaddy-of-the-motorhome-name-and-genre/
I like the ladies with the VOTE posters, Grandmas are groovy for Nixon!
This is in Eugene, right? If it is there, it will surely become somebody’s home, rolling art gallery, music festival-mobile, camper, or general hippie bus in no time.
It is; and you’re right, someone will save it. It’s way too hip to be crushed. I’d love it it, but….
Paul, you know you need this, don’t try and deny it. Chances are good that a new set of points, or at least a quick filling of the existing ones is all it will take to bring it back to life. With the seats removed, if they are still in there, it would be great for running to the lumber yard for supplies, dare I say better than your XBox and if it has slant 6 power it won’t get the around town MPG won’t be that much worse. Then you could replace the XBox with……
You’re reading my mind, literally. The stand-up height really appeals.
Stand up height is oh so nice to have. For years my rental remodel and repair vehicle as a standard height Econoline, but then I made the move to a high top model with an extended height slider, I”m never going back.
Yup, Paul, and the lack of ABS, air bags, a/c, heater, disk brakes and a myriad of other things not there compared to your XBox must really appeal…
Have you missed Paul’s pickup? I don’t think he is too worried about lacking ABS, Air Bags, and A/C in a rig destined to only make occasional trips to the lumber yard and rental property. As mentioned my thoughts and apparently Paul’s too would be to replace the XBox with something else for the majority of his driving and use this for when he needs to haul something bigger that he wants to keep dry.
Like a really cherry MBZ W124!
As usual, the realities of executing all these changes while I’m struggling to keep my housebuilding project, website and other activities going makes this a classic MM exercise.
I wouldn’t be worried about ABS etc, more about ending up with a limp at best, a long time after having a crash in a 1960’s forward control van.
I’m so glad I live far far away from you. Don’t take it personally. 🙂
That’s a Corey Cruiser.
Bingo! That’s it. And I was probably wrong about it being sold by Dodger dealers.
http://books.google.com/books?id=RdgDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=corey+cruiser&source=bl&ots=lVSlUh1D6w&sig=NuCjVfepOK_jYFMMxxTZC5-J-1Y&hl=en&sa=X&ei=tytCUYXhG8LOyAHkpoGYAg&ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=corey%20cruiser&f=false
Wow, nice spot!
I love it – no matter how obscure, somebody knows! Well done Bob.
For some reason I’m reminded of my own storage-lot find in Eugene, lo these many years ago. In 1962 when I was a college student based in Corvallis I found a sectioned 1946-48 Ford 2-door sedan on a fenced lot that was between the north and south lanes of 99W on the north side of town. I saw it a couple of more times in subsequent years, and I’m happy to report that someone saved it. I saw it for sale in ebay or HMN – can’t remember where now – just 5 or so years ago, looking quite nice and well out of my price range. Of course I can’t say with any certainty that it was the same car, but come on, how many sectioned 1946-48 Ford Tudors are there in western Oregon?
you were a college student in ‘1962 Corvallis??
did you run into any of the Delta guys in your travels???? 😉
That hits most of the notes with me: Flat-front old-school van; roof lift; Texas rig with no rust.
I’d be on it like a cheap tux…but I’m practicing an economic retreat. Toy cars and purchase dreams…will have to stay dreams, for a long time and maybe forever for me.
Wow, that is too cool, great find. If I had the time, money (and wasn’t on the other side of the world) I’d be all over that!
Someone should run this past Murilee Martin, who has an A-100 as one of his project cars.
Holy rollover risk! I’d like to see how that would do in a moose test.
That said, it’s a very cool van. I saw one of these a long, long, time ago at a car show far, far, away, and had no idea what it was called.
Paul, you do know that you could sell your Chinook and buy this as a replacement, or have each one as a drivable part donor for each other.
There’s probably not a whole lot of parts overlap, as my Chinook is based on the B-Series van.
And the replacement idea has already been nixed by my better half, who is not about to give up the comfy fixed beds in the Chinook for fold-down “beds” in the Corey Cruiser.
And there’s a third problem: my ears are damaged, and noise really triggers them. The Chinook is already too noisy; I’d wager this van is even noisier yet. And then there’s the ride quality…I remember my A100 as being none too comfy in the driver’s compartment. I was forty years younger then.
There should be parts overlap on the Slant Sixes, right?
My Chinook has the 360 V8. It would be pretty underpowered by the slant six. Later versions even had the big bad 440 incher.
As a self professed Mopar guy, I am sheepish that i didn’t know these hi tops even existed. i think the A100s were tipsy enough with out the extra height.
My brother had no problem putting his standard height 67 A100 on its side during a Minnesota winter 30 years ago.
There was a Corey Cruiser on Craigslist a year or two ago up here. Same color, even in a storage yard up in the mountains. I can’t remember if it ran, but it was complete. Very cool, and it was cheap. It stuck around a while; I don’t know if it sold. Loved it the minute I saw it.
A Winnebago with a 440 was a real treat as I recall…sitting in a captain’s chair within earshot of that air cleaner reminded you that you were, indeed, in the presence of POWER. I would assume that a Chinook with a 440 would’ve offered a similar experience…
The Chinook with the 440 was most likely the fastest RV of its kind at the time. The Chinook only weighed some 6500 lbs empty, so it stepped out. Even mine with the 360 moves out quite well when it’s not too loaded up; the low (high numerical) gearing adds to that. But on the highway, I keep waiting for it to shift into a higher gear.
The linked Popular Mechanics article mentioned a major consideration on doing any kind of camping with an A100-based van, and that’s the between the front seats location (inside) of the engine. It produces a lot of heat. While I guess that would be great in colder climates, in the summer (when most people make such trips), it’s apparently unbearable trying to do anything inside the van, including when it’s not running. It will still put out quite a bit of heat until it cools down.
Too bad, because it seems like an otherwise ‘cool’ ride.
Tell me about it. It’s a problem even with the later B-series like I have. But my old A100 was a bitch in the summer; the whole engine is surrounded by a barely-insulated black steel box.
There’s one of those in my old neighborhood. I’ve been meaning to photograph it for months. I think it even has the same paint scheme. There’s another raised roof A100 here too, but it looks even less production.
Of course I want to save it! This is the kind of vehicle that just calls to me. Help me!
Whether or not that is a good and/or cost effective idea is entirely another matter.
Fly out to Eugene, buy Paul lunch, pick up my van and just head out. Doing a rolling restoration while on the road sounds like the ultimate challenge.
Writer P.J O’Rourke did that, thirty-odd years ago. Wrote it up in Car & Driver. “Sgt Dynaflow’s Last Patrol.” He offered to move a 1956 Buick creampuff from Florida to California as the basis for an essay – and because David E. Davis wanted to test his talent on the subject of autos.
The essay was hysterical; but I doubt P.J. had much fun.
Paging Murilee Martin. Code Blue.
These are some rare photos indeed… a Dodge van in the midst of binary fission. It’s surprising there aren’t a lot more of them around, given that they can reproduce this way.
I owned a Corey Cruiser for several years in the mid 70’s. They were made by
A.O. Smith company in Michigan, and were very deluxe for their day. They did
indeed come with a toilet, but no shower. They had a propane stove, refrigerator, sink, and water tank. They had a 318 V8 that would chirp the tires shifting into second gear. I used mine to tow a race car all over the midwest, and it performed
admirably. Mine was number 333, so I know they made at least that many.
It drew lots of attention, and towed beautifully, I still miss it.
Hi i saw your post on the corey cruiser i am in the process of buying one now howeverr in my research i found # 333 its in San Fran. Easily founf with acsearch on facebook.
Tom Kelly..Are you still out there? I now own the Cory Cruiser 333. Any chance you could get me old pictures or history? anything. Its now in Cincinnati Ohio via Florida. Thanks
Scott Martini, Yes I owned #333 for several years in the 70’s. I do indeed have old pictures of the Corey, many taken at race tracks all over the
midwest. Not sure how we can get in touch, but my address is
riverwoods@comcast.net
Joined this site after I saw this post. Unfortunately, just got in contact with the seller and its gone. =(
I have one of these for sale if anyone is interested. I’ll take some photos and post before the end of the week.
Bart, did you ever sell yours?
Hi Bart i wouldblove to talk to you about your corey cruiser. 1-207-415-6511. Kevin
Saw this today in Larkspur Ca
I have one for sale. It’s just a rolling chassis with almost all the glass. No paperwork, interior and dash are gone. No motor or tranny. Original numbers are there. Some dude was using it as a storage room.
This is a very rare find. The Corey Cruiser was designed and originally hand assembled by Bill Corey (AKA William A. Corey) in Pasadena, California. Subsequent assembly-line production was by A.O. Smith in Ionia, Michigan (where the Shelby Mustang was formerly produced) until production ceased when the recreational vehicle industry was decimated by the 1973 gas crisis.
The Corey Cruiser was sold through select Dodge dealers throughout the U.S. and was advertised as an “Executive Land Yacht” that was fully self- contained (galley, head, refrigerator, etc.) and slept four adults comfortably. It’s design and fabrication was way ahead of its time.
Bill Corey passed away in 1998. Prior to building the Corey Cruiser, he owned Corey Engineering in Pasadena, California which was one of the foremost foreign car service and modification businesses in the country. He was also a design consultant for International Harvester, the technical editor of Road & Track magazine for a number of years, and a contributing author for Motor Trent magazine.
Hi John, Pam Brown here. I remember going on day trips with your family in the Corey Cruiser, as it was advanced for the time! I also remember that it had a bathroom /shower. Is that right? It was really fun!
Delayed CC effect. I found this Econoline camper parked for the winter in downtown St Paul.
Alas, I can’t get the .jpg to post.
Try reducing the file size. If a jpg is 1,200 pixels or less (in the bigger dimension), it’ll post here.
Thanks Eric. Let’s try again.
For the first 50 years of vans in America, people went to all lengths to have a van they could stand up in. It only took 50 years for an American company to build a *factory* van that folks could stand up in.
These were built by A.O. Smith? I don’t own a Corey Cruiser, but I do own one of their water heaters; it’s in the basement next to the 1951 Hotpoint refrigerator that was there when I moved in, built when James Nance was Hotpoint’s CEO before he left the appliance world to try and save Packard. That’s as close as I’m likely to come to owning either a Corey Cruiser or a Packard Caribbean respectively…
Function over form.