It’s time at CC to pay a few minutes of attention to vintage vans and the folk around them. As can be expected, the variety of users, drivers, and situations is more varied than in previous galleries.
For variety’s sake, there are one or two images that aren’t in the States. Without any further, let’s take a look at these lifestyle vehicles in their earlier days.
Several of the gents have holes in the knees of their jeans. A very hip design in women’s jeans at the moment. Just waiting for bell bottoms to make a comeback!!!!!!!
I would image the top photo is the quintessential American family of four during a cross country vacation.
Those vans surrounded by teenagers look like Sin Bins!! Theses are the same folks who drove their own kids in Minivans!! 😉
What memories! How quickly we can forget these days. I love the shag carpet in the one van. Van conversions were a business of many, from nationwide efforts to local converters. Many developed reputations for quality workmanship. Wood accents, REAL WOOD, were added to interiors. So, the driver’s compartment was not all plastic. Thanks, Rich!
“Wish they all could be California… girls.”
I remember the years and riding in a few friends’ conversions or two—the proud (presumed) owners bring the era back to me. I suppose that back then I felt I *should* want one more than I actually did…
Is photo #2 perhaps not North America? (Someone here can surely peek more closely.)
Nice selection! I have a vague sense that #6 has appeared here before, but who knows?
Wow a Thames 800 van, really rare here now, few survived into retirement, replaced in the mid 60s by the Transit most owners did just that.
“Fast and Bulbous” #3 must belong to a Captain Beefheart fan.
Wide tracks, make all the Dodge vans here, look awesome!
I hope the photos of me in bell bottoms in the 1960’s are never unearthed .
I doubt they’ll ever be popular again they were navy surplus from WWII that’s where the hippies began the trend in the 1960’s @ .20 CENTS the pair .
Van live in the 1970’s was wild .
Being a farm boy and Mechanic I of course had VW’s, never a really fancy tricked out one though .
Photo No. 2 is a reversed negative, nice Kombi .
-Nate
Thanks for picking that up. Photo No. 2 is now updated.
I didn’t know you could do that .
For a hot minute I was thinking an English Caravan conversion….
-Nate
I just assumed it was in a RHD country.