RAT-ROD ECONOLINE, STRONG 351 V8, 3-SPEED, READY TO PLAY ON THE BEACH OR FINISH

Want to be on the cutting-edge of the Next Big Thing? Vans! No, not the cheesy '70s shagmobiles (although they seem to have a pretty strong following) but honest old haulers like this 1974 Ford Econoline. Patina, a blue collar vibe, and plenty of practicality make these old boxes on wheels lots of fun today and you certainly can't argue with the price!
You remember these Econolines being just about everywhere back in the day, but when was the last time you saw one? The look is so familiar that your eyes just glide over it without registering any of the cool details, but there are plenty. Check out the way the leading edge of the hood trails down into a body line, the round headlights, and the fairly radical (for a van, anyway) windshield angle. When you're not busy working, this could be a pretty good looking truck! The mint metallic green paint isn't original, but it's old and has plenty of patina and somehow it just works. From the weathered roof to the modestly scuffed bodywork, this is a look people are now paying painters big money to achieve with new paint jobs. Not that it makes it more valuable, but you can't argue that the look isn't very much in fashion right now. There's no critical rust, so the scuffs and surface scars can be worn proudly, not as if this is some rust-belt reject, and all the doors still fit well too. Add the roof rack with a surfboard and you get a truck that looks like a lot of fun.
The interior is basic, no two-ways about it. The original seats are replaced by a set of comfortable captain's chairs from a late-model, and it's a nice fit. Add a little green upholstery dye and you'll have something that really looks right. The upright steering column is still more bus than automobile, but that's the whole point and rubber floor coverings over painted steel is how you get a job done with minimum fuss. The factory gauges are a little cloudy, but they work. Remarkably, it has factory A/C, which could be repaired for a big boost in utility, and obviously there's a ton of space in back. There's a bicycle strapped in place, and it's included with the truck, and the rear windows have been covered with stickers for a well-traveled look. And just look how clean the floors are!
Although you can't see it, there's plenty of power on tap from a 351 cubic inch V8 tucked under the "dog house" between the seats. With a 2-barrel carburetor, it's plenty torquey to make the relatively lightweight Econoline feel quick and there's enough muscle to pull a trailer or a van full of supplies, tools, or whatever you want. Not much point in talking about how it looks, since it's all buried, but you can see under the hood that there's a recent radiator, new master cylinder for the power brakes, and decent service access for the main stuff. It also offers a new clutch for the 3-speed manual transmission, freshly rebuilt brakes, new shocks, and a very clean underbody that shows no signs of ever being in the snow or salt. It drives quite well and there's a new gas tank out back so it's ready to go. Flashy chrome wheels carry 205/75/15 front and 235/75/15 rear blackwall radials so it's got a bit of a rake to it.
Consider this a blank slate for something amazing, or just get in and get to work. At this price, whatever you want to do seems like a smart idea and you can be on the leading edge of a van renaissance. Call today!