White brick in Red Hook

WHITE BRICK IN RED HOOK

I was making my way past Sunny's Bar out in Red Hook when this slab of cream cheese presented itself:

This is a 1972-1974 Ford E-200 Super Van in Wimbledon White. This thing rules! the hood is so tiny because most of the engine is accessed from the inside. You can basically check the oil and top off the radiator only from the front.

Take a look at this plain-Jane face. This is the stripped down model with zero chrome or frills whatsoever. The entire grill would be chrome on the higher end vans as well as the bumpers. If you had a small business and needed basic transportation this was the ride for you.

Scrapes and scuffs are the hallmarks of a working vehicle. Having no window on the sliding side door means this is truly the base model.

I love these lunchbox rides. You know this thing doesn't live in a city because it would be tagged to high heaven. Parking it in front of a Red Hook bar for more than 20 minutes invites writers.
Super Van is written on that lower-right emblem. I believe it denotes a slightly more comfortable interior because there's nothing about the outside that says Super.

I've owned a few ford vans over the years from the 1988-1989 model years and from the rear they look the same as this one. In many ways the Ford trucks and vans were extensions of the Model T; basic and ready to work with great economy. 

This is basically a portable storage unit.

I love the plainness of this slab side. I wouldn't be able to leave well enough alone with so much canvas space but with the white bumpers and mirrors it looks pretty neat.

Econoline is just what it sounds like. The 200 designation denotes its hauling ability. There is a 100 (1/2 ton) and 300 (1 ton) as well as this 3/4 ton version.

This hardy beast has the 3 on the tree manual transmission mated to what is probably a straight 6 cylinder engine. There were 2 different sixes; a 240 and the 300. In addition a 302 V8 was available but when the van is this basic I figure it's a 6.

Just about the only styling on this entire rig is that eyebrow line that goes down the length of the side and under the taillights. 

Alright that's what I'm talking about! This box contains 2 bikes hidden within. You can conquer the country with this setup. *I dig how the construction of these is so basic that you can see where the windows would be in the sliding door had it been so equipped. 

Well that's where I'll leave this sweet beast. When I walked by a few hours after taking these pics I saw the couple that owns this ride sitting on folding chairs behind the open rear doors. They were barbecuing on a tiny camp sized charcoal grill looking like they might as well just head out across the country that moment. The Jersey plate seemed almost too close for people packing motorcycles and a grill but who am I to deny those who know how to live?
Hats off you flat faced brick! See you in the Hook.

HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHA!!! YES!

THE COOLEST VEHICLE IN THE WORLD?

I was walking along ha ha hahaha never mind LOOK AT THIS VAN!

This is a 1988 Ford Econoline conversion van in what is probably Twilight Blue. It is sprinkled throughout with aftermarket doo dads like this air horns above the drivers seat.

A "HONK IF YOU'RE HORNY!" sticker is sitting on the dash because why not? You see these red windshield wiper arms and you know they mean business.

Look I know the deal; you grow up but still in the back of your mind you want a full size Hot Wheels car to drive around. No shame in that!

As this was parked facing down a hill it was hard to show just how jacked up this thing is in the rear. The front wheel is close to stock but this rear tire is absurd. Besides Big Daddy Roth style cool points  you get absolutely nothing from raising up the rear of your ride. If you had a high horsepower drag racer it might help keep the front wheels on the ground but this slab isn't pulling wheelies anytime soon. Shout-out to the mud splatters behind the wheels though!

There are so many different companies and sub contractors that carry out these conversions that I wasn't able to find out which one this is. Usually they have some goofy graphic wording on them but this one has had all identifiers removed during its enhancement. 

Aww yeah baby! Iridescent trim fills out this once boring cove along the sides.

The interior is appropriately obscured through a combination of tint and curtains.

It wasn't until I took this shot that I noticed the front and rear rims are actually the same. It looks to me like they bought those massive rear tires and had them installed, with the wheels getting a polish in the process.

That single step under the door is another example of the owner sitting around with a catalogue just looking for trinkets to spend on.

I love Ford Econoline vans from the '80s and have owned 2 myself. Here they are in order:

This is a 1989 E-150 that had been a Southern New England Telephone van before I bought it. It had the ultimate combination as far as I was concerned; a straight-6 cylinder mated to a 5 speed manual transmission. The stick shift was like 3 feet tall coming up from the floor to armrest height. I painted the stripes and the grill before moving with it to California with it. Even filled to the brim it got over 20mpg on average. I wish I had it now! Sold it to some brat for Burning Man.

 This is a 1988 Club Wagon XLT that I bought to move back from Cali with 10 years ago. This ride had a V8 and automatic with overdrive. The bigger engine drank a lot of gas and the overdrive blew before I left the state causing me to drive cross country at about 55mph max. It did have a full compliment of swivel chairs and a bench that folded into a bed in the back, as well as power windows. I liked it fine but preferred that white 6 cylinder.

On display here is a genius aftermarket addition that I wish I had on my vans; a sun, wind, and rain shield that allows for the windows to be open during all weather. The door glass goes so high up that it's impossible to crack the windows in the rain without getting soaked.

I like the top on this beast as it has a couple of skylights.

Well that's where I'll leave this slab to terrorize the tender cutlets of Park Slope.
When I moved back to NYC in the Club Wagon it was mid 2007 and gas prices started shooting through the roof. I has the most difficult time selling it even with a rebuilt engine and zero rust, finally unloading it for $850 (I paid $2,000 for it just a few months earlier). For the 6 months or so I had it I was parking on the street in the Lower East Side. If you think you have parking woes just try to parallel park a 20 foot long monster in one of the densest parts of the city! Given the space I would definitely own one of these again though as they are simple and fun to operate.

Join the Club - It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

JOIN THE CLUB - IT'S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

I was a mere 2 blocks from my new digs recently when this drab little lunchbox took a stand:

Sweet but grumpy!
This is a 1969-1970 Ford Club Wagon 123 in some comprehensive overcast color. There was a '69 Ford color named Twilight Green Poly that was pretty close but I'm thinking this was the official hue of the camp this once belonged to. It needs a driver's side mirror stat. 

That front grill guard looks ready to push anything out of the way!
This generation of Ford van was introduced in 1969 and ran through 1974. You can whittle it down to '69-'70 here because the grill has 8 horizontal openings with FORD spelled out on the top one. The '71-'74 models had a larger, separate top opening with the Ford name in big letters and 4 smaller horizontal bars in segments underneath.

The previous generation had no front hood at all; you had to go into the cab to remove the "doghouse" engine cover for maintenance and repair. The generation after this one ran all the way from '75-1991 and had a more pronounced hood for even better access. These guys look a little stubby and the hood is good for checking fluids and maybe changing a belt but that's it.

The Club Wagon was the passenger version of the venerable Econoline series. This one is outfitted with the optional 12 passenger seating.

CAMP ALERT BLUEJACKETS GUARD U.S.A. with that sweet anchor intrigued me to no end. From their alumni Facebook page:
"The Bluejackets Guard USA Corps of Naval Cadets founded in 1936 by the late Captain Frank W. Rice, was a non profit, non sectarian naval youth organization serving boys and girls aged 9 to 18, from 1936 to 2000."
Their slogan was, or is: "Semper Vigilant".

These vans are basic boxes without too many frills. By the white painted bumper we know this was a stripper model not meant for luxury or flash. There isn't too much in the way of rust which is remarkable for a lifelong Northeast ride with original paint.

The words Club Wagon are perched on a rectangle containing three barely visible diamonds. If this were the high end trim version the word CHATEAU would be in this space.
*The Club Wagon had a longer 123.5" wheelbase, hence the 123 on the emblem.

The straightforward look of the rear of this ride would continue even after the next big design change. A 1991 Ford van is almost identical from the back with its vertical taillights framing the doors.

This beast took quite a knock but she's still standing after 48 years!

In the above pic you can see that this has one of those steps that emerges from under the floor when the doors are opened. Definitely the day camp edition van.
Did someone say day camp? How about the theme from Meatballs!

A radio! That's a big deal for a base model utility vehicle.
A three on the tree transmission is located on top of the steering column, and chances are it's mated to an inline 6 cylinder engine.

Love those basic dog dish or poverty hubcaps.

Well there we have it; the last of the Bluejackets ready for service!
My first memory of a van like this was in the Bad News Bears. Here's a clip of that awesome van in a slightly cringe-worthy scene that involves a woman running away. Oh you Bears!
I've had no less than 3 Ford Econolines but all were from 1986-1989. My favorite was the one pictured below:

This is a 1988 E-150 with an inline 6 cylinder mated to a 5 speed stick shift! The gearshift was about 4 feet long mounted to the floor. I bought it with old phone company decals on it and painted the stripes you see here. Then I loaded all my worldly possessions into it and moved cross country to California, getting an astonishing 20 miles to the gallon the whole time!
Don't let the difference in looks fool you; besides the fact that the Bluejackets van is for passengers and this has square headlights they are extremely similar. If I have the need (and parking) I will happily get another. In the meantime, stay vigilant BlueJackets Club Wagon 123!

The cutest vehicle in Brooklyn!

HANDIVAN
Please remove your hats and show a little respect as the winner for Cutest Vehicle in Brooklyn is here. I mean really, look at this thing. This is basically anime come to life!

This is a 1966 GMC Handivan in Light Green. If this thing doesn't put a smile on your face you're dead inside.
Can I get a quick shout-out for that mini window between the side doors?

This is known as either a Cab Over or Cab Forward design due to the fact that the front seats are basically on top of the axle. The engine is sitting in the cab between the seats in what's known as the doghouse. To work on it you have to go inside the vehicle and remove the large doghouse cover.

This close up shows everything you need to pinpoint the vintage. The perfectly flat windshield means it is the 1st generation which spans 1964-1966. In '65 that extra 2-hole slot appeared between the bumper and the grill behind the license plate. In '66 the antennae was moved to the drivers side from the passengers.

I always assumed that this was the original Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. Most people online feel that it is a Chevy Van (which was identical to the GMC versions) but perhaps the 2nd generation; '67-'70. Then I read somewhere that there is an episode where the Mystery Machine overheats and the gang goes around back to the check the engine which would mean either a VW Bus or a Corvan (the van version of the Chevy Corvair). However again (!) both of those are air-cooled so any steam arising from the overheated engine cancels those out. Mystery Machine indeed!

Those classic rims are known as Kidney Bean wheels due to the shape of the openings.

Supposedly reverse lights were added to the rear of the 1966 lineup. With the antennae placement that of a '66 I guess this could be either a late '65 or early '66 model. This is first and foremost a utility vehicle like a truck so yearly changes sometimes happened whenever an old part ran out or a new one arrived even if it was mid-year.

The chrome bumpers are somewhat deluxe as the base model would have white painted ones. The fact that this is loaded with windows means it was originally a passenger van as opposed to strictly a work truck. Choosing GMC as opposed to Chevy for a passenger rig is curious as the Chevy is generally more passenger oriented and the GMC more for work. As a result this is probably a pretty rare ride.

Even though it looks like a little toy check out how Handivan is looming over that wack minivan. It actually seems like a bit of a bully!

Leaning forward in all caps HANDI-VAN is up to the task! The door handles are lovely '60s style.

Here we can see the doghouse in the middle with some sweet vintage wooden cupholder scenario. Air conditioning and power steering simply weren't available on the 1st generation Handivan so the options are limited to the radio (an obviously terrible '80s replacement shown here) and the automatic transmission. If it were a manual trans it would look very similar to this setup as a 3-on-the-tree, but that column mounted gear selector window wouldn't be there.

Well that's where we'll leave this indescribably charming little lunchbox.
The Ford and Dodge vans of this era are equally cute and share many of the same features as or hero here. I would love any of them and feel that if I ever got a hold of one I'd never let go. I'm sure that when you're driving one of these down the road you're basically on parade. Hats off lil' Handivan!