Desirable 1974 Ford Econoline E-100. Incredible 1970s-style custom paint with outrageous period interior. 302 V8 with automatic transmission, power disc brakes, and power steering. Upgraded stereo. Its not for everyone, but the level of period-correct detailing is extremely impressive.
If you were there in the mid-70s, vans like this were all the rage. The more outrageous, the better. Today, theres a thriving van culture that embraces these awesome period pieces and uses them as intended: gatherings where people of like mind can share stories. And among that van culture, few boxes are more desirable than the 1974 Ford Econoline. It has the right look, the right proportions, and when done like this one, affectionately known as "Green Fuzz" it represents the height of van culture. This one was built a few years and about 50,000 miles ago by a talented guy who only builds period-exact machines. Weve sold a few of his other vehicles and were always impressed with his attention to detail in getting everything period correct. Van experts will quickly note that things like the side pipes, roof vent, and rear window slats are authentic NOS pieces that just arent available anymore. Then theres that paint job, which took weeks and weeks of painstaking masking and prepping to deliver that eye-popping psychedelic look. The side door has also been converted to an overhead "gullwing" style door that really grabs peoples attention. The van has been used as intended and has traveled all around the US to van events, racking up an estimated 50,000 miles in the process. It still shows quite well and always causes a stir when it shows up, but there are a few signs of use here and there, some nicks on the nose, and a bit of rust on the drivers rocker just above the side pipes (the rest of the van, it should be noted, is completely solid with no issues-we cant explain this one spot). Nevertheless, Id call those details badges of honor and a testament to the vans solid mechanicals and awesome overall look.
The interior is more period-perfect overload, with green shag and deep pile carpeting throughout. The bucket seats up front are out of a Tesla and are quite comfortable for long highway rides and theres a huge amount of space in back for gear, camping equipment, and more. You can easily see where "Green Fuzz" gets its name, and when you open that top-opening side door and let everyone see just how outrageous this thing really is, you cant help but draw a crowd. The controls are still standard Ford equipment, including the steering wheel, column-shifted C4 3-speed automatic transmission, gauges, and other switchgear. Theres a Bigfoot accelerator pedal direct from the 1970s and an upgraded JVC AM/FM/Bluetooth stereo in the dash, and an aftermarket cupholder on the engine cover makes it easy to get comfortable on the road. The interior is covered in event stickers, which shows you just how this Econoline was used, and theres LED lighting throughout the rear compartment. Youll have to spend some extra time looking it over to see all the trick details.
Power comes from a reliable bone-simple 302 cubic inch V8. Its a welcome upgrade over the inline-6 that most of these vans used, and its how the factory built it. Its still fairly stock, so it should be bulletproof reliable, which is has been for the past several years of vanning. Theres not much to see when you lift the hood beyond a few service items, but it has been well maintained and drives great. The heavy-duty C4 3-speed automatic shifts cleanly and spins highway-friendly 3.25 gears in the 9-inch Ford rear axle. The custom dual exhaust uses mufflers and side pipes, so the sound is actually mellow and quiet on the highway, but it retains the 70s hot rod look. Youll note that the floors, inner rockers, and other critical areas are rock solid, and the front brakes have been upgraded to discs for improved stopping power. Out back theres a fresh gas tank and new electric fuel pump, so it remains easy to start, and it sits on period-perfect Cragar mags with staggered 215/65/15 front and 275/60/15 rear white-letter radials.
Green Fuzz comes with a bunch of build photos and has been used in a music video called "Find A Cave" by 45 Spider, which you can view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibDta3OBEuM
Look, we understand that this van isnt everyones cup of tea. But for those of you who DO get it, this is an incredibly cool build with a lot of attention to detail. It takes the most popular van (the Ford Econoline) and adds a large dose of authentic 70s nostalgia. Add in the reliable, proven mechanicals and unexpected practicality, and you have a cool cruiser that will always draw a crowd. If youre looking for your next ride, maybe try going back to the 70s. Call today!
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