Custom Van Mugs
Description: Back in the '60s and ’70s, Sam Radoff was one of the best custom car and bike builders in the Midwest, if not the country. Raised in Detroit, Radoff got his start at a young age by pin striping plastic model cars and after a stint in the Army, got himself a motorcycle and of course, did custom paint on it. Fellow bikers loved his style, so he started painting bikes for a living, which blew up in a good way. The next thing he knew, he was welding frames, building tanks, and doing full on custom choppers. Before too long, he was building and customizing hot rods and vans that ranged from mild to wild, but the one common denominator were his wild signature custom paint jobs.
Description: When van customizing became the hot new thing, most shops focused on styling out vans with custom paint, tires, wheels, and countless appearance upgrades, but never really got into the performance side of things. Van Works Customs of Los Angeles took a slightly different approach, instead focusing on balls out powertrains that would give even the hottest muscle cars a run for their money. Big block power in an early Econoline? No problem. Supercharged 327 in a G10? Done deal. You name it and Van Works Customs could pull it off, the crazier, the better.
Description: Celebrate classic automotive culture with this weathered, distressed hot rod van graphic. Perfect for gearheads who love old-school mechanics, flames, and garage culture. This rugged aesthetic captures the spirit of mid-century racing and custom automotive performance for any fan of speed, engine mechanics, and timeless metal machinery.
Description: Founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1975, Choo Choo Customs started out by creating luxurious van conversions with high-end interior and exterior options that made other rolling room builds look second rate. Eventually, the company began customizing full size pickups with all the upgrades from their vans, plus extended cabs that otherwise wren't available from the factory. At the request of the manufacturer, Choo Choo Customs began building El Camino SS conversions in 1983 and ran with them until the El Camino left production in 1987. America entered a recession in 1990 and van conversion companies were hit hard, so Choo Choo Customs went bankrupt in 1991, leaving a legacy of amazing custom vehicles that are still sought by collectors.
Description: Hollywood's Van World Customs rolled up their bay doors in 1974, so they were a little late to the party as far as the custom van craze goes, but they made up for it by creating some of the most outrageous vans to ever cruise Van Nuys Blvd. From mild to wild, if a customer could dream it, they could build it and it was guaranteed to be an absolute showstopper.
Description: During the custom van craze of the ’70s, there were plenty of local shops as well as larger builders that for some reason were almost all based in Elkhart, Indiana. Van Vinyl wasn't a full custom builder or conversion shop, but rather a manufacturer of custom interior components, many of which were used by the larger conversion shops, but also sold directly to consumers. So whether you want royal blue captains chairs and a matching sofa that folded out into a bad or just want new door panels and a customer matched dashboard cover, Van Vinyl was the go-to place!
Description: Founded in the small desert town of Sky Valley, California in 1971, the aptly named Sky Valley Van Works was a small shop doing big things during the heyday of van customization. Whether you were looking to go low with some serious street van attitude or looking for a go anywhere 4x4 conversion, Sky Valley Van Works could make it happen. From all out custom jobs like their 'Foxy Box' to basic upgrades like porthole windows and side pipes, the guys at Sky Valley were a true gem in the desert that was worth the drive to get your rig tricked out.
Description: A masterfully detailed portrait of Rembrandt van Rijn, rendered entirely through Fourier Transform mathematical epicycles (rotating circles) by a custom-designed app. This minimalist line art elegantly fuses the legacy of the Dutch Golden Age master with modern computer science and mathematics. An ideal t-shirt for art history majors, artists, mathematicians, and programmers.
Rembrandt van Rijn - Fourier Transform Math Line Art Mug
by The Black Panther
$13 $18
Description: Car giveaways have been around for a long time, but in 1976, a cross-promotional sweepstakes took things up a notch when three different American companies got together to create a one of a kind ride. This wild, custom '76 Econoline van utilized elements from the three sponsors to create a truly unique custom van that was dubbed the 'Denimachine.' From its crazy custom flamed exterior to its wall-to-wall denim interior, the Denimachine made quite a splash as people sent in their bottle cap liners in droves for a chance to land one in their driveway. There were ten Denimachines given away in the U.S. and fifteen given away in Canada beginning in 1976 and through most of 1977.
Description: The social remnants of the '60s were still vibrant in the early '70s, although they had taken on a more materialistic expression. Vans became the transport of choice for many 'counterculture' types. Their trucks, made up of equal parts of rolling interior design display and airbrushed billboard, were personalized automotive expressions and as varied as their owners/builders. It didn't take long before vanners started getting together to hang out, so truck-ins or truckin' events became increasingly common, including some hosted by VANS Ltd. that happened at the most magical place on earth... at least three times, apparently.
Description: In 1976, the automotive world welcomed the *Adult Toys* line of trucks and vans, a factory-customized phenomenon led by the legendary **Street Van**. Far from risqué, these "Adult Toys" were bold, eye-catching vehicles dripping with late-’70s flair—think **custom mag wheels**, psychedelic paint jobs, and plush **shag carpeting** interiors. Rolling off the assembly line pre-customized, the Street Van was designed to be a blank canvas for personalization, embodying the free-spirited van culture of the era. To inspire buyers, every Street Van included a **customization kit** with detailed instructions and blueprints, empowering owners to transform their vans into head-turning masterpieces. Whether for road trips, tailgate parties
Description: unique and bold JDM-style illustration of a heavily modified Japanese commercial van, featuring extreme wide-body aero kit, aggressive front bumper, red deep dish wheels, and lowered stance. Designed in sleek silver grey and deep red tones. A one-of-a-kind tribute to the Van King culture of Japanese custom van scene — proving that even a van can have style and existence on the streets.
Existence Van King Let's Cruising – JDM Custom Van Street Car Art Mug
by Rexgraphic
$13 $18
Description: A groovy vintage-art tribute to the 1975 Chevrolet G20 custom van, the rolling canvas that defined 1970s van culture and gave a generation a vehicle for self-expression that was equal parts transportation and statement, shown in vivid custom paint. For the van culture enthusiast who knows the 70s custom van scene produced some of the most creative and individual automotive art ever created.
