Vanner Socks
Description: Kolor Me Kustom was a Los Angeles based customing shop that made big waves in the industry throughout the '70s with their wild paint jobs and crazy bod modifications that were seen on everything from muscle cars and street vans to limousines and semi-trucks. While tame compared to other projects, this design features their '71 Ranchero which had one of the craziest paint jobs of all time that combined countless interlocking pinstripes, airbrushed murals, and of course, metal flake - TONS of metal flake.
Description: Get your groove on with this "Van-O-Mania" tribute to the golden era of custom vanning! Featuring a classic 1970s boogie van with a bold flame paint job and psychedelic retro graphics, this design captures the "Vantastic" spirit of the shag-carpeted, street-cruising legends. Perfect for vanners, hot rod enthusiasts, and fans of 70s nostalgia and vintage iron-on style.
Description: Long before online colleges and distance learning were a thing, correspondence courses were the way people could get a degree or certification without having to ever set foot on a college campus. One such institution was Auto Upholstery Institute of Orange, California. In an attempt to ride the car and van customizing wave of the early '70s, A.U.I. set up several correspondence courses to teach auto upholstery and customization. Advertisements in automotive magazines and comic books advised readers to send in the included form for a free course catalog. Once registered, schools sent training materials, lesson worksheets, and the tools and supplies for the selected course. A.U.I. was even accredited by the California Department of Education.
Description: Released on June 23, 1987, the food truck themed Vanessa's Lunchbox ('squeals on wheels,' get it?) was an instant favorite among hobby grade RC aficionados. This 2WD monster van was competitively priced, and fun to drive, but sometimes quite challenging. Its top-heavy hard body van shell created a center of gravity, and the rigid rear axle also added to the problem. Coupled with its enormous tires and simple swing arm front suspension, handling was difficult, but it holds a place in the hearts of '80s kids everywhere.
Description: Stan's Vans of Spanish Fork, Utah dealt in conversion vans almost exclusively, letting the big RV dealers have at the larger recreational vehicles. Stan's was a dealer for vans from several conversion firms, but eventually added their own manufacturing to make delivering whatever a custom might have in mind a reality.
Description: As the '80s approached, American Motors’ public relations people needed a marketing gimmick to engage with the public. They came up with a nationwide tour of concept vehicles designed to remind Americans of AMC’s strong suit - small cars that were domestically built, economical to operate, and designed to cater to their lifestyle. Calling it the “Concept 80” tour, AMC created seven different design concepts and at each stop on the tour, the public was asked to vote for their favorite of which, the AM Van the clear winner. The AM Van concept was built on their existing Pacer platform and aside from its wild styling, was to be turbocharged and 4WD, though the concept was never actually fitted with a powertrain or a finished interior.
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: First-generation Chevy Van refers to the first G-10 half-ton production years 1964 through 1966. There was a market for a compact van based on a modified passenger car platform to compete with the already successful Econoline and A100 vans. The 1964 Chevy van had a cab-forward design with the engine placed in a “doghouse” between and behind the front seats. Engines and brakes were sourced from the Chevy II, a more conventional compact car than the Corvair which was used as the basis for the Chevy Greenbrier vans. The 1st Gen vans were available in only the short 90-inch wheelbase and with the standard 90 hp 153-cubic-inch straight-4 or straight-6 engine. A first-gen is quickly identified by its single-piece flat windshield glass.
Description: The "Caution Can Talk About Vans Forever" design is the perfect way to show your love for van life culture. With its bold typography and clever wordplay, this print is sure to turn heads and start conversations wherever you go. Order yours today and join the van life community!
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: The Motocross Super Van was released in 1975 and is probably one of the coolest diecast vans Hot Wheels ever released. There were a few variations on the livery, including one that was branded for a Japanese motorcycle maker, but the colors and basic look were pretty consistent.
