Vanner Pillows
Description: Hop Cap was located in Bremen, Indiana, just 25 miles away from the epicenter of van conversions in the 1970s - Elkhart, Indiana. And yeah, no idea how Elkhart became the place where custom van dreams became reality, but that's another story... These rigs were known as Vantastic by Hop Cap and they specialized in customizing vans as mild or as wild as customers wanted. Some just have a little shag carpeting, custom paint, and a bubble window, while others were totally over the top.
Description: The Olympia Brewing Company was a brewery in Tumwater, Washington, near the state capital of Olympia. Leopold Schmidt, a German immigrant from Montana, founded The Capital Brewing Company at Tumwater Falls on the Deschutes River near the south end of Puget Sound. He built a four-story wooden brewhouse, a five-story cellar building, a one-story ice factory powered by the lower falls, and a bottling and keg plant and in 1896, began brewing and selling Olympia Beer. The brew became synonymous with its slogan "It's the Water," though after changing hands multiple times after the mid-eighties and the Tumwater brewery closing in 2003, "It's the Water" became just that - a slogan - as being brewed out of state never quite cut it.
Description: Unlike most van shops of the day that focused on selling and installing custom parts and accessories, The Van Doctor was a comprehensive auto body and mechanical repair shop. Sure, they also sold the goodies to make your ride stand out, but that was secondary to this Van Nuys garage.
Description: The Iron Cross became an integral part of the biker lifestyle in the '60s and '70s and still remains popular in many subcultures today. Bikers have always enjoyed shocking the citizenry and the Iron Cross still does this today due to its unfortunate association with the National Socialist German Workers' Party, but let's not forget that it has always stood for honor and service beginning with Frederick William III, King of Prussia, issuing the Iron Cross as a medal for service during the Napoleonic Wars as early as 1813. In both biker and van culture, these crosses can often be found as embellishments forged in metal on custom rides appearing as everything from side mirrors and valve stem caps to sissy bar decorations and fuel tank caps.
Description: Another killer thrift store find that has been faithfully reproduced and made available once again. This gem was culled from a small shop outside of Cleveland, Ohio. It's a simple enough design that features Henry David Thoreau's powerful quote “all good things are wild and free” from his 1851 lecture, 'Walking.' Whether you're a woodland creature superfan or just a free spirit looking for that perfect road trip mantra, this one is for you.
Description: T&H Van Works Unlimited got their start in the early '70s, riding the wave of custom van fever and offering a huge selection of custom parts from porthole windows and sunroofs to side pipes and flare kits. From their Los Angeles, California showroom, they also operated a thriving mail order business, with ads in all the major vanner magazines instructing people to write them for a free catalog. In the early '80s, custom vans had died down considerably, and T&H expanded their offerings to support the booming mini truck craze, but by some time in the '90s as mini trucks began falling out of favor, T&H called it quits.
Description: R.F. is a grotesque green rat with wild eyes and sharp teeth – an intentional antithesis to that super wholesome mouse that everyone knows all too well. He’s recognizable for his crazed look, unattractive body, gaping mouth, and overalls with his initials on them. He became a familiar sight among hot rodders and the kustom kulture scene and was – for a time – one of the most recognizable characters around.
Description: Vanhalla Kustom Shop was one of Southern California's premier van customizers throughout the '70s and well into the '80s and provided customizing services ranging from mild to wild. So, whether you wanted something as simple as a porthole window installed or a radical custom fabricated body restyling, Vanhalla had you covered.
Description: In July 1974,thousands of vanners rolled into Bonner Springs, Kansas for the 2nd Annual Truck-In put on by Vans-Am and the NSVA. Unlike a lot of other truck-in events, the Bonner Springs Truck-In was exclusively open to vans. Vanners from all over the country converged on Cutty's Campground on Friday the 12th, and the event ran through sundown on Monday the 14th. The event had several big name sponsors and aside from three days of debauchery with like-minded van aficionados, the weekend included all kinds of van-related activities and contests... those were the days, man!
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: Vanlife ‘til death gothic vanlife design for the Vannin’ crowd, gothic van dwellers, biker babes, old-school van enthusiasts, and anyone who plans to live—and die—by the van. A dark alternative design inspired by vintage custom vans, 70s vannin’ culture, gothic lettering, biker style, tattoo art, and life on the road. Perfect for custom vans, cool vans, boogie vans, shaggin’ wagons, camper vans, conversion vans, cargo vans, panel vans, vintage vans, Ford Econoline, Chevy G-Series, Chevy Express, GMC Vandura, GMC Savana, Dodge Tradesman, Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, stealth campers, DIY camper conversions, and full-time van dwellers.
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.
Description: Gone Vannin forever gothic vanlife design for the Vannin’ crowd, gothic van dwellers, biker babes, old-school van enthusiasts, and anyone who plans to live—and die—by the van. A dark alternative design inspired by vintage custom vans, 70s vannin’ culture, gothic lettering, biker style, tattoo art, and life on the road. Perfect for custom vans, cool vans, boogie vans, shaggin’ wagons, camper vans, conversion vans, cargo vans, panel vans, vintage vans, Ford Econoline, Chevy G-Series, Chevy Express, GMC Vandura, GMC Savana, Dodge Tradesman, Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, stealth campers, DIY camper conversions, and full-time van dwellers.
Description: BURY ME IN MY VAN gothic vanlife design for the Vannin’ crowd, gothic van dwellers, biker babes, old-school van enthusiasts, and anyone who plans to live—and die—by the van. A dark alternative design inspired by vintage custom vans, 70s vannin’ culture, gothic lettering, biker style, tattoo art, and life on the road. Perfect for custom vans, cool vans, boogie vans, shaggin’ wagons, camper vans, conversion vans, cargo vans, panel vans, vintage vans, Ford Econoline, Chevy G-Series, Chevy Express, GMC Vandura, GMC Savana, Dodge Tradesman, Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, stealth campers, DIY camper conversions, and full-time van dwellers.
Description: By the mid-seventies, the custom van craze was in full swing and could be seen across the country as a healthy subset of Americans embraced van culture. The scene brought together traits from several other subcultures including hippies, hot rodders, and bikers, creating a melting pot that would go on to define van culture for decades to come. While vanners were all unique, they all lived by a single common mantra - live free or die - something that I think everyone can get behind. Keep on truckin'
Description: Vanlife ‘til death gothic vanlife skull design for the Vannin’ crowd, gothic van dwellers, biker babes, old-school van enthusiasts, and anyone who plans to live—and die—by the van. A dark alternative design inspired by vintage custom vans, 70s vannin’ culture, gothic lettering, biker style, tattoo art, and life on the road. Perfect for custom vans, cool vans, boogie vans, shaggin’ wagons, camper vans, conversion vans, cargo vans, panel vans, vintage vans, Ford Econoline, Chevy G-Series, Chevy Express, GMC Vandura, GMC Savana, Dodge Tradesman, Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, stealth campers, DIY camper conversions, and full-time van dwellers.