Slightly Spooky Camper Vans: 1973 Ford Econoline vs. 1984 Dodge B350
By Mark Tucker
October 24, 2024
Good morning! Today’s Shitbox Showdown features a pair of camper vans. Before you make a face, consider that they’re both in surprisingly good shape.
Some days, I have a feeling about how a vote will go before I finish writing. Yesterday wasn’t one of those days. I expected a close race, but the Escort wagon simply ran away with it. I think I have to agree. My old Escort treated me well, and I always liked my friend’s wagon version even more.
Now, with Halloween just around the corner, decorations are going up. One of the neighbors has gone with a “scary clown” theme, complete with a beat-up old Chevy van parked sideways across their driveway, with “FREE CANDY” scrawled on the side in big, drippy letters. Inspired by that van, I went looking for scary vans to feature here. I found these two camper vans instead.
They’re quite friendly in comparison. Let’s check them out.
1973 Ford Econoline 300 – $3,900
Engine/drivetrain: 302 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Folsom, CA
Odometer reading: 92,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
People have been modifying vehicles for living in them since the beginning, but it wasn’t until after World War II that converting a van into a recreational vehicle became popular. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, camper vans were big business. Many panel-sided vans ended up with conversion companies, having their roofs cut off and fiberglass tops installed to create more space for beds and appliances.
In 1973, this second-generation Ford Econoline one-ton van came from a company called Red-E-Kamp in this condition. The earliest Econolines were cab-over designs. For the 1969 model year, Ford moved the seats back and the engine forward. Inside this van’s “doghouse” is a 302 V8 and a three-speed automatic. It runs and drives well and has only 92,000 miles.
Anyone who grew up with friends who had conversion vans from this era likely remembers shag carpeting and velour upholstery. That doesn’t seem to be the case here. This van’s interior is a study in fake woodgrain and blue vinyl. It has a sink, a stove, and a fridge, and features two sleeping areas: one in the back, and one up above in a loft. It’s all original, the seller says, and really isn’t in bad condition at all, considering. The seller says the floors are solid, though the fiberglass top is pretty faded. The van shows signs of rust outside, but the paint on the steel part looks decent.
1984 Dodge B350 – $4,500
Engine/drivetrain: 360 cubic inch overhead valve V8, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Rancho Cordova, CA
Odometer reading: 50,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Dodge vans were a favorite of the RV conversion companies for many years. What you don’t often see is a long-wheelbase, extended-length “church van” converted to an RV. This van is 22 feet long and has a small bump in the center section of the roof, making it longer and lower than the typical camper van.
Inside the doghouse of this extra-long B-series van is a 360 cubic inch V8 and a Torqueflite automatic transmission. It’s a strong, high-torque combination. The seller reports it runs well and that they spent the summer road-tripping in it. Now they’re having a baby and don’t expect to travel. It has all the usual camper van features: a stove, a fridge, a freshwater tank with a propane water heater, and plenty of places to sleep. There’s also a propane furnace and a roof-mounted air conditioner.
It all looks serviceable, if not perfect. One thing that needs attention is the broken rear window. The seller has adjusted the price accordingly, and it shouldn’t be too difficult to fix.
Camper vans can get sketchy pretty fast as you drop down the price range. But neither of these seems to have been lived in long term or otherwise abused. They both appear to have been used for vacations and road trips, and they’re both ready for more.
Which one are you going with?
(Image credits: sellers)
Mark Tucker
Self-taught DIYer of all the things. Crappy guitar player. Cat dad. Sci-fi nerd. Current fleet: 1971 MGB GT, 1989 Chevy K1500, 2013 Chrysler 300C, 2004 GMC Yukon, and 1966 Aristocrat Land Commander trailer. Not to mention about 50 RC cars and around 100 model kits… Now on Bluesky at markbt73.bsky.social
