Without knowing how this heavy duty Econoline spent its life, I can only imagine the kind of use it saw. Seeing this cool retro classic sitting on the street makes me hope it will live out the later years of its life as a fun and practical vehicle for someone who will make use of its space without sending it to an early grave. We can all hope to enjoy a retirement like that someday!
After years of hard work, we all look forward to retirement. I suspect the same goes for heavy-duty vehicles. From the day they're purchased they're put to work carrying, towing, pulling, carting and putting in long days doing their (heavy) duty. When I was in New York City recently, I came across a tired but interesting heavy duty vehicle that looked ready for retirement. This 1960's Ford Econoline van had double barn doors on the back and right side, giving lots of access to the large cargo hold. With 'Heavy Duty' inscribed on the side, I imagine this van had a long and tiring life. Perhaps it was put in service as a delivery van, shuttling goods all over the city. Maybe it was a contractor's vehicle and hauled around workers, equipment and tools to install power lines, cable or plumbing. Who knows, it could even have belonged to a rock band and carted tons of heavy gear to shows all over the country! At the very least this Econoline van is 50 years old, and possibly as old as 56. I figure that over half a century is more than enough of a career for a cool heavy duty vehicle like this Ford. This one was intact but had a few scars and war wounds. It looked like the windshield surrounded had rusted and had been repaired (more or less!) with tape. There were some hefty scratches and dents, but nothing that would keep it off the road. I like to think that this van can transition into retirement and enjoy a slower pace. Perhaps trips to the gardening store for supplies, or to head out on weekend camping trips? There would be ample room inside to convert it to a funk camper. Or better yet, it could do duty going to classic car swap-meets to pick up parts for an automotive restoration. Wouldn't it be fitting it it was used to pick up parts for its very own restoration into like-new condition?!
Without knowing how this heavy duty Econoline spent its life, I can only imagine the kind of use it saw. Seeing this cool retro classic sitting on the street makes me hope it will live out the later years of its life as a fun and practical vehicle for someone who will make use of its space without sending it to an early grave. We can all hope to enjoy a retirement like that someday!
2 Comments
The term ‘roadster’ is usually reserved for low-slung sports cars with a convertible top. As a matter of fact, I had never heard the term applied to anything BUT that type of car until today. I was reading up on the first-generation Ford Bronco after seeing one in New York City recently. The Bronco I saw was a 2-door model with a rear hatch, the most popular of the Bronco body styles, but apparently two other models existed: a pickup and a ‘roadster’. The 1966-1977 Ford Bronco 4x4 may share the drop-top configuration of typical small sporty roadsters but it would seem the similarities end there. The tall and top-heavy Bronco convertible has a short wheelbase for its length and heft and would be anything but entertaining on the type of twisty roads where one pictures an MG, Triumph or Miata cruising along. The Bronco was Ford’s first ‘compact’ utility vehicle (this is another term that made me chuckle when I read it; if THIS vehicle was compact for its era, I’d love to see how large a fullsize was!) and was built on a unique platform with a 4x4 drivetrain. Large 6- and 8-cylinder engines moved the Bronco well enough for its intended purpose as a vehicle for hauling gear, plowing or going off-road, but there really wasn’t any sporting pretension in your average first-generation Ford Bronco. This roadster version I came across in Vancouver, British Columbia on the West Coast of Canada caught my attention from far away. Its bright red color really made it stand out and the tall, blocky design contrasted with all of the modern vehicles passing by. The great chrome detailing was nothing like the previous rather dull Bronco I had seen in NYC, so Ford clearly saw a different mission for the topless version of their 4x4. I always assume that the term ‘roadster’ came from the idea of a car mastering the road and making it entertaining to drive with the wind in one’s hair. In that respect, perhaps this red Bronco IS a roadster. The call of the open road isn’t just for road-hugging sports cars. A vehicle like this, when loaded with friends and gear for a weekend of camping or trip to the beach, would certainly provide a while lot of fun. And the 4x4 configuration means you can take this vehicle off-road to places that a typical roadster couldn’t even dream of going. Maybe we can agree to a new designation for the convertible version of a 4x4 vehicle: an off-roadster? It seems to me that this term covers the dual-nature of the topless Bronco version: you get sun and breeze on the open highway in an albeit clunky and cumbersome truck but can also enjoy heading to remote and private areas well off the beaten path. Unless someone has a better term, I think I’m going to stick with off-roadster for this lovely red classic Bronco!
Mention the Ford Bronco to anyone and they’re bound to respond with ‘OJ Simpson’. Ford’s large SUV may have been produced over 40 years and 5 generations, but the infamous videos of the white Bronco being followed by the police on the highway in LA seems to be its unfortunate claim to fame. Long before the Simpson case, the Ford Bronco already had a strong following with off-road fans who wanted a serious utility vehicle. The Bronco was introduced in 1966 on its own short wheelbase chassis and included inline 6 and V8 options as well as four wheel drive. Back then, SUVs were more utility than sport, and the first generation was decidedly barebones. Interestingly, the left and right door skins are identical, except for mounting holes, to simplify fabrication. On a recent trip to New York City I stumbled across this green and white hardtop model. The paint was faded and there was a bit of rust on the bumpers, but overall the vehicle was in impressive shape for its age. It’s hard to know exactly what year this Bronco was, since this first generation model was built from 1966 until 1977. A serious 4x4 meant for off-road duty, this Bronco is most certainly a bit of a handful on the highway. Modern SUVs are loaded with features and are quiet and comfortable on the road, so this throwback ‘Sport Utility Vehicle’ is refreshing in its simplicity. OJ Simpson aside, the original Broncos do have a very strong following. Clean, rust-free models are very sought after and this example would make a great weekend warrior or candidate for a restoration. It is especially nice to see it in what appears to be original condition, with no aftermarket modifications or upgrades that take away from the authenticity. I don’t know if this specific Ford Bronco sees a lot of off-road or utility use or if it spends all of its time on paved roads and in parking lots. Either way, the owner is lucky to have such a great copy of this now legendary vehicle. And I’m talking legendary for all the right reasons!
‘Green’ is a buzzword that has been gaining steam over the past decade. Anything ‘green’ refers to a product, service or concept that is environmentally friendly and often has to do with reducing waste, pollution and fuel consumption. In urban settings, going green can also mean creating environmentally-friendly buildings that include the use of recycled materials, vegetation and energy-efficient heating and cooling to reduce the carbon footprint. A recent New York vehicular sighting had me scratching my head, however. I can only assume that this ‘Ecotone’ company is involved in building or renovating urban buildings to be more green and natural, what with their ‘Urban Natural Building’ tagline. Their choice of company vehicle, however, may need to be rethought. This ‘Ecotone’ sticker was stuck on the back of a 1980’s Chevrolet Suburban ‘Scottsdale 20’ 6.2L monster! The 30+ year old Suburban had seen better days, and it seemed that perhaps it was trying to recycle itself in the name of ecology! Large patches of steel on the doors, fenders, rocker panels and rear gates were turning into oxide and flaking off, seemingly eager to rejoin the earth. The Suburban was even painted a light shade of green, perhaps to help it blend into a natural urban setting like a park or greenspace? If Ecotone wants my advice, they might try starting with a less conspicuous vehicle than a rusted 80’s ‘Burb for their next company vehicle, though! As much as I like this vintage type of SUV, especially in stump-pulling 6.2L format, it simply doesn’t give off the ‘green’ vibe they’re looking for. Or perhaps this vehicle is a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the green movement? Looking at it another way, keeping an older vehicle on the road longer means a new vehicle doesn’t have to be produced. Manufacturing a new vehicle involves consuming materials, electricity and other resources and creates pollution at the factory and during transportation. Might the ecological footprint of this gigantic Chevrolet Suburban be smaller than I think, relatively speaking? In the end it doesn’t matter to me which type of vehicle a company chooses to use. I’m actually a big fan of these large 80’s vehicles and think a 6.2L Suburban would make a handy vehicle to tow old cars and haul parts for an automotive restoration project. My first modification, however, would be to cover up ‘Urban Natural Building’ with a more suitable and accurate sticker for a 6.2L V8 diesel Suburban… how does ‘Rollin’ Coal’ sound?
|
AuthorWelcome! My name is Paul, and I am an old-fashioned, low-pressure, low-buck car fan with lots of automotive stories to tell! Archives
February 2020
|