BODACIOUS BEATERS and Road-going Derelicts: DELIVERY 911

by Phil Coconis

Published: January 27th, 2013

bodacious beaters em and road going derelicts em delivery 911

Keeping with the Deutsche theme, this one seemed like a reasonable segue from the M-B 250 SE featured last week.

This ‘60’s era Type 2 Delivery Van (Panel Van, if you prefer) is obviously in a more derelict condition than the SE, but, once again, the owner has chosen to “Pimp His Ride” through his choice of wheels.

And BRAKES!!

I’d heard that this was a somewhat popular mod on these old vans, with the Porsche 944 Turbo being the donor vehicle of choice. Not a cheap option, but certainly less expensive than sourcing a 911, which quite possibly may have been the donor for this example. If I’m not mistaken, I believe the wheels are 911 units, although there were some later 944 Turbo options that had a wheel resembling this design.

At any rate, with such swaps, the devil is certainly in the details, and since I’m not much of a Satanist, I’ll leave all of that to those dedicated to the Dark Side of Needless Complexity. Comments?

The juxtaposition of quasi-racecar stopping power attached to a vehicle that—short of extreme powerplant mods—could typically only attain speeds in excess of 100MPH in freefall, is certainly an extreme proposal, though. Definite kudos to the owner/perpetrator regarding the vision required for the creation of this particular example, for sure!

Considering the general outside condition of this Van, it would be a defensible position to decide to leave it like it is—the perforated rust and patchwork quilt of replacement panels making a rather cohesive artistic statement itself.

Another bodaciously unique entry into the hallowed halls of the Bodaciously Beaten!

Phil has written features and columns for a number of automotive periodicals and web-based information companies. He has run a successful Auto Repair Business in the past for many years (See “Memoirs of an Independent Repair Shop Owner” on this ttac site). He can be contacted through this very site, or http://www.linkedin.com/

Phil Coconis

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2 of 23 comments

Darkhorse on Jan 28, 2013

Brings back memories. In the early 70s I drove my then father in law's 1962 VW Type 2 Kombi (the 4 door pickup version) with a load of furniture from New England to DC in the winter down I-95. I was a former Army helicopter pilot so I thought I could control any machine. Wrong! The damned thing wandered all over the road in spite of my "smooth" control touch. Crossing the bridge over the Delaware River was horrific due to high winds that day. We were actually up on two wheels at one time. When we made it home alive (barely) I called my father in law and told him there was no way in Hell I was going to drive it back. In retrospect, I should have bought from him and kept it. Quite collectible these days.

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Larry P2 on Jan 28, 2013

I traded two 1970s for a kitchen remodel job. I definitely got the better end of that deal. One of them had a 2300 cc Gene Berg, Scat crank and exhaust with dual webers. Replaced them with two Ford Pathfinder vans.

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