Welcome To Econoline Appreciation Weekend

Good things don't need an appreciation week, month, year, etc... that's why GM's awesome 77-89 B-Body got that awesome CC. There are still many old platforms in production today: Fiat 131 is still being manufactured in Etiopia, Mazda 121/Ford Festiva/Kia Pride/SAIPA Saba-Nasim Peugeot 405 and a derivative of the Hillman Hunter are still being produced in Iran. And if you look in the interwebZ there are also trucks, SUVs and other models.

I learned to drive in an 83/84 Econoline "Club Wagon." I could parallel park that thing, put into tight parking places, etc. It was a blast! We had it because we (effectively the whole family!) were in Boy Scouts and it was a helluva people mover for a bunch of Scouts and their crap.

I have a '93 E-350 Club Wagon; it seats 15. Kinda challenging to park; it's almost 20 feet long. The oil pan gasket failed around 80K, differential bearings at 100K, the torque converter at 120K. The transmission I installed failed too, but FORD replaced that for free (including labor). It's gone through three A/C compressors, one master cylinder, and a steering box. The paint is now peeling off. It passed CA smog recently, but I think it needs a catalyst (about $1K to replace). I just replaced the engine at 170K. Frankly, I'm tired of hassling with it, but my kids love it for vacations; each kid gets a bench seat to themselves. And we don't have anything else that can tow our boat. A newer one is out of the question with our current budget. In the amusing anecdote department, airports ban it from the close parking lots because it's big enough to haul a small diesel/fertilizer bomb. stuart

I have a long history with these and have driven several from the 70s through the 90s. When I was in high school, a buddy's dad traded his 69 Club Wagon (6, 3 speed, base base model) for a new 76 Custom Club Wagon. Silver with blue interior. 351 V8, auto, and even air. This was a really nice vehicle and was fabulous for travel. Another friend's dad traded a 73 Dodge Royal Sportsman van (my favorite van ever) for a 78 or 79 Ford Club Wagon Chateau. I think that this one had the 302, but with the old 3 speed auto was not too bad. A friend had an 84 Club Wagon XLT with the 302 and the AOD. You all know my opinion of this drivetrain, and putting it in a 5000 pound vehicle did not make it any more pleasant. Finally I spent many happy years in a 94 Club Wagon Chateau with a 351 and the E4OD. This was a great family vehicle for the 140K that I put on it. Actually, the first 80K were less than stellar, with ball joints, tire issues and a torque converter rebuild. But after 80K (and aftermarket ball joints with grease fittings) The Club Wagon ran like a champ right to the end when it was done in by the need for a differential rebuild at 165K during the summer of $4 gasoline. I miss it. It is difficult to describe how far ahead this Ford platform was when it came out as a 1975 model. It was light years ahead of everything else in quiet and refinement. Although it was not as tight as the Dodge, it was smooth, quiet, and roomy. The forward-mounted engine provided a LOT more room in the front seats. It is amazing that it took the Chevy so long to follow suit (and Dodge never did). This was the first van to give you a car-like driving position (as opposed to the semi-like steering wheel angle that had been common up to then). This is the last of the Ford Twin I Beam vehicles. Actually, Ford ruined this one with its Nasser era decontenting around 1997. Up to that time, the Club Wagon was a credible competitor with any minivan for amenities. After a halfhearted promo effort around 2000-01, Ford has let the "civilian" version wither on the vine. The E-series is still the choice among contractors, plumbers and delivery services. Chevy seems to have taken the lead in the passenger market, but only by default. I will miss the old E-series when it finally goes away. At the age of 35, it is still a productive member of automotive society.