Sad Vans!

Murilee Martin
by Murilee Martin
sad vans

Going to the wrecking yard on a grim, rainy day somehow makes all the junked custom vans seem even more depressing than usual. How much work went into that mural?

The oil floats on the dirty rainwater, as the vans await certain death.

That Mexican restaurant in Redwood City that had a jaunty VW bus as a delivery vehicle? Not so jaunty now.

This Dodge Tradesman lived through the heyday of the custom van, then endured decades of scorn before becoming ironically hip. None of that history matters now; within a month it will be in a smelter in Guangzhou. At least someone grabbed the diamond-shaped bubble windows.

Does anyone remember the Chevy Caravan?




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  • Mechimike Mechimike on Apr 07, 2011

    I spent my lunch hour today tearing the front sway bar off a Dodge pickup (among other parts) at the local Pick N' Pull. "bottom rung dung cleaner" is a noble profession, after all. I've got multiple college diplomas and I'm still a regular at the Pick-a-Part.

  • -Nate -Nate on Sep 26, 2012

    I really enjoyed this post for the feeling you imbibed (wrong word , I'm sleepy yet) with both pictures in the rain and the writing . And , the responses are terrific too . I'm a Junkyard Junkie and always have been since Childhood , my most fun job ever , was running a VW shop / junkyard / sales lot in the salad days of VW's , in a College town no less . -Nate

  • Jeff S The question is how long will Ford offer the Mustang as a pony car? Dodge is sun setting the Challenger at the end of this year and it is doubtful if the Challenger will come back as an EV. Rumors are the Camaro name will be used on an EV and that will mostly likely be a crossover. There is not enough market for a Detroit muscle or pony car. It is sad to see not only the last of the cars like the Camaro and Challenger go but to see most cars go. Soon this site will have to change its name to The Truth About Trucks (TTAT).
  • Oberkanone Does GM build anything to compete with this? Does GM build any competent hybrids?
  • Dukeisduke So, it'll be invisible, just like all other Gen 6 Camaros?
  • Alterboy21 The gov't has already mandated control of your vehicle. 10 years ago they required cars to have ABS and traction control.I am not sure I agree that automatic breaking is ready for primetime, but taking control of a cars driving behavior is not new ground for the NHTSA. 
  • Parkave231 Collector's Edition hood ornament or GTFO.
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