What was the year range on the "cool" econolines?

1961 - 1967 were the "first generation" Econolines. There are few external differences, the most noticeable being a change in the side trim.

You could get a 240 in the later ones. I swapped mine for a stock 300 and it is fast in such a little truck. It also has a stock 9" rear. I have the "top of the line" Falcon Deluxe Club Wagon. Mine's for sale, but I doubt you California guys have need for a PA van.

 

Howza Brutha,
I beleive it was '61-'65. From there on the taillights became rectangular not round and cool. Here is my daily driver.

 

DAMN Haring!
That is nice! In fact that is the wheel tire combo I want to run.

 

Kustombuilder, I got your mail. I'll see if I can snap a few pics.

 

Spook posted the exact model I'd like to find to build this.

 

damn HARING, that thing looks PIST!!!!!!

 

I mistakenly thought they changed models in '67. I gyess they did but it was a '68 Model...
I actually like the second generation van better. Maybe it stems from being a passenger in one of those first gen econolines when it T-boned a Bonneville stationwagon, I'm glad I had my feet on the dash board at the time or I would have been eating windshield, no, of course it didn't have any seat belts... My feet caved in the steel dash though!

 

I swapped engines on a "work" econoline in 1973. I think it was a 200. The owner supplied the replacement engine. I used a "cherry picker" style hoist thru the pass side doors. I did the swap by myself in two nights after work. I think there was space to use a 289/302. I believe a kit was available back then to mount the 289.

 

I tow a small trailer (for truck cabs, beds, body parts) with my 65 falcon ranchero with a 200/6 in it. I wouldn't put a whole car trailer behind it, just because its a pretty light car- you feel the weight of the trailer a lot.

 

F.A...that is outta control!! You would think I would eventually get use to seeing your work, but it absolutely knocks me out each time you post something!!!

Dan

 

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Spook posted the exact model I'd like to find to build this.

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FA,
Is that like a fifth generation Thunderbird grill in there?
That's cool!

 

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I beleive it was '61-'65. From there on the taillights became rectangular not round and cool.


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Actually, 61-67 vans had round taillights, and the Supervans (extended vans) had square taillights. I'm not sure about the pickups.

I've been looking for a panel/display van for a year, but I can only find pickups in the midwest. All the vans are in the Northwest!

a 300 will drop into a van that originally had a 240, but if it had a 170 you will need to swap out the axle/crossmember for one from a van that had a 240.

This group is pretty active
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldeconolines/messages

 

Doc, you're right, it's a modified T-Bird setup. I think it'd work!

Dan, thanks. you know what? I'm painting a sign right now. as I'm doing so the difficulty of the job reminds me again how top-notch your work is. and I ain't logrolling either. this is H A R D. I might as well be painting with Q-Tips.

I think that model Econo has some really nice lines, and its profile is so aggressive and bulldoglike, Sgt. America-like. at the same time I see it as related to some of the nicer VW type 2 customs I've seen, in particular the more stock trim-retaining, DKP-lookin' ones.

I honestly think that orange Econo pickup could and should be built.

 

Haring posted this on here and I saved it. I love it. I'd like to find a panel for my computer store. Would make an awesome shop van.

Seen a lot of econo trucks on ePay lately. There's like 4 of them on there now, and none are expensive.

 

Oh, and this one just sold on ePay for $4850