My HK van 1977-1979

[Big Rob]

I dug up the old photo album with pics of my van. Most have aged poorly but I thought a few of you might like to see it.

I bought it straight after leaving school in 1977 (wish I'd had it at school, think of the possibilities!) It was $2,500.00 and had a 307/Powerglide/10-bolt LSD. All GTS interior, dash, console with Knee-Knocker tacho, and GTS guards and bonnet. Odd wheels to start, but I fixed that not long after.

The pics of me washing it are in front of my Aunties house, where I met my wife a few years later and it's the house we now live in, although you wouldn't recognise it after all the renovations.

The custom van scene was in full swing so I went crazy and did a bunch of changes after seeing XX308 in a van show.

The 307 was replaced by a 350 out of a 1969 Corvette, Statesman grille and headlight surrounds modified to fit and Torana A9X flairs to cover the monster M50/14 Supercharger tyres on the back. Custom fur interior changed constantly.

Don't think I'd do all that to it now, but hey, it was the '70's and I was 18.....

Pretty cool van to have on P-plates....the cops "loved" it!

[Innuendo]

Very cool Rob, great memories they mate. Lived it, loved it!
The last image is flipped BTW.

[SLR_dave]

Thats one cool van! Must have cost you a pack back then. Gotta love the Cornathain louvre and mirror bar fittings in the back.. and... wine rack? I think I remember those, they folded up cantelever style if its the type I remember from that era. I dont recall them being real sturdy though, how'd the bottles go on the open road? lol (although I imagine you dont fill them till your'e properly parked ).

I understand your comments that you probably wouldnt do the same these days, but there were so many more vans around back then, it would have been an eye opener in the day. I get why you built it like that.

This was the type of vehicle that would have made my parents slightly uneasy at the lights, (whilst my brother and I sat in the back of their car going "WOW"). What a decade, great pics.

[RAEME]

Looks awesome bud, would still love seeing that drive around today.

[Alien DNA]

Cool pics...love those flashbacks

[Robbo]

Great Van, loved the 70's and the van scene. Plenty of great, original idea's came from that era.

[Innuendo]

Yes, being a sheep in the great vanning era wasn't a done thing!

[renno]

wrapped, seeing the old days pics

[mauser]

haha well done. The hay day no doubt.

I remember those style of house around Broulee too... my friend in the late 70's had one similar at the coast.

Mauser

[Cocko750]

Very nice ,using an iPhone , what's the script on bonnet and can't read what's across tailgate but neat old school van!