Sometime in 1980 I caught the 4x4 van bug. I started to do some research about 4x4 converting, but not many shops knew how to do convert a van at that time. So I kept searching until I found a late 50's model Ford 4x4 pickup with the correct axle width and enlisted Moe of Four Wheel Drive Engineering in Richmond, VA to do the conversion.

I drove "BLUE THUNDER" for about 3 years and found that the 240ci 6 cyl. just didn't "feed the need for speed" and wanted MORE POWER! After many different conversations, I finally talked my mechanic, Melvin Hairfield of Hairfield Automotive in Fredericksburg, VA, into swapping in a 1969 429ci engine mated to a C6 automatic transmission we took from a donor Ford LTD wagon I had bought for $300.00. This set-up would have worked well in any pick-up, but with the narrow radiator being between the front seats inside the cab, I just couldn't keep the engine cool without major reconstruction of the dog box, front nose and a custom built 4 core radiator.

Finally, I decided that comfort was more my style than power and I sold the 1966 to a buddy in PA where the frame still sits today. I wanted a newer, more comfortable ride with power steering and all the goodies....

Moe of 4-Wheel Drive Conversions, Cartersville, VA fabricated the front clip to hang the suspension from, added a early Bronco Dana 44 front rear and installed a S-10 transfer case. With the 4x4 conversion already installed, I could feel the ride and handling characteristics before I bought it. Cool! I have found this is the best way to buy a 4x4 van if at all possible. This Astro had all the bells and whistles that I was lookin' for, but rode a little low for my taste. I first tackled the suspension, adding a add-a-leaf in the front spring set and then replaced the rear springs with a H/D aftermarket fiberglass set which lifted her 2 additional inches to clear the 31-10.50R15's I wanted to use. I also had to trim the front wheel wells, front and rear, a little to clear the bigger tires in hard turns.

I have always enjoyed entering truck shows, so I decided to work on a theme van when getting new paint. "BEACH BUGGY" was always one of my favorite terms as I enjoy vacationing in Nags Head, NC, cruisin' the beach and surf fishing. This name seemed to really fit her. Building a theme van with some 90's ideas and colors was what I wanted to accomplish. Neon paint was just starting to become very popular on the left coast, so I decided to work it into the theme. As you can see it all came together using a beach theme.

After buying this ride, I replaced the stock steering column with a tilt steering column. I also replaced the stock radio with a factory top of the line AM/FM/CA stereo. Next I installed a lot of aftermarket accessories like: CB radio/antenna, limo tinted the factory tinted windows, added a center console, Western wheels, overhead console, removable custom steering wheel, front 2" receiver, outside tackle box and surf pole holders, grade & tilt indicator, front sun/moon visor, fog & driving lights, Carr light bar with 4 KC off-road lights, bumper mounted light bar with driving lights, and blue reflector tape just to name a few of the add-ons. I had lots of fun showing & camping in Beach Buggy for the next 5 years.

I like to sleep inside my van when camping and but had to constantly move my gear around all the time because of the limited interior space. I really needed a bigger, more spacious ride to haul all my STUFF. My buddy, Rick Dickens who bought "BLUE THUNDER", happened to see an ad for a 1983 Ford 4x4 van that he said he thought I would like and boy was he right! The next day I traveled about 4 hours north in the snow, to Quigley Motor Co. in Manchester, PA to purchase "BIG RED". While there I got a super tour of their facility, computer design department and had the chance to view some of the project vehicles that were under construction at that time.

I kept "BEACH BUGGY" for about another year and then sold her to a family in Harrisonburg, VA who needed a 4x4 to transport their family and horses to horse shows where their daughter rode in barrel competitions. They first saw Beach Buggy in the Van Show at the Van Nationals that year. After buying Beach Buggy they later contacted me to get the name and address of the painter who sprayed on the graphics so they could have him paint their horse trailer painted to match. KEWL! Check out the neat trailer in the last picture. I put this trailer together from a old fiberglass truck shell that I found in a utility bed junk yard. I had a flat bed utility trailer I wasn't using much and had it resized it to fit under this fiberglass shell. It was big enough to sleep in, but most important it carried all my camping gear and left the inside of the van free for people and the necessities.

Stock items were cruise control, AM/FM/CA, tilt wheel, dual exhaust, dual heat, dual gas tanks, tinted windows, sway-bars front and rear.

Jimmy Jacobs, of Jacobs Auto in Thornburg, VA, followed up with the body work, installing the rear fiberglass gull wing door and dual batteries.

Since the aftermarket seats were trashed, I hit the junk yard and found a color matching set of Camaro bucket seats (w/lumbar support for driver). Then I went to work installing a tach, grade & tile gauges, power windows, PA speaker, center console, CB radio, Kenwood stereo system with 8 speakers & dual subs, TV, VCR, refrigerator, lights ( custom interior, fog, driving, off-road and reverse ), air horns, outside tackle box with surf pole holders, walk-in drop down hitch, modified the front bumper, fabricated a custom H/D rear bumper and all the miscellaneous fun stuff.

I never could find snow deep enough to stop her. I did see pictures of this van tearing through a 36 inch snow fall. ( That was before the suspension was lifted and the big boots. ) Thanks to a web sell, "BIG RED" now resides in New Mexico, climbing the snow covered mountains at 10,000 plus feet. This sale is what gave me the idea to start listing 4x4 vans for sale at my web site to help other enthusiasts find rides for themselves.

KEEP ON TRUCKIN' BIG RED !

Want to see more pictures of this fullsize Ford ?

Check out REBUILDING BIG RED