The conversion van isn’t quite dead, but it isn’t what it used to be. The conversion vans of today often come in the form of a full-blown camper or an expensive overlanding rig with off-road aspirations.
A conversion van used to be just a loaded family van with luxurious features like a TV and VCR, curtains, comfy seats, and, for some reason, tons of wood.
Let’s take a look at five classic conversion vans for sale on Autotrader.
1. 1996 Chevrolet Express 1500 — $12,995
This Chevy Express 1500 looks rather imposing thanks to its Explorer Limited conversion with its high roof and lower body moldings. It doesn’t look that different from stock in the front aside from more wood and cushier seats, but the back is quite different. It has a tall ceiling with speakers in it, and it appears to have two televisions. It also has a power-folding third row that turns into a sofa. See 1996 Chevrolet Express 1500 models for sale
2. 1990 Chevrolet G20 — $36,900
The most expensive van on this list is also one of the oldest. Here we have a remarkably clean 1990 Chevrolet G20 with a Mark III conversion. It has a little under 20,000 miles on the clock, which is very low for a conversion van from over 30 years ago made for road tripping. It’s very blue inside and out, including blue curtains on the windows. There’s a small tube TV in the back of the wooden center console, which surely makes for an odd viewing angle. See 1990 Chevrolet G20 models for sale
3. 1989 Dodge B250 — $9,950
This old Dodge B250 is a genuinely old-school conversion van. Unlike most vans on this list intended for coddling passengers with plush seats and TV screens, this van only has two seats. The rest of the van is a quasi-camper with a sink, a window air conditioner, cabinets, a fridge, and a bed. My favorite part is the little wooden chair with the brown upholstery, hopefully, included with the sale. See 1989 Dodge B250 models for sale
4. 1993 Ford Econoline 150 — $11,999
This van is based on the fourth and final generation of the iconic Ford Econoline. It has a Mark III conversion that’s not too different from the Chevy G20 on this list. It has a characteristic blue paint color and a blue interior with plenty of wood. It also has that awkwardly placed TV on the floor with a VCR. The red mood lighting probably looks pretty cool at night, an interesting predecessor to the ambient lighting that’s popular today. See 1993 Ford Econoline 150 models for sale
5. 1995 GMC G2500 Vandura — $27,995
This GMC Vandura 4×4 is a conversion van with some additional custom flair. I doubt those wheels and the Harley-Davidson spare tire cover were part of the original conversion. This van has pretty low mileage for its age, and it appears to be in good shape on the inside. There’s lots of wood, as we often see in vans of this vintage, and a minibar built into the rear barn doors (barware not included). You also get the power-folding back seats and a tube TV in the back. The built-in Dustbuster is an early precursor to the vacuums we see in minivans today. See 1995 GMC G2500 models for sale
Related:
I am trying to find a conversion van that seats 7. 2006 to 2010. Captain chairs. big windows. There is no place to put that I want a conversion van on this make and model list.
The Chevy express had been wearing the same face since 2003. Whoa!