Car culture in the 1970s was, in general, a pretty awesome thing. You had affordable cars packing big engines roasting the rear tires. Down in Australia, one of the hot vehicles of the time was the van. Instead of working with massive displacement and straight-line speed goals, van owners opted for shag carpets, wood wherever possible, and mirrored ceilings. Australian van culture in 1977 was pretty awesome, and you can see it for yourself.
On an episode of a tv show called Flashez, ABC TV Australia spoke to van owners to get a better understanding of their motives for modifying their rides. Be it quadrophonic sound, a desire for panel-side art, or to simply have more room compared to their car-loving friends, the van culture kicked serious ass in late 70’s Australia.
Though, to be fair, you could clean up the footage a bit and be tricked into thinking this was a hipster van show in 2018.
By Jeff Glucker
Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff
Kamil Kaluski
If the vans a-rockin’, don’t bother knockin’
Shaggin’ wagon aka f_ck truck.
Were there ever high-roof sedan deliveries like these in North America? More like the roofline of a panel truck, but on a car basis rather than a pickup.
I’m going to say no because I can’t think of anything truly comparable, and I think that should also summon someone who actually knows.
There’s likely something obscure, but that’s what I’m expecting to find out, not something from a major manufacturer.
https://c.o0bg.com/rf/image_960w/Boston/2011-2020/2016/06/21/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/amazon.jpg (grin)
Dammit. I feel like this is an answer that, while technically correct, is absolutely not the best possible answer. But I’m way too lazy to set any sort of requirements retroactively, and I’m chalking this up to a win for both of us.
Even more “technically correct” but not in the spirit of the question: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/69fd3aaabbad144ebaca55dabdef4bed5778e4ce669de4f9a55d212b5f9ce0fe.jpg