1977 Dodge Tradesman B300 maxi van with hi top camper shell

1977 Dodge Other

I'm very reluctantly selling my beloved project van "Big Ben" but I just found out that I'll be traveling a lot for work this summer and I just don't have the space to keep it stored while I'm gone or time to fix it up any longer. I need to sell ASAP!!!!
PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS...
In the last year, my amazing mechanic (Bussard's Auto of Highland Park in Los Angeles) has put a ton of work into it to make it safe and road trip ready. Those improvements include:
1) All new brakes
2) New fluid hoses
3) New windshield wipers
4) New lighter for USB charging
5) Repaired the choke
6) New horn
7) New fluids (transmission, brake, oil)
8) Clean air filter
9) Full lube
10) New gas gauge
11) Full inspection
12) New seat belts and rear view mirror
13) Rewired all the dash components
14) Brand new battery (purchased from AAA on 3/18)
15) Clean title and tags up to date
16) BONUS: mechanic believes the engine to be rebuilt and in excellent condition
That's over $2500 worth of work that I put in to it so you don't have to! You could hit the road today!
Here are the cons:
1) Two spots of rust (both photographed). There's one near the driver's side windshield. It's not rusted through or anything, it's just a good patch. There's also rust towards the rear passenger side where the camper shell meets the van. You can choose to get it fixed professionally, fix it yourself, or just leave it, but it's certainly not a repair that must be made in order for it to drive or be safe. Other than those two spots, there are no rust holes on the body and there's no rust on the underside.
2) There's a sizable dent to the passenger sliding door. It doesn't effect the way the door opens and closes in any way, it's just a dent.
3) It's got dings, dents, peeling decals and lots of graffiti art from the local neighborhood artists on the passenger side door. Every day there seems to be a cool new tag but I actually kind of like it! I had plans to paint it, but I've realized that nobody wants to break into a creepy looking van so keeping it as is has been a choice. For being almost 40 years old, it's nothing a little elbow grease can't fix. It's not pretty on the outside, and still needs a little cosmetic love on the inside, but the good news is that you can only improve upon it.
Here is everything I can tell you about the history of the van:
I purchased it last July from a gentleman who got it from a police impound in Venice Beach and owned it for several months. He used it as a daily driver and said it took to the freeway like a real champ. He was a vintage car enthusiast and put some work into it himself, new battery, oil change, basic tune up, and simple adjustments. He no longer had the space for it so he decided to sell. At the DMV, I learned I am the 3rd owner, meaning the 1st owner bought it new and had it up until this year when it was impounded and it has always been a California car. The mileage reads 40,000 although it could mean 140,000 as cars of this age only show 5 digits for mileage. It passes a smog test, and I have the title in hand. There's an over cab compartment for storage, the captain's chairs swivel to face inwards, and all the interior lights work. I custom built a full size platform bed in the back with a really comfortable mattress and room for storage underneath. There is no stereo system currently but I've been using a portable Bluetooth speaker with my iphone and it's been just fine. It always starts right up and the engine runs strong. I've taken it on some adventures up to Angeles Crest and Joshua Tree where it handles the freeway perfectly and the dirt roads with no problems whatsoever. It isn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be on gas, I've made it to Joshua Tree and back on a tank and a half and it was around $60 for the entire trip. It just came back from the mechanic where I had the horn fixed and a spot of glass that covered the gas gauge cleaned properly so I could read it. The photo of it being towed there is because I couldn't drive it to the mechanic myself and get stuck without a ride home, not for any mechanical reason. It's also the most recent pic I have of the graffiti on the side.
I would love for this to go to a good home, someone looking to take it on some camping adventures. It would also be a perfect burning man vehicle, ice cream truck, surf van, off the grid home, picture car, or an excellent work truck too.
Only able to sell to someone locally in Los Angeles at the moment. I can show it on the weekends, but please, serious buyers only. And please no low-ballers, it's so insulting. I've put a lot of time and money into fixing it up and it's very reasonably priced. If picture perfect condition is what you're looking for, this isn't for you. If a mechanically strong camping van that you want to get creative with is what you want, this is a good fit. You can put $10,000 into it to make it look fancy, or you can drive it away and not put another penny into it, that's up to you, but the amount of money you want to put into it after the fact will not change my sale price. These are valuable classic vans that sell for on average $6,300 and more and aren't easy to come by in as good mechanical condition as this.
I don't know if I can be more honest, but if you have any other questions please don't hesitate to ask!

• Condition: Used
• Make: Dodge
• Model: Other
• Type: Van Camper
• Year: 1977
• Mileage: 40,000
• VIN: b35bf7x235537
• Color: White
• Fuel: Gasoline
• Transmission: Automatic
• Vehicle Title: Clear
Want to buy? Contact seller!