Are you storing your car for the winter? Here’s what you need to know
Here are some tips for storing your classic muscle car over the winter.
Brian Jones was driving down Miller Drive in Bloomington, Indiana, about 15 years ago when something caught his eye. It was a custom-built GMC conversion van, white with red trim and the word “Hoosiers” emblazoned low on the passenger side.
He pulled into the parking lot of what was then Iron Pit Gym. He asked about the 1988 GMC Vandura G2500 and wondered if it was for sale.
“I’ve had a lot of great cars, but I’ve always been a van guy,” said Jones, who has owned 12 vans over the years. “I’ve always thought vans were cool. This is my fifth custom high-top van.”
The gym owner said he found the van parked in a warehouse space at the Miller Drive building. This van must have been luxurious and top-of-the-line for its time, with thick red plush fabric lining the interior walls. Luxurious wine red genuine leather seats.
“You know, vans were all the rage in the ’80s,” he reminded me. “Everyone wanted the coolest van.”
It has track mood lighting, a bed, a small bar, and a table that folds out when the back door opens. refrigerator. A small RCA television and working VCR. Two stereo systems with headphones for each passenger. Many windows have blinds and red curtains.
The van, called the Rally Wagon, was custom built by Day Cruiser in Elkhart, Indiana, which specializes in luxury bus conversions. The van can be connected to the campsite’s electric site. A luxurious suite on wheels.
The vehicle appealed to Mr. Jones. “The guy who bought the gym from Larry Holtz said he just pulled it out of storage in the back corner. He immediately started it up and kicked it out.”
Jones knew Holtz, an entrepreneur who owned several local bars and restaurants in Bloomington. “I went in and looked at the documents and found out who the original owner was.”
The car was beautiful, so buying it crossed Jones’ mind. “I asked if it was for sale and they said they just wanted to get rid of it,” Jones said. “I made an offer.”
The man gave the man $2,500 in cash and left in a van.
The odometer showed 60,000 miles. Mr. Jones added about 10,000 more people. He said there were no mechanical problems with the high-performance engine. He parks his tall van outside his house and has it checked by a mechanic once a year.
Jones owns other cars and two pickup trucks, so the van remains parked most of the time. “I drive around Lake Monroe three or four times a summer and back.” He also took it out on the highway, driving above the speed limit to empty his car’s system.
“I drove it at 80 miles per hour and it went smoothly. It felt like I was sitting on the couch in my living room.”
The coolest van.
Want to talk about cars and trucks? Contact My Favorite Ride reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.
