Find or Sell Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs in USA

Star Trek Muraled Gmc G15 Vandura Van. Survivor, Custom Van, Amazing Paint. on 2040-cars

US $12,000.00
Year:1978 Mileage:24000 Color:
Location:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Advertising:

AMAZING SURVIVOR CUSTOM  STAR TREK VAN

 

 

1978 GMC G15 Vandura Van.

 

I have reluctantly (we would like to shrink the family vehicle stable a bit as we now have two small boys and no time) decided to sell my 1978 GMC Vandura custom van.

The van was built up from stock in 1979-1980, paint was done by G.S. Roy, a well known Canadian artist.  I contacted Mr. Roy, who remembers painting this van as well as another for the owners cousin (that one was ‘mermaid’ themed…wish I knew where it was!).  The van is a survivor and sat for years in storage owned by the same family from new to 2012 (33 years)…I purchased it last summer from Ontario and shipped it out to the west coast here in Vancouver where I have enjoyed every day of owning it.  NOT a vehicle for the shy, you absolutely cannot go anywhere without many thumbs up, cheers, and people waxing nostalgic about custom vans and/or Star Trek.  The van currently has a little over 24,000 KM’s (15k miles) on it showing on the odometer.  I can’t verify for sure this isn’t 124,000km’s but looking over all aspects of the van I would not doubt if it is true…it isn’t perfect, but is a true survivor of an era gone by and I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it anywhere.  I’ve replaced the tires with period correct BFG T/A’s , installed a new heater core, brake master cylinder, tuned her up, installed a back up camera, and done all required to pass a BC (ridiculously strict and silly) provincial inspection.  I’ve spent $3500 on the Van in the past year to make it mechanically excellent and drivable every day if someone wanted to.

I’ll outline the good and bad below in each category to the best of my ability, and will take as many pics as I can to show the condition of items.  Anything I missed or any questions just askJ.  I don’t really need to sell the Van but as I mentioned could use the room and free time…you don’t find something like this every day and I realize it takes a special (read as a little off…like me lol) person to own something like this…I do guarantee you will enjoy the smiles it brings to faces all around as you drive down the road and the vehicle (paint alone) could not be replicated for even close to what my reserve price is here, which is I think fair.  Custom van’s are making a comeback.

 

 

EXTERIOR –

 

GOOD - The exterior is completely covered in custom airbrushing, it is Star Trek themed in general with a LOT of small images of faces, creatures, etc that seemingly never cease to stop appearing.  Overall the paint itself has held up incredibly (stored indoors).  The vehicle was treated new to the full ‘Zeibart’ rustproofing package and has ZERO rust.  Honestly, the body is in amazingly clean shape.  Zeibart plugged, filled, closed all areas that may have someday allowed water ingress.  Has original custom windshield visor.  Bumpers are in great shape and rust free/pitting free as is custom grill.  Van has a ‘split’ sunroof that does work, though I siliconed it shut as it had a small leak on the drivers side when I wash it.  Still has the original custom thrush sidepipes that sound awesome.

 

BAD - The clearcoat technology in 1980 wasn’t as good as today and it has dried and is peeling in places.  Most notably on the hood and horizontal faces of the fenders.  Also the clear ‘rear arch’ protection is peeling badly.  I thought about wet sanding with 2000 and respraying the clear but got scared to do it myself.  There is a small dent behind the rear wheel on the drivers side which I took a few pics of and should appear in the set.  I didn’t know it was there when I bought it, it isn’t really noticeable but I believe in full disclosure.  The fiberglass fender arches have paint chips and a bit of light rash on some (I didn’t do it).  The thrush pipes should be rechromed at some point…they were pitted and surface rusting in places.  I touched them up with chrome paint but they aren’t perfect.

 

 

 

INTERIOR –

 

GOOD – Two words ‘Red Velvet’.  Diamond quilted red velvet to be exact.  This covers the door panels, wall and ceiling panels, and visor area.  The flooring is red carpeting with thick soft underpadding in rear.  Original red dash and console are crack free and in excellent shape.  Incredibly cool octagonal wood steering wheel. Period correct cassette player and equalizer with power antenna.  All gauges work, wipers work (including intermittent), horn, all lights operational.  Heater works great and is new.  I installed a backup camera to help with parking.  Front captain’s seats are swivel and again covered in quilted red velvet, both have lap belts.  Sliding door actually works.  Currently I have a bench seat with quick release function installed behind the captain’s chairs (for my kids; the original swivel ‘buckets’ did not have seatbelts).  I do have the ‘buckets’ and they will be included as well as the mounting brackets…once again, more red velvet!  There is also a pump sink, icebox, and bed in back with curtains…you guessed it…red velvet.

 

BAD – Drivers door velvet has a small tear.  A few of the upholstery ‘button’ covers are missing, I do have replacements which will be included…I just haven’t had the time to install.  The van was wired up for interior lighting above the rear seating area and in the bed area.  The wiring is still there but the lights are not.  I would want to trace all the wiring and re-set it up and install new lights…but again, I don’t have the time.

 

 

MECHANICAL –

 

GOOD – As mentioned in the description, I have done a lot of work to get this vehicle to meet our strict provincial inspection last year.  As with most vehicles that are stored long-term, I had to refresh some items.  The heater core was removed for some reason so I purchased and installed a new one.  The brake master cylinder was replaced, a new horn was installed, new front ball joints, and the van was tuned up.

 

 

BAD –

 

As far as I know the van needs nothing mechanically done to it right now (according to my mechanic).  It starts, runs, drives fine with no issues and is happy to cruise along at 120km/h (70mph) all day.  I drove it up to Whistler twice last month and had a blast.

 

 

WHEELS/TIRES

 

GOOD – I replaced the tires less than 1000kms (600 mls) ago with period correct BFG T/A’s.  Rears are 245/60/15, fronts are 225/70/15.  Has original Cragar SS wheels.

 

BAD – Cragar SS wheels are pitting/peeling and should be refinished.


All in all this van is in excellent condition, especially considering it was built nearly 35 years ago!  Ready to roll, cruise, holiday, show...whatever you like:).  Please remember your bid is a binding contract, do not bid if you really don't want to own this.  As I mentioned, any questions or more pics...just ask.


Cheers,

Brian

Auto blog

GM extends production cuts, affects Cadillacs, Camaro and Acadia

Thu, Apr 8 2021

General Motors is extending production cuts at some of its North America factories due to a chip shortage that has roiled the global automotive industry, the U.S. carmaker said on Thursday. The move's impact has been baked into GM's prior forecast that the shortage could shave up to $2 billion off this year's profit. GM's Lansing Grand River assembly in Michigan will extend its downtime through the week of April 26. The plant makes Chevrolet Camaros and Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans. It has been out of action since March 15. GM's Spring Hill assembly in Tennessee will shut down for two weeks starting the week of April 12. The plant makes the Cadillac XT5, XT6 and GMC Acadia. The company said it has not taken downtime or reduced shifts at any of its more profitable full-size truck or full-size SUV plants due to the shortage. The news was first reported by CNBC. Reporting by Ankit Ajmera in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel and Sriraj Kalluvila

GM may have teased a whole group of electric vehicles

Tue, Jan 12 2021

During GM's big CES press conference, the automaker highlighted a number of its upcoming electric car-related projects from delivery vans to the upcoming flagship Cadillac Celestiq. In the middle of it all, a collection of mystery cars sat in the background behind speakers. They were in the dark, lit only with their running lights, and while it's possible they're just generic filler cars or concepts, we think they could be future products. Our best shot of the cars together is shown above, and we can pretty easily identify three of the vehicles. In the center is obviously the GMC Hummer EV. On either side of it are Cadillacs. To the left seems to be the Lyriq crossover, and to the right is the Celestiq sedan. Two of these cars have production dates, and the third has been confirmed for eventual production, just without timing. This is why we think the rest of the cars are upcoming models. The next most easily identified car is on the near right behind the Cadillac Celestiq. It very clearly has a Chevy bowtie illuminated in the running lights. And looking closely, it appears to be a pickup truck. It's difficult to make out anything more than that. The nose does look a bit more rounded and swept back than the brick-like designs of the Silverado truck line. That also squares with what seemed to be the upcoming truck that appeared in the background of yet another GM presentation. GM previously said this electric Chevy truck will be a full-size model with up to 400 miles of range. That leaves us with three more mysterious models. Over to the left behind the Cadillac Lyriq are what appear to be a pair of crossovers. The one on the far left looks low, curvy, and possibly with a fastback roof. The one on the right is taller, boxier, and probably more of a full-size people hauler. It's hard to say much more beyond that. They could be new electric Buicks, which would fit in nicely with that brand's crossover portfolio, and would likely be highly successful in China, where Buicks, crossovers and electric cars are all rather hot commodities. As for the mystery car on the far right, it's quite a puzzle. We can at least rule out Buick and Cadillac, and GMC since it's definitely a car, and a rather small one compared with the other cars on display. That leaves Chevy, and possibly the autonomous division Cruise. We're leaning toward it being a Chevy, since the first Cruise vehicle is going to be a boxy pod of sorts.

2020 Chevy Tahoe High Country spied along with next-gen Escalade

Fri, Jun 7 2019

Have no fear, the big grilles are here. Or, at least we think they're coming. One of our spy shooters caught the next-gen Chevrolet Tahoe and Cadillac Escalade out testing with more of their fronts ends exposed than before. Starting with the Tahoe, we can see what amounts to a blinding amount of chrome under the wrappings. We're guessing this would be a new Tahoe High Country trim level, mirroring the range-topping trim level currently offered on the Silverado and Traverse. The Tahoe's current range topper is the Premier. Although the rather ornate details in the grille are not found on the current High Country trims, they also seem like something that would be available on the priciest Tahoe available. The same could be said of the LED lighting details visible under the camo as the Silverado High Country, shown below, does indeed have unique LED elements. The next-generation Cadillac Escalade only shows up in two of the photos. As we can't see shiny chrome reflecting through the camo, we're guessing the Escalade will adopt a blacked out grille similar those found on the XT6 and other Cadillacs. We can also see horizontal lighting elements similar to those on other recent Cadillacs. As this is an Escalade, however, we'd imagine everything will be supersized. GM will be ushering these trucks out soon, with the independent rear suspension being the big story. Besides the improved ride and handling, it should result in substantially improved cargo space and third-row legroom. Doing so would at least close the gap with the biggest Lincoln and Ford SUVs.