Customs What's Your Odd Rod for the Beach?

Mine .

 

Delivery Photo from the 80's. at Ocean City Md. My wife, and I would camp at the beach. In either in our home made camper, or we would just sleep in the back of our 34 delivery. We both were a little smaller back then. lol We still take the delivery to the beach. But now we stay at a motel.

 

Giddy-up and go

Ben

 

Hello,

We were right in the middle of our surf journeys all up and down the coast and especially, down into Baja California. The locations on the Baja coasts were close by, but yet limited as the hassle of coming to a foreign county and leaving, had its own problems for teenagers. Arriving during the early morning 2-4 am time period usually had the border check points free and clear.

But, as we all went down there sight unknown, we did run into some inclement weather for a day or two, causing the vans to get stuck in small dirt ruts and slippery roads. Two wheel drive was good, but not so good.

Then my brother decided that a 4x4 was the answer to “all things getting stuck.” The 4x4 would have the ability to not worry about small streams crossing a dirt path to the ocean, getting stuck in high tide flat parking spots near the surf, and finally, being able to pull itself out of any rut or drainage channel by the side of the road. So, he bought a funky Jeep FC pickup truck with a homemade aluminum shell on the back.


The Jeep FC was unique to say the least. No one had one, as other 4x4 vehicles were definitely more popular.

So, for the next several months we trudged along with the hopes for inclement weather to try out the cool 4x4 drive train. Speed was not in the cards for this under powered 4x4 truck.

It wasn’t the construction of the Jeep FC, as it was built like a brick. But, it was the noise, the slow power on the grades and just an overall “not so fast” attitude during the flat land highway road trips. There was a time when we could have walked faster than driving this 4x4 Jeep. It was not the most enjoyable drives that we had taken, ever. Plus, it was the turtle speeds, we experienced, that drove us a little batty. At least, when going by a surf spot, we could actually see the whole beach at the speed we were going.
Https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-shots-from-days-gone-by.428585/page-4907#post-12314515


https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/vintage-surf-transportation.326942/page-5#post-12160582

Jnaki

But, in order to make it seem like it can go faster, we talked about painting some fast-looking scallops on the sides. At least it would look fast, despite the lack or real power or speed. We all laughed at the idea. We even got kicked off of the 101 Freeway Conejo Pass climb before it got too steep. With 4 people and 4 longboards, the overall weight was just not enough to make it up the steep grade in any gear. When we got stopped, it was in 1st gear, on the 101 Freeway!

The local CHP gave us a warning that there is a minimum speed as well as a maximum speed. Minimum being not causing traffic to back up in the slow lane. Well, it was 10-15 mph at the least steep grade and in first gear. So, the flat, coastal highway was our only means of travel.

Flames come from all different kinds of sources… some even starting from scallops...

With everything my brother put on the Jeep, it was the worst handling/driving, Jeep for us. One small bump and the steering shimmied like no other. (We had to stop to make it not shake. even on the neighborhood streets.)

When we sold the Long Beach house 1998, the pristine, green Jeep FC tailgate was still in the rafters of the big garage. Along with the chromed, scavenger pipes in the Rumpus Room/backyard garage rafters, there were two prized possessions left for the new owners.

 

Cut the top off a '39 Plymouth with hack saws

 

My 34 Sedan Delivery

 

Hello,

Well, I was off by 5 years, but at least this El Camino and others of the same lineage, had advantages and disadvantages every year. The longboards were still ruling kings/queens of the surf world. Everyone rode one as they were the only design being sold at the local surf shops on the West Coast. For that matter, anywhere, even the East Coast.


Those longboards just needed somewhere to put them while going to the beach. The quick insert and removal made the El Camino, the perfect choice for a lot of people. Sure the pickup trucks of the same era had the open bed for the same action, but it was not a car comfort, drivability and size access that the El Camino served to everyone.

The open bed had advantages if anyone was just going to and from the surf spots. If any stops were planned or just happen to fill the road trips, the security of those long boards was in doubt when out of sight, being inside of a restaurant, store or shop. There were straps to encircle the front and rear fin areas, making it almost impossible to steal. But, it was not fool proof.

Even those bed circular rings helped secure the exposed long boards, but again, it was not the most secure of places for anything in the back bed areas. Camping equipment, suitcases, coolers, etc, were all exposed to the elements and people walking by the El Camino.

Jnaki

In the 1966-68 era, the new, latest shorter boards made it easier to put the surfboard flat on the empty El Camino bed surface while applying any sort of board locks. But, still the exposure of the boards was always in the back of everyone’s minds. It was just something that happened and one had to live with it or not leave it “out of sight” for any period of time.

For us, the red 1965 El Camino was our answer for an all around good car for just about any chore. We put the said surfboards in the back, suitcases when traveling and of course, furniture for our tiny apartment. When it was time, not only did it hold two Greeves Desert Racing Motorcycles, but, our Harley Sportster fit nicely in the back when it needed some factory service and repairs.

Overall, the 1965 version had it in style over the earlier models. But the later versions with options of the 396 and 4 speeds extras that could now be ordered with the El Camino came into play. Our 327 lasted 125k miles with little to no service or repairs other than new tires. Even the air shocks did not blow out with overloading, due to the addition of a custom air gauge behind the seats in the package tray. YRMV

 

Hello,

We always thought that the Econoline van was far superior to the popular So Cal VW vans used for camping and surfing explorations. The idea was despite being in Baja, Mexico in the far reaches of the explorations, everyone or mechanic has worked on a vw motor and with 4 bolts holding one in place, fairly easy to work on. But, the compact-ness, the thin metal on the front and a rolling box against the oncoming wind did wonders for streamlining during the long roadtrips up and down the west coast for the surf adventures.

The suspension of the VW vans was ok, but it was not for bumpy dirt road explorations. The power or lack of power always made the uphill climbs on the steep coastal hills laughable. Fully loaded for a week of camping and exploration made the already odd, rolling van a target against the wind, but plodding along, it always made the destination on time and arrived safely for us.

Now, when the Econoline vans came on the scene, it was far superior to the popular vw vans. But, for the usual cash strapped surfer, the vw vans had an advantage. The Econoline vans were shiny and new, but also came with a larger cost that was out of reach of most surfers at the time.

The extra power said it all. No hill or long distance cruising was going to hold it back from getting to the destination. Power for highway speeds, the better suspension for a more comfortable ride, the free flowing space from the back doors to the bucket seats was far superior to the big shelf of the vw motor box area.

Now, the space behind the seats and motor was now extra room for all sorts of uses, from desert racing motorcycles pushed into the back cave or a longer built in sleeping area and lounging in the shade dining/sleeping area could be designed and installed. No big motor box to hold back or modify space usage.

One of the best things was the superior ride qualities for daily, local surf spots and certainly on loger distance road trips. It was actually comfortable to sit in the newer bucket seats. The suspension was also far superior and that made the comfort pretty good for our surf adventures.

Jnaki

Our friend got the idea of being able to afford having a new Econoline van because he went one step beyond of just using the van for surf trips and overnight camping locations.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/toilet-paper-oil-filters-literally.16699/page-5#:~:text=The%20installation%20on,sold%20the%20products


The installation on the display Econoline Van that my friend owned was pretty nice. He was all setup for his display during the surf session breaks, lunch, afternoon blow outs, etc. Whenever we all got out of the water at Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, San Clemente, Oceanside Harbor and Piers, he immediately set up his display of Frantz Oil Filter stuff. His motor compartment was opened and his engine compartment was immaculate. This guy knew how to showcase his stuff.

In talking with him back in those days, it was a job he could have to go all over So Cal and make money surfing/selling his Frantz products. Actually, the job was perfect for his lifestyle, but he was on commission, not a weekly salary, so he got paid as soon as he sold the products.

Note:

Our friend’s new Ford Econoline was the forerunner in the next step of surf vans. It served its purpose on those long surf trips to the off the beaten paths along the empty beaches. But, the odd thing was… if there was an “emergency of sorts,” well, we all knew who to go for that problem… YRMV

On the far left was one of the only new Econoline vans amongst the vast array of custom VW vans of all kinds, from 21 window vans, standard window vans and utility delivery solid side vans. “One of these Kids is Doing His Own Thing…” Thoughts from Sesame Street, pops into mind then and now. Several of the South of the Border surf exploration trips that happened during the week long Thanksgiving Vacation season.

 

Have new front wheels on it now, but none at the beach.

 

Those wheels look killer!