Awesome Project-In-Waiting
Do you have some strong urges towards a major ICE vehicle? Would you like a canvas to paint upon that is already hanging in a gallery, with an audience waiting to see what’ll be painted upon it? You got big balls?
Well, if all the above makes you growl, then prick up your ears, then Howl ‘Hell YEAH!’ then you may be the Bass Dog this great big kennel needs. Spotted on the Pistonheads website, I have boot-ripped it offa their site and with the owner, Paul Richardson’s consent, reproduce it here
(This van comes complete with serious feature interest from my fat self, by the way.)
Chevy Astro 5.7tpi V8 Project (1985)
Custom Project: 90% finished; 1985 with 1995 front. Short wheel base, Camaro V8 5.7tpi engine and axle; £1k spent on engine electrics and chrome recently. 2in drop spindles (not yet fitted); brand New Dakota Digital Display; TVR switches and vents including turn TVR Tuscan door pop; Extremely Professional Airbrushing by Mechspray on the bonnet of a Robot lady (can easily be painted over if you wanted); Full Steel frame welded internally and fully boarded and blended in; Loads of Sound Deadening; Full Pro Custom Dashboard, console and doors; Black Leather Recaros; Boyd wheels, Issota steering wheel, LED rear lights and Halo front, New Clifford 650 alarm; Electric Windows and Central Locking.
More pics on photobucket please email [email protected] for link.
The van starts and drives fine, it is currently SORN. It needs somebody with some custom building skills to finish.
I can tell you everything you need to know to finish it.
I brought this vehicle with my boss in Florida in 1994 it was built into a large Audio Demo vehicle for our company and was the loudest van in England being the Earthquake Van it was featured in many magazines and even TV.
Some History and Pics here.
link
The interior has been totally stripped out and re-built using wood and fibreglass very professionally and is ready for trim. All gaps have been adjusted for materials and is ready for the trimmers.
This van has loads of great points but a couple of bad.
There is a slow oil leak from the rear of the gear box were it joins the driveshaft; only minor and shows itself when not driven for a while.
Although the paint is pretty good it has lifted in a couple of places and has a minor mark here or there. There is NO RUST as it has been garaged or covered and rarely driven for about 15 years, so low mileage for the year I guess.
Mileage is unclear due to its new engine and modifications but mechanically this is a very sound vehicle.
It’s an ideal project for a HOT ROD Van or Maybe for another Huge AUDIO build. The Engine holds x2 270amp alternators and a New Optima battery in an alloy case with Chrome Digital Display Terminals.
The Private Number plate can stay on it which is worth a lot on its own- A11 SUB. Please no time wasters, this is sold as a Project and is not for somebody that wants to get in and drive.
As much as I love this van and want to see it finished, I just don’t have the time or money and would love to see it go to a good home, to somebody that will finish this to a level it deserves. The Van will start first turn of the key and drive fine but it will need to be trailered away, due to no Tax or MOT.
It would not take much to put her through an MOT but ideally get it trimmed first. I can arrange trimming. (not within price).
£5,800.00
I have plenty of time to talk to genuine interested enquiries.
Paul
Above: The massive alternator install on the huge Chevy lump LPG conversion anyone?
So there you have itthis is like that find-in-a-pensioner’s-garage! The incredibly rare, Fabulous Find. You don’t see stuff like this happen very often, last time it was a hi-SPL ready van of escort size belonging to a retired SPL star named Rob Hammond. This time, it’s a Behemoth. Yes, it’ll need a bit of attention, but very little and it is built like a tank, with a full Paul Richardson set of custom woody curves builded into it already, which is worth thousands in man-hours alone. Who ever picks this up, gets the half kilo-ampere alternator install as well and that too, is alone, a grand or two’s worth. This is a bonkers bargain and needs a loving home, or a pocket to simply buy it, then set Paul on it as proper employment rather than own-project. You’d still get love in the build!