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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | With some recent posts reminiscing about guitars in the back of a VW bus, it begs an important follow-up question . . . what is your most memorable experience with guitars in a van?
Mine involved this vehicle which was my sole mode of transport between 1971 and 1974. It is a 1953 Divco milk truck I bought for $100. The engine was a low RPM unit from an oil derrick that I swear incorporated a non-pressurized total loss oil lubrication system. With its stock 6.60:1 gearing, top speed was about 30 mph until I stuck in a 3/4 ton rear axle. After that, I had the fastest Divco in California at, maybe, 60 downhill. I drove it to Oregon from LA on one most memorable trip, camping out along the way, guitars at the campfire, one very enjoyable day at the lake with a Klamath Falls local who loved the way I honked out Tommy James’ “My Baby Does the Hanky Panky,” being booted out of two National Parks and a military base, having to extract it only once out of an impound lot . . . such a blast. If only I could have kept front tires on it. I lost four on that trip. It was painted a bright blue, a holdover from its days as a retail delivery vehicle from the dairy where I purchased it.
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Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | that is way kewl! there should be a modern day sitcom about a band trying to make it big and this being their vehicle. love it! |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | That is so cool.
This is the best I can do:
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | 1969 VW Kombi. One German Shepherd. One hot mama. Tak F400S. Lawnchairs. Coleman stove and lantern. Pasta machine and semolina. Supply of California wine. Supply of California produce. Sunglasses. San Francisco to San Diego on Highway 1 over one week. Pure bliss. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Woody, I'd love to own the one on the left, but the one on the right better fits the image of a party truck. In the late 50's, Helms Bakery drove the L.A. neighborhoods selling bread and donuts out of Ford panel trucks of a similar vintage as yours on the left (a '56?). I always thought those panel trucks would have made great roadie vehicles for the band. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I'd love to own either one... again. Had to part with those when I was in between Wives. The 55 had a 327/350 auto and a Chrysler front suspension, tilt hood, etc. The 48 was a straight six and 4 speed non-synchro. Double clutch'in can be habit forming... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | 71 VW Camper bought in August of 77, just after buying the Matrix. It was our honeymoon vehicle. Played "My Sweet Lady" to her on our wedding night, one of the few nights we spent in a hotel. The rest of the trip to Idaho from Iowa was in the van.
My brother had replaced the shocks on the van as his wedding present and didn't get one of them on right. It squeaked every time it bounced, which was quite a bit every night.
Sorry, I don't remember playing the Ovation after the first night. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Mine was blue
and by 1979 it had ripened into a car that said "Let's Party"
I'll never forget the day, driving my sister back from guitar lessons, with grandma in the front right hand seat. AT the top of the hill telling granny to buckle up, my sister in the back suddenly looking worried, and then launching the car down the road to where the dip was in front of the railroad tracks. The car being launched airbourne like evil kneval and grandma suspended in her seatbelt like an astronaut, screaming as we hovered over the railroad tracks. Ah those were the days. Good thing there was no youtube. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | My first car. 1967 oldsmobile delmont 88 425 yes you read that right 425 with a 4 barrel and the light weight this baby moved. Sure it had the grocery getter 4 door granny option but that was great for night spent sleeping off a drunk in parking lots etc. I always kept a blanket back there. the heater never worked I kept a bottle of southern comfort in the glove compartment to keep warm. I had one snow tire on the back and one regular tread. I just could not afford any other tires. the car cost me $250 and I spent 200 of that to get it painted metallic green. It looked great sometime I will look in my mom's basement and find a pic of me and the car. I know there are many. drove the car from 74 till 81 in 81 the second rear went out and well we decided to retire the car and bought a pick up truek.
the trunk in this beast was great. my Kustom 3- 12 cab fit directly in the trunk with room for 2 sets of hands on each side. it was not uncommon for me to take out the back seat and load that second with other gear. I kept the monkey fur rug on the back deck but that got lost in time. ..
the bumper sticker I had were "Powered by JBL" "don't laugh your daughter may be in this car" and "big cats are DANGEROUS but a little pu**y never hurt anyone" |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Mine was a Karman Ghia...
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho | Not really a party, but I played guitar all the way across the Rockys in a 1978 Ford Fiesta. I was supposed to play the Wedding Song at my wife's sister's wedding in Kansas. Of course, I hadn't practiced enough, so my wife drove while I played it over and over on the tape player and learned it note by note, like I learned everything by then.
With our junk in the back, there was barely room for me and the guitar in the front and I had to be careful not to jab my wife in the head. |
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Best guitar party transport?