A fun look back at American west coast custom vans

As it's throwback Thursday, I found the perfect throwback article on Hot Rod magazines website featuring some really fun retro West Coast USA vans. I found it interesting that at one point in the early 70's, Hot Rod readers sent loads of hate mail complaining that featuring vans in the mag and on the cover ruined the magazine and its editors at the time were accused of having "ruined hot rodding by promoting vans." Crazy, huh? But the article also mentions, "that it was HOT ROD that inspired the first Van Nationals, an annual event that celebrates its 38th renewal this July in Ohio (see Vannin.com)."  So, hot rod enthusiasts in the America either love or hate the humble van, but the pics from the article are a fun look at custom vans spanning over 40 years. Take a look at the vans of the past by clicking on the link below.

The article titled Custom Vans - West Coast Vans 40 Years Later, written by Dave Wallace, can be found on Hot Rod magazines website here.