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elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
10/30/18 1:54 p.m.

Looks like I am giving up on living in a van down by the river....

 1995 Chevy G30 (aka Vandre the Giant) with ~96k miles (Slowly going up)

Sort of a funny story, I bought it from an Insurance Auction in Little Rock and had it shipped up to Michigan in 2016.  Turns out someone stole two vans from Head Start Little Rock (program for underprivileged kids), and this was one of them.  Must be  that during the process of stealing it, they smashed through a chainlink fence as evidence by some scratches on the windshield and fender.  The theives smashed the steering column and got to the linkage so it will come with its official starting pliers.  It does have keys that lock the doors, but they are not needed to start the car.  I never fixed it because I liked the story.  

Beyond that, its pretty rock solid.  There is very little rust (some surface rust on the rain gutter), but none underneath.  In my ownership It has gotten new shocks, starter, radiator, water pump, thermostat, coolant lines, added a hitch and had the windows tinted.  I never drove it in the winter, so it has yet to see salt.  

Tows E30's like they arent even there, and makes quick work of landscaping.  

Thought I'd start at 4200?   Located in West Michigan.   

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
10/30/18 7:03 p.m.

Ohh, it the carpet layer length!

What, no pic of the official pliers?

logdog
logdog GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
10/30/18 8:23 p.m.

So beautiful!

What engine does it have?

accordionfolder
accordionfolder Dork
10/31/18 7:18 a.m.

Interior pictures? Does it have seats back there? Cool van!

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
10/31/18 8:15 a.m.
accordionfolder said:

Interior pictures? Does it have seats back there? Cool van!

I will have to take some to add.  It will come with two bench seats for the back.  Thanks!  

logdog said:

So beautiful!

What engine does it have?

Its got the 5.7 V8 

John Welsh said:

Ohh, it the carpet layer length!

What, no pic of the official pliers?

It is quite long.  I fit a three seat couch, chair and ottoman in the back with no problem once.   

Ill have to take a pic.  Its actually a small channel locks for added versatility.   

ProDarwin
ProDarwin PowerDork
10/31/18 8:28 a.m.

My family had one of these in the 90s/early 2000s.  G20 version, but otherwise identical except it had the fancier grill/lights.  That thing was *awesome*.  My parents got the captains chair, my sister and I each had a row to ourselves, and behind us was all of the stuff.  Like an entire empty minivan's worth of space behind the 3rd row.

The G30 gets the 4L80 vs. the 4L60 in the G20, right?

 

 

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
10/31/18 9:21 a.m.
ProDarwin said:

My family had one of these in the 90s/early 2000s.  G20 version, but otherwise identical except it had the fancier grill/lights.  That thing was *awesome*.  My parents got the captains chair, my sister and I each had a row to ourselves, and behind us was all of the stuff.  Like an entire empty minivan's worth of space behind the 3rd row.

The G30 gets the 4L80 vs. the 4L60 in the G20, right?

 

 

Yes I believe its the 4L80 but I will confirm.   

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
11/5/18 9:54 a.m.

Added pics, lowered price! $3700

 "Key" in action:

 

Hope you like blue interiors: 

Will come with an extra bench not pictured.  

 

Forgot to mention I also added trans temp gauge and trailer brake module.  

 

 

Dave M
Dave M New Reader
11/5/18 6:17 p.m.

So I have been lurking on this thread. I will be in the market for a cheap tow vehicle for next season. A van would be +++ because vans rule, and I can also throw the family in there for vacation, and I can sleep in the back at the parking lot.

Only issue is that I'm in DC, so Michigan is a fly-and-drive. And, I will be street parking so the vice grips keys will get the van stolen.

 

Mazdax605
Mazdax605 UberDork
11/6/18 6:15 a.m.

I'm assuming by 1996 these engines had fuel injection, correct? That is one long van!! I like it.

spitfirebill
spitfirebill MegaDork
11/6/18 7:29 a.m.

If you ever get stopped by an LEO, I hope you have paperwork.   

Dave M
Dave M New Reader
11/6/18 3:43 p.m.

So are you willing to fix the steering column before selling it?

trigun7469
trigun7469 SuperDork
11/7/18 12:28 p.m.

trades?

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
11/8/18 11:57 a.m.
Dave M said:

So are you willing to fix the steering column before selling it?

I was hoping to sell as is (lots of projects) but could negotiate something with the seller if needed.   

 

spitfirebill said:

If you ever get stopped by an LEO, I hope you have paperwork.   

Lol I do, but would be interesting! 

Mazdax605 said:

I'm assuming by 1996 these engines had fuel injection, correct? That is one long van!! I like it.

Turns out its a 95, had it mixed up with our 96 F350.  It does have fuel injection though! 

 

trigun7469 said:

trades?

Maybe, what is it?  I have a line on a 73 Wagoneer that my wife is more excited about as a replacement.  If its something similar to that I could be interested.   

Dave M
Dave M New Reader
11/8/18 1:38 p.m.

In reply to elhartspeedshop :

I need my tow vehicle in the next four months, so no hurry on my end. Let me know if you can't sell it as-is and we can talk about fixing the steering column.

keithj
keithj Reader
11/9/18 8:15 a.m.

Sent you a message,  just ignore the trade business.  Interested.  Just need to thin the herd.  

trigun7469
trigun7469 SuperDork
11/9/18 2:50 p.m.
elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
11/12/18 9:14 a.m.
trigun7469 said:

In reply to elhartspeedshop :

https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/open-classifieds/fs-ex-speed-world-challenge-ford-focus/144611/page1/

Cool car, but probably wouldn't tow my boat very well.  

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
11/26/18 12:59 p.m.

Open to offers.  If the van is gone, the Wagoneer could be my ride home from a ski trip.       

Cotton
Cotton PowerDork
11/27/18 9:24 p.m.

Cool van!  Looks nice and clean as well.

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
12/10/18 9:46 a.m.
Cotton said:

Cool van!  Looks nice and clean as well.

Thanks!

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
1/2/19 9:38 a.m.

Bump

elhartspeedshop
elhartspeedshop New Reader
2/4/19 4:31 p.m.

Open to offers! 

spitfirebill
spitfirebill MegaDork
2/4/19 7:51 p.m.

If the daughter keeps squirting out babies I may need this.  

Beave2007
Beave2007
2/8/19 12:21 p.m.

Is this still available?

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