I picked this up in 1995 and was told it was a factory mod but I have never been able to find anything about it...


Do you reconize this 1963 Ford Falcon Camper Van???

 

They made a camper van, but not like that. It had a dome that you would crank up to give more head room in the van. I seen the odd one for sale on Ebay once in a while. I have some pics saved in a file here on my comp. Just need to find them.

 

My dad bought a falcon window van like that (base model, not camper) in 70. Its what I learned to drive a 3 on the tree in. Haven't seen one since. Thanx for the memory.

 

:lol:

When I got this van I had it towed up to my grand fathers house in western mass and I was trying to figure out how to drive it and all it had was a really low gear and reverse and I thought it was broke. My gramps laughed and had to show me how to drive a "three on the tree"

I love that van!

 

I found the pics of how they made a camper from Ford with tose vans. What you have is a well deisgned home or custom shop one. Like the luggage rack up front.
Ford were like the VW's vans with a rectangle raised roof. Once you got to where you were going to camp. You open the top and you get a dome look for head room. These domes also came with small windows for venting.

 

AFAIK, all the 1961/67 Econoline campers were aftermarket conversions.

There is no mention in the parts or accessory catalogs for any kind of roof mounted unit.

 

So all these vans that I have seen online where they say Ford original camper van. Ford never did make one.
Did they maybe sell a kit for people to install these camper conversions on the vans.
I have 3 pics of 2 vans with the same tops. I have seen these vans and others on Ebay for sale claiming they were made by Ford. So I'm after the info is did Ford sell a kit or have a company in the wigs to make these conversions for orders?

 

There's no camper related parts listed in the 1957/63 or 1964/72 Ford Truck Parts Catalogs for 1961/67 Econolines.

I have the "parts counter" accessory catalogs for 1965, 1966 and 1967 Ford Passenger Cars, Trucks, Bronco's and Econolines, that the dealers used.

These catalogs show all the available accessories that were listed in the accessory brochures that were passed out to customers, plus stuff y'all prolly never heard of.

There are no camper related accessories listed for Econolines.

Back in the 1960's, I was a back (shop) parts counterman at Ralph Williams Ford in Encino, CA...at that time the largest selling Ford dealer in the world.

Williams had some of these Econoline Campers (similar to VW's Kombi-Camper) on the lot.

As I recall, these were converted by Roll Along who also made a version for Dodge Dealers.

btw: Ever seen or heard of any a these accessories? C5UZ18455B .. Auxillary Hot Water Heater, used for rear seat passengers.

Or: C1UZ15313A .. L/Spotlight Kit / Or: C1UZ13A713A .. Auxillary Rear Dome Lamp Kit.

How about this puppy? C4UZ2544016B .. Driver Compartment Curtain - "Heavy gauge vinyl cloth with durable window designed to make the heater or (dealer installed A/C) more effective by retaining the heat or cool air in the drivers compartment."

 

I like the curtain Idea. When I was driving my 64 truck. It sure was not warm in the winter. But it can also be blamed on that someone removed the insulation from the front cowl.
I like to find someone who makes those insulated panels to replace the one missing. Most wreck vans I find in wreckers or parts vehicles. these are all tore or dissinegrating. You see where people rest the toes of their feet against them.
I have seen rear auxilary dome lights and spot lights.But not a Hot water heater. My manuals show a rear gas fired auxilary heATER FOR WARMING the rear half of vans.

 

66gpw,

Go to quietride.com they are now reproducing the nose insulated panels and other pieces for the interior of 61-67 econoline. The nose pieces are different for the early and late. One is for the 61-64 floor heater and one for the 65-67. There might be one for the plastic and metal vent one.

 

C5UZ8900290EFA .. Panel, Body Trim Front-Right Side - Black (Ford's convoluted description for the firewall pads).

C5UZ8900291CFA .. Panel, Body Trim Front-Left Side - Black

No Ford Dealer or obsolete part vendor has any.

 

Number That is what I been finding out. I been saving all these peices I find in wreck vans and trucks. They may not be complete. But I hope to gather enough and make a pattern to get one made someday.
Briank I will have to check that site out. Maybe what they have will work.

 

I have the owners manual for my 1963 van. It shows pictures of two camper kits that could be purchased from the dealer, they consisted of cabinetts and convertable dinette to make bed.

 

In 1966 the factory did offer a camper van conversion as a dealer option.

These were a one year only offer on the extended van, they were produced with an aluminum pop-top made by Freeway Traveler.....I'll attach pics of the one I still own.

I did own two of them at the same time, one had a standard suspension and the other a heavy duty......I still own the heavy duty one.

There have been dealer brochures I've seen with the original equipment they had, both of the ones I've had were with a new bed installed because the original fold down table into bed was too small.

All the original cabinets and sink, stove and icebox were still there along with the overhead hammock.

I love the one I still have, been twice around the country in it. When I'm at swap meets I could have sold it a hundred times over.

I"ve owned about twelve Econolines 61-67 and two of the Econo pickups and I had no idea the factory offered such a thing through the dealers until I stumbled across both of the ones I've had in the same weekend, at the exact same price......back in 1994 I think.....go figure

 

That top I am almost 99% sure is aftermarket. Look at the "hardware" securing the top.

Had Ford done this it would have been a lot neater. Those are either pop rivets or nuts/bolts around the base perimeter of the camper top and not very neat.

I have owned a '65 Econo for 37 years and never seen a factory-installed top like that.

VW had a crank-up type camper conversion years ago. Sold a lot of units. Unfortunately they rolled over quite easily. Had a friend killed in one.