Does anybody know a good place to find a more functional doghouse console than the one that I have. I need, say, one with cupholders and a good storage place. The one I have now sucks.

 

"1968 - Present" covers a lot of ground.

Suggest that you provide some clue as to what you "have" now.

 

Looking at his public profile, it appears the year is 1995.

 

Yes, I have a 1995, and the console is just a cassette tape rack essentially. It has limited storage space, and the van is hurting for cupholders in the first place. I just need to find a more functional console, and I've been unsuccessful up to this point. Any suggesstions (besides ebay/craigslist)?

 

I like the 1992 through 1994 factory consoles with the factory optional cup holder storage compartment (its flimsy I know, but if your careful with it it works.) My 06 console is ok, but still not great. The best one I had, I had drawn up and then custom made at the local cabinet shop. Had it mounted such that it would come out with the removal of two lynch pins. Fabed it up long enough that placing a cup in one of its four cup holders could be done with out leaning or streching forward, large storage underneath, change compartment and raised lips to keep objects from sliding off. Cabinet shop charged $200.00 back in 06 to make it.

 

A quick check of FORD's sales literature reveals that loaded Club Wagons had the same dog house console from '92-'96. I believe this useful console could be fit on any '92-'96 E-Series cargo dog house w/o much trouble. IMO its less "flimsy" than it looks, mine has survived an awful lot of abuse, w/only minor repair & still looks/works fine after 16 years & 230K. A 'new' dash, dog house & console appeared for '97.

I'd have presumed 95MarkIII would be familiar w/this common FORD optional console. Looking at his ID I presumed he had a conversion van & would likely have an aftermarket console of unfamiliar design. Conversions usually come from FORD pretty basic. Some '92-'96 cargo vans merely had a minimal, wedged shaped, trash bin slapped onto the dog house.

Note these XLT/Chateau consoles were color matched, making it a bit more of a challenge to salvage. I wouldn't waste my time asking my parts guy for a new 1 from FORD. IF acquiring this stock item is appealing, I'd look in local wrecking yards, You-Pull type recyclers & use classifieds.