Throwback: Ford F-150 Transformed Into Grumman Olson Van
Perhaps the easiest way to modernize an old boxy van is to put some modern bones in it.
More Than Meets the Eye
When you look at the exterior of this boxy, cool 1966 Grumman Olson van, it just looks like a nicely preserved classic with a few modern exterior updates. But there's so much more to the story than that, and that fact becomes quite evident the closer you look at it. And we were certainly keen to do that once we spotted the modified masterpiece, built by Likuid Kreations out of Chino Valley, Arizona, on their Facebook page.
Photos: Likuid Kreations
All F-150
Underneath that classic skin, this Grumman Olson van is nothing more than a 2017 Ford F-150. And we mean that in a literal way. The chassis, drivetrain, and even dashboard were pulled from the F-Series pickup and placed in this old van. And the result is a classic vehicle that's now just as capable and reliable as a new one.
Natural Fit
Amazingly enough, this modern kit looks right at home in the box van. Almost as if it belongs there in the first place. We would have obviously never guessed this would work, but we imagine that the creative folks at Likuid probably did a lot of measuring beforehand, at the very least.
It's a Mystery
As far as how they put all of these pieces together, well, there just aren't any details present on Likuid's social media. So no telling if they had to shorten/lengthen anything, or create custom parts to make the conversion work. Perhaps it was a straight bolt-on type job, who knows? All we know is it apparently works.
Massive Overlander
Likuid did give us a few details about this awesome rig that just makes us hungry for more. Apparently, the whole thing started when a customer came into the shop seeking a large Overlanding rig with plenty of space for gear. And what has more space than an old Grumman Olson delivery van? This also explains why the van is equipped with goodies like custom bumpers, a Smittybilt winch, and an ARB compressor.
Notable Additions
Other notable aftermarket additions include a full Fox 2.5 suspension to handle the rugged terrain, a Mishimoto radiator to keep the engine cool, a Superchips programmer for extra juice, an Alpine sound stereo with back up camera (because you probably can't see squat from the driver's seat), custom wheels and tires, and Maxxair roof vents.
