If you, like me, have been a fan of Speedhunters for years, you know that few other automotive publications can match the variety of content on this website.
However, I’ve always felt like we’ve been a little light on some niche genres; mainly those based on North American vehicles and North American styling
The last time of culture (not dajibans or to the decor), the radar beeped way back in 2012 via Mike Garrett. Amazingly, that post contains over 200 non-spam comments, the most recent from 2018. A generally positive comment like this makes me believe there are plenty of readers like me, too young to have been around during Vanning’s heyday in the 1970s and ’80s, but still find it fascinating.
Canada’s largest and longest running van and truck show is Vanfest. I’m less than three hours from the Aylmer, Ontario location, so earlier this month I decided to make the drive for the 2024 event.
Hosted at Springwater Conservation Area, Vanfest has been welcoming Canadian van enthusiasts for 27 years.
That’s the equivalent of an event that started today and ran until 2051. Its longevity is a testament to the venue and all the people behind Vanfest.
The protected area offers plenty of space for the show and camping, plus a bypass that visitors can navigate at their leisure.
Conservationists
Vanfest is above all an ode to the classic American van; six- or eight-cylinder, rear-wheel drive, with sliding doors or barn doors. Vehicles popular for work and family use. When vans became viable modification platforms, manufacturers got on board and released special editions like the Dodge Street Van.
Of course, aftermarket manufacturers also offered almost everything available to hot rod and muscle car owners: flares, side pipes and body kits. When they weren’t offered directly, van owners figured out how to make other parts work.
More ambitious owners also made their vans faster than how they rolled off the production line. All these trends continue today.
I wouldn’t call this LS-swapped and supercharged Astro a sleeper because of the ET Street tires on the rear. Looking under the hood, I think it’s a no-brainer.
The rise of vans is also likely attributed to the fact that, unlike many muscle cars, passengers could fit comfortably inside the car. Building on this, owners soon began adapting their interior to the exterior.
Things in this area eventually evolved into mobile living spaces that rivaled the wildest Pimp my ride interior renovations. Chandeliers, aquariums and fireplaces – I’ve seen vans equipped with all of the above and more.
Vans also provided plenty of room for airbrush artists. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more inviting canvas for a vehicle to paint than the side of a van.
As an outsider, the murals and themes are one of the most endearing parts of the culture.
I can barely pick a single solid color to paint my bike, let alone a name and color scheme for an entire vehicle, 1:1 or otherwise.
Today, van owners must not only be interior and exterior designers, but also conservationists. For example, the last GM G-Series van – a popular platform among the van community – was produced 28 years ago.
This means that there are even relatively ‘new’ vans such as Safari available youngest, Now 20 years old.
I’m sure every owner attending Vanfest has spent at least a few hours at a swap meet or junkyard looking for the right part to keep their machine rolling.
Come one, come all
Vanfest is not exclusively for vanners. The event also opens its doors to air-cooled buses, classic trucks and a personal favorite genre of mine: mini trucks.
But since I’ll be at another event later this year that’s even more mini-truck focused, from now on we’ll focus on vehicles that I would only see at Vanfest.
The painter’s touch
This is clearly not a van, but there is no denying that it is done in a style that suits Vanfest. Known as Sinister, This truck was airbrushed by renowned artist Ken Kay.
Vanfest 27 was the truck’s first appearance in over twenty years.
It definitely showed some wear, but all things considered it’s holding up pretty well. I love a good comeback story, don’t you?
There are no Ivan Benic’s missing Cosmic cruiser. This Chevy-based van was a popular showpiece in the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in magazines worldwide long before the Internet. A few years ago it underwent a 2000-era refresh, and it’s been on its way ever since.
Expandable to an incredible length of 33 feet, the Chevy is a rolling example of Ivan’s airbrushing capabilities. Ivan also carried out the body modifications himself, including the unique front of the van.
Although it’s powered by a 400-horsepower V8, Ivan has said it’s not that bad on gas once it gets up to speed. Both front wheels can turn, making it as agile as a vehicle of this size could be.
Soldered and tangled – a heavily chopped and modified G-series van – is the last vehicle I want to spotlight.
Like many of the other vehicles on the Vanfest 27, it has low-offset wheels, white-letter tires and a leaning stance.
The roof has been extensively cut and instead of welding the metal back together, everything has been brazed – a metal joining process not often used for steel panels.
Instead of covering all the soldering with filler and paint, it is left raw and with a clear coating.
Vanning has always been a unique subset of car culture and, honestly, it was refreshing to see builds where creativity was at the forefront and everyone else’s opinions were damned.
Car events should be fun, and that’s exactly what Vanfest 27 was.
Dave Thomas
Instagram: attitude everythingcom
Floor of the cutting room
