The 1970s was a decade filled with self-expression, breaking with tradition, experimentation with fashion, inventive color and style, and a drive to be unique. That determination was apparent in the automotive industry with colorful cars and the evolution of custom vans -- shaggin’ wagons.

While high-impact color muscle cars rolled down America’s highways, perhaps the vehicle that best illustrated America’s go-for-the-good-times lifestyle was the custom van. The muscle-car apartments on wheels were a canvas for creativity that cruised down Van Nuys Blvd. in California, Woodward Avenue in Detroit, and on various strips across all regions of America.

Several auto manufacturers built already “customized” vans to take advantage of the market, and many after-market companies served the movement by fully customizing the blank van canvas to the buyer’s own vision.

These were full-sized vans, as the minivan didn’t really hit the scene until 1984. They were not today’s soccer-mom transporters. They often had beds inside, lots of speakers, shag carpet, and personalized cosmetics and features. While their popularity waned by the end of the decade, the wild ’70s saw a genre in which the wilder was the better, and each unique interior take or creative exterior paintjob was in competition with the next customization to be king of the road.

A tricked out van could include shiny chrome, plush carpeting, extreme sound systems, amped-up horsepower and museum-worthy artwork that was hip, trendy, professional and exclusive to each van. On a single cruise strip you could see vans sporting robust color, flames, stripes, lettering, and images of monsters, dungeons and dragons, skulls, mermaids, princesses, fairies, pirates, space scenes, Western scenes, animals, giant insects, naked or nearly naked objects of desire, airbrushing, brushed-on portraits and so much more. Each van was a unique creation.

The 1970s van culture was a creative moment in time, but it still plays today, and Carlisle Events will pay homage to the era at the Carlisle Truck Nationals August 6 - 8, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The display, called Vanarama IX welcomes vanners and all vans and enthusiasts. As part of the show, Carlisle Events has invited Kurk Collis of customvan.com to head the event, and the show features several of his works of automotive art as well as several from automotive artist Ed Beard Jr., who has 40 years of illustration and custom automotive airbrush work in his portfolio.

Collis builds his own parts and concentrates on interiors. He began by learning every aspect of the van conversion plant he worked for in the 1970s, working his way up to design engineer until forming his own custom van shop -- RV Doctor -- in Baltimore, in the late 1980s, specializing in vans and SUVs. Collis said, “In the 1970s I read car magazine articles showing shag-carpeted vans and the new breed of auto enthusiasts who expressed their individuality and took the delivery van to a new level. It changed my life and I envisioned helping them taking an old bread truck or mechanics truck and personalizing it to give it a personal meaning.”

Exterior art is what you see from the road, and while Collis continues the exterior story inside, Ed Beard Jr. creates it on the outside. Beard did his first airbrush automotive job in 1982 and moved from vans to hot rods, then to Harleys; hand-painting high fantasy, warlords, creatures and monsters, from murals to close-up work. He moved to illustrating books, calendars and novelty products, then returned to van art creation in 2010.

Regarding van exteriors, Beard said, “The art tells a story … I use different techniques for the art at hand, from airbrushing to hand brush work and fine line work. I specialize in lettering and portrait work, and I hand-draw. You can see individual hairs on my portraits and I follow a creative-theme storyline with hidden objects that you have to search out to see.”

Beard believes that the exterior and interior work together. He said, “A successful van customization has a synergy between the exterior and interior. The style and theme on exterior front doors has to be carried on inside. Kurk carries the theme with sound, collectable and fun objects, cloth, stitching, colors and panel lighting, and I add theme painting to complete the package.”

Carlisle got into the act in 2010. Collis said, “I came to the Spring Carlisle Swap Meet to sell inventory and we got a few vans together to show off and sell. Visitors and Carlisle staff saw the excitement and next year we brought – or contacted vanners to bring – 30 vans to Building T. Soon, van campers were allowed in to make Vanarama a van party. This year we will see more than 100 vans attend and display.”

There is no typical design, but common interior themes from Collis include “Two chairs in front that swivel, a bed in back, and such unique themes as Superman, or a railroad narrative, or we did one with a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ song storyline.” Collis’ playbook includes high-shine waxed wood inside, lighting that changes to the music played, lighted logos in wall (in the Superman van), center wheel logos, and what creative additions the conversion suggests to him. “We build a fluid, living thing,” said Collis.

Collis said, today’s crowd is similar to that of 50 years ago. “Today is the same as always,” he said. “It is about what the 60-year-old vanner was driving 40 or 50 years ago and nostalgia that makes older vanners feel young again. Maybe he wants to recapture the van he had or one he saw, but couldn’t have in those days. And it is about the young vanners who want edgy and not mainstream art on wheels, with navi, electronics, Bluetooth, music, lights, fuel injection and high-tech. In the end, it is as it has always been … it is about self-expression.”

Beard said, “Today’s exterior focus is not much different, stressing military, history super heroes, Marvel comic heroes or sports. And it is often personal, My ‘Orange Krate’ creation carries a family’s story in a Bermuda Triangle-pirate theme; ‘Dragonlord’ is a wizards and dragons theme and ‘Shanna Marie’ is a pirate-themed tribute to a family.”

Collis added, “At Vanarama you can see the evolution of it all. What remains the same is the company we keep. The vanner community cares about each other. We stick together as a family … the vanner family.”

Beard and Collis will show off some of their work, along with more than 100 other vanners, at this year’s Carlisle Truck Nationals, which hosts around 2,000 trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs. Attendees can take in some action with a burnout contest, low truck limbo, high truck contest, frame-dragging contest, and more.

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

 

In 1909, Henry Ford was quoted as saying about the Model T, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, so long as it is black.” When the quote was delivered, the Model T only came in black because the production line required compromise so that efficiency and improved quality could be achieved.

But for many car enthusiasts then and now, while black can be dynamic, cool colors really speak to and attract crowds of fans. Car color has been a topic of discussion since the beginning of the automobile and while some early cars were unpainted, even what was arguably the first motor vehicle, the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was green, with its fully exposed engine finished in bright red. By 1910, cars were offered in red, green, gray, and black, and even the Model T was sold in various colors. 

By the 1920s, cream and tan were added to the color mix and the 1930s and 1940s saw metallic paints added. In the 1950s, two-tone paint jobs along with generous amounts of chrome set the tone. Car colors went bright in many shades of blue, red, green, gold, and turquoise, as well as white and black. One bright example was the Dodge “LaFemme,” a model marketed as a “women’s car” with pink paint, and special umbrella and lipstick holders.

The 1960s ushered in an era of self-expression and cars were in step as many sports cars and coupes featured more exuberant, less conventional shades of colors such as red, green, and blue. In addition, colors such as bright yellow, and violet found their first mainstream automotive applications during this decade. Power-plus muscle cars, such as the Plymouth Barracuda featured nontraditional colors. 

The 1970s saw a greater popularity of “Earth tones,” which included shades of olive green, brown, and tan or cream, and colors were more restrained. Except that in the summer of 1969 and lasting into 1973, Chrysler’s Dodge and Plymouth motor divisions both began offering bright and vibrant paint colors -- known as Mopar High Impact Colors -- on their muscle car models. While competitors tried keeping up with Chrysler’s fresh new look with their own bold blends, their imitations couldn’t compete with Chrysler’s sharp new shades. These eye-popping paint colors had one purpose: attracting young buyers looking to make a statement with their muscle car.

Dodge categorized its paint colors as High-Performance Colors, while Plymouth labeled them High Impact Colors, but through time, both paint groups are often referred to as High Impact Colors. And in today’s world, some displays are called “Kool Colors” and “Old Skool Paint.”

Dodge and Plymouth both used different names for the same colors, however, they shared the same paint codes and isn’t uncommon for a paint color name from one motor division to incorrectly identify another motor division’s color name, as often car enthusiasts refer to the color of a Plymouth ‘Cuda as “Hemi Orange” when technically that was a name Dodge used.

Some of the most vibrant impact colors include:

Plum Crazy
In 1970 and 1971, Dodge labeled its regal purple paint color Plum Crazy while Plymouth used In Violet. It isn’t uncommon to hear car show folk refer to this color as Plum Crazy, regardless if it’s on a Charger or a Road Runner.

Hemi Orange
The Hemi Orange at Dodge or Tor Red at Plymouth was available from 1969 through 1972. Both Dodge and Plymouth eventually came to a consensus by using the term “Hemi Orange” to identify the color. 

Bahama Yellow
From 1969 to 1971, a vibrant yellow was part of the Mopar color palette. Dodge called it Butterscotch while Plymouth named it Bahama Yellow. 

Go Mango
In 1969 and 1970, a stunning EK2 orange paint color was available in two fruit-inspired names: Go-Mango at Dodge and Vitamin C at Plymouth. 

Sublime Green
Dodge’s Sublime Green and Plymouth’s Limelight was a toxic yellow-green color available exclusively in 1970. It was one of the most radical and flamboyant High Impact colors ever offered. 

Pink Panther
One of the most vivid and polarizing Mopar colors ever was the Pink FM3 paint code available in the spring of 1970 and as a special-order option in 1971. At the time, some dealers repainted their cars because they didn’t think Pink would sell. Dodge named it Pink Panther, as a take on Peter Sellers’ 1963 Pink Panther movie. Plymouth opted for Moulin Rouge, referring to the infamous cabaret in Paris, France. 

Other High Impact colors include:
Top Banana in Dodge -- Lemon Twist in Plymouth; Citron Yella in Dodge -- Curious Yellow in Plymouth; Green Go in Dodge -- Sassy Grass Green in Plymouth; Bright Green in Dodge – Rallye Green in Plymouth.

Carlisle Events pays homage to “Old Skool” paint at the 2021 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals July 9 - 11, at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. Featuring retro colors, flake and original as well as recent paint artistry, the display brings the visitor back in time to psychedelic paintjobs. 

Ed Buczeskie, Carlisle Chrysler Nationals Events Manager said, “Our display reflects the custom style of a bygone era. What’s so cool about it is that some of these cars actually survived with the same paint for 50 +/- years. That allows us to see exactly how they looked back in the day. On the other side of the coin are the modern painters such as Travis Hess, who can replicate that style, but with modern materials and arguably better quality, as the standards are higher now.”

Buczeskie points to a few colors as the extreme kings of the day. “Panther Pink (Dodge) and Moulin Rouge (Plymouth) was possibly the wildest factory color ever. Also, the 1971 ‘Cuda “billboard’ stripe was pretty wild. So, while Chrysler had (and still has) some wild colors, the concept was and is about the personalization from the owners and custom painters.”

The old school (or old “skool”) paint still plays today, and Buczeskie said it is about two things. “One is that it’s very different and people like different – especially now that we’ve all seen every possible factory combination. The other is nostalgia. Most of these cars were lost to time. They were rare enough in the Chrysler world back in the day and even fewer remain today.”

Factory paint is the focus here, but old-school artists such as George Barris did extreme customization then, and this year’s show displays one of today’s artists who employs an old-school vibe – Travis Hess. Buczeskie said, “Travis Hess is one of the best custom painters around today, who creates old-school artistry. And he’s a Mopar guy – as is his dad, Bucky Hess. At least two of the cars in the display were painted by Travis Hess. One is the ’64 Dodge that he owns and the other is the ’71 Charger of John McCabe. Hess’ ‘High Anxiety’ 1964 Dodge 440 Race Hemi hardtop is a stunning NHRA Stock Eliminator car that made its debut in 2016. McCabe’s ’71 Charger is also being replicated as a collectible die-cast for the event by M2 Machines. McCabe is also an amazing custom painter, but he chose Hess for the Charger. Another standout is the ’70 ‘Cuda of Tommy Baker. Baker is not a custom painter by trade, but he did his car himself and it’s AMAZING.”

Buczeskie added, “All the cars on display were standouts then and are standouts now.”

Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years.

Fans of Ford and the Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiar’s were eager to return to the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds to showcase and celebrate their prized rides in 2021, that’s for sure.  After an augmented 2020 event, showgoers only had to wait 10 short months to reunite in Carlisle for what WILL BE remembered as the biggest and best Carlisle Ford Nationals of all-time, welcoming a NEW RECORD 3,241 registered show cars.  This total topped the previous mark of 3,194 set in 2019 and was the second highest total for any car show ever hosted by Carlisle Events.

With the roar of engines, the shine of paint and the smell of car care products plus an amazing array of classic and collector cars on the National Parts Depot Showfield, the energy level of the event was very noticeable from 7 a.m. on Friday, June 4 until the final cars loaded out on Sunday, June 6.  In fact, with great weather throughout the weekend, there were even some lingering guests Sunday who were holding on for one more memory before a return in 2022.

But, what kept everyone so excited throughout?  Maybe it was the awesome Built Ford Proud display just inside of the main entry gate, or maybe it was Ford’s midway display.  It also could have been the bevvy of amazing cars within the special displays in and around Buildings T or Y?  Parts shopping was also a major aspect to the event, with the automotive flea market bustling from even before the event officially opened. 

Another great element, one that isn’t common for many events outside of what’s offered at the Carlisle Ford Nationals, was the product showcases, seminars and discussions held all weekend at the stage.  These seminars included multiple walkarounds focused on the NEW Ford Bronco, the 2021 Mustang Mach 1, classic Broncos with Gateway Bronco, how the GT40s got their sound in the movie “Ford vs. Ferrari,” the story of Al Joniec hosted by John Clor of Ford Performance, Ford Performance Club Connect and Ford Registry chats with John Clor & Marcus Cervantes, and SO MUCH MORE.  The stage was also bustling on Saturday for another reason; a pair of autograph sessions by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Hailie Deegan.

If all that wasn’t enough for a home run of an event, the cars were also in motion by way of a trio of autocross activities on the Gateway Classic Mustang course, a rolling exhaust contest and the return of the downtown Carlisle Ford Parade and Street Party. 

As the sun sets on 2021, guests are already making plans for the 2022 Carlisle Ford Nationals.  Save the date, but the Ford family of fun returns June 3-5 in Carlisle.  Registration for the event is NOW OPEN! 

There was a time when “Pony Cars” ruled the automotive marketplace, and for a few years, Ford’s “Pony” became a Clydesdale with greater size, heft and power.

The Ford Mustang revolutionized the auto industry in 1964 when it hit the marketplace. Currently in its 6th Generation, the Lead Pony of all “Pony Cars” is Ford’s fifth-best-selling badge. Lee Iacocca, vice president and general manager of Ford in the early 1960s, sought to build and command America’s need for speed and style among young car driver-owners by developing a sporty youth-market car based on the compact Falcon. Developed in record time on a shoe-string budget, Ford introduced the 1965 Mustang at the World's Fair on April 17, 1964 and it was an instant hit. Ford planned for 100,000 first-year sales, but dealers sold 22,000 on the first day. From the get-go the Ford Mustang initiated a new genre of automobiles, known as “pony cars,” though horsepower assets didn’t quite make the muscle car scene.

Originally developed as a highly styled line of sporty coupes and convertibles derived from existing model lines, Mustang was distinguished by “long hood, short deck” proportions. Its immediate success inspired competition from its sibling badge – Mercury  with its Cougar, as well as from Chevrolet, Pontiac, AMC, Dodge and Chrysler, and impacted design cues from Toyota.

Named for the World War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, though Ford chief Lee Iacocca took it as a wild horse “Mustang,” other names under consideration were Cougar, Torino, Allegro and Avventura.

Introduced as a 1964 ½ Ford Mustang, the original engine lineup consisted of a 101-hp 170-c.i. straight-six, 4.3-liter V-8, and the original mid-size engine was 260 c.i. (4.3 liters) V8’s 164 horses, and was replaced by the legendary 289-c.i. V-8 (4.7 liters) with 210 hp and up to 271 horsepower. For late 1965, the six was enlarged to 200 c.i. (3.3 liters) and 120hp, and the 260 was replaced by the 289 with a two-barrel carburetor and up to 271 horses. The Mustang galloped into 1966 with only minor changes, and on March 1 of that year, Ford built the millionth Mustang.

In 1967, Mustang grew in length, width, and weight, primarily to allow the installation of a big-block engine. The 390-c.i. (6.4L) V-8 produced 335 hp, displacing the 289 as the top performer. Interior and exterior trim was revised, and a new 302-c.i. (4.9L) V-8 replaced the higher-horsepower 289s. For drag racing, Ford offered a 428-c.i. (7.0L) Cobra Jet V-8 rated at 335 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque.

By 1969, Mustang was even larger -- 3.8-inches longer and half an inch wider, with no change in the 108-inch wheelbase. Ford dropped the 289 and added a new 351-c.i. (5.8L) V-8 with 250 or 290 hp. New models included the Mach 1 and the Boss models. The Boss 302 was built to meet Trans-Am racing production requirements, while the Boss 429 put the 375-hp, 429-c.i. (7.0L) engine into street use as required by NASCAR rules. But Mustang grew less feisty in 1970, with a less-aggressive restyling.

That brings us to 50 years ago and the 1971 Mustangs, in which horses stampeded. In 1971, Mustang grew in size, weight (some models over 3500 lbs. – more than 1000 lbs heavier than in the 1964 launch. A new buttressed rear window gave the sedan a distinctly different profile than earlier Mustangs. Due to stringent emission rules, Muscle Car sales in America dropped, but Mustang went to market with an enlarged V6 to 250 c.i. (4.1L), the 351 and the 429, which was eliminated by 1972. However, from 1971 to 1973, Ford made a Clydesdale out of their once athletic pony car with additions in size and power.

Introduced in September 1970, the 1971 Mustang was green-lighted by Ford's new president, Semon “Bunkie” Knudsen. The revised model grew in size, gaining 3 inches in width in order to accommodate Ford's big block 429 cu in without need for an extensive suspension redesign.  

As before there were three body styles offered: Hardtop (available in base or Grande trim), SportsRoof (available in base or Mach 1 trim), and convertible (no specific trim packages available). Available engines were the Thriftpower I6 250 c.i. (4.1L), the Windsor V8 302 c.i. (4.9L), the Cleveland 351 c.i. V8 (5.8L) and the Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet 429 c.i. (7.0L) V8s.

Powerwise, in 1971, the best power figures in the group, the 250 put out 145bhp and 232 lb-ft of torque; the 302 was rated at 210 bhp and 296 lb-ft.; the 351 delivered from 240 bhp and 350 lb-ft. to 330 bhp and 370 lb-ft. depending on code and configuration; and the 429 went as high as 375 bhp and 475 lb-ft.

Among the most notable Big Horse Mustangs were:

1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351 

Packing a high-output version of the 351 Cleveland V8 under its broad, tapered hood, the Ford Mustang Boss 351 was one of Fords last true muscle cars. Only 1,806 were built in 1971, their lone year of production, and they remain among the hottest performers in the world of small-block Fords. They were designed with twin, functional “NACA” hood ducts, Mach 1 honeycomb grille, lower body paint treatment, bodyside stripes and 351 decals.

1971-1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1

The Mach 1 returned to the line-up with a sleek fastback profile, and it was powered by everything from the standard 210-hp 302 two-barrel to the 240-hp 351 Cleveland two-barrel and 285-hp four-barrel engines, to the a 370-hp 429 CJ (Cobra Jet), 429 CJ-R (Ram Air), and a 375-hp 429 SCJ (Super Cobra Jet, when the Drag Pak was ordered). Its exterior featured a honeycomb-pattern grille, closed “NACA-type” hood scoops, honeycomb-pattern rear panel appliqué, pop-open gas cap, and "Mach 1" fender decals.



The 50th birthday of Mustang’s Big-Horse Clydesdales from 1971-1973 will be celebrated and the Ponies will be displayed on the Showfield and in Building T at this year’s Carlisle Ford Nationals on the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds, June 4-6. These powerful street beasts were some of the biggest, heaviest and most “styled” Mustangs ever selling around 410,000 over their three years. The Carlisle Ford Nationals features more than 3200 Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Euro Fords. Ford Cars, Trucks and performance products will be on-site with offerings ranging from installations to special displays. Cars, parts, tools, memorabilia, collectibles and more will be for sale in the world's largest Ford Automotive Flea Market, as well as the latest and greatest products within the Manufacturers Midway.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.
Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

The GM family of vehicles are rich with history and tradition.  What were once stand-alone brands like Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, etc. now fall under the General Motors umbrella and are all equally celebrated at the Carlisle GM Nationals each summer.  This year, from June 25-26, the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds and Nationals Parts Depot Showfield come alive with over 100 years of history.  As part of this showcase, there are special displays, guests, cool cars and more.  In addition, GM Nationals weekend hosts a charity car show to benefit the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation.

It all starts early on Friday, June 25.  When the gates open at 7 a.m. guests will be met with throngs of unique displays.  For 2021, the must-see attractions include a nod to pop-culture by way of Comic-Car Con.   This display will have selected cars that represent TV shows and movies spanning decades of entertainment.  Further, guests can enjoy the 50^th celebration of the Vega and H-Platform, a GM Swaps display, a GM Nationals Showcase display and the annual Solid Lifter Showroom in Building Y.

Along with the cool cars are equally cool guests.  Just announced, spend a day at Carlisle on Saturday, June 26 and meet TV host and builder Aaron Kaufman of Gas Monkey Garage fame.  Kaufman comes to the GM Nationals for the first time ever and is anxious to see the cars and meet the enthusiasts.  In addition to Gas Monkey Garage, which Kaufman co-hosted with Richard Rawlings, he’s also the owner of Dallas, Texas based Arclight Fabrication.  Kaufman also ventured into solo TV projects, including Shifting Gears with Aaron Kaufman and Aaron Needs a Job.  His appearance time and on grounds location is TBD, but it is FREE to meet him and get an autograph once through the gates.

Cars at Carlisle don’t just show, they go too.  The Carlisle GM Nationals have a few competitions that excite the crowed.  This includes a rolling exhaust contest, real-street shootout and some fun with UMI Performance and autocross each day.  The shootout is Friday, while the exhaust contest is Saturday.  There are also seminars, installs with A&A Auto Stores and awards like Carlisle Elite, largest club and coolest club too.

Finally, ALL NEW in 2021, Carlisle Events and the Carlisle GM Nationals welcome the Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation, the York County Corvette Club and Corvettes for Chip.  This event, historically held in the fall, transitions to the GM Nationals and will welcome over 200 Corvettes to the grounds.  Corvettes for Chip is a fund-raising event geared towards raising awareness of and money for the CMAF and Amyloidosis, the disease that took the life of Carlisle Events co-founder Chip Miller in 2004. 

Carlisle Events is COVID-19 compliant and follows current guidelines suggested by state officials as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  A detailed Health/Safety Measures summary is available on CarlisleEvents.com.  While on the web, be sure to apply for Feature Vehicle displays, register for the National Parts Depot Showfield or to be a vendor, purchase discounted spectator tickets in advance and more.  Call 717-243-7855 to learn more today.