In Japan, there exists a subculture known as Dajiban, offering a unique spin on custom Ram vans that involves a soupçon of stance, a dash of bosozoku, and a twisted sense of humor. The machines are alternately known as “H-vans,” with the “H” code for “hentai”—Japanese for “pervert.” But were it not for the golden age of vanning, Dajiban would have no roots. And although the heavily customized American vans of the 1970s share more of an aesthetic kinship with Japan’s over-the-top dekotora than the more subtle, racy H-vans, the allure of the Dodge van as a totem of sin and deviance wouldn’t exist without machines like this.
What is it? Oh Lord, friends. What isn’t it? For starters, it’s a 1976 Dodge B-200 van featuring a 6-inch chop, flared fenders, a gullwing side door, taillights liberated from a ’76 Pontiac Grand Prix, marker lights snatched from a Trans Am (naturally), headers, quad-outlet pipes on each side, and a luxe interior to beat the band. Assuming that the band is Grand Funk Railroad. And that you’re beating them with a bong.
The innards are swathed floor-to-ceiling in bordello-grade red velvet. There’s a bar. There’s a period-correct small television. Outside, the rear mural features a scantily clad woman seeming about to defeat a green guy, a sword-wielding longhair rolling into battle towed by a quartet of horses, a fire-breathing dragonoid thing, and another presumably bad green guy carrying an unconscious lady. If it is not testament to the power of the airbrush, perhaps the airbrush is a truly powerless thing.
The chopped roof always seemed like more of an East Coast vanning affectation to us, which makes sense, since this Dodge wears New York plates that read “INVASION.” The word is also etched into the van’s glass, so presumably, that’s what this creation’s called. “Yo, Alfie. Let’s grab some whitefish sandwiches and a twelver of Schaefer and take Invasion down the Shore on Friday.” Note to Nihon: You may have tentacles and whatnot, but if you really want a van built for perversion, you’ve gotta look to America. Oh, and bring 60,000 bucks, because that’s what Invasion’s current custodian is asking.
“The Spirit of ’76″ is C/D‘s 4th-of-July holiday-weekend series highlighting some of the most awesome cars for sale from our nation’s bicentennial year.
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