I think a wrap would be a great alternative

Nice thing about nowadays we can CLONE somthing and kill the original!

Let's just say for discussion sake that the Den was rebuilt,restored or even cloned with another body who would know we could even change the vin and tags and would it still be the Lion's Den.This is a one of a kind van and a wrap would be great but where would we get extremely detailed pictures and a wrap wouldn't be the same as a painted mural.
There is no other van like this and that is what is making the decision as to what to do with it so hard.He bought this van sight unseen and mother nature has taken it toll.It is not like restoring a 70 Cuda where you can get all the repro parts and the documentation and even track down the people who built the cars.They were all built the same with different check marks on the option sheet.The van was a production van when it left the factory and that is where the Dodge relationship ended.After that it became a one of one custom.
What really makes the Den the Den it is the artwork and without it all it would be is a van with some cool mods.We don't want to scrap it or part it out but how much of the items are still on it.The wheels are gone.What about the aluminum panels that were underneath and what was changed from the original.I have seen a picture where the drivers door and passenger door had etched glass and there are no etchings now.What works and what doesn't.
The more information we could get will help us better decide what to do.Who has detailed pics of the murals,interior,flares and such.What about drawings from when it was built or contact numbers for the people that were involved in the build.Like I said before we don't want to scrap it or part it out but we thought that we could save at least 60-75% of the paint from the drip rail to midway down the door. From the pics that were posted we really don't have much to work with.

Between this entire thread and there was one on Harold Harnish (the painter) and possibly a thread on Bob's Van shop (the builder) a lot of the info is on these forums or in our members heads and/or computers.

The wheels can be replaced.

I have detailed pictures of the entire van as it was when it was here.

True, a wrap would not be quite the same as paint, but it's an alternative until the right person could be found to recreate the paint. Maybe even Harold!

I still have the aluminum panels from the underside. They were in pretty rough shape and we took them off to asses some of the other work needed. I don't think Steve wanted them when he bought the van, but I kept them anyway.



I'm not trying to sway you in any direction, just trying to help you decide. I would love to see the Den saved, but totally understand the amount of work it would involve.

If you decide to revive it, I have a couple other ideas on how to redo some of it a bit easier than re-fabricating everything from scratch too, if interested.

If it were me trying to keep her alive, I'd remove the barn doors, clear coat them and keep them as display pieces to set up as a sort of memorial alongside the van when at events. They are wonderful pieces of functional art.
Then I'd have someone like Superbeast or Matchstick build new doors, strip it all down and do all new artwork in a similar vein, but with elements that better suited my taste.
The expense of new barn doors wouldn't be more than the cost for the amount of time for a professional bodyman and an artist to attempt to do any reasonable restoration of the current artwork, especially with all the debonding going on...



I think it's a winning proposition; a clean slate for new art with a respectful nod to the legacy.

Like I said, lots of opinions.......keep us posted !!

What was the bondo on there for? To smooth the body so the artwork looked better?

I've seen a trend with the vans from Bob's van shop. The vans that were kept fairly stock with swing doors and such, like Stallion and Armed and Crazy and even Trade Winds have held up much better than those that were radically altered. It seems that Bob knew a great painter, but his body guys were more sculptors than true body men.


Remember, back then everyone wanted a show stopper, and none of us thought we'd live past 40. Cars were cheap, and vans even cheaper. We didnt care if it lasted 30 or 40 years. In fact, I'm extremely surprised at the ones that did hold up this long.

True

I have watched this van change hands a few times now.
the sticking point on every persons mind is the art work on the van.
there have been a couple other custom vans brough back.
Nautilus comes to mind here.the original van might not have had a full mural on it but it did have very details graphics on it.Jim Newkirck spent a couple of years restoring the radical body work and then had the van painted.the new Nautilus turned out beautiful.
unfortunately there is really no documentation done on van builds.remember back in the 80's we where all using film cameras.it was a pain to have to take film to have it developed.most busy shops did not take the time to mess with such details.
That being said.If you want of decide to bring the van back,(there are a few options here alone) you need to decide which way is the best for you,come up with a plan and go for it.......
The vanning community will help in any way we can.

.........Wookee