Oh man, now this is awesome!
I’m sure all of you have probably seen the classic 1981 movie The Cannonball Run, starring a Ferrari 308 GTS, a Lamborghini Countach, and a sleeper Dodge Tradesman “Ambulance” van with a 440 under the doghouse. There were a few actors in it too playing secondary roles, like Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Jackie Chan, and Dom Deluise among a few, but the true stars were definitely the cars. Out of all the ridiculousness that ensues, my favorite part was always that sleeper van piloted by Burt Reynolds and Dom Deluise. I always thought it would be cool if someone cloned the movie van, which was actually a van piloted in real life on the REAL Cannonball Run by none other than Brock Yates and the movie’s director Hal Needham in the 1979 race. Brock’s wife even rode along as the “patient” just in case they got pulled over. Genius!
Well, someone DID clone it. And it’s for sale! Lets have a look, shall we?
The van’s livery is pretty accurate to the real thing. Dual 1979 Federal Signal AeroDynic emergency light bars are mounted up top and said to function just like the movie van’s lights did. It nails the look.
The van itself is a Dodge B200 Sportsman, but the movie van was supposedly a Tradesman. The Sportsman models had a few more creature comforts than the utilitarian Tradesman vans did. The van is in pretty great shape with no rust or rot to be seen anywhere.
Under that stubby little hood is the biggest difference. While the movie van was motivated by a nasty 440ci big block, this van sports a nicely running 360. The van is mechanically original, with roughly 110k on the clock. Not as cool as having a 440, but the 360 is a decent platform to modify if the new owner chooses to do so.
Another difference: This van, since it is a Sportsman, comes with three rows of seating upholstered in the finest disco-era green plaid and vinyl. It’s in great shape to boot. The movie van was obviously set up as an ambulance, but I wouldn’t change a thing here.
You want stance? This thing has it in spades. Black steelies wrapped in BFG Radial T/A’s complete the look, although the movie van did have hubcaps at one point. Dig the side exit exhaust, too!
For reference, here’s the original as seen in the movie. I think they did a pretty good job with the replica!
And here’s the original van during the real Cannonball Run, as piloted by Brock Yates and Hal Needham. It would be awesome to do a road trip tracing the route in the replica van, with a few other cool cars to join you.
The want is very, very strong for this one. If you feel the same way, Check out the eBay auction, which appropriately ends on April Fool’s Day!
Holley EFI for the 360, a Gear Vendors Overdrive for the Torqueflite, cruise and ac and I would be a happy man. #OVERDRIVE&EFIFTW
Edit on my last post. Only would need the Gear Vendors Overdrive and the Holley EFI for the 360. It already has AC and cruise… should’ve read the whole ad haha.
You need a Rolls with a 440 as well!