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Re: The Gladiator Van
Andrewlw #663680 June 12th 2014 7:30 pm
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 206
enthusiast
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Posts: 206
I remember Gladiator in many of the Van mags back in the day. Unfortunately builder & owner Graham Oaks passed away, he would be the only one who would know for sure or maybe his son. I have yet to see any pictures of it damaged in a fire or a picture of it a junk yard. I have seen vehicles sitting in a junk yards for years waiting to be crushed only to be forgotten. Then someone buys it one day and it sits some where waiting to be restored or rots frown

Remember the Corvette in Corvette Summer getting ready to be crushed?....wait!..., stop!...stop!.. STOP!......Saved by Mark Hamill! ..... lol


"KEEP ON TR-R-RUCKIN'!"
AdSense long
Re: The Gladiator Van
Andrewlw #714928 October 01st 2016 6:13 pm
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
B
stranger
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stranger
B
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1
I worked for Graham back in early 1979 through to late 1980 at the shop on Gary ave in Pomona, CA.doing interiors and metal work, the van was still in good shape back then but problems developed for Graham business and family wise I wont get into it more than that but yes the van ended up destroyed.

Re: The Gladiator Van
Andrewlw #714929 October 01st 2016 7:06 pm
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 18,286
Likes: 559
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 18,286
Likes: 559
Welcome to the site britmex ...


SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO
ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN
ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS
'93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB
'92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Re: The Gladiator Van
Andrewlw #714930 October 01st 2016 7:20 pm
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,696
Likes: 172
Old Timer
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Old Timer
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,696
Likes: 172
That is a bummer to be crushed!


Jim & Lucy Newkirk
1965 Chevy Bad Influence
1981 Chevy-the Love Shack
2012 Chevy Van , 2020 chevy van
2020 Chevy van Sapphire Sweet.
Club Vannerz.
vanninvanner@comcast.net
Re: The Gladiator Van
Andrewlw #721961 April 01st 2017 10:04 am
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,184
Likes: 1
Q
veteran
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Q
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,184
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Did you ever notice that the door jambs are red and the external color is silver..... pet peeve of mine where the van externally looks great till you open the door and go "WTF?" This one may have been the only good one in jamb color difference quality?
Man... do I really love those seats and red sea of interior...

Note to self: Add line 4 to bucket list...
1) angled chop mid ford
2) 6 wheel mid ford
3) solid black no window shorty mid ford
4) Create Gladiator mid ford van....


2014 and no more Econolines made... market blunder. The last new 2014 econoline to go to a vanner - DEADLAST
How many mid ford vans can 1 man own? Don't ask stupid questions...
My chopped mid ford will be painted black till they make a darker color.
Grind to Grind... Hot metal will abound the land... IceAge II 'The MeltDown'
My 3D printer will produce a life size 1969 mid ford in 2031... Wait and see...
Re: The Gladiator Van
Andrewlw #726183 July 28th 2017 12:29 pm
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 206
enthusiast
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 206
Best custom van ever and I am a Chevy guy. chevy





shift


"KEEP ON TR-R-RUCKIN'!"
Re: The Gladiator Van
Callahan #738968 August 02nd 2018 10:42 pm
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
stranger
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stranger
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3
Originally Posted by Callahan
I remember Gladiator in many of the Van mags back in the day. Unfortunately builder & owner Graham Oaks passed away, he would be the only one who would know for sure or maybe his son. I have yet to see any pictures of it damaged in a fire or a picture of it a junk yard. I have seen vehicles sitting in a junk yards for years waiting to be crushed only to be forgotten. Then someone buys it one day and it sits some where waiting to be restored or rots frown




Callahan....
Are you sure Graham passed away? The last I'd heard he'd moved out of Calif, lock stock & barrel to Tahiti, to open up a Custom Shop, and had taken the 'Gladiator' van with him, I never heard any story 'bout it being destroyed. Graham was my Best Man and his wife Carolyn, was the Maid of Honor at my 2nd marriage in 1976 in Vegas (which turned out to be a long drawn out disaster). I used to do most of the 'Car Show' displays for Graham in the mid-70's. I do know another van he had built, the 'Apotheosis' was discovered, covered in dust in a garage, and photographed in 1982, but like the Gladiator, its where-a bouts is also now unknown.

Last edited by West_Coast_Vans_So_Cal; August 02nd 2018 10:47 pm.

"Live It Well and Give It Hell"
Re: The Gladiator Van
West_Coast_Vans_So_Cal #740762 September 23rd 2018 9:38 pm
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 64
journeyman
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journeyman
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 64
Wild!!! love this stuff... seems it is gone sadly but i really hope it is somewhere like we all hope smile At least now many people are aware of these legendary vans an they do get saved when found which is great. its horrible when they go to the crusher makes me crazy.


2%

- 1991 FORD E250 3rd GEN - "ILLUMINATI"
- 1973 DODGE B200 - "WYLD.E.COYOTE"
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