I just got back from 4 days in Joshua Tree. I picked up some parts for the van on the way back to the world from a friend of mine in Arcadia. I'm still on the hunt for a bubble sunroof.
Out in the desert there were so many projects just waiting to be found. I saw several first gen Econolines just hanging out in fields.
Here was one a local shop owner had.
He picked it up from the original owner's estate, it spent its whole life in the desert covered in green house paint. It is a short 8 door panel van, 6 cylinder with an automatic.
I believe it was featured in either Custom Vanner or Rolling Heavy a bit ago.
I also made a new friend.
Also, this was really cool outside of Tulare, CA. It has been there since the 1960's.
I am entertaining the thought of going back later this year to try and find a first gen.