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post_id	thread_id	thread_title	post_number	author_username	post_date	post_date_iso	post_body
125844	4112	help picking a new surf vehic	82	kpd73	Dec 16, 2017	2017-12-16T09:05:28-0500	Image processing. Refresh page to view Image processing. Refresh page to view Image processing. Refresh page to view Image processing. Refresh page to view 1997 Ford E-150 Econoline Conversion van. Gutted - even passenger seat - to make room for cold/dry storage of food. You can't see up in the roof but there were wooden racks for 2 other boards. 9'6 easily running up the side. Van was actually really good on gas- 22 mpg - He was my Home for over 8 months. He was also my best friend in the World. There is a certain crazy good feeling inside when I would be out in the water and look over and just see my Home with everything I own in it. Or when I would come out from the store, the pic of him in front of the statehouse is when I came out from the Greyhound station after grabbing a board a couple years ago. I'm not much of a picture taker but it was like he was posing and it just cracked me up. So regal! I put him up for sale before leaving for New Zealand to help finance a camper van over there. At the bottom of the craigslist ad I had it stated- if you are someone who is in serious need and this van would help you, please contact me and we can work something out. Well, I got multiple offers for the $3000 asking and a couple for more if I could just hold it for them. 2 days before I was going to meet someone to sell the van, I got contacted by a man in Providence who was living in an old car that was dying. He said he saw my ad and thought he would reach out and take a chance. He had nothing to offer. $3300 or help this guy? That money was something I seriously was counting on. The night before I was to meet the buyer I called the man in Providence- lets call him DA - and he told me his story. It was no longer a question for me. The next morning I had arranged to meet DA in the parking lot of the Fall River Stop and Shop and give him the van. I waited and waited, when I finally got a message saying he was here, but couldn't see me. He was in the wrong place, and I was out of time, I had an appointment to keep and couldn't wait any longer. I drove away. I was in the passenger seat of my girls truck and I looked back at my van just sitting in the parking lot, fictitious bill of sale all written out in the glove compartment, my departed uncles old Coleman sleeping bags, that rad cooler from of my grandparents that just happened to match, a pair of size 10.5 workboots with $20 tucked in one of them, and other stuff that made it a Home. He was all regal and stoked to be on his new mission helping this guy out. It was the last I ever saw of it. I came back from New Zealand and looked up DA to see how he was doing. He said shortly after getting the van he had an accident with the van running a Stop sign. It was totaled. Gone. I honestly cried that day. I thought he was going to have a warm home for the Winter. I thought something good was going to come of this. My girl still doesn't believe his story. I've been asked so many times "What happened to your van?" And when I tell people I gave it away to help someone, I'm met with mixed reactions. I'm telling this now because I'm not only tired of holding it in but because that van was a Legend and wanted to get this out once and for all. Where he was, I was. Plain, Simple and downright fucking rad. I miss him everyday and haven't been able to replace yet. Until now- https://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/cto/d/1990-ford-e150-econoline/6425206024.html He's an absolute miracle and I know he's mine. Trying to wrap my head around the logistics and need to get him to a mechanic and done over. Stoked! Thanks for listening. Short story long for anyone out there looking? Get a pre 2000 Ford Econoline. They absolutely whip ASS. Oh and those Toyota Hiace's and Mitsubishi Delicas were all over NZ. Killer vehicles.