(April 14, 2016) HERSHEY, Pa. — Unique vehicles often find a place among the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) Museum collection and the 1967 Ford Econoline Conversion van, affectionately named H.M.S. Truckie, is one of the most exceptional to date.
The eye-catching custom van was donated by Luther John Deutsch of New Hampshire. The customization work was done by Fred Marshall, who turned this project into a career as the proprietor of Marshall Vans in Carlisle, Pa.
Truckie features a hand painted, full wrap around mural of the seascape and is thought to be the first ever customized van. No detail was overlooked, from the headlights replaced with amber fog lights (making night time driving a challenge) to the wooden bumpers.
The nautical theme is continued inside the van, with the engine hidden like buried treasure in the wooden chest doubling as a center console. Long road trips were no problem while traveling in Truckie. Inside is an ice box, functional television, and double bed. A normal steering wheel would not do and is instead replaced with a wooden ship wheel.
The Truckie can be seen at the 21st Annual AACA Museum Carnival on Saturday, June 18. All makes, models, and years of vehicles will be in the Car Show, with a special area in front of the Museum for Early Off-Roaders in honor of the museum's Featured Exhibit this summer. For more information on Carnival, visit http://www.aacamuseum.org/blog/2016/06/18/20th-annual-museum-carnival-ca....
Truckie will also be making an appearance at The Elegance at Hershey, Concorso Bizarro event on Saturday, June 11.