Alright, we decided to take the groovy'78 Dodge  hippie van on the Hot Rod Power Tour, and we were joined by some local Mopar fanatics. When's the last time you saw a real '69 Charger 500 doing 1000 miles of road duty? 

This van, nicknamed the sin-bin, the Rapesman (Tradesman), the Shaggin' Wagon, the Great Pumpkin, the Mystery Machine, and our favorite "Project Free Candy" by our co-workers, has been a big hit so far on the Hot Rod Power Tour. Loaded with parts, tools, drinks, food, clothes, CDs, and accompanied by co-pilot Garret Struck and  our friends Dave in his '73 Coronet wagon and Matt in his Charger 500, we departed Lakeland, Florida early Saturday morning to join the kickoff party at the Kenedy Space Center in Florida.

Joined by Paul, Brandon, Chris, and Mopar Muscle publisher Jim Foos, we've been having a blast cruising with a variety of Mopars and other vehicles on the tour. Other than a carb issue (note to self, caburetors sitting on the shelf for a year don't run like you remember), the van has performed well, though a/c would have been nice. Stay tuned for details as we follow the Power Tour to Valdosta and on to Montgomery in our custom Dodge van.

We did notice that Hot Rod ran an article on custom California vans in their recent issue but we haven't seen their van yet. So far we've spotted the Hot Rod crew cruising in a Suburban and a brand new Camaro . . . surprised?

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