The Van (1977)

Bobby blows all his college savings on a van and tries to get the girl of his dreams. It's a wild time with Bobby and his friends.

Director:

Sam Grossman

Writers:

Robert J. Rosenthal, Celia Susan Cotelo

Stars:

Stuart Goetz, Deborah White, Harry Morgan Moses

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stuart Goetz	...	Bobby
Deborah White	...	Tina
Harry Morgan Moses	...	Jack (as Harry Moses)
Marcie Barkin	...	Sue
Bill Adler	...	Steve
Steve Oliver	...	Dugan Hicks (as Stephen Oliver)
Connie Hoffman	...	Sally (as Connie Lisa Marie)
Danny DeVito	...	Andy
Jim Kester	...	Tom
Michael Gitomer	...	Jim
Chuck Hastings	...	Fat Policeman
Steven Stinebaugh	...	Thin Policeman
Howard Dayton	...	Friendly
David Ellenstein	...	Basketball Player
Donald Elson	...	Mr. Hump

Storyline

Bobby is a Los Angeles teenager who buys a customized Dodge van to pick up girls and spruce up his dull life, all while trying to win money racing other vans in order to pay for his own.

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Plot Keywords:

van | 1970s | employee | fat girl | cleavage | 

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Taglines:

Bobby couldn't make it... till he went Fun-Truckin'!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Crown International Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 April 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Chevy Van

Filming Locations:

7910 Katella Avenue, Stanton, California, USA

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Despite the song "Chevy Van" by Sammy Johns appearing throughout the soundtrack of the film, the titular "Van" is a 1977 Dodge B200 Tradesman van (which was prepared for the film by the legendary motion picture car customizer George Barris). The van, purchased at Claude Short Dodge in Santa Monica, California, is the extended version of the B200 Dodge, featuring a 360 cubic inch "small block" Chrysler V8 engine, automatic transmission, and air conditioning. The customization includes a four-foot circular window on the driver's side, a water bed, mirrored ceiling, carpeted and padded walls, drink rack, refrigerator, a TV, a table with a built-in toaster, captain's chairs, and a CB radio and 8-track tape player. Two vans were built for the film. The primary van, which was used for all running shots and interior shots, featured all the customizations listed above. The stunt van (a 1972 Dodge cargo van dressed to look like the primary 1977 Dodge van), was used for the drag racing scenes, and did not feature a full interior.

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Goofs

Although the hit song "Chevy Van" is played often throughout the picture, and the movie itself was retitled "Chevy Van" on re-release, the van in this film is actually a Dodge.

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Quotes

Bobby: There ain't a woman around who don't love the sound of a zipper comin' down...
[he barely finishes the line when the nude take-out waitress throws him on the waterbed and forces herself on him by mounting him with her very large buttocks ]

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Zigra (1991)

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Soundtracks

"Rag Doll"
(uncredited)
Written by Steve Eaton
Performed by Sammy Johns

User Reviews

oh what great memories

In 1979, I was a boy of 12 years old, My parents had just got the home box office which was pretty new to our neighborhood. As a 12 year old boy, this was the first time I saw boobs on television. I will never forget the joy of those times. Racing vans, the total ass-wipe with the baddest van, the water bed, the smoking of herbs, the hot 70's chicks, the 'makin love in my Chevy van song, it was all so new to me. A complete movie with all of the memories you could hope for. I own it and enjoy it about once a year. When I watch this movie, it makes me want to get my skates, with 4 wheels, not in a strait line, go to the park and hunt down some babes with feathered hair. truly great memories of young adolescence!