Friday, May 25, 2012

Mystery of the GOOD TIMES VAN

I've been a prisoner for the last five weeks.  Confined to my couch watching the complete series of "The Sopranos" and drinking so much coffee I've made the "favorite customer wall" at my local cafe.  A separated shoulder is the pits!  In week six I got the ok to remove the sling and start rehab.  As soon as I felt better I persuaded my buddy with a promise that he have a short stack after our trip through the wrecking yards.  In our last go around through what seemed like 100 degree weather and never ending astro vans  I spotted a emblem I've never seen before.  "Good Times Van, president".  I've  been racking my head, speed reading through my old Hot Rod mags, Van World and Vannin'.  Searching for any information, a little clue on where the "Good Times Van" emblems might have come from.  Were they a custom van shop in the 70's?  An accessory given directly to customers when purchasing a custom van from a dealership?  So I've decided "why not summons the power of GRAY SKULL?", in this case that would be the internet.  So I leave you with the mystery of the "GOOD TIMES VAN" emblem and what little research I've come across...








27 comments:

  1. I owned a 1984 Good times van, it was a dodge conversion van converted by Good Times conversions. had emblems like what you have pics of and also round stickers on the centercaps and steering wheel. Haven't seen one around here since. Never seen the Good Times Machine before though. Definitely cool.

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  2. They were an early conversion company back when conversion vans looked a lot more like custom vans and less like Starcraft vans. Gerring were another and LMC I think, there was a bunch of them.

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  3. That's awesome!!! Thanks for the insight! It most have been really far out to be able to go into a conversion shop and drive out with a custom van!

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  4. I owned a Good times van it was a E150..,,,had a 351 windsor under the hood....shag carpeting....black light.....it was candy apple red...had a guy and girl holding hands down a mountain to a lake.....it was purchased in 1980 in Glastonbury Ct..,,,,,

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  5. I owned a Good times van it was a E150..,,,had a 351 windsor under the hood....shag carpeting....black light.....it was candy apple red...had a guy and girl holding hands down a mountain to a lake.....it was purchased in 1980 in Glastonbury Ct..,,,,,

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  6. I am looking to buy the GOOD TIMES emblem for my van.
    If you find one for sale, e-mail me at david@orlandos.com

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  7. The company was in Mansfield Tx. My step father was Jim Bishop.He and his brother Ben had it and Classic Vans company. These vans ROCKED.

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    1. Wow I haven't heard the names Jim and Ben Bishop in over 20 years. MY daddy Ed Russell founded Good Times Vans and they worked with him. I was just a little girl but I do remember them. They were great men.

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    2. Jim and Ben Bishop never owned Classic Van's. DJ William's owned Classic.

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  8. The company was in Mansfield Tx. My step father was Jim Bishop.He and his brother Ben had it and Classic Vans company. These vans ROCKED.

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  9. I owned the brown/gold GMC Good Times van in the lower photograph. That photo was taken by my brother. It was a 1976 GMC Vandura that I purchased in the fall of 1975 from Evans Toyota in Forest Park, GA, who sold these conversion vans. I drove it until 1982 when I sold it in the Atlanta area. I don't think that I've seen the van since it drove away. I loved that thing!

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  10. I believe they were built in Arlington Texas, but moved to Grandview. My dad worked for the Bentley Corporation, and on the conversion vans under Good Times vans. For about 10 years. Always spoke highly of Ben Bishop

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  11. Good times vans were a conversion van built off of S. Cooper St. On Peyco Dr. MY father Ed Russell was the founder of the company. It was on the boundary of Arlington/Mansfield. Rick, I remember your step-father Jim Bishop. He was a very nice man who worked with my dad and was at our house many many times. I remember him being a wonderful person to my mom, brother, sister and me when my daddy passed away.
    Good Times Vans was an incredible company and changed the van industry. I remember all different kinds of styles, from the mainstream family conversion van to the craziest of 70's hippy van. I was very young in the 70's but I now know what those Scooby Doo style vans were all about. LOL
    I miss Good Times Vans and my daddy

    KEEP ON TRUCKIN......
    Jodi-Lynn Russell

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    1. I'm sorry but Ed Russell didn't start anything..It was John D.Rushing who came up with the idea and the name, and he got it rolling

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    2. You are correct. My dad was sitting in LAX airport waiting on a plane listening to Ray Charles sing For the Good Times. That’s where he got the name.

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  12. Thanks for sharing this info, everyone! The first time I ever heard of a Good Times van, it was in this song (and I've often wondered about them):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-pgBmz6Yig

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  13. HI! This is Doc. I have a 1987 GMC 2500 Goodtimes van. I bought it new in during the Fall of 1986 in Wagoner, OK. It has always stayed in the garage when it is not in use. It has 118,000 miles on it and is in mint condition. I would love to send you a picture if you are interested.

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  14. Hello my name is David. I have a 78 dodge b200 with a the good times van conversion kit. I'm trying to get a hold of the door badges and was wondering if anyone could help me? This is a 7 year project with my dad so far and it would mean a lot to me if I could find them for him. Any leads or other information would be great. Smerph_soccer@yahoo.com

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  15. Hello my name is Arjan, i'm fron Holland and i have a chevy 85 good times van. It has 60705 miles on it. I am the 3 owner..I love it when i read any stories. Al the costum papers front the factory are there... i bought it last thursday and we are going to france thuis monday.. hitte road

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  16. My name is Joey and I’m 56 years old. I worked for Good Times Vans in the early 80’s. It started on Division St in Arlington and it grew bigger moving to Peyco Dr in Mansfield until it blew up and moved out to Grandview Tx into a large factory. I worked with some good people and had a great time. I installed a lot of windows, wiring and specialized in carpet laying. They were built with quality in mind. The drive ultimately become too much and I had to leave but it is great memories.

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  17. I've got a 1977 "Good times van" it just has a drivers seat & a passenger seat the back is totally open. Ready to do a conversion to a camper.

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  18. I found a 1987 Ford “good times Deville” van. That’s the name on the logo, “good times deville” and I’ve never seen another deville online before, only the good times president or estate. Anyone know about the deville?

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  19. I found a 1987 Ford good times deville van and that’s literally the name on the logo is “good times deville” and I’ve never seen it anywhere else

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  20. I found a 1987 Ford good times deville van and that’s literally the name on the logo is “good times deville” and I’ve never seen it anywhere else

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  21. I remember Good Times Van's growing up. The local dealership, Sam Stevens, carried a full line of Good Times Van's. We would always look forward to the new ones rolling in to see the newest and coolest looking Van's. Sharp

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  22. I just bought a 1977 Dodge Good Times Van, I am looking forward to getting it running, as it has been sitting for a long time. It is super solid and has all of it original interior and badges, as well as the "Keep On Trucking" emblem on the back.

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  23. Yes GoodTimes was in Mansfield and I delivered vans for them at a princely 25 cents per mile. Then went to Classic who was indeed run by DJ Williams and sold and delivered their vans and pickups. All sold great...till the gas crisis hit. Good bye shag carpet, 8 tracks, and CB's

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