SOLD! LOT 53 – NO RESERVE! 1977 CUSTOM VALIANT PANEL VAN – DISTURBIA

 

NO RESERVE! 1977 Chrysler Custom Panel Van ‘Disturbia’

HIGHLIGHTS: – Custom built 70s style show van – Trans Am front nose cone – Rebuilt 318ci V8 engine – 904 Torqueflite automatic transmission with lightning rod shifters – Borg Warner diff with 3.45 ratio centre – Custom interior fitout in crushed velvet – Custom paintwork with airbrushing by “Little Mick” – 15” American Racing wheels – Featured in Street Machine Magazine – OFFERED AT NO RESERVE

This 1977 Chysler Custom Panel Van dubbed ‘Disturbia’ is a complete embodiment of the 70s custom van culture brought to life from the owners vision he dreamed at a nine year old boy. Disturbia is probably the most iconic and well-known custom can to be built in the last two decades. The car was bought by its current owner back in 2006 as a mostly stripped but good shell, with plans to build the Valiant Van he had dreamed of as a kid. Back in 1983, as a nine year old boy, he wrote a letter which was published in Custom Vans and Trucks magazine no. 30 explaining his vision for his dream van (see letter in pictures). It wouldn’t be until more than two decades late, that he would bring that vision to life. Its compliance plate shows it began life as a Stellar Blue, V8, manual Sportspack, however anything harking back to that was missing. The owner then rebuilt the van over a two year period (commencing in 2009) to create ‘Disturbia’; a van built to pay homage to the custom van scene and builders of the 1970s and 1980s. The van was finished and road registered in 2011.

Starting with the body, the major body changes are a HQ-based Trans Am front grafted to the factory CL Valiant nosecone and the HQ panel van roof spoiler also modified and adapted. The rest of the body remains completely stock and the Trans Am front is simply a bolt-on/bolt-off affair that can be replaced with a stock CL Valiant nosecone with no modifications required – even the headlamps remain in the factory location. The van was stripped to bare metal and any rust repairs carried out in welded steel before resprayed in Falcon Vixen Red two-pack. It was then muralled with all of the owners most iconic vans from the 70s and 80s by Brisbane tattooist and well known airbrush artist, Little Mick. Other notable styling cues include a reverse cowl hood, lower side scoops, dummy side pipes, custom DISTURBIA graphics to the tail gate, Chrysler Penstar shaped bubble windows on the sides and bubble rear window. To complete the look, the van has an old school 70s raked stance with a set of period American racing wheels he acquired from well-known Australian auto artist ‘Ralfus’ measuring 15×8” up front and 15×10” in the rear.

Inside the van has been refinished as you would expect in a van like this. The front section is relatively stock with the exception of a custom centre console and Hurst Lightning Rods shifter. The transition from front to rear is through a Chrysler pentastar archway into a custom trim of diamond tuft crushed velvet. There is a custom mattress on the floor with crushed velvet covering everywhere you can see. Inbuilt into the sides are some 70s Simon lights and there is a disco ball and old school Atari and TV to use as a display at shows. There is a small Kenwood four speaker stereo system for tunes while cruising.

Under the bonnet is a 318ci Chrysler V8 engine which was rebuilt in 2010 with the heads converted over for use with unleaded fuel. The engine is a relatively factory spec focused on reliable driving with the addition of a Holley carb and ‘tow’ style camshaft. The engine is paired to a 904 Torqueflite automatic transmission with lightning rod shifters that was also rebuilt in 2010. Power is fed to the rear wheels through a 3.45-geared Borg Warner diff with 28 spline Yukon axles. The brakes, steering and suspension are all rebuilt factory items. A clever trick to note is the exhaust system. The car has dummy side pipes running down the length of it with the real exhaust system tucked under the car however the exhaust does exit on either side in front of the rear wheels in a similar location to the side pipes which gives the illusion they are live without the burning of your legs every time you hop in or out.

Since completion, the car has gained a whole lot of attention and accolades. Disturbia was featured in the January 2014 issue of Street Machine magazine including the pull out poster. It was then nominated for Street Machine of the Year for 2014 and also inducted into the Street Machine Legends Hall of Fame volume 2 book. Disturbia then went on to be featured on a Street Machine T-shirt and sticker design. The van was as also featured in Cruzin magazine and has won a number of trophies over the past decade. The glovebox has been signed by a number of vanning legends from the 1970s and 80s.

This is an incredible opportunity to purchase one of the most Iconic and well-known panel vans in the country. The story of this van being built from a childhood vision into reality decades later is something that we think is super cool. This is the first time the van has been offered for sale since completion and an opportunity that may never present itself again. This car is being offered at NO RESERVE and will sell to the highest bidder at the end of the auction. Be sure to register and bid if you want to own a piece of Aussie custom car culture history.

FOR SALES OR REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE PLEASE CALL LOCKY MCCANN ON 0403 935 488 SEVEN82MOTORS Classics, Lowriders & Muscle Cars are based on the Gold Coast, Queensland and offer some of the most sought after cars in Australia.

Located at 2 Palings Court, Nerang on the Gold Coast. Inspections by appointment during auction and public openings/viewing as advertised.

IMPORTANT: Vehicle information is provided to us by the consignee. We do everything we can to qualify the best cars in the Australian market to represent on consignment for private sellers however, they are still old cars and we can’t capture everything in the photos, we don’t drive them any significant distance and can’t know everything about them. It is the responsibility of the buyer to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle, and to have satisfied themselves as to the condition and value and to purchase based upon that judgement solely. Vehicles may have been sitting for some time and it is suggested that to protect your investment, you allow to change fuel, oil, fluids, filters and inspect brakes prior to use. All vehicles are sold under standard auction conditions, consignment and auction vehicles are sold as is, without registration unless otherwise stated and there is no cooling off period or warranty expressed, written or implied. All sales are final. Independent inspections are welcome and strongly encouraged to help with your decision making.