Founded in 2008 by Winslow Bent, Legacy Classic Trucks is a Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based customs shop that specializes in churning out meticulously-built restomodded Jeeps and Power Wagons. And while LCT has built its reputation over the last 15 years on the strength of its modified truck builds, a recent chance encounter has now prompted the company to deliver its most unexpected build to date with a custom Dodge Tradesman van.
Dubbed the Legacy Tradesman Van, the donor vehicle was discovered by Bent on a random street in Chicago on his wedding day, starting out as a particularly rough 1977 Dodge B100 Tradesman. When purchased, the Dodge still packed its original Chrysler 318 V8. Rather than dropping a crate engine into the van, Legacy Classic Trucks instead opted to completely rebuild the 5.2-liter mill, boring and stroking it out and ultimately unlocking a healthy 450ft-bls of torque. The Tradesman’s nearly half-century-old brakes and suspension were also jettisoned in favor of new items. The entire project also rides on a set of classic five-arm Cragar S/S wheels.
Wearing its original unmistakably ‘70s era livery, the exterior of the restomod project has received a set of louvered rear window covers, a new fuel cap, a covered rear-mounted spare tire, a pair of rear side moonlight windows, and side-running exhaust and mufflers with perforated heat shields. The most transformative part of the build is undoubtedly its interior. Completely redesigned, the van’s cabin is now trimmed wall-to-wall in orange shag carpeting — a material that’s also been used to upholster the van’s ceiling and interior door panels. The interior also features a custom built-in bed that’s also adorned in orange shag. Other period-inspired touches include a lava lamp, a disco ball, a leather table, a vintage TV and VHS player, and a new dash-mounted infotainment display. The addition of a new state-of-the-art electrical system and massive Lithium-ion battery pack also allows the van to support two full-size AC units and an 18-speaker 2,000-watt sound system.
Legacy Classic Trucks is currently accepting commissions for Legacy Tradesman Van builds with pricing starting at $45,000.
