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This 1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper Looks Apocalypse-Ready, Won't Disappoint

Rugged campers are becoming more popular as people began to explore the surroundings during the pandemic. If you value classic campers, look no further than this 1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 camper conversion, on auction at Bring a Trailer.
1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer 32 photos
Photo: Bring a Trailer
1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 Camper on auction at Bring a Trailer
The second-generation Ford Econoline shares many parts with the F-Series full-size pickups, becoming a heavier-duty vehicle than the first generation. It was a revolutionary design at the time and the van still looks good today, more than 40 years later. Of course, being a popular van made it an ideal base for a camper, and it proved to be a real VW T2 Westfalia killer.

One of the camper conversion shops that saw Econoline’s potential was Sportsmobile, a well-known maker of rugged campers. They were successful too, and looking at this 1971 Ford Econoline Sportsmobile 4x4 camper conversion, you can see why. In fact, if you go to their website, you’ll find that Sportsmobile still has a similar offering based on the Ford E-Series chassis called Sportsmobile Classic 4×4.

The example we’ve found on Bring a Trailer was equipped with a Sportsmobile pop-top camper and converted as a go-anywhere 4x4 vehicle. The work included replacing the engine with a proper 306-ci Ford V8 crate mated to an AOD four-speed automatic transmission. A Dana 20 twin-stick transfer case and the Warn locking front hubs were also thrown in for good measure. And note things cannot go wrong when you rely on a 12,000-lb winch to get you out of difficult situations.

As you can see, this is the ideal vehicle to survive the apocalypse and will be at home both on-road and beyond, thanks to its extensive modifications. The 30-gallon custom fuel tank will take you far away, while the 160-watt solar panel will provide the needed power during off-grid adventures. This one is paired with two six-volt batteries totaling 320 Ah, which should suffice for camping outside the beaten track.

The military green and white exterior paint has a correspondent in the cabin upholstery, although the floral pattern might not suit everyone’s taste. The van comes with modern features like a digital odometer or the Edelbrock E-Tuner tablet integrated into the center console. It will probably have no problem sleeping three or even four people, thanks to the loft bed and the folding bench seat. Additional amenities include cabinets, an Isotherm refrigerator, a 20-gallon freshwater tank, and a power inverter.

Not everything is golden, as the seller reports the horn ring is broken and the fuel gauge is inoperative. This probably come due to the fact that the van has a custom fuel tank, but it should not be hard to retrofit a functional fuel gauge. More worrying are the rust patches that you can see on the doors and other areas, which is expected considering this van’s vintage.

The camper van attracted a lot of interest on Bring a Trailer and the bidders already pledged $20,000, with five days remaining. We don’t know what the reserve is on this one, but the seller attached modifications invoices to the tune of more than $30,000. Anyway, we believe this remains a solid camper van for those that want to match good off-road capabilities with the classic flair of a second-generation Econoline.
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About the author: Cristian Agatie
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After his childhood dream of becoming a "tractor operator" didn't pan out, Cristian turned to journalism, first in print and later moving to online media. His top interests are electric vehicles and new energy solutions.
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