Jalopnik
The Ultra Van crowns itself as the world's largest production Corvair by way of an aluminum and fiberglass monococque shell wrapped around a Corvair transaxle. As the Ultra Van itself was conceived by aircraft designer David Peterson, the biggest Corvair is more like an aluminum airplane wing in the round than a conventional body-on-frame RV. Only about 370 Ultra Vans were ever produced. 250 of them still roam the roads. The Ultra Van is affectionately known among club members as the whale. This nickname sprang from truckers overheard on a CB radio referring to a caravan of the World's Largest Corvairs as funny little white whales on wheels. Ultra Van, ahoy! Fudgie the whale is still hanging out at your participating Carvel ice cream store.
[Thanks to Mike for the tip]
The Ultra Van Page [External]
Related:
Corvairs Make the Books in Burbank [Internal]
Comments
Bumbeck -- so that's what that dying hulk by my house is... And I thought it was just whacky hippies.
COOP -- surely you know what I mean.
Oh my, I think one of these just popped up down the street from me. I had been wondering about it. It's so big, blue, and streamlined.. quite a knock-out in the RV park I'm sure. I'll see if I can snap a pic later this week.
Hmmm...Just over 2 tons wouldn't be terribly overwhelming for the ol' flat 6. Dare I assume that lift-throttle cornering hoonage isn't entirely out of the question?
So THAT'S what that thing was! I saw one parked on Riverside Drive last week and thought, "What the fuck?" I swear I thought it was homemade.
I saw that guy in Cars.
Finally, a van that makes the diesel Vanagon look overpowered. Cooler than said diesel vanagon, though.
@PatFromGundo: That's the one I'm talking about.
It has been there for a few years now.
Though, somehow it moves.
Not sure how, since it always seems to have a flat.
A flat 13" tire I should add.
The steering wheel is the center? Rad. The world's best corvair-based Maclaren F1 homage that you can fit a meth lab in!
Awestruck with the awesomeness.
This is what my roller derby team needs!
So, is that whale coming or going?
I had to put a big clamp on my head to keep it from expolding.
My head is not able to compute all the awesomeness that this vehicle contains.
It made me smile.
And then, it smiled back.
@TomAnderson: If this monster vehicle grosses out at 4,000 lbs, why do SUVs have to be 6,000+?
Ah, yes. Tax deduction. I almost forgot.
And this is waaaaaaaay more cool than any SUV ever dreamed of being!
I seriously need to find one of these old motorhomes for sale . In the 60s I traveled all over America in a VW camper . Now I'm 60 and probably don't have much time left (one never knows ) and would again like to drive America but I need something more comfortable and this Ultra Van would be perfect . If anyone knows let me know where I can buy one . thanks , allan
@oskar:
Well, Oskar, hope this gets to you. Just happen to know where the most publicised Ultravan in the world is, and it's for sale. It's the original 'Smiley face' that you see so often when you google around the name.
Cheers, Kurt
aerokurt@hotmail.com
Hello, @oskar:
Is anybody out there? I know where one is right now,
and it's the most known one - the smiley face
cheers, Kurt
aerokurt@hotmail.com
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