The 1971 model year marked the introduction of General Motors’ G-Series vans, which replaced the smaller forward-control Chevrolet and GMC vans from 1964-1970. This larger front-engined design proved to be a long-standing success for GM, remaining virtually unchanged for a remarkable 25 years until production ceased in 1996. A recent discovery in a Colorado Springs junkyard brings to light an early passenger version of this iconic van.
With a personal connection to the early Chevy Sportvan Beauville, reminiscing about my family’s 1972 model that accompanied us on various journeys, including enduring the challenges of the 1973 and 1979 Oil Crises. Equipped with a Quadrajet-fed 350-cubic-inch small-block V8 engine, this ’76 model in the junkyard closely resembles my family’s ’73 version.
A closer inspection reveals that a junkyard visitor has taken the four-barrel intake manifold but left behind the carburetor. The passenger models were marketed as the Sportvan (Chevrolet) and Rally (GMC), while the cargo versions were named the Chevy Van (Chevrolet) and Vandura (GMC). The Beauville trim package offered additional comfort and aesthetic enhancements.
While cargo vans were more popular among customizers in the ’70s and ’80s due to their larger surface area, this Sportvan stands out with hand-painted Native American-themed artwork adorning its exterior. The van’s colorful decoration suggests it may have been employed for transporting individuals to Pow Wows in the area with its three rows of bench seats.
Situated at the meeting point of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains, this van showcases artwork paying tribute to various indigenous tribes of the Plains and Southwest. A vintage Parisian film camera, previously used to document Alpine’s Pikes Peak endeavor, was utilized to capture images of this unique Beauville with the snow-covered peak visible in the background.
Despite minor grille and drivetrain changes over the years, the Sportvan retained its distinctive appearance from 1971 to 1996. During the ’70s, GM predominantly promoted the Vandura and Chevy Van variants in their van advertising campaigns. This early passenger version of the G-Series van serves as a reminder of GM’s successful design that endured for a quarter-century.
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