# What happened to all the mural vans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 3, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735 "2014-08-03T20:04:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735/21 "2014-08-05T18:23:09Z")
I saw a vintage van out while I was getting lunch today. Deep golden yellow (very very 70s), sweet volcano and cracked drought-stricken landscape graphics signifying something or another and a small pinched diamond shaped portal window on the side. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735/22 "2014-08-05T18:44:24Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > In the 70s, some folks used to call those “shaggin wagons”. “Fuck trucks.” “Sin bins.” ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735/23 "2014-08-05T19:55:07Z")
Whatever one called them, I have fond memories - my mom had a 1976 Ford custom van, white with the most patriotic murals ever. (I know there was an eagle, a graphic of the Declaration of Independence, and a Revolutionary-era fife and drum trio. I assume these were applied stickers, not airbrushed, because the quality was pretty good, but Ma bought the van used, so I can’t be sure.) The van also had a CB radio, blue shag carpeting, custom horns (I think there were about seven options, including the first 12 notes of Dixie, an air horn like a semi truck, and my favorite - The Ride of the Valkyries,) and a PA system. It was awesome! I suspect that a major reason for the demise of these vans - aside from the previously-mentioned fuel economy, poor quality of American autos in the seventies, and creepiness factor - is the lack of seatbelts. There were only two seats in Ma’s van with belts. The queen sized bed in the back had a wall separating the areas, which was great for kids traveling without being seen nor heard, but nary a seat belt. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735/24 "2014-08-05T20:01:36Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > There were only two seats in Ma’s van with belts. The queen sized bed in the back had a wall separating the areas Must . . . resist . . . temptation . . . to . . . comment . . . 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735/25 "2014-08-05T20:25:07Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Must . . . resist . . . temptation . . . to . . . comment . . . 😉 I know, right? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735/26 "2014-08-05T22:17:03Z")
It’s just the passage of time. You don’t see a lot of kids playing Slug Bug nowadays either. Almost all of the old bugs are gone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happened-to-all-the-mural-vans/694735.md?page=1)