mail van converted to camper

Years ago I bought an old P.O. van and used it for awhile in a flea-market business, then converted it into a camper. It was roomy, not the most luxurious. But we loved it. I had problems with the shift lever which was made from heavy sheet steel which broke easily. Any of you have similar experiences?

 

We have never had anything like this in the family, but we had some neighbors up the street that did. They turned a Chevy Astro (I think that's the name?) into a mini camper. They took out the very back seats and put a mattress in there. It was pretty cool.

 

I wish that I had some pictures, but that was another lifetime ago. The conversion was mostly to the inside. The van was like a bread truck, it was walk-in and there was no reason to do anything to the top. Mostly we added some bunks and a portable toilet. I wish we had painted some flowers on it, but the wife taught school and we couldn't look too much like hippies ( I was more of a beatnik anyway). It was cool and groovey.