I've Learned More About the Origins of That Creepy Ford Conversion Van Thing

If you read this blog semi - regularly, you'll know that earlier this week I wrote about a strange, creepy and murderous - looking van I spotted while driving around. I asked you if you knew anything more than the vague details I was able to conjure up from the safe distance I was at, but as it turned out, this creation proved foreign to those of you that did give their two cents on the article. After looking up more on this strange vehicle, using cleverly thought up google search terms, such as "Ford", "Conversion" and "Thing", I was able to find out more about the origins of this beast.

It turns out, that this was not just some custom hack-job one-off design. There was a company that specialized in creating these vans, called "Centurion Conversions", which took late-70's / early 80-s Econo-lines that you see above and turned them into these truck / van sleeper cars such as the example I spotted, albeit all of the other ones looked a lot less creepy. Apparently, these things were loaded to the brim with top-of-the-line creature comforts that you would expect to find on what were essentially early-80's RV's - such as a cable television (!), sleepers, and even an ice box - just to name a few. You can still find several examples on sale today. 

Centurion Conversions hammered these things out, and many of them still exist today. Aside from their converted Econo-line vans, they were really known for their famous 4-door Broncos. In fact, there is an entire forum dedicated to these Frankenstein creations. You can even find one for yourself if you look hard enough and can negotiate a price. 

But, like Gagnam Style and the Harlem Shake, the 4 door Bronco and the Econo-line conversions sort of just faded into the background of the public eye, and though they still maintain their popularity with their cult following, I have yet to see one on the streets in person.

photo: f150 forums

Centurion was eventually purchased by a man called Rod McSweeny in 2006. I'm imagining a man with white hair and scissors for hands enjoying an Arnold Palmer by his 1980 Centurion Conversion Van - of which that black one I posted about just might be his. (hah)

McSweeny's company was called "Southern Comfort Conversions". When they purchased Centurion, this made SC the largest conversion company in the world, making vehicles in all 50 states, and around the world. Mr. McSweeny owned the company until economic troubles forced him to sell the 200 - employee firm to a private equity company. which dissolved the Southern Comfort division in 2009. He did however still own the facility, and so with his family, he started MCM Custom Vehicles that same year. Eventually, that company grew into several smaller business, and in 2012, re-incorporated under the name "McSweeny Holdings" (Now, McSweeny Designs) and is still pumping out premium luxury conversion vehicles today - a radical turn-around from those of earlier days:

Photos: McSweeny Designs

Interesting.