Fiery little Italian sports cars? Superpowered Detroit turnpike cruisers? Dazzling convertibles or cute little bugs? Forget it. For any self-respecting American kid these days, the hottest vehicle suddenly seems to be a 1964 Ford Econoline van, say, or a beat-up GMC or scruffy Dodge A100 orfor the hipper elementsa Volkswagen Microbus or panel truck suitably scrunched around the fenders. There is method to this madness for vans: in increasing numbers the chunky vehicles are serving not only as transportation but also as mobile homes for the nation's youth.
Van addicts are delighted by...