The van was built by Gene Gamet, Terry Dodge, and Gary Glenn in Michigan in 1975, and Glenn, an airbrush legend, handled the paint job. Soon thereafter Gary took the van to Southern California, where it became a car show hero and one of the most famous custom vans in the country. Here it is in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979):
And here’s the little addition Gary made after the movie: “Twinkie Patrol” – ‘We’re coming for your daughters’.
There’s a long conversation about the van and its creators and history at Michael Poulin’s Flickr.
Gary Glenn passed away in 2013.
(Images via Cosmo Lutz/Flickr and the Gary Glenn Memorial Page)
2 Warps to Neptune 
I’m In love with this van Really. I know its the real thing this time!
Lots of people are hunting for the elusive beauty. Much like the infamous Star Wars Celica.
If I could only find this vehicle, I know I’d never stray again …
Twinkie Patrol? That’s just creepy. The van era was disturbing. My aunt had a van and all the kids would frequently be carted around (the no seatbelt era meant I’m sure we ran amuck in the back). However, my only real memory of it was how unbelievably hot it would be on warm days. Just so much surface area and no real windows to open to cool off for the back of the van.
That was not a custom van, sir.
I remember watching this movie on TV back when Clint Howard always played the lovable goof.
By the way, the full movie is on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKUHFI1dnKo
I may have to watch this one again.
I currently own this van and i am restoring it to its movie glory
Hi Jon, are you still restoring the van??