ETA: Reddit to the rescue. Had a few suggestions. For what it’s worth both the Leyand Sherpa and Datsun Hiace fit the role perfectly. —————— Solved ———— I thought this would be easy to research but it’s proving not. I’m writing a short story and need a van with certain specifics: Widely available in the early to mid 80s (but it’s beat up so probably harks back to the early 70s). A sliding side door. Seats about the same as a Transit or VW Camper. And therein lies the problem. I don’t want to go with the obvious and have it be either of those (Transit or VW Camper). And no, it’s not a story about a serial killer, it’s about a wannabe rock group
Never seen a Transit, tbh. Some of them are remarkably Trabant-esque with respect to the nose treatment. So, if not a Transit or a VW, perhaps a Bedford CF? This was your variant of the American Chevy Van produced through GM's Vauxhall/Bedford subsidiary. This one's a 1972.
The Bedford CF was another of the suggestions, but I decided it was too close to the Transit. Not that it really matters. Anyway, please see my edited OP. I think you posted as I was editing.
Yeah, this is the one I’d originally gone for, as mentioned in my edited OP, but then someone on reddit suggested the Peugeot J7. The years of manufacture and style fit the role perfectly, and I hope it might help date the story better.
