The A-Team and Their Van

“If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them….maybe you can hire The A-Team.” – The intro to the A-Team

My devotion to the A-Team runs deep. I don’t want to divulge my age but I’ve been down since day one when it was on NBC and I embraced the 2010 movie with Bradley Cooper and Rampage Jackson.

They were a lovable vigilante team with a soft spot in their collective hearts for the downtrodden and disenfranchised. The A-Team was a unique collection of Army Special Forces soldiers that served in Vietnam and ended up on the run after robbing the Bank of Hanoi under false pretenses.

They were ordered to rob the bank by Col. Morrison to help expedite the end of the Vietnam war but Morrison was killed by the Viet Cong. Any proof of their orders to rob a bank disappeared with Morrison’s death.

Arrested for the bank robbery they were imprisoned at Fort Bragg and then escaped. They became fugitives and were perpetually chased by the Army. On the run they became soldiers of fortune and plied their craft during weekly adventures to help out the less fortunate and those screwed over by The Man.

The four-man squad had distinct characters with diverse skill sets. The A-Team was comprised of the following:

Colonel Hannibal Smith: Their leader and chief designer of their weekly plan to save the day. Always replete with a cigar and somewhat metaphysical during the planning stages of the squad’s latest mission when he maintained that he was “on the jazz”. Played by George Peppard.

Bosco “B.A. or Bad Attitude” Baracus: Wheelman, mechanic and muscle that was terrified to fly. Played by Mr. T.

Templeton “Face” Peck: Charmer and con man of the team. He always seemed to charm and/or hustle someone to obtain the goods for the team’s plan. Played by Dirk Benedict.

H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock: High-functioning lunatic and ace pilot. Perpetual resident of a V.A. mental hospital but seems to always get discharged or busted out. Played by Dwight Schultz.

I recently explained the roles and team dynamics of the A-Team to my 11-year-old son. His expression was filled with bewilderment during the chat. I ended the discussions with, “It was the 80’s and we accepted the idea that a rag tag vigilante squad would save the downtrodden every week.” My son seemed to accept my explanation but I’m not absolutely sure.

The A-Team always rolled in a two-tone, black and gray, 1983 GMC Vandura van with a red stripe and matching red rear spoiler. Fog lights were mounted on the roof and in the grille as to provide greater illumination for B.A.’s driving. A bull bar protects the front, while also giving it an aggressive presence. It rides on a set of red turbine-style wheels.

GMC provided the vans and there are some continuity issues due to a few with sunroofs appearing in episodes, but the show wasn’t big on canon. The essence of the van was important, not the minutiae.

For 1983 the Vandura had some engine and transmission options:

250ci, 4.1-liter, inline-6 engine topped by a two-barrel carburetor that produced 120hp at 4,000rpm and 205 ft/lbs of torque at 2,000rpm.

305ci, 5.0-liter, V8 with a four-barrel carburetor and produced 160hp at 4,400rpm and 235 ft/lbs of torque 2,000rpm

350ci, 5.7-liter, V8 engine that featured a four-barrel carburetor and it produced 160hp at 3,800rpm and 250 ft/lbs of torque.

379ci, 6.2-liter, V8 diesel engine that produced 130hp at 3,600rpm and 240 ft/lbs of torque at 2,000rpm

Transmission options were a three-speed automatic or a four-speed manual.

The gray interior featured four captain seats and a CB radio. It’s largely spartan on the inside but their van is for utility and street justice, not comfort.

There were some exceptions to the 1983 GMC Vandura.

The six official A-Team vans that were used for promotional appearances were 1979 Chevy models with GMC badging. But lets get down to brass tacks and acknowledge that there isn’t much of a difference between the onscreen van versus the promotional van.

More from Art of Gears

One of the six A-Team vans from the promotional stable was auctioned off on January 21st, 2021 by Worldwide Auctioneers. In keeping with the A-Team’s ethos of helping the people, the proceeds of the sale where donated to J. Kruse Education Center Career Coaching Academy. The hammer dropped at $84,000.

If you’re like me and you feel like you missed an opportunity to get an iconic van used by a “crack commando unit” please keep hope alive.

The Orlando Auto Museum has one A-Team van used in the TV show and it is for sale.

Home/Cars on TV