JOHNNY CASH TOUR VAN. STILL TITLED & REGISTERED IN JOHNNY'S NAME IN NASHVILLE

1982 Ford E-Series Van chrome trim Description

Johnny Cash's Personally Owned 1982 Ford Tour Van / Airport Shuttle Van. This van is still titled and registered in Johnny Cash's name at the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles. Quite unusual to find a major celebrity / icons vehicle still registered in their name in their home state. Johnny & June used this van as a personal local / regional tour date van and airport shuttle from 1982 to the late 1980's. Johnny most likely acquired the van new from a local van customizer in which he locally endorsed during this time period. A fellow collector showed me pics of Johnny endorsing the customized van company. Museum owner Mike Moon acquired the van directly from Johnny at the House of Cash in Hendersonville, TN. Barbara Mandrell's husband had sold the Jaguar in which Barbara and kids were nearly killed in from a 1984 accident to Mike for display in his celebrity museum. Her husband then alerted Mike to Johnny selling this tour van. Mike acquired the van where he displayed it for approximately two decades in his Buena Vista, FL museum. Just before Mike passed away I purchased this van. After the museum closed, Mike had simply parked the vehicle outdoors in storage. A prominent law enforcement official / collector purchased Elvis's limo Mike was selling at the same time he sold this van. I have a notarized document from Mike Moon, The law enforcement official who solidified the deal for both Elvis's limo and Johnny's van. I have a "purged" file from the Nashville, TN DMV showing "John R Cash, Hendersonville, TN" as the original owner. This van has NEVER been titled in anyone else's name other than the legendary Johnny Cash. The original title from Johnny was lost in an office move by Mike Moon, BUT the purged files the public is NOT privy to at the DMV, I possess and these will go with the van. Due to the privacy act / patriot act post 9/11 previous owners of vehicles cannot be revealed by the DMV. Additionally inactive vehicles (no tag applications etc.) drop from the main DMV system and go to the purged files after 18 years. Thus this VIN / vehicle going into the purged file system. BUT again I did them obtain them from a gracious DMV employee solidifying the original owner as Johnny Cash.
The van runs strong. The van is solid and straight with no rust on the body. I did take the van to a professional mechanic and he made a list of everything the van needs down to a squeaking front door when it opens. RETAIL repairs are approx. $3800 in need (basics....shocks, seals, brakes etc. etc.) For a mechanic or a museum / entity that employs a full time mechanic, the repairs costs would be approx. $1800 ish. The $3800 is reflective of standard $50-$65 per hour shop labor costs. The tires match and still maintain good tread. Body wise please note two areas in which the original trim is crinkled. The interior seats and door panels could be retained and used as original. I would recommend the carpet and headliner be replaced. The van clearly needs paint as it set out in the Florida sun for a period of time after Mike Moon's museum closed.
Johnny's van could be employed as a shuttle, sightseeing van, tour van for an artist influenced by Johnny Cash or a focal point in a car museum. It has been a great conversation piece simply setting in my garage. EVERYONE has wanted to see it and take photos of it. Restored this would be a stunning vehicle with the significant history attached.
Serious buyers contact me for images of the documents. As well if you live in close proximity to southern Ohio where I have the van stored I suggest coming to see it in person. I am open to partial trades regarding other memorabilia, but prefer cash offers. I can store it indoors until picked up. Thank you.