One of the most recognisable vehicles in pop punk history is getting closer to its former glory!
Andrew and Taylor, the team behind the restoration of the original van from Blink 182’s iconic The Rock Show music video, have shared another major update on the project. Rather than repainting the vehicle, they have spent weeks carefully wet sanding and polishing the original finish, successfully bringing the bright blue paint back to life while preserving the van’s history.
The latest update shows the van looking dramatically different from when work first began. The pair also revealed that they were careful to preserve details left behind from the music video itself, including traces of red paint from the Mazda Miata that famously crashed into the van during the video.
“We were really happy we could keep everything original,” Andrew explained in the latest update, admitting he never expected the van to clean up as well as it has without requiring a complete repaint.
The project is about more than simply restoring a vehicle. The van has already appeared at three Blink 182 shows since being rescued, and the long term goal is to continue bringing it to events so fans can see a genuine piece of pop punk history in person.
While the transformation has come a long way, the project is not finished yet. According to the pair, one important piece is still missing. The next stage is expected to focus on recreating the iconic decals and vinyl graphics that made the van instantly recognisable in The Rock Show.
Twenty five years after Blink 182 first released Take Off Your Pants And Jacket, the van that helped define one of the band’s most memorable videos is looking closer than ever to how fans remember it in 2001.
Fans looking to celebrate Blink 182’s Take Off Your Pants And Jacket era can also check out the newly launched Reckless Press Shop, which currently features a limited run of Oxford pennants inspired by three iconic eras of the band’s career. With only a small number available, they’re aimed at collectors and longtime Blink fans looking to add a piece of pop punk history to their wall.
