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Keeping Portland Weird...the Never Never Van

By Cindy Westfall

Real Estate Agent with Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon

November 21, 2011 02:55 PM

If you haven't heard, Portland has this "Keep Portland Weird" slogan. You see this bumper sticker on cars everywhere. So here I am on a regular Monday morning at Albertsons Supermarket and as I was looking for a parking spot, I noticed this van...I mean, how could you NOT notice this van. I pulled out my trusty camera and snapped a picture of it. It looks like something out of the movie Jumanji.

Being the computer nerd that I am, I googled "Monkey head van" and stumbled upon a blog about Scot Campbell and his Never Never Van. I googled that and came to his own blog. Ok, I checked out the video and will say that he is talented as a window artist....but a bit creepy as a clown with his puppet "Spanky" ...or maybe it's that crazy laugh at the end.....yep..he's keeping Portland weird all right!

Never Never Van

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Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate

Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR

Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

Oh my gosh! What a character. Sure doing his part to keep Portland weird. Thanks for sharing.

Gretchen

Nov 21, 2011 03:27 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

OMG Richard.....I am sitting here laughing hard. I guess I didn't pull it off well enough...as you caught onto my risky wording. Thanks for the evening smile and laugh...it's good for me :)). You'll have to come up and check out the weirdness first hand one day.

Nov 21, 2011 03:27 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Gretchen, right? Luckily, he didn't have the creepy clown outfit on when I saw him hop into his van...now the van AND a clown driving might just cause accidents. Kinda like something you don't really want to look at, but can't stop.

Nov 21, 2011 03:30 PM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

That creepy van has always been scary to me. I think it's a perfect vehicle for a horror mystery. Really. Just creepy - no other words for it. ( Oh alright, maybe one, weird) :)

Nov 21, 2011 03:32 PM

Debbie Holmes

John L. Scott - Boise, ID

Gets the job done!

That is one uniquely weird van!

Nov 21, 2011 03:36 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Debb, Oh..this van would be SO perfect for a horror mystery! Oh..and you're right..it IS a bit creepy.

Nov 21, 2011 03:43 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Debbie, Oh, I can honestly say there probably isn't another one out there that looks like it...but then again..ya never know!

Nov 21, 2011 03:44 PM

Susan Harding, HomeStar Video Tours

Portland, OR

Showcasing You and Your Listings, 855-579-6284

That is one freaky van...I'm kind of surprised I haven't seen it around town. Personally, I'm kind of tired of the "Keep Portland Weird" bumper stickers and unfortunately, it's not unique to P-town, I think Austin had the slogan first. Great shot!

Nov 21, 2011 05:27 PM

Larry O'Sullivan

Sandy, UT

Cindy - Definitely weird. My van of same make and vintage is partially decorated by his standard. I am often in it as O'Larry the Clown. Can be a great branding item. Thanks for finding this beauty.

Nov 21, 2011 07:39 PM

Mary Stewart

HomeTrust Real Estate, LLC, Homes for Everyone - Wilsonville, OR

Wilsonville and Surrounding Portland Metro Areas

Cindy, This is definitely a very creepy and wierd van and would make me want to walk the other way in fear of something jumping out at me. Good photo shot though. Hope your Thanksgiving is filled with family and good eats.

Nov 22, 2011 04:27 AM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Cindy, I guess someone has to keep Portland weird :) Reminds me of a friend of mine that had a garden in the back of his pickup truck---a full fledge garden!

Nov 22, 2011 06:15 AM

Jill Sackler

Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY

LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

Can't say I've ever seen anything like it before. I would have noticed this in the parking lot too. I was about to say what an original slogan Portland has, but the comment above says it was stolen from Austin.

Nov 22, 2011 12:33 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Susan, I know..I've never seen it around either! Hey, I knew Porland reminded me a bit of Austin..I lived there for 3 years. Guess I'm destined to live in places that are weird..LOL. Hey..I used to have a bumper sticker when I was in my 20's that said "why be normal"...so there ya go!

Nov 22, 2011 03:50 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Larry...I can almost make a bet that your "Larry the clown" is no where near as creepy at the clown in the video. Yikes. It looks like he loves coming off as a bit crazy..but probably goes home to the wife and kids in that house with the white picket fence. Hmm...then again..maybe not.

Nov 22, 2011 03:53 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Mary..I quickly pulled out my camera and snapped a picture..I really would have liked to get up close and take pics from all sides...but wasn't sure when the owner of that vehicle would emerge....so didn't want to linger tooo long. You have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well Mary!

Nov 22, 2011 03:55 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Charles, well, garden bed...truck bed...I can almost see that! I'm assuming it was a parked truck...unless he wanted to share his produce with all. I've seen gardens on roofs..done on purpose, not just the wonderful thick moss that we get so much if our neck of the woods.

Nov 22, 2011 03:59 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Jill, I am almost hesitant to type that I've lived in Austin too.... I know...I know...LOL

Nov 22, 2011 04:00 PM

Charles Buell

Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA

Seattle Home Inspector

Cindy, no---he actually drove the thing everywhere---about 5 miles an hour---I imagine it use to upset anyone that got stuck behind him, but at least they had something interesting to look at :)

Nov 22, 2011 04:10 PM

Cindy Westfall

Premiere Property Group,LLC Portland Metro & Suburbs Oregon - Tualatin, OR

ABR,GRI Your Tualatin & Portland Metro Real Estate

Hi Charles, I would bet that most people wouldn't be too happy to get behind him. I of course would think this was just the right speed to get that photo op picture of a traveling garden bed :)....than I'd pass him up!

Nov 23, 2011 03:14 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

We love Portland and that it is unique -- but this van is a bit too weird even for Portland! Wonder what his home looks like?!

Nov 24, 2011 04:40 AM