When Charles Lorenzo of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, first spotted this 1958 Lyn Airvan, it was rotting away in a junkyard, serving as a storage shed for Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts. Most people would have seen an obscure, non-running relic buried in vines and mold. Charles saw the foundation for something extraordinary. He didn’t just restore the van. He transformed it with four-wheel drive and a turbodiesel powerplant, creating a one-of-a-kind machine.
Over Two Years To Acquire
It took two and a half years of convincing before the van’s owner finally agreed to sell it to Charles. They eventually shook hands on a $4,000 deal. Very little is known about the van, and there weren’t even any exterior markings to hint at its past. The lone clue Charles uncovered was the VIN on the steering column.
The two-and-a-half-year wait wasn’t wasted. It gave Charles plenty of time to fine-tune his build plan. Over the past two years, he has transformed that vision into the remarkably unique rig you see here, and the project is still evolving.
Mercedes-Benz Powerplant, Ford Highboy T-Case
From the factory, the van rode on a Chevy C chassis and was powered by a 235-cubic-inch inline-six. The engine was seized, but Charles didn’t care. He had much bigger plans.
He sourced a 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300D sedan and pulled its OM617 turbodiesel. Out came the gasoline inline-six, and in went the diesel inline-five. Charles also transplanted the Mercedes-Benz’s radiator, electric fan, and four-speed automatic transmission.
At this point, it is important to note that Charles is no stranger to vehicle restoration and modification. He also has more than 50 years of off-road experience. That experience was one reason he chose to convert the van to four-wheel drive. To help make it happen, he obtained a divorced NP205 transfer case from a Ford Highboy and installed it in the van. He controls the transfer case with a twin-stick setup that he purchased from Amazon and modified to fit.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Axles, Stock Leaf Springs
Charles also picked up a donor 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee and raided it for parts, including the axles that now live under the Airvan.
The front Dana 30 lacked the manual locking hubs Charles wanted, so he tracked down an older Dana 30 with locking hubs and swapped its outer components onto the newer axle. Both axles still run factory 3.73:1 gears.
Supporting the Airvan are its original leaf springs, which Charles rebuilt for the project. The van rides on 225/75R16 Firestone Transforce LT tires wrapped around Ford F-150 aluminum wheels.
Engineering Bonanza
If you think building this Airvan took an incredible amount of work and engineering, you’re right. Charles pulled the body off the chassis to remove the factory drivetrain, then built a rotisserie so he could thoroughly clean and paint the frame.
“Next came the fun part, putting it all back together and figuring out where I was going to put all the parts and how to make them work,” he says.
The amount of fabrication and problem-solving behind this build is staggering. Nearly every system required attention. The list is extensive, but one example stands out. Charles purchased a wiring harness from Amazon, then completely reworked it to function in the van. He says it was the most tedious and difficult part of the build.
“I find the hardest part of the whole process is wiring up the 47 different (and counting) circuits and systems,” Charles says.
Jeep Rack-And-Pinion Steering, Electric Wipers, Custom A/C, And More
There are many other modifications. The Airvan also received all-new LED lighting, a Jeep Compass rack-and-pinion steering system, a modified Jeep Grand Cherokee brake master cylinder, and electric wipers in place of the original vacuum units. Inside, mods include Dolphin gauges with a GPS speedometer, a custom-fabricated engine doghouse, and a one-off heating, defroster, and air conditioning system.
Charles’ Favorite Part
We caught up with Charles and photographed his Lyn Airvan at the 2026 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. At the time, the van had been on the road for only about two months.
We asked Charles which modification is his favorite, and his answer came without hesitation. “Taking an original truck frame and suspension and making it four-wheel drive with my favorite diesel engine and transmission. I find that to be the most challenging yet rewarding part of the whole build.”
Daily Driver And Work Truck
“So far, most of the mechanical work is done and I’m driving it around now to get the gremlins out. I just had most of the flat glass replaced. Now I’m considering how I’m going to paint it and finish the seating and shelving for my tools. This will be my daily driver and work truck helping people in my church with home improvement projects. So far this has been quite a journey, but it’s been worth it because of all the people I’ve met who love it. It makes them happy and it makes me happy. I especially love driving my grandkids around in it,” Charles says.
Photos by Ken Brubaker and Charles Lorenzo
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