UNL student proves the van can be “in”

The van has long been the staple vehicle of hippies, serial killers, road tripping misfits and Mr. T-related mercenary outfits.

It does not, however, rank near the top of vehicles coveted by college students.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln sophomore Brittany Quittem and her 1992 Chevrolet Lumina APV, dubbed "Big Blue," pay this perception no mind.

"My heart always races a little bit when I'm in there. It's a thrilling ride," said Quittem of the air conditioning-less vehicle with a speedometer that tops out at 85 mph. "My love for it runs deep."

Long before the van's massive, boxy frame, "outrageous point" of a nose and bright blue coloring drew honks and waves on the UNL campus, Quittem's grandfather purchased the vehicle for its rust-resistant, fiberglass body (a decision Quittem attributes to his frugality).

"He told me, ‘Brittany, this way your body will always look good,'" Quittem laughed.

Big Blue quickly became the favorite method of transportation for the family cousins and later when the car was passed on to Brittany for high school, her friends in the St. Paul suburb where she grew up.

"It was oftentimes called ‘The Spaceship,'" said the sophomore business administration major, whose earliest memories of the vehicle include trips to the dollar store with her grandparents. "I think it'll be accepted into the Lincoln community."

Quittem's UNL friends have certainly taken to the vehicle, its one working door (called "Alfie") and the nameless gnome figurine that graces its colossal dashboard.

"You know everybody's watching you, but it's not embarrassing. It's legit," said Kayla Roth, a sophomore pre-nursing major, of the driving experience. "It's like a flashback to the eighties – a really sweet retro car."

But the gas tank hasn't always been half-full for the van that's seen the release of "Titanic," "Toy Story 3," and everything in between. Perhaps the most treacherous moment of Blue's existence is the fault of her malfunctioning gas gauge.

"When it says it's full, it's way past full. So when it says half-full," Quittem trailed off knowingly, recounting the tale of running out of gas on a Mall of America exit ramp and rolling downhill through intersections and red lights, in an effort not to stall on the congested ramp.

"When we finally did get to a gas station, it turned out the pump wasn't on," said Quittem, who recalled her friends screaming throughout the ordeal.

Despite this close encounter, Big Blue's record and azure fiberglass have remained nearly spotless (save a few "love taps with parking barriers") over nearly two decades of road trips to Corpus Christi, Texas; Phoenix, and Minnesota's majestic Sturgeon Lake.

As far as plans to raise campus awareness of Big Blue during its time at UNL, van dance parties, snowball fight drive-bys and free rides have all been suggested, but ask Quittem if she'd consider investing in another Lumina APV after her current ride meets its maker and the answer is clear:

"Never."

chancesolem-pfeifer@dailynebraskan.com