History

• The Econoline nameplate was first introduced, by Ford Motor Company, in 1960. The Econoline was originally offered as van, pickup truck and wagon, but by 1990, it was only offered as a van. Since inception, Ford has sold over 6 million Econoline vehicles, and the E-Series vans had been the top-selling van in the United States since 1980. With so much success, Ford rarely alters the formula behind the E-Series. The 1990 Ford E-250 van was part of an E-Series generation that ran from 1975 until 1991.
  
  

Types

• For 1990, the Ford E-250 was available in a regular and super (also referred to as extended) lengths. Both were powered by a 4.9-liter inline-six-cylinder (I-6) engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. The I-6 could produce 150 horsepower and 260 foot-pounds of torque. This was five more horsepower than the 4.9-liter engine in the Ford E-150. V-8, gasoline and diesel engines were optional.
  
  

Features

• Standard features were kept to a minimum and included AM stereo, bucket seats, tinted glass, four-wheel ABS, power steering, power brakes, 16-inch wheels and vinyl seating. Available options included a AM/FM stereo with cassette, air conditioning, towing package, cruise control, power door locks, rear heater, auxiliary fuel tank, limited slip differential, power windows and captain chairs.
  
  

Size

• Standard seating was included for two passengers, and one-passenger seating was an option. The interior provided passengers with 41.5 inches of headroom and 39.5 inches of legroom. The Ford E-250 measured 206.8 inches long, 79.9 inches wide and 83.4 inches high. The E-250 Super was 226.8 inches long and 83.6 inches high. The curb weights start at 4,558 lbs. for the E-250 and 4,748 lbs. for the E-250 Super.
  
  

Expert Insight

• MSN Autos has said, "the Econoline van has seen numerous improvements, making it the choice of many business and personal-use customers that require enclosed, secure storage and a mobile work environment". When talking about the impressive sales figures of the E-Series Edmunds has said, "despite its segment-leading sales, we think the Ford Econoline cargo van suffers from its ancient basic design. Although upfitters may appreciate the same old platform, others would probably prefer the increased utility and improved driving dynamics of newer models".