Summit Drive started life back in 2022 as Summit Vans – sourcing and supplying quality used stock. That’s where the Van Detective’s instincts were born and where they continue to flourish to this day.

His identity is no secret. But his tactics maybe are. ‘The Van Detective’ is a title that has both mystery and swagger. It’s a badge earned over years of relentless pursuit. So, we sat down with the man behind the name to uncover how it came about.

That’s what they call me. The Van Detective. Embarrassing…or iconic? Depends who you ask. I’m fine with it – because I can handle what comes with it.

Years on the front line…overlooked. Underappreciated. Snubbed. But the van fans, they know, they get it…and so do I. Obviously.

I prefer ‘Ed Van-Skywalker’…or ‘Obi-Van Kenobi’, if you’re asking. I made those up myself.

From a distance, the Jedi Master of Payloads might seem like just another guy with a mustache and a macintosh who goes about his job like any other professional. But take a second look and you’ll realise he’s a real jobsworth who lives and breathes vans. 

Ed’s accolades came not by solving mysteries in a dark alley, but by tirelessly matching people with the perfect vans for their needs.

Van Man with a Plan

Sparkies to scaffolders, florists to furniture movers – he’s helped hundreds of you get behind the wheel of the right van, not just any van. But what’s the secret to his success? 

You need one van? Done. You need a fleet? Sorted. Need that specific one you saw in a dream on Tuesday? Already on it.

That’s how I do it. I know what the customer wants before they do. It’s not manipulation – it’s vanipulation. It’s like… I get in their heads. Not in a weird way, just… professionally invasive.

Like Dynamo, but instead of pulling coins from behind your ear, I pull the perfect deal from a network of 20,000 vans. I call it Slight of Van.

They come to me all confused, eyes glazed over from scrolling. ‘Ooo I need a van. Help me, help me!’ …pathetic. But I just say, ‘leave it with me.’

People think it’s luck. It’s not. It’s years of late nights reading Autotrader. I’ve got every issue from May 1970 until they went fully online in 2013. You do the Math.

It’s Not Just About Wheels & Deals

When we asked him about what makes his job unique, Ed paused and delivered his answer with the gravity it deserves.

Sure, you could just walk into a dealership and pick something off the lot. But that’s just… settling, isn’t it? That’s compromise. That’s going, ‘Yeah, that’ll do.’

And I’ve done that. In vans and in love. Took what was available, not what was right. Thought I could make it work. But deep down, I knew… the spec was all wrong.

So now? I don’t make do. Not with vans. Not with anything. I find the one. Even if it takes a bit longer.

The Future of Vans

As we wrapped up the interview, Ed’s mustache twitched ever so slightly. It was the kind of twitch that suggests a man teetering between genius and complete emotional collapse.

We’re always looking for better ways to connect people with the perfect van. We’ve got access to thousands of pre-owned commercials from all the big names – Ford, Vauxhall, Mercedes – but what we don’t have? A van app.

Imagine it… Like Tinder, but for vans. Left swipe? Too rusty. Right swipe? Clean MOT. Payloads over pillow talk, yeah?. Vans don’t ghost you. Vans don’t move to Leeds and say they need space. Vans… stay loyal. 

What am I calling it? ‘Only Vans’. And that’s an exclusive.

The Hero You Didn’t Know You Needed

Whether you’re in need of one van or all the vans, The Van Detective is the man who can (source it). For Ed, it’s not just about selling vans – it’s about building relationships and finding the perfect van for the job.