Silly tale about the risks old people take

I never did get to see this vehicle, so I have no real picture of this van, but I know the story is true because the man who told me was initially embarrassed and slightly humiliated by it.
In certain communities there is a tradition of innovation, of finding a cheaper way, a better way, a way to save money - Mennonite communities are well known for their enterprise and hard work and this tale comes out of that tradition.
Now the old fellow had fallen off the barn roof a few years back and perhaps that caused the shift in his thinking. No one would know for sure. He was in his seventies when he went up on the barn roof and he was lucky to have survived with nothing more than a broken leg.
A couple of years later he decided to build his own van. A farmer by profession he was well used to making things work and he knew how to weld and manufacture many things.
He gathered the tools and equipment that he needed, dropping in a rebuilt Ford engine, likewise building or buying all that he needed to make the van mobile. He installed it all himself, wheels, axles, carburetor, headlights, taillights and the thousand other requirements of a moving vehicle. There was one problem though - in the winter he had no heater.
So. Being thrifty he decided to put a wood stove in the back. It worked too, merrily casting smoke and ash liberally from its chimney as it wound its way to the small village nearby and to church.  That is where he ran into the problem.
It was determined that the members of the congregation had some reservations about parking next to the smoking van. Ultimately a place was found for him to park ....in the furthest corner of the church grounds. 
Ah visionaries they are never well received in their own villages.