Nope mugsy, plan B isn't going to work, because that's what the farmer I bought my '54 from tried.
He drilled some holes in a fender, hooked it to a tractor chain, and pulled. Made a heck of a mess and looked worse than the original wreck. It puckered out the holes (from the chain attachment) and made an outward crease besides. You can fill depressions with filler, but you need to have much better body skills than I've got to smooth down outward imperfections!
You can go the cheapie route like we did, and buy a screw-type slide hammer (maybe $50 or so). You'll have to drill a hole in the fender and then screw the slide hammer in (you've already got a couple of holes that might work anyway!). You'll need to back the holes with mesh and fill the holes with fiberglass body filler when you're done.
It isn't the best way, but it will likely be the cheapest way - and it's a lot better than trying to pull it out with your van. The bends in the steel back there add rigidity to the steel - so it is unlikely that the crease is going "pop" back out like you might see on a more modern vehicle or even in a more accessible panel area.
One word of advice - don't get a screw type slide hammer that doesn't have a replaceable tip. The hammering is going to strip the threads so you'll need to replace it as you go.
