This one lept off the webpage at me. I know there’s a lot of interest in two-door station wagons, but how about a sedan delivery – another body style that is long gone from the modern carscape? Our subject today is a lifelong California resident in the form of a 1958 Chevrolet sedan delivery, a model that is based on the bottom-of-the-line Delray sedan trim level. This discovery hails from Los Angeles, California and is available, here on craigslist for $7,600.
By 1958, the sedan delivery body style was on the way out. Chevrolet continued its production through the ’60 model year and then it was gone forever unless you consider the ’71-’75 Vega Panel Express version to be true to the original intention – which I suppose it is. Actual sedan delivery production numbers weren’t recorded in ’58 as they’re lumped in with the two-door Yeoman station wagon count (16K total). An Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) contributor estimates that the ’58 S.D. volume was between 2,000 and 2,500 units.
This example is showing the effects of years in the SoCal sunshine, it’s burned and faded. The surface rust bleed-through is pretty significant with potentially some “thinness” to that driver’s side rocker panel. The body, however, looks solid and intact with the lower hood trim piece being its most obvious detraction. Also missing are the “Delray” badges which should be attached just above the trim line, and right behind the door openings. It would be beneficial to get a look at the underside of this Chevy. Note the wheels, from a Chevy S-10 perhaps?
Power is provided by a later model 327 CI V8 engine, a displacement size that didn’t appear until the ’62 model year. This one’s a non-runner and minus its alternator belt, radiator hose, and probably some other stuff too. It’s a two-barrel carburetor-equipped version so that would put the stock power output, with running capability, in the 210-235 gross HP range. The transmission is said to be an automatic unit but no further particulars are provided.
The interior is rough in a dusty and rusty way. The seats appear to be late ’60s vintage strato-bucket seats but it’s difficult to discern much else barring that crusty aftermarket steering wheel. The rubber floor mat is gone exposing the bare steel floors and they look OK other than some surface rust. There is a hole that has been cut into the transmission hump, ostensibly for a floor shift, but that’s all that stands out. The cargo area is photographed and reveals the spare tire well, beyond that, it’s in rough shape.
OK, so it’s what to do with it time. This Chevy has headed, somewhat, down the hot-rod highway, so that would seem to be the most logical path to continue. It’s going to take a lot of work to make this S.D. presentable, and probably driveable as well, but the potential outcome is exciting. And that brings us to the price. Yeah, I know this is a rare bird but the ask seems to be a bit rich to me, how about you?
Yep…these are rare if only because they were crushed out after they were done. This looks like a nice builder if the price stays down there.
It’s not an auction, that is the price…
When I was in high school,the local beer distributor had
one like this.It had “Rainier Ale” advertising on the sides.
A very nice model just waiting to be resto modded
Actually a Chevy HHR could be had as a sedan delivery for a few years…
This one’s cool, and would be nice as a mild custom without hacking up the body.
That crusty steering wheel could possibly be a vintage Corvette they had flat 3 spokes if I remember correctly.
Definitely not a corvette wheel.
There were 7466 Sedan Deliveries built for the 1958 model year. There is no breakdown on 6’s or V8’s, although the body model (on cowl/trim tag) and VIN will tell you what it was born with.
Body model 1170 = 6 cylinder
1270 = 8 cylinder
If the VIN started with an A, it’s a 6, if it starts with a B it’s an 8. My bet would be that more were produced with the 6 as these were typically low buck work horses, many of them fleet or government units.
What’s your source? I searched for an hour and came up with little.
JO
This is a rare SD indeed. Lots of these were used by the newspaper route drivers for delivery to homes for the local paperboys. I had a big paper route back in 60-61 and my route driver had a ’59 sedan delivery, always liked the look of those back in the day!
Rare bird; fair price. This would be an awesome restomod!
I’m gettin’ the band back together and
need something like this to carry my
band equipment. Allbeit a karaoke
sound system and my guitar. Workin’
on putting together a 2-person stage
show. A lot of places just won’t pay
for a 4 or 5 piece group today. Me, I’d
restore the body and interior and swap in a later 350 and 700R4 tranny
for reliability and safety. Will make a
great portrait when I get ’round to it.
This needs to be saved, hot rodded, slammed, stock it doesn’t matter it just needs to be saved
Right, Just Restore that Bad Mo Fo…
Looks like a auto gear selector on the column ; if its original to the car I’d think it was pretty rare, most sedan deliveries are base trim models with manual transmissions . This looks rough, but its solid, even the tailgate and rear bumper are straight It looks like this was a hot rod from many years ago, 327, old school steering wheel and check out the whitewall spare mounted on a Cragar rim !