The GMC Value-Van was a badge-engineered version of the Chevrolet Step-Van, a multi-stop truck built by General Motors for 60 years (1940-99). These were great to load up with all kinds of parts and parcels and drop them off somewhere one or two at a time. This 1963 GMC P20 with the “swoopy” front end has been dormant for many years and could be a great restomod project. Discovered in California, it’s currently in Phoenix, Arizona, and available here on craigslist for $4,500. Our thanks to Barn Finder “art” for this discovery!
If you’re a fan of 1960s or 1970s television, it’s hard not to watch an episode of almost anything and not see one of these old vans as part of the commercial landscape. They were box-like in their shape so they could haul around a lot of stuff and the driver had a sliding door so he/she could hop in and out for making fast deliveries (think of it as an old-school Amazon delivery truck). We don’t know much about the work life of this GMC, though “Los” something is sketched on the back door. The seller brought it to Phoenix where the registration has already been swapped.
We surmise this van spent most of its life in dry climates where corrosion is less likely to survive, although this old workhorse has a bit of surface rust and more here and there. And it has its share of little dents and dings. Though it doesn’t run, at least it rolls, turns, and stops, which will make moving it to its final destination easier. You may want to consider this vehicle as a clean slate as the engine is said to be a V6 which would not have been the case back in 1963, so originality is out the window.
The van has a dually rear end which suggests it was built to carry more than just light packages. While its six original wheels are included in the sale, it currently wears ¾ wheels as rollers. The seller is willing to deliver it within the surrounding area. If you were to buy this vintage transport, what would you do with it? Turn it into a mini camper perhaps?
We had one of these we used to haul autocross supplies
with for the Redwood Sports Car Club.It had a wooden front
door.
I got roped into driving it to an event once – it was not
a pleasant experience.
One of my ex-brother in laws, the one that raced his ’65 Impala at Hales Corners Speedway,( now a Menards) had a step van just like this. It was a Chevy, so had an in-line 6, and was literally his rolling auto shop and pulled the Impala on a trailer. I helped him several times, and was a lot of fun. One warm night, the ol’ Impala was running hot, radiator probably plugged with dirt, what to do? He comes in the pits, we decide to take the radiator out of the step van, and run it, and it worked and reinstalled it in the van for the ride home. Can’t have that kind of fun today.
This truck? Portable food vendors today are a hit, but otherwise, looks like a nice storage shed, for $50 bucks, tops.
There was indeed a GMC v6 truck engine. 305 ci Torque monster. IHad a 62 GMC long narrow 3/4 t on. Granny 4 speed
Wasn’t an option in the P-series vans. Prior to 63 the GMC used the time-honored 270 straight six, in 63 they went to the Chevy 230 and the 292 was an option, then in 66 or 67, the 230 was replaced with a 250. V8’s were added around 68 or 69, I believe in the one ton and smaller.
Great story Howard and a great example of how the times have truly changed. Even borrowing just the radiator CAP off of one of today’s vehicles and later reinstalling it could easily involve also having to reset multiple codes and computers – just to make it run.
Way I figure,in the VERY near future, there will be a note on the hood release,if any, “Windshield washer is in the trunk, you have no business under the hood. Consult dealer”.
Ha ha, if only $50.00
The first thing we need to figure out is, are those bullet holes in the windshield, entry or exit…
Seeing the rough-looking vans that presumably get a license to sell ice cream in and around our neighborhood, I’ve wondered if restoring/modifying a vintage hauler like this would make a good ice cream truck business. It’s fun to ponder it, if nothing else.
You’d get some nostalgic baby boomer business for sure, remembering their childhood ice cream trucks. It would make a good regular food truck as well, maybe with a vintage diner theme
Gmc made gasoline v6 engines in the early 60’s and into early 70’s. The one in this van is probably a 305 cid v6.I bet it’s original to the vehicle.They were meant for HD applications.
That’a a super-cool looking step van, actually. I would love to be able to afford a no-expense spared restification of this and make a custom tow rig out of it with a modern Cummins drivetrain…but, it would be a $100K+ endeavor.
I bought one of these when I was in college, in 1972. 63 GMC PB 1500, which was the 3/4 ton. It was an old milk truck. Fixed it up and made a camper out of it, took it to Florida and all around NY. Had the 125″ wheelbase, single 8-19.5 tires and the 120 certified net HP 230 ci Chevy straight six, which was the standard power plant. The one thing was the curved windshield glass, even in 1972, couldn’t find a replacement. It had two 2 inch cracks, which wouldn’t pass NYS inspection . So, because I couldn’t find another windshield, and NY had a quirky law that said one crack was ok but more than one, no matter how small was not OK, I took a glass cutter and joined the two cracks to one and voila! Passed inspection and I was on the road. Put a few thousand miles on it, but eventually traded it towards a 68 chevy pickup.
My dad’s buddy has something really similar, but it’s a 51 Ford chassis. Qa1 suspension, discs all around and a wait for iiittttt 460/auto. It’s a old US Mail truck. It has flat windshield glass and angle cut corner windows. It’s kinda different. Of course when it’s finished and all done up in postal livery it will say “US MALE” on the sides.
I have several of these. Would love to know if the windshields are available anywhere????
They weren’t in upstate NY in 1972, but I didn’t try any harder than was possible for a pre-internet college student on a budget. I had bought the truck for $300 and I was quoted that for a new windshield, so went the local junkyard route with no joy.
Since this was a GM product and that body style with characteristic curved windshield was made thru the 50s to 1967, and the Advent of the internet, I’m sure one could be sourced in a wrecking yard.
They used these windshields in the ultravan and yes they are available. Made in south America somewhere. Check out the ultravan club.