Still In The Barn: 1938 International Panel Van

• Seller: David J ennings (Contact)
• Location: Napa, California
• Mileage: 3,000 Shown
• Chassis #: 111759862
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 350 cui V8
• Transmission: TH350 automatic

Sitting in this California barn is a pretty interesting find, and there’s no doubt it’s a real barn find! The seller drove it into the barn 20 years ago, and it’s been there ever since. As a matter of fact, it’s still sitting there, covered in dust and cobwebs, waiting for a new owner to pull it out and revive it. There aren’t many of these 1938 International Panel Vans left, since most were used for real work and crushed when they wore out. This one is said to be solid, having spent its life in California. It was the seller’s daily driver before it was parked, and it served them well. They’ve decided it’s time to let someone new enjoy it, so they have listed it exclusively here on Barn Finds. It’s located in Napa, California, and offered with a clean title.

Even 20 years ago, a stock ’38 Panel Truck would have been tough to drive daily. They were slow to accelerate and stop, plus hard to steer at low speeds. So, it makes sense that it was upgraded with a more modern drivetrain, front suspension, and brakes. For the most part, it’s welcome improvements that should make it a better-to-drive vehicle, but it’s also a rare truck that probably deserves to be restored to its original condition. The seller notes that the body is all original steel that hasn’t been cut up or modified, so perhaps it could be returned to original state.

This truck would have originally been powered by an L-Head Inline-6, so a Chevrolet 350 V8 is a pretty substantial upgrade in the power department. It’s paired to a TH350 automatic transmission, and there’s no word on whether the rear end is original or has also been swapped. To improve handling and braking, the entire front end was replaced with one from a Chevrolet Nova, so it has independent suspension, power steering, and power brakes. If you plan to drive it regularly, these are fantastic improvements to have. Reverting back to the original front suspension might be a challenge, though, as the parts could be hard to find.

The interior is a mix of old and new. It retains its original dash, but has a newer tilt steering column and gauges mounted under the dash. The seller also notes that the electrical system was converted to 12-volt and the battery was relocated to a compartment under the passenger seat. Since it was a work vehicle when new, the interior was likely quite spartan, so if you decide to restore it to its original condition, there won’t be much to track down. You will need to find new glass, as the seller says it’s all cracked.

Other custom treatments include a plastic roof panel in place of the original canvas and Centerline-style wheels. The seller wanted more of a hot rod stance, so they installed 14-inch wheels up front and 15-inch in the back. The front tires are now completely flat, and the rear ones aren’t far behind. The seller provided old photos from when it was still being driven, and it looked cool. It still has its old California license plates and is in Non Op status with the DMV.

The seller admits they can’t get it out of the barn because debris is blocking the way and the front tires are off the rims, and they can’t physically move it out by themselves. This is one of those rare cases where getting it out of the barn might be a bigger challenge than getting it back on the road. A tow truck shouldn’t have any trouble pulling it out of the barn, but opening the barn enough for the truck to access it will require some hard work. It’s a rare and interesting enough vehicle that it could be worth it, though. That’s all just part of the adventure of rescuing a barn find! So, will you be the one to extract it?