The Boyertown Auto Body Works existed from 1872 through 1990 near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, producing all kinds of custom vehicles, mostly commercial. The site is now a transportation museum that looks quite interesting. The Tour Wagon was introduced in 1949 and was built on various chassis into the 1960’s. When introduced it was $3,500, a hefty sum in that era. This Tour Wagon is located in Paradise, California and is offered here on eBay for an opening bid of $10,000.
The only real deviation noted from stock is the replacement of the flathead Ford V8 with a Dodge 318 somewhere along the way. The interior is charmingly period, with little details like the bottle openers on the wall and stainless steel trim fit the whole ’50s camping vibe perfectly. While the added on front top (the pompadour) is not original, if done properly it just adds to the character. Ok, maybe not, but it is interesting! Any Barn Finds readers interested in vintage camping?
Looks like a bread truck with windows cut in to it and a camper interior stuffed inside it. The cab over addition must cause serious wind resistance and cause a lot of extra effort to the engine when battling strong head winds….I’d pass on this one for sure….But to each his own…
I like it, but I wouldn’t be comfortable driving it over 50 to begin with. I’d be worried about sleeping in that cantilevered bunk – looks precarious. And leaky.
It would be one heck of a oddball at Ford only car shows in fact any car show. Would not drive it much, gas mileage must be horrible with that cab over sleeper.
If I kept the cab over (which I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t), I’d have to paint that part of it gloss black and pipe Elvis music out…
LOL the look immediately reminded me of Lil’ Abner’s hairstyle….
They hadn’t changed it much by 1964, either:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/350734661856
A correction: I found out an offshoot of the company still exists, but in Florida, making electric trolleys (!):
http://www.boyertown-trolley.com/
I love old trailers and motorhomes. [We’re actually seriously shopping for a Vixen.] But this:without the pompadour, it would make a wonderful collectible for very short jaunts- the gas mileage would kill. With that hideous addendum , I can only picture it parked in the local eccentric’s garbage-strewn yard. In either case, I know exactly what it smells like inside!
Nice rig,I would buy,but $10,000 , not. It looks a little rusty.Cabover, I would remove it the first day,Sawzall. And eventualy repower it,350cu.in.,then 4 wheel drive, Maybe put it on a newer chassis
7800 lb. GVW, 87 horsepower. Fun! No wonder they swapped the engine.
No pics of that hideous growth from the inside? This is overpriced by $1 per pound.
My friend had the same truck,not a camper.It had a 6 cylinder
That would be really neat if they hadn’t chopped up the roof.
It’s interesting…
The overhead bunk looks like it is so small on the inside, that it probably is not useable.
However it will cause some serious wind drag and probably make the rig top heavy when driving. Sort of a WTF idea.
The rest of the van looks like it is decent condition, and the 318 swap is not a bad choice for power. It probably would not be too difficult to remove the bunk, repair the roof and return the van to original condition.
Just try to think of the pompador as a sunvisor!
At least the drive-train should be trouble free with the 318 and hopefully a 727 Torque-flight trans.