OK man, time to head to Watkins Glen and catch the Band, The Grateful Dead and the Allman Brothers for the gig of the decade and here’s just the set of wheels for that long space trip. It is a 1955 Chevrolet Boyertown Step Van that has a rat rod treatment going on. Located in Naples, Florida, this van is available here on eBay for a current bid of $5,700, reserve not yet met.
Doesn’t much matter, delivering bread, picking up dry cleaning or heading to Funkytown, step vans (a Chevrolet term) were everywhere at one time. Years ago, while managing a punk-rock band, when that sort of thing was in fashion, we used a step van that had been bequeathed from a bakery to move amps, monitors, and sound towers; other than its sketchy mechanicals, it was perfect for the task. And an evolved version of the step van still exists, think UPS or FedEx. An example like this was the staple of commercial businesses, and later hi-jinx of course, and commonly seen on U.S. streets everywhere. The Boyertown reference has to do with the Boyertown Auto Body Works that built the body of this van for Chevrolet and other truck manufacturers. You can read a history of Boyertown here.
The seller indicates that this van is a work in progress and he no longer has time to finish it so he wishes to move it on. Depending on the type of statement one may wish to make, the exterior could be complete. It’s straight and clearly has had quite a bit of effort put into it though there is some rust, surface, and otherwise in places. The lower steps need to be replaced; actually, there isn’t one on the passenger side so that will need to be fabricated.
The most disappointing aspect of this Chevy is the lack of an engine image so the best that I can do is provide a shot of the grille and pretend we can spot the engine behind it. The seller states that “it has a late model chevy 350 low milage engine w/a T-350 transmission” and “it comes with a late 80’s 3.73 posi 3/4 ton rear that was out of a nice driving suburban.” He caps it off by claiming that “it runs and drives nice.” All of this being the case, and knowing that you can capture a complete engine image by simply removing the engine cover, it seems odd to have excluded it. Based on this van’s description, the powertrain is probably the best aspect of the work that has been so far completed. Other enhancements include a new master cylinder, brake shoes, and new front brake lines complemented by zero mileage tires. If his operational statements are interpreted correctly, this van has no rear brakes as they have not been touched due to the inclusion of the new differential, which I gather, is not installed, just included in the sale – it’s not clear.
Inside has nothing going for it, just a recovered, rather uncomfortable looking driver’s seat. It’s actually gutted which is expected in a step van; that way it can be built out as required for whatever the future task at hand is planned. And if it’s concert going, better add some comfortable rear seating capacity and other amenities.
The seller uses the term rat-rod in his description, I’m not sure that’s accurate, it could go that way but a half-finished exterior and non-existent interior does not make a rat-rod in my estimation. Conversely, the powertrain upgrade is a definite start in the right direction. If this Chevrolet Step Van captured your imagination, how would you finish it?
Odd that you should reference the Summer Jam at Watkins Glen, I don’t hear many people talk about it anymore, I guess because it doesn’t have the iconic status of Woodstock. I rode up there from PA with 5 other people in my buddy’s ‘66 Bel Air, but a step van converted to camper mode would have been a nice way to fly.
This is a little lite on the camper interior don’t you think?
i was there too
Back in the days of the USGP at “The Glen”, this would have been at higher risk of ending up in The BOG. An ignominious end to some machinery which didn’t deserve it, that’s for sure.
Interesting how this van has been worked in phases, perhaps accomplished in a bit of a disorderly fashion. But running and driving on a sturdy underpinnings makes the rest look doable.
Just wondering, how come I never see a UPS or FEDEX. Truck for sale? Who makes them, Gruman?
Mark I think I heard that ups and fed ex destroy their old trucks when retired, probably don’t want any liabilities. Stay safe!
Cheers
GPC
Summer Jam 650k strong, We had to park the Torino GT 12 miles out and hoof it in.Drank and ate everything that got too heavy to carry and abandoned the coolers roadside. Slept under a pickup truck in the rain on the first night after the Dead did there practice show.Got busted 2 days later when we got home.Still have the show ticket .
I’d set it up to carry motorized wheelchairs now that I have two of my family members using them. It would also be great for hauling things for our church as well. But sorry folks, the rat rod look’s gotta go as I prefer a nice paint job on my vehicles. Also a front bumper would be nice too. It sure looks to be a great start for someone out there looking for a bargain project.
Those badly rusted steps I see could be repaired by any good
metal shop with no real trouble at all. Too bad I don’t have room at my place, my BIL and I would drive down to Naples
and pick it up–it’s only a couple of hours away.
Easy to see how cool this is and what you could do with it. A little harder to see all the Benjamines, it would take to make it the van of your dreams.
If one dreamt of retaining its utilitarian nature, I’m sure a MAACO paint job (with added moolah for additional expanse of metal) could be applied with a bill in the hundreds of dollars. Enough to protect the outside for a few years while you sort out the interior and details like that bumper, steps, etc.
I’d paint it a solid color and make a sort of camper out of it. Maybe. Or do the same, fix the interior and use it as a parts getter. Or things for the house.
I have a friend who is a pianist. I’d fix it, put his keyboards in it with a place to rest, give it to him so that he could hit the road. A contribution to the Fine Arts.
UPS doesn’t sell their old trucks, just re-cycle them, don’t know about Fed-X
but think the same and it’s liability, could get sued if one killed a stupid buyer.
UPS just went to Auto transmmisions a few years ago.
Used Fed-Ex trucks can be found quite often. Most belong to contract carriers/drivers. ( in other words private companies/owners) For the most part (my experience level) the Fed-Ex trucks are rode hard and put away wet. (Used up) Grumman Olson has been out of business for at least 10 years now. (2005 maybe?) The major “step van” builder is now Utilimaster out of the Elkheart Indiana area. ( got a tour of the facility by one of the engineers as I was in the commercial vehicle sales business at the time) They build “vans” on Freightliner, John Deere, Workhorse ( formally GM P30) chassis and ISUZU chassis. Utilimaster does a lot better job at construction than Grumman did.
The reason you hardly ever see a UPS used van is that they don’t turn them over very often. In fact when you are talking about their “delivery car” fleet. ( step vans for us) the average age of the fleet is about 25 years old. Having been in the commercial truck sales business. And previously in the parts business (and having actually sold parts to UPS) I can guarantee that NO ONE does maintains their vehicles and keeps their vehicles longer than UPS. Also, no one does for less money per mile or for less money per vehicle. UPS thinks nothing about changing an engine, transmission or any other part. And as I have always said. “Unless there is a major accident involved. It is always, always cheaper to repair than to replace.” And UPS takes that theory to the max!
In all my years in the automotive business I have seen 1 used UPS delivery car on the market.
helped feed the bog at the glen, this kid I new stole a bus one year drove into the bog needless to say he spent some time at the gray bar motel
If anybody thinks this 55 delivery van with all the rot at all the rite spots is worth 5700 you all are crazy and the seller too.