Workhorse Restomod: 1970 GMC Value-Van

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The GMC Value-Van and its Chevrolet counterpart, the Step-Van, were multi-stop trucks/vans made by General Motors between 1940 and 1999. In the case of this 1970 example, it looks like a square box on wheels, which would enable it to carry a lot of stuff for its relatively short stance. The seller bought this as a pandemic project and has performed a great deal of mechanical and cosmetic work in the past couple of years. Located in Hohenwald, Tennessee, this van may only need paint and a purpose. It’s available here on Barn Finds Classifieds for $27,999.

Vans like this were widely used by bread, dairy, and other delivery-related businesses. We don’t know how this van earned its living in the past 50 years, but it’s said to have only accumulated 54,000 miles in the process. This GMC is powered by a 250 cubic-inch inline-6 that relies on a 2-barrel Weber carburetor to deliver fuel to the engine. A 3-speed manual transmission is used to run the van through its gears. The seller says it runs and drives great.

In restomoding this old workhouse, we’re told the seller was able to start with a solid frame and whatever rust was there was eradicated and patched over. Things were then rewelded, sealed, and primed with an epoxy to prevent the corrosion from coming back. Sound deadener materials and weatherproofing were also added. As a result, the van rolls along quietly with no squeaks or rattles.

While the body looks solid now and awaits the paint color of your choice, the seller provides an extensive list of the mechanical work that was done during Covid downtime. This includes but is not limited to four new tires and brakes, a water pump, polished heads and a new gasket set, new exhaust, wiring harness, radiator, and replacing the steering box. Not to mention that the gas tank is new and air shocks have been installed at all four corners. The cost of all these repairs and upgrades must have been as extensive as the list itself. If you purchased this van, what would you do with it? Put a custom paint job or wrap on it and take it to Cars & Coffee or put the machine back to work, maybe turning it into a food truck.

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Comments

  1. Tim

    $27K for that? What’s he smok’n.

    Like 12
    • Service Vet

      Cheech & Chon, Up In Smoke

      Like 5
    • nlpnt

      Not even if it had a full commercial kitchen with all up-to-date health code certificates.

      Like 1
  2. Brian Berger

    With the blue and white small size, this looks like a former postal van. I drove a 1976 P30 bread van with 450000 miles on it in the mid 90’s. It had all the running gear replaced over the years and drove excellent even at 22 below zero New England Winters.

    Like 4
    • pixelpusher

      I believe what you see as blue paint on the back shot is actually a shadow.

      Like 0
  3. Will Irby

    $28k? Does that include a potato chip route?

    Like 10
    • Service Vet

      Talk about inflation lol inline 6 cylinder and those gad awful spun aluminum wheels.

      Like 0
  4. Tracy

    Where is the resto OR THE mod?

    Like 4
  5. Glenn Hilpert

    28K, really

    Like 2
  6. Richard Isenberg

    More like 8500 bucks

    Like 2
  7. Mike

    Make sure John Wayne is not following you while making deliveries.

    https://youtu.be/M0P1yim4SPc?t=26

    Like 3
    • Chris

      Hey Mike, that was an awesome link u sent .Now I am going to have to find the movie & watch the whole movie. Thankzzzz for sharing that ,I am a big car movie fan & had never even heard of that. Never seen John Wayne in that role .

      Like 1
  8. F .G. Soccer

    Blue the inside of the back doors ? they are swung open ? I’ll split it maybe 14k on a very good day.

    Like 0
  9. Jonathan Q Higgins

    Run! In fact you might be able to run faster than this thing can drive. A 3 speed and a 250 ≠ fast. The new steering box might help with the slop these had. Even with sound deadening I suspect it is quite noisy at speed. It’s like being inside a drum. And the engine being wound out at your feet doesn’t help.

    Like 1
  10. CarPro

    Sweet 1970’s van that’s still alive!
    So many new parts! This classic will go another 52 years.

    What a dumb comment saying $8,500 was all it’s worth. I challenge anyone to find one with this much work done to it for $8,500…it doesn’t exist, except in your dreams!

    Like 0
  11. Kevin White

    I spent 10 years driving one of these for SK. SBC in the 90s 90 mph down a large hill. Blew a plug out of 7. Threw the dog house and hit me in the leg.

    Like 0
  12. chrlsful

    not a camper I hope (“Yeah, the loft goes right over here!”) but back to work. Had same engine ina ‘108’ van. Not ina step. Needs a lill bigger…

    Like 0

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