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Old wagons like Squarebacks and Volvos are definitely on my radar, as well. Stretching a bit, there was '64 Impala on my local CL that I would have loved, but I was too slow.
Transits are tempting, but they're becoming ubiquitous (with good reason!) and they don't really fit my brand terribly well. Something that stands out will act as marketing while I'm on the road making deliveries. And, modern start/run capabilities are why I'm interested in putting a cool old body on a modern-ish chassis.
There's a rarely seen, pretty scarce Cadillac station wagon on flea bay right now, go Collector Car/Caddy.
Ooh. There was a custom Eldo wagon on Hemmings classifieds not too long ago. Shabby-ish bodywork, but cool in a weird way otherwise.
Wally wrote:An old Econoline van. Keep the six, and ad an overdrive trans.
I was thinking either the Econline or an A100.
Chevy/GMC made them also, slant six between the front seats. Came in long and short wheelbases; the one shown is a longie, note the material between the passenger door and the side doors.
In reply to 914Driver:
I love both the Ford and Chevy of that era, though both give me a bit of the VW bus style feet-are-crumple-zone heebie jeebies for everyday use. Not that I wouldn't consider it, but it gives me pause...
Fageol Twin Coach? They were originally used as bakery trucks.
There's a modified one for sale on the HAMB board although it's not cheap: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=585138&highlight=twin+coach
914Driver wrote:How much bread will you be hauling? A gimmicky novel car may help them remember your shop.
I'm in love. Also, what the berkeley are they teaching in schools that at least 50% of people are confused as to when to use the words "sell" and "sale?" "For sell! Must sale!" I know it's silly, but that drives me insane.
no moar then the wuns dat dont pnkterate or cap er take a breath
tuna55 wrote:Travis_K wrote:67-72 GM panel truck with 4BT? Stock frame would be fine.
I would recommend against this. Those frames are pretty weak and the suspensions even weaker - the leaf springs in the back (unless it is a chevy with coils) were not even full width when compared to the rest of the world. I love 'em, and I own a 72, but I have no pretenses about it being tough when compared to something like a 90's Ford 300 or whatever.
I have to say i have never heard of anything like that. I have heard of the 4wd ones cracking frames with big tires, but I knew someone who was running 11s on slicks for years in a 67 C/10 with no problems. I can't imagine using one for a bread truck would wear it out. The biggest problem with the panel trucks (and suburbans) of that era is massive rust.
Perhaps a French HY Van full of bagettes? Guy from New Jersey has a ton of them on ebay. Look unnder Collector Car/Citroen.
^^^that's the new word in ugly
Well... as much as something old/unique would be cool, I'd be concerned about the novelty wearing off after awhile... like when you're making a delivery in 100 degree heat in a vehicle with no a/c and poor ventilation... and the ambient humidity is so freakin' high the bread has gone moldy between the time you leave the bakery and the last stop... then reverse that during the winter and you're delivering frozen bread...
Ford Transit.
/thread
Ian F wrote: Ford Transit.
/thread
I agree. In fact this is mine:
Seriously, I think finding a modern chassis to use is the least of your worries. Finding a decent body is going to be the biggest problem. My brother-in-law has been hunting for a late 40's Ford Panel to rebuild/restore for 5 years. Everyone he has found has either been restored already meaning $$$$ or so rusted out it isn't worth dragging home.
Travis_K wrote:tuna55 wrote:Travis_K wrote:67-72 GM panel truck with 4BT? Stock frame would be fine.
I would recommend against this. Those frames are pretty weak and the suspensions even weaker - the leaf springs in the back (unless it is a chevy with coils) were not even full width when compared to the rest of the world. I love 'em, and I own a 72, but I have no pretenses about it being tough when compared to something like a 90's Ford 300 or whatever.
I have to say i have never heard of anything like that. I have heard of the 4wd ones cracking frames with big tires, but I knew someone who was running 11s on slicks for years in a 67 C/10 with no problems. I can't imagine using one for a bread truck would wear it out. The biggest problem with the panel trucks (and suburbans) of that era is massive rust.
They are probably "strong enough", but they are not strong by design. I can take some pics if you'd like, there is one in my garage. The leaf springs are in fact narrower than normal ones, which limits interchangeability and such. Also they don't have the Hotchkiss rear suspension (with the splayed shocks) so the wheelhop can be pretty bad. I love them, I DDed it for a year or so, but I would not use it as a starting point when better are available. Plus, only 71 and 72 got good brakes (I think).
how about this... Get a transit for now.. and work on a "halo" car for your business when you are not delivering bread
Start with something easy like a Scion Xb with vinyl graphics on the side. Good mileage, reliable, eye catching, good surface area to be a mini rolling billboard.
Proceed to the project later.
tuna55 wrote:Travis_K wrote:tuna55 wrote:Travis_K wrote:67-72 GM panel truck with 4BT? Stock frame would be fine.
I would recommend against this. Those frames are pretty weak and the suspensions even weaker - the leaf springs in the back (unless it is a chevy with coils) were not even full width when compared to the rest of the world. I love 'em, and I own a 72, but I have no pretenses about it being tough when compared to something like a 90's Ford 300 or whatever.
I have to say i have never heard of anything like that. I have heard of the 4wd ones cracking frames with big tires, but I knew someone who was running 11s on slicks for years in a 67 C/10 with no problems. I can't imagine using one for a bread truck would wear it out. The biggest problem with the panel trucks (and suburbans) of that era is massive rust.
They are probably "strong enough", but they are not strong by design. I can take some pics if you'd like, there is one in my garage. The leaf springs are in fact narrower than normal ones, which limits interchangeability and such. Also they don't have the Hotchkiss rear suspension (with the splayed shocks) so the wheelhop can be pretty bad. I love them, I DDed it for a year or so, but I would not use it as a starting point when better are available. Plus, only 71 and 72 got good brakes (I think).
I used to have 2 of them, yeah only 71 and 72 got disc brakes. I just hadn't ever heard anyone complain about frame strength, the main problem is just the huge amount of rust in the panels and suburbans.
HHR panel truck?
How about a hearse?
914Driver wrote:Chevy/GMC made them also, slant six between the front seats. Came in long and short wheelbases; the one shown is a longie, note the material between the passenger door and the side doors.
There's a SWB G10 on my local CL, matter of fact.
Ian F wrote: ...like when you're making a delivery in 100 degree heat in a vehicle with no a/c and poor ventilation... and the ambient humidity is so freakin' high the bread has gone moldy between the time you leave the bakery and the last stop...
Like my current '88 GMC pickup DD with no air? Been there. Still alive. Doesn't bother me.
I like the Citroen HY for an over-the-top French thing. Convert to a tiny food truck, put up a couple little cafe tables, blare Edith Piaf and Django Reinhart, smoke a Gauloise and stare wistfully out of the truck while 'pretending' to disdain the customers' petty requests due to crippling existential ennui.
Call it 'Monsieur et Madame' and do only croques.
alex wrote: Like my current '88 GMC pickup DD with no air? Been there. Still alive. Doesn't bother me.
Strong like bull, smart like tractor? 
But in all seriousness, I also own a p/u with broken a/c... and it's not really the same thing as a panel-type truck. You can get reasonable air through a pick-up cab to make it tolerable in the Summer. For whatever reason, adding a whole bunch of dead space behind the passenger area seems to make that more difficult. I know this from our Volvo 1800ES cars (2-dr, long-roof hatchback), which are freakin' brutal to drive in hot weather. They have passive vents in the rear quarter panels, but they don't seem to be worth a damn.
And again, it's not the heat, it's the humidity that concerns me. If your business will be selling boutique artisan breads, I'm assuming freshness will be a major selling point, moreso than delivering it in some fancy-schmancy vehicle that your resellers won't give two turds about.
The old COEs are really cool looking.
