I know some of you here have had the same thought: take a modern-ish truck chassis and driveline, and drop a vintage '40s-'60s body on it to make a killer little sedan delivery/panel wagon.
What would be your combination of choice if around-town fuel efficiency were the priority of the build?
depends on what you're delivering... pizza, lumber, other cars, monster trucks...
67-72 GM panel truck with 4BT? Stock frame would be fine.
donalson wrote: depends on what you're delivering... pizza, lumber, other cars, monster trucks...
I want to deliver bread
I put a 1952 Dodge B3C-116 pickup on a 1987 Dodge 3/4 ton 2WD frame. No issues, I would do it again. Old looks but with 12 volts and heat!
Dan
You know the S10 is popular for this type of project. I have wanted to take two '53 ford F1 cabs and weld them together and make a 4 door, then put it on a F series frame with Navigator air ride. Engine of choice would be the new EcoBoost V6 but I think that would be a little cost prohibitive. 
Didn't Chrysler already do this with the PT Cruiser?
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.
alex wrote: What would be your combination of choice if around-town fuel efficiency were the priority of the build?
It would really depend on what I was delivering.
For simplicity, reliability and general ease of construction, I'd lean towards an old panel van (don't care what make) and drop in a base-spec GM E-Rod V8 w/ a 4 spd auto. Combine with a Vintage Air HVAC set-up and maybe $500 worth of ICE and you'd have a fun and comfortable delivery truck.
A 4BT idea sounds great and I've seen some cool builds, but I'm not sure I'd want that level of "project" for a truck I needed to rely on. Also, a smooth running engine it is not (compared to the 6BT, which I know for a fact is no smooth runner itself) and that could get tiring after awhile.
This would indeed be for delivering bread (the Ferrari is out of the budget), so something van-like would be best.
Just thinking about cobbling together a cool and useable truck that has a bit of a brand image while I'm cruising around town.
alex wrote: This would indeed be for delivering bread (the Ferrari is out of the budget), so something van-like would be best. Just thinking about cobbling together a cool and useable truck that has a bit of a brand image while I'm cruising around town.
If it were me I'd find roll over whatever - Ford, Chevy, Dodge - doesn't really matter. Grab the frame and greasy bits and then search for a rust free body from he 50's that you like. This is a crime of opportunity, if you say you have to find a mid 90's 7.3L powerstroke and a 54 sedan delivery with the optional package because of the extra trim and blah blah blah - you'll never get it done.
If small and efficient is the goal, how about a '63-'64 Dodge Dart station wagon?
It's a unibody, though, so it would make more sense to do a drivetrain swap than put it on a truck chassis.
Or how about a VW Bus with a Subaru engine swap?
How much bread will you be hauling? A gimmicky novel car may help them remember your shop.
http://louisville.craigslist.org/cto/2518309795.html
There are a lot of Japanese minivans out there like the Mitsubishi L300 that could do what you want, but they're small compared to American vans.
Edit: If you want really crazy fuel efficiency, you could see if you can get a Japanese micro-van in the 600cc-1.3L range, like the Suzuki Super Carry or Daihatsu Hijet.
alex wrote: This would indeed be for delivering bread (the Ferrari is out of the budget), so something van-like would be best. Just thinking about cobbling together a cool and useable truck that has a bit of a brand image while I'm cruising around town.
There is only one with your criteria: 2CV with the truck body.
Add S10 chassis/running gear
914Driver wrote: I put a 1952 Dodge B3C-116 pickup on a 1987 Dodge 3/4 ton 2WD frame. No issues, I would do it again. Old looks but with 12 volts and heat!
Did you document the build anywhere? I'm so curious about the realities of getting all the bits to line up. I mean, we've all seen enough camaros and Metros perched on 4x4 chassis to show that it's doable, but I'd love to read a first-hand account of the issues you faced.
Old truck with modern utility is certainly a compelling idea.
An old Econoline van. Keep the six, and ad an overdrive trans.
Early divco
Willysesses have been on my radar for some time, actually. Divco's too, though they're pretty scarce.
There's a snow cone shop I pass that occasionally has an old, relatively small I-H delivery van parked out front. So very cool. (No pun intended.)
ransom wrote:914Driver wrote: I put a 1952 Dodge B3C-116 pickup on a 1987 Dodge 3/4 ton 2WD frame. No issues, I would do it again. Old looks but with 12 volts and heat!Did you document the build anywhere?
I did but at a time when I did not have a digital camera. PM me questions if you'd like, it's just nuts & bolts.
Dan
how about a mini wagan/panel van?
depending on how much bread you need to haul, a VW Type 3 squareback might work well too.
I do agree on something unique and dare I say "cute" will keep people remembering your shop
I hate to try to rain on your parade, but if you just want to make money, factor in the monthly payment on this and have a vehicle that will start and run when you need it.
I feel so ashamed now. I've got a 53 Coronet 2 door wagon with a modern V8 swap you could use! Looks like this one....after a couple thousand hours labor!
Old Volvo? No, you wouldn't have the old-on-new project, but they're cool looking (IMHO), have only two doors, and a little four-cylinder engine:
My family had basically this car (but a '62 and, technically, a P210, not a 445) when I was a kid.
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