1954 Chevrolet "CAR O VAN"
About a year ago I posted a slide scan of a blue 1954 Chevrolet delivery truck, here is a link to that photo - flic.kr/p/2orwX6Y - I had purchased that slide, and the one posted here, from the same seller, and both photos look like they were taken at the same facility (whose location is unknown), just a few months apart, the mount for this one only shows “May 1953”.
This spotless, smart-looking, brand new yellow step-van has hub caps and an emblem just below the windshield that show it to be a Chevrolet. – What I thought to be most interesting was the center of the grille which had a circular chrome or stainless design as well as the name “CAR O VAN” in red letters.
I could not find any evidence that Chevrolet had ever mass-produced a step van model with this name, but I did however find a photo of a GMC truck brochure from about this same era promoting “Three New Wide Universal CAROVANS” - “Bodies mounted on GMC package delivery chassis” offered in three different wheelbases, but the photo on the brochure shows just a standard step-van grille with “GMC” lettering.
So perhaps the truck in this photo was a one-of-a kind prototype for Chevrolet with the CAROVAN model name and trim, whose exact details and ultimate fate have since been lost to the passing of time……….But I sure would love to know where that very cool grille ended up ! - May 1953.
Photographer Unknown – Collection of, and Photoshop slide scan restoration by Jeff Hampton ©
1954 Chevrolet "CAR O VAN"
About a year ago I posted a slide scan of a blue 1954 Chevrolet delivery truck, here is a link to that photo - flic.kr/p/2orwX6Y - I had purchased that slide, and the one posted here, from the same seller, and both photos look like they were taken at the same facility (whose location is unknown), just a few months apart, the mount for this one only shows “May 1953”.
This spotless, smart-looking, brand new yellow step-van has hub caps and an emblem just below the windshield that show it to be a Chevrolet. – What I thought to be most interesting was the center of the grille which had a circular chrome or stainless design as well as the name “CAR O VAN” in red letters.
I could not find any evidence that Chevrolet had ever mass-produced a step van model with this name, but I did however find a photo of a GMC truck brochure from about this same era promoting “Three New Wide Universal CAROVANS” - “Bodies mounted on GMC package delivery chassis” offered in three different wheelbases, but the photo on the brochure shows just a standard step-van grille with “GMC” lettering.
So perhaps the truck in this photo was a one-of-a kind prototype for Chevrolet with the CAROVAN model name and trim, whose exact details and ultimate fate have since been lost to the passing of time……….But I sure would love to know where that very cool grille ended up ! - May 1953.
Photographer Unknown – Collection of, and Photoshop slide scan restoration by Jeff Hampton ©