1951 Chevrolet 3800 Panel Van – Classified of the Week
January 17, 2023
Welcome one and all to Vantasy Island, because it’s a van, big enough to be an island. Wordplay. But it doesn’t have to be a fantasy; this 1951 Chevrolet 3800 panel van could be yours. And who wouldn’t want such a brilliantly imposing vehicle? One that, despite its commercial footing, is actually quite beautiful, too. But then, the Americans weren’t known for playing things cool in the ’50s, hence the vans and trucks being adorned with just as much chrome as the cars. And we love them for it. This van is more than a van, its a star. Look at it. Look at the condition it’s in. And look at that big, empty load-space. This van could be put to use in all manner of ways.
As you can tell by looking at the pictures, this big old Chevrolet 3800 has been resprayed in recent years, and it looks excellent as a result. The gloss blue offers a deep shine, and about four square miles of signwriting opportunity on either side. The big stainless mirror arms are in good condition, as is all the chrome up front, along with the smaller strips and details like the bonnet strip, bumpers and badges. The steel wheels have been painted to match the body, and fitted with new nuts. Though, if those wheels and their rugged tyres aren’t for you, it does come with a set of American Racing wheels too.
Inside, it’s a simple affair. There is an impossibly large blue-vinyl trimmed bench seat up front, a massive steering wheel and the shifter for the manual transmission. The cab has been carpeted though, and the dash has been repainted in the same blue as the exterior and all the chrome details have been polished to a high shine. Looking up, there is no headlining present, while the load space is just painted metal. But that’s good, for reasons we’ll get to in a moment. Most importantly though, the naked rear helps show how solid this Chevrolet 3800 is.
Under that massive bonnet, you’ll find a 3.5 straight-six petrol engine mated to a manual transmission. The engine bay is honest, and has been fitted the air-horns from something small, like an ocean liner, or a lorry. We’re told the engine now runs a downdraught carb, a 12v and alternator conversion has been carried, and an LPG system has been fitted. Even with the modern additions, this is still a great, easy to work on engine.
Of course, while buying this Chevrolet 3800 and using it a van is fine, we feel there would be a missed opportunity there. This van could be so much more. A popular platform for hot rodders, you could go down the V8 route, you could lower it , fit custom suspension, bigger brakes – the world is your oyster. Or, you could leave all the mechanicals and just deck out the load-space. More seats, small luxury camper, a mobile store for your business? You see, that’s the thing about vans, and as such, this Chevrolet 3800 – the potential is endless.
