Wasn't sure how to title this question! Thought this would be the place to ask as in my research all I can find are sedans with 350 engines etc and the stock couple I've found are rusted heaps. This truck is known by most of the Tacoma WA area. The owner bought it around 56 or so and used for his TV and Radio repair truck. After retirement and maybe before this, it was like the daily driver. They told me it had over 700k miles on it and believe there was an engine freshening in there somewhere, would had to have been. They made up a booklet for each of their vehicles with ever bit of info on each, down to the portable toilet stored in the over head box. It is still 6v but has inverter so he can have 110, there's a CB, MP3 player and TV in it. Far as I know all that is still in there. The newest car they owned is a '55/56 Royal Lancer 4 door she got as her first car. I have friends that remember this truck when they were in High School and are now in their early 80s and their kids also remember it driving around town and in later years sitting at car cruises. He passed away a couple years ago and it and the dodge sit in the garage. I am trying to determine some kind of value for a completely stock version minus the sentimental value she and her family who can't keep it have on it. At one time she said $20k, the niece's say $18k but I think more like $10k or less. Me on the outside looking in also thinks that if she finds someone, which there is one that wants it and knows it well, that wants to leave it as it is and use it for his work truck. She has not called him so don't know his price range either actually. But feel that for myself personally, if I knew a buyer that wanted to keep it just as it is and that's what she wants, I wouldn't worry about the amount of money as much as the good home. But that's just me and have told her my opinion already. Any ideas from you all that know of these vehicles? I know there weren't many built but also it takes a certain kind of person to want one of these big ol panel type vehicles. I have told her to get it appraised then she would have something besides relatives and others to go by. But she doesn't want to spend the cash to do it. I am including 2 pics of it but can't find the inside pics I took with the shelving on the inside etc. The one is from around 1956 or 57 in front of his shop. It is actually my favorite of the 3 vehicles and my type. The 34 chev coupe which was his first car that he drove up from CA in '46 was willed to a neighbor. That one was way too much responsibility for me! lol Any thoughts? Sorry for the long post!! Obviously he added skirts later on that are wired on there at one end. I learned this when his wife was worried about him being in shop so long so I went to check on him and he was laying on the floor trying to get the skirt wired back on after fixing a little dent in the fender that was driving him nuts. He had a difficult time getting it off because of the undercoating covering some screws or something under there. He was 89yrs old then.
I'd like to see the skirts come off, the original color back on, and the lettering on the sides again. But I wouldn't be the buyer. Good story about the history of him and the truck.
The lowrider bomb crowd really likes these and this one looks like it's got all the accessories on it which is a huge plus. Does it run and drive? Is it as clean as it looks in pictures? The history of it is neat but the current condition is much more important to value. I wouldn't doubt that this thing would sell for $18K if it's as nice as it looks.
Growing up in Puyallup, and working in the Tacoma area when I was young..it was a common site to see it on Pacific avenue. I always liked it, and even then it was a rarity to see a '40 Chevrolet Sedan Delivery, let alone one being used as a daily work vehicle. Cool car, $10k seems too low to me.
I've seen that Sedan Delivery around Tacoma for years .$10K seems like a low ball... I think at $18k like the niece is asking is fair.. If my off topic car sold I go buy it in heart beat... leave it as is( maybe a 302 GMC six) have fun.. good luck
10K seems low, but 18K is a bit high IMO. I'd guess somewhere in the 12 to 15K range. Panels are a case of really having to find the right buyer. Being a long-time Washington vehicle with a repaint, looking for rust needs to be done.
It does run and drive still but has been sitting for a couple years or so and would definitely need to bypass the gas tank to start it. He said once there was a bit of rust by one of the side windows. But he was pretty meticulous with everything. Even the washer and dryer got regular cleaning and oiling and still work well since 1962! It isn't perfect by any means but then it was a work truck not a show truck. I am getting nothing out of this, just wanted to get a feel for what it was worth. In the end that's up to her and her family really and most likely won't be sold til she is gone. Which then it could be advertised. I think it would of sold way back if it had been. But also don't blame her for not wanting a bunch of strangers around in this day and age especially! Once it's sold the buyer could do anything they wanted with it for sure. I myself agree with the old signage back on the sides etc but most likely will become a hotrod. She'd rather not even know about that and can't blame her there! I can keep my fingers crossed and hope otherwise though! At least the little '34 has a great home for now. It is odd to see it missing from the garage even though i have only been seeing it for a few years. Thank you all for the input!
Oops, may possible have to take that back or at least add a possible dent! He wanted to try to get his license back when he was about to turn 90 and the neighbor, being the brave or crazy agreed to ride along. Several years before this he was already having trouble raising his leg to work the clutch and brake and almost rolled into someone so he started driving the dodge which is automatic. Coming back from the drive he kinda hit the door way of the garage. So there may or may not be a dent on the front, unless the bumper saved it. It sounded like the poor guy had a wild ride from his telling of it! lol But still it is in pretty good shape regardless of the mishap. I know i didn't notice anything last time in the shop with it!
Reality tv would say 40,000 if selling and 3,000 if buying. lol No clue on value myself. Neat car though.
I wouldn't change a thing myself. Yes, it would be great if it had been left as it was earlier, but to strip it again, and try to go back will result in it looking faked. I might have it lettered as it was, and leave the current paint alone. I agree with the daughter's asking price myself. I think $18k for a running, driving sedan delivery this original is fair. Even if it takes a little work to get it running again. I'd just clean out some of the stuff inside, but leave a lot of how it's setup to display it as it was used. Pretty cool delivery!
I'm with the 18k crowd because of the rarity of finding one like it's pictured with the skirts and down around the LA area $25k wouldn't be to much a stretch.
Thanks for all the input! Hopefully when the time comes it will go to a good home and one that appreciates it as it is. But who really knows after it's sold. Just keep the fingers crossed! I wish I'd had a place for the '49 packard ambulance that was around here. Loved that thing and driving it even with no power steering. Probably won't see it again as I think it's sitting in a garage or shed at the guy's house and he will probably never drive it. I would drive the heck out of either one of them! But my vision of a cool car/truck isn't the norm. If it gets me there I'm driving it. lol Thanks again!!
There's a facebook page called "Bombitas pre-54" or something like that. Everything on that page is incredibly overpriced, and mostly GM stuff. That's where I'd put it and price it at $20k. But in the rest of the world, 15 seems reasonable. And I must say that car is really neat. It's very unique, I'd probably ask $25k for it and see what kind of action you get. You can always drop the price.
The asking on higher side would give wiggle room so both get what they are wanting so to speak. Thanks for the tip!
That is a very cool, rare, sedan delivery, there is a cool one here in our section of Seattle that is all painted up and is appreciated ! I hope the lady gets the price she is asking, and I really hope it goes to a good home/buyer, that will keep it as it is. Super cool fender skirts !
That is a cool looking truck! Wish I could remember what he told me about his skirts. There is a "book" put together that goes with it with ever single item listed that it has in/on it and all that's been done to it plus extra parts that some are not there anymore. But a lot of stuff to go with just the same and the history, when/where he bought it etc. I wish I'd had the forethought to do that with my car in the 40+ years I've owned it!
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