History 1957 Chevy 2 Door Wagon Government Car?

I've never seen that before...interesting, to say the least!

Clay,mart, judging from the serial number, that was a later-build car, not an early one. All of the manufacturers produce what are called "pilot cars", which generally can be the first ten to fifty cars of that new year's production run. These are essentially hand-built on the assembly line, so that all involved are aware of the various assembly aspects, plus testing fit and finish. A fellow Mopar fan had an unusual '74 Charger, VIN#100003 (third car off the line) with an additional build tag that said "PILOT CAR" on it. It had some interesting parts on it that might well have been only on that '74 Charger.

 

The VIN is D57L208190

D=Sedan Delivery
57 = 1957
L = built at the Los Angeles plant
208190 = sequential build number


The absence of the 'V' in the first position means it was born a 6cyl car. I've seen other examples of the numbers above the VIN number before and IIRC, they are numbers meaningful to and added by the purchaser, like an asset control number.

I went back to the cowl tag info and found the paint number was 793A. Someone may have already decoded it and I missed it, but the 793 is the code is for a black car. The 'A' is for a single color car and is often redundant when paired with the single color codes.

Scott/Gotta56forme

 

I picked up the car out of Chicago 1 1/2 years ago, it was a project, it ran but it needed everything gone over, it was basically assembled but I did a bunch of changes, brakes were screwed in the rear, the tranny had issues so I put a 700R in it, replaced the original bumpers, the car itself is amazing, the sheet metal is perfect, the spare tire well is still green and still has the decal on the wood door, I am the 4th owner since it was purchased form N. Dakota, still needs a bunch of work but it is a keeper!!!

 

I had a hunch there would be some minor issues with it. I was looking for something that had been gone through yet so I could go from the ground up the way I wanted it, and we found this one, so I'm happy. Glad to hear you got good metal in it.

 

I think those double stamped numbers in the VIN are just some sort of Govt numbering as the other one that was on ebay had 57-43 which is somewhat close to your 57-358.
Does anyone else have a double stamped VIN on a Govt car even on a sedan or wagon?

 

Here is a pair of 57 original Sedan Delivery front seats the passenger side one was an option #263D mine has acc.p for the passenger seat on the cowl tag.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1955...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item19bb52fbd7
I think they could be ordered with a bench seat also but I am not totally sure.
Sedan Deliveries also had a hatch behind the front seats with a lid for storage right where the back seat would go.
I have heard that the Sedan deliveries with windows only on the passenger side where for the forrestry commission so the Ranger could get a good view out that side for spotting fires and the like but I have also been told that they where used by Florists and other bussines` so the could show off thier stock with that side being on the curb side for all to see.

 

Mine has 57 114 stamped on the VIN plate

VIN # D 57J168...

 

Where do you grab to lift that tailgate? I only see the small handle above the emblem and it looks like it would be heavy lifting from that point.

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That is the only handle to open a sedan delivery rear door. What I used to do is use the handle to lift it about 2 or 3 inches then you grab the bottom of the door to lift it the rest.

 

Doesn't the bezel have the indentation to lift it up, like on the sedans? All the rear bezels are the same, so that would make the most sense.

 

There are springs in the top hinges that take the weight off as you lift up, just pull up on the handle, then lift the bottom of the tailgate

 

The bezel is the handle,just like on the hood the bird or plane or rockets or what ever you call them are the handle.

 

There is enough spring tension to "pop" the gate open enough to get hold of the bottom and lift it up. Butch/56SEDANDELIVERY.

 

I have a passion for '57 wagons as well! Maybe not Government wagons..but,some very cool pics!

 

When I was a kid in New Zealand I remember an old guy who had a 56 sedan delivery with windows suposedly it was special built for a GM exec in NZ or for US government official use in NZ. I was about 11 so I can't remember that well but I am sure The car is still there and one of the Kiwi hambers knows about it. I think it was red and tan or red and white.

 

I have one and was told they are pretty rare. 94 made so Im told. Mine was a old drag car out of AZ. Its very solid and for sale. The VIN # starts with D and thats what got me woundering what I had as I had never heard of these goverment ordered wagons. Pm if you are interested in the 2 dr wagon. Straight axle gassers rock!!

 

1271 IS a Sedan delivery. They did make them with glass ( less than 100 ) sedan deliverys also have the the one piece lift gate like yours. It s a rare bird!!

 

There are at least 94 because that is what mine is double stamped as.
Org. bench seat and 6 banger was used in Wyo. as a air strip car had whips on each fin and a beacon. Paint was yellow. Most of the information you have all discussed.
It has a single strip of chrome along the side.
Just thought you would like to know at least 94 where produced.

 

I have a Forestry version, windowed delivery. Most of the feedback your getting is accurate. under 96 made for forestry, police etc. Check out my album if you get a chance. Handymans had rear compartments behind the drivers seat for storage. Mine came with a six cylinder with script chevrolet on the hood no chevron which would indicate a v8.

 

I owned a "1271" that I bought from Bill Larzeleer [sp?], a detailer in SoCal.
He painted in Red, and put a 350/350 in it.
Side windows, no back seat, and one piece tail gate.
Forest green firewall, and ZERO rust.
I put a wagon back seat on it, and painted it two tone flat black / white like a Black Widow. Never should have sold it, and still see the same guy driving it today, makes me sick.
The only problem was that the solid one piece tailgate was so heavy that it rattled like crazy. Oh, to have that one back again.

 

yep,chevy made those for all types of gov. depts.mostly all were 150's bare bones..no radio etc.i have seen some that even had the sedan delivery rear door on a wagon..cool

 

I always understood that the holes in the hood for the 6 cylinder emblem (Chevron) were the same holes it took to put the "V" on.

 

here is one for sale with a parts car.

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/2182412454.html

 

The local school district got one from the Govt surplus thing when I was in high school. That one had either been an Airforce or Navy rig when it was new. It was either blue or gray but that was 45+ years ago. I tuned it up when I was in high school auto shop and had to change oil in it a few times too. Six cylinder three speed and very sparsely equipped.

 

I'm thinkin' a Black Widow handyman build....or stock....

 

That's just a 2dr wagon.. you can see the hinges for the bottom of the t/gate, still on there.

 

I think this is correct as I just put a "V" on the hood and the tailgate of my 56 Delivery and I am sure they where the holes for the 6 cylinder emblem.
They came with the car when I bought it so I used them and I think they look great.

 

A friends step father had one of these that they bought at auction in the mid 70s also bought a Dodge power Wagon and both were olive green with US Army markings that had been sprayed over. You could still make out base location in Virginia and " Chemical Warfare Division" on both vehicles.

 

Hope he had them fumigated.

 

This is an interesting thread. I'm not an expert on Tri-fives or anything but I thought I would throw my 2 cents in anyway to add some more speculation to this.

The fact that the factory color was black would indicate to me that the wagon is probably not military or forest service.

It's possible that is was a car used in the funeral industry, but not likely. These vehicles are known as "service cars" or "first call" cars in the industry. Service cars are not hearses. As a previous poster pointed out, they were used for picking up or transporting bodies but would not be used for funeral services where you would use a formal hearse. Service cars would almost never have any reason to transport a casket. Bodies are transported on a cot, much like a gurney used by an ambulance.

Two things make me think it was not a service car are the fact that it has windows in the back. Did you really want the neighborhood kids looking in the windows as your picking up Mr. Jones? Or all the other motorists for that matter? Not likely. The other reason it is probably not a service car is the rear hatch. A service car most often had a door that would swing to the side. The reason is, a hatch would interfere with the ability for a single person to load a body on a cot. BTW, we have a family funeral business.

If I were to guess (and that's all it is) I would say this vehicle might have been used in law enforcement, private business, or just a private individual. I'm just guessing, though.

Cool mystery.