History Panel trucks and Suburban types; let's see them

^^^I have the rear half of one of those that I made into a camper. If someone has a 4 door, and wants it to put it back into a delivery? They're welcome to it.

 

May I pick your brain on these trucks?

Amazing work btw!

 

I still want to fold a panel truck and a COE together.

Tow camper.

 

I've seen a few pix of this combination and they look really cool.

 

@gimpyshotrods,

Found one pc. I think I have more but this is the only one I could locate. Note that the wheels were not only hamb unfriendly they were butt-ugly.

 

I am thinking the extra-long wheelbase 1947-1954(55.1) Chevy/GMC.


But COE'd.

 

Basically this:

 

Interesting variant.

Extra headroom!

 

Hello,

One day I was in a store and a guy was standing next to me, waiting for his turn. He kept looking out of the window into the parking lot. When I asked if he was anxious about the Suburban, he said yes. I knew why. The parking spots are narrow and the Suburban filled up the whole space. Other folks come in and out as there are dining spots all along this portion of the shopping zone.

This Suburban has the 50s-60s surf inspired look of a cool, mild custom as well as a family surf transportation vehicle. The flat primer paint has the ever popular “frozen” look as per today’s standards. The custom wheels have the look from the 50s-60s with the beauty rings and small center hubcaps. But closer inspection reveals slotted sections for cooling. These are “Rally” wheels made to look like old GMC wheels, but are upgraded to the cooling slots of a Corvette.

In comparing this GMC suburban with the last panel truck I photographed in So Cal, similarities exists.

Jnaki

The fine, detailed pinstriping adds a mild custom look to the “frozen black” style. This is one cool Suburban for the So Cal beach scene. Small, yes, but if the lights are bright and the background is dark, the lights will show up brighter in both daylight and at night. Plus, the red brake light is around “eye level” sightlines in most normal cars and unless one has a Raptor truck or giant SUV, the red taillight is a good direct sight line.

Even the third eye red brake light is within the normal eye sight line behind in all cars, with those exceptions noted above. So, a bumper mounted light does not harm the rear body panels anywhere and the addition of the third rear red light notifies those that are following in their cars and trucks.


Although this GMC Suburban is painted a darker primer paint or buffed “ice” paint, it still stands out, even in the dark of night. The red taillights and brake lights stand out in black contrast anytime of the day or night. The orange panel truck is obvious to everybody. It is one of those hot rods that just stands out. And the color pattern and flames, my wife saw this from several blocks away, as we were waiting for a left turn onto the street where the orange + flamed GMC Panel was sitting.

For most drivers aware of old cars, just the shape of the larger old Suburban would make one notice, as it is… “going down the highway…looking for adventure…” I could not help myself to let this quote pass… Ha!

Hobie, Suburban, ocean close, wave search daily? What more is there? in coastal So Cal??? Plus, a full length sleeping quarters inside and ability to take our granddaughter + friends anywhere.


It is too bad the custom Suburban or orange GMC panel truck would not fit in our small two car garage. They were both stunning. We would have preferred the “ice black” GMC window Suburban over the orange GMC Panel van. YRMV

 

“Original Mike’s Restaurant resides in what was Santa Ana’s first Buick, horseless carriage auto dealership built in 1919. 100 South Main St was and still is the heart and soul of downtown Santa Ana. It was renovated after being abandoned for over twenty years.”


Hello,

We recently were coming down the primary street of Santa Ana from the downtown area into the direction of going South on (Pun intended) Main Street. It runs from North Santa Ana all the way down into Costa Mesa, cuts in front of the Santa Ana Airport and finally stops in Irvine, near a lake. It is a 15 mile roadway that provides a fairly nice alternative to the afternoon 1-5 freeway traffic clog from 3 pm to 6 pm. Or the early morning clog from 7:30 am to 9:30 am.

We had gone to a couple of slab yards to look at some countertop options. Our remodeled kitchen was in need of some new direction and our tile/slab guy sent us to the center of “slab yards” in the North Eastern part of Santa Ana. Luckily, we took another “no traffic” side roadway and some side streets to get to several of the yards. Since we finished picking out our slab, we headed home using the Main Street location to go through the downtown courthouse area around 10 am with no traffic in either direction.

It pays to know one’s way around the heavy traffic areas during the day.

Jnaki

Then we drove right by the famous old auto parts/car dealer/speed shop area from the early days and our 20 something adventures looking for a 327 powered 1940 Ford Sedan Delivery project. It was near the courthouse area.

While driving around looking for the Santa Ana Courthouse Sheriff’s Center, we came across this 62 Chevy Panel Truck that has been the advertising display for Original Mike’s Restaurant and Concert Venue. For as long as we have been cruising around Santa Ana and the famous downtown area, this Chevy panel truck has been around. The paint is showing signs of daily outside weather wear, but the design on the flames around the license plate was pretty neat.

The front fenders received fine line, pinstriping flames with a slight shading inside of the flames. The wheels are another story. At one time, this Chevy was probably the delivery truck for the restaurant. But, if anyone has been to this place for the hot rod events, they have probably seen this yellow truck sitting in the corner of the parking lot. Drivers can’t help but to have their eye sight see this bright yellow truck while cruising down 1st Street.

It would take some time, but the truck is in need of an overhaul to make it as good as new, again. But, definitely needs some other wheels…Moon Discs perhaps? Or deep dish chrome rims with smoothie mini hubcaps? What about a lowered stance like this Chevy panel truck? Since it is left outside in all weather conditions, no one would want a beat up old panel truck… ha!
With a new look, it certainly would attract more hot rod folks to see the daily car show display while driving by the busy intersection or for a mid day lunch time adventure.

Note:

The food inside and on the patio is outstanding. There are several separate entertainment areas that serve the same food, but the surroundings are quite different. One would think that the music and surroundings would bother the other separate, but open door venues. But, they do not. The food is the best part of the whole food/entertaining complex, so sitting in different venues inside just gives a different feeling. YRMV

 

@jnaki if you're looking at them as a driver/camper.....the '63-'66 is a waaay better ride quality in stock form. 4 wheel coil springs let you float on air. Hauling parts or towing might be a different story. I was almost scraping bumper with the metal bandsaw and 2" lowering coils on mine old panel.

 

Nor-Cal