CHP needs some help to identify a Chevy "van"

Hello,

My name is Jonathan Collins, I am an Officer with the California Highway Patrol. I work out of the Otay Mesa Office performing VIN inspections on vehicles. I am in the process of inspecting this vehicle and was hoping you could help me in determining the MODEL and Engine type of this 1966 Chevrolet. I was able to locate the last 8 digits of the VIN. I need the model type and engine type to help rebuild the VIN. Actually any insight would be extremely helpful. I included some pictures to help. Feel free to pass this information along to anyone you feel might be helpful. The more information you can provide the better. Please email or call.

Thanks for the help

Jonathan Collins
VIN Officer
California Highway Patrol
Otay Mesa Commercial Vehicle Inspection Facility.
619-671-3000

Chebby, since you both asked nice, here's a wealth of info for you.
That is referred to as a P Series Chassis. Probably a P-10 (small). Various manufacturers added the body. They are called Delivery vans or Step Vans.

This thread has a lot of talk about these (55 pages!), I wasn't able to come across a forum for these vehicles, which is strange, since there are forums for EVERYTHING!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=282902

Best of luck tracking this down. I will assume that the vehicle is suspect somehow, hence the questions. I hope it can be verified and continue to live.
Perhaps some further research on the body mfgers. like Gruman and Flxible might at least be able to determine that much and help guide further research.

Thanks, I'll pass that on....

MORE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-stop_truck

found a 65 on EBay that is for sale by these guys

http://vintagestepvans.com/

Kind of strange that they CHP doesn't have better resources for ID'ing even strange stuff like this. That's especially true down in Otay!

I Am not to far from the Grumman plant, they have had a few name changes over the years. Nothing like that came from here. The Amish in Elkhart IN did some weird stuff.
Sam

Back in those days it was fairly common for coach builders to buy a chassis and make their own bodies to suit customer needs. And they weren't always that picky about making sure the vin was attached in a way to ensure it would last as long as the vehicle. I'd start by checking the engine for any stampings the manufacturing date of the chassis could be derived from.

There is an emblem on the body that says "Apache". The body is made of fiberglass. From the pictures could you tell what type of engine is in the vehicle, V6, V8 283 etc

Jonathan Collins




I can see it's an in-line 6 (why couldn't he?) but have no idea what engine size that would be

that is a straite 6 clynder engine. i not sure a state trooper that reviews cars and trucks saftey inspections would ask a question like that.

I did a little more searching and it sure looks like a 292 not a 250.
I gave the guy a call and we talked a bit. He has seen this thread and is working toward ID'ing this for the paperwork.

EDIT: I did call, and another person did answer CHP Office. Yes, that could be a ruse, but I didn't get that feel and they aren't asking for anything more than how to completely ID this vehicle.

Anyone here called this trooper to verify he is for real??Id think the us athoritys that issue the MSO's=manfacture 's ststement of orgions certificates - to the actual manafacturers=would have that exact info

Since I steered him here, I hope he will continue to monitor this.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/#ID
which has
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/VIN.htm
unfortunatly, that does not have 66 info.

But I did find this there!!!
http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/carson_don_1966_01.htm

Checking for that name found this picture
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildbearphotos/3045994429/


another forum thread on them...
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?s=2ffa6d3c5592e839ba2009a6b4f8cde9&t=350956

and a video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdXzYIu6r5k&feature=plcp

Thanks for your help Rod!

never trust a badge it always ends badly

you know it! hopefully this won't end badly for us at least

It's a 1955 Chevy (second series) chassis, with an American Body Works body. The body is fiberglass on the front, has steel ribs covered with aluminum for the top and sides, and a wood floor in back.

Dan