New Guy...Old Box O Windows

Yeah I'd never seen diverters like these even on the pickups. they are pretty cool which would be why i had to have them. They were mounted facing the driver. I wish i had another set to put in my 71 2wd Blazer.

The label on the air cleaner is in bad shape, ill have to see if i can make out what is on it.

Whats the story on these mirrors, I got them off a 68 GMC Handivan (the white one pictured above) Were they GMC only or were they optional on Chevys also?

They would be in great shape exept one of the mirrors broke off the mount. Ill just use the mounts with some nice new round mirrors.

I believe all the vans i looked through had Automatics in them. Where the automatics more common than one would think?

The label on my '66 sportvan's air cleaner said 'hi-torque 230'

The automatics seem to be more common on sportvans, at least in 1st gens.

VanGo66, that is a nice stash of parts you found. I sent you a PM about some stuff I'm looking for.

new stance

Hey Don, something I noticed looking ove many van pictures. It seems the 64 and early 65,s with the smaller grill openeing all have the emblem mounted above the body line like yours and all the later 65,s have the emblem mounted under the body line like mine. And in 66 they put them on the door.

As you can see it would not be posible for my emblem to be above the line.



M1D

I can assure you that emblem has been on that van since day one or a long long time. Its got overspray from the last two paint jobs and inside its the factory instalation.

I have seen other vans like mine.
Heres one other



M1D

I love the mystry of the history too. My van is an odd one for sure My van has the chrome bumpers, the windows, it had dealer installed power brake booster. The horn ring, the full passenger front seat, chrome head light rings and the swan mirrors.

Its posible some of that was added cuz the van has been cleaned up a re-painted a few times. And I'm going to do it again.

M1D

Don,
My father works as a spot welder on the Chevy line all through the 1960" and was on the G10 second shift line from 1965-69. Which is why he bought a 66 back in the day. He also knows the retired GM historian from that time period and I have talked to him several time since getting my 66. Very interesting man with "Lots" of stories..... To include the cutting of the extra grill slot half way through 1965....Funny story!!

OK Scott,
I remember this one pretty well since it was the first thing I asked him when we met.

Here's what I remember:
The vans were hyped up within the company to be the first "Multi-use" family travel van in 1964. He had told me about one of the senior designers at GM had bought a 1964 Panel and had both the “Convert-a-Van” and “Expand-a-Van” conversions done for an upcoming trip.

"The first 1964 ChevyVan was originally marketed and sold as a panel van for purely utilitarian purposes. Windows were available as an option, but were simply cut into the sides from the factory (Convert-a-Van Pkg.)."

The story goes that it was a standard 90 hp. 153 cu in four-cylinder engine (Not the optional 120 hp, 194ci L6.). He had bought it to be use on his next yearly vacation trip to Florida with his wife. And in late 1964 this guy loaded up the van front to back with everything including the kitchen sink, hooked up the Airstream (No details on what size it was) but hey, Van, loaded to the gills, towing an Airstream camper with a four-banger. You can see where this is going right?

Anyway, he told me that they left Detroit heading south and all was going well (Guessing slow as well) on what is now I-75 to Cincinnati. He pulled over for the night and in the morning started again towards Lexington and then Knoxville. An hour or so after starting they entered the hills of Kentucky and the van started to overheat every time they got half way up every hill. They would have to pull over and let it cool down and then continued. Keep in mind that I-75 wasn't completed yet so getting over hills involved a lot of winding roads.

So, their three day trip took five just to get to Florida and the story goes that his wife demanded to be flown by airplane back to Michigan "Guessing if divorce was socially acceptable back then, she would have been gone".

Upon returning to work after his two-week vacation (ten days of which was spent driving) he set out to solve the overheating issue.

As a result the extra grill slot was added because it was the only place that was available to allow increased airflow without redesigning the whole front end. They also dumped the 153 four-banger and made the 194 6-cylinder engine standard equipment, with an available 'Hi-Torque' 140 hp 230 cu in six-cylinder for 1965. He also mentioned that after this guys adventure he all but demanded that a “Full-Size” seat be added to the passenger side (Guess he got an ear full during the entire trip!)….

And when asked “Why did you load so much?” He said: “I read the brouchres!”
Chevrolet ad quote: “The NEW 1964 Chevy G10 van can handle any job no matter how large or small, this new Chevy van does it all.”

Apparently he “believed it all” and honestly I think he would have been alright without the Airstream in tow…..

He said he has tons of old manuals, GM track tests and old company info sheets on everything “Chevy” and if he finds any more info on our vans he would save it and give it to my father for me. But told me not to get too excited or hold my breath since he has no idea what he has anymore. But if I came home to visit I could come over and rummage through all of it if I wanted.

Great story and materials Dan!
B.W.

Great story Dan,thats funny.I guess the designer said,'Hey,it looks good on paper,lets try it out'.Sure that loaded down '64 was sweatin like crazy in the hills & hollows of Ky.
Its great you still have some of the blue collar boys to share the stories from days of old from the lines and info too.Like above,stated,once those stories are gone,their gone.
I'm sure some of the old brochures and paperwork are worth their weight in gold to the right collector or historian.Not just for the Almighty Dollar.

You guys totally highjacked my thread to talk about emblems. lol. Theives I tell you...

yes....more than I needed about badge placement, and trim packages. Now how bout the wedge windows behind front doors. Most sporties have them. Donivans does not?

VanGo,
Don's is a "Convert-a-Van". Van's that were dealer converted to a "window" van from a panel van.

VanGo,
As you can see. It's not good to call Don's van Sportvan.... He takes offense to it.



And Don's right. There are fewer converted vans like his than any other van making then the rarest of all...

Nice picture Don... Just noticed the street sign!