- The Volkswagen Bus hogs the vintage-van limelight, but Chevy, Dodge, and Ford also made flat-nose vans in the 1960s.
- A 1965 Chevrolet G10 panel van is a much rarer sight today than a VW Microbus.
- This Chevy van is sharply restored, and its Goodyear graphics are vinyl appliques, which means can should be easy to remove and replace with those of the new owner’s business, or just leave the sides blank.
The 1960s flat-nose van was once a ubiquitous sight, although they were such workaday vehicles that they may have been largely invisible when new. Although passenger configurations were offered, most led a working-van’s life, which is why so few survived. Those that did often succumbed to the sin-bin van phase of the 1970s. This ’65 Chevy somehow survived and has been treated to a sharp-looking restoration with only mild modifications. It’s a smooth-looking box that’s ready to turn heads advertising someone’s small business or simply as a cool and practical classic. It’s up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos.
Unlike the VW and Chevrolet’s earlier Corvair van, both rear-engine, the G10’s engine is located behind the front seats, under a “doghouse” cover. In this van, it’s a 230-cubic-inch inline-six, which has been treated to some recent work. A custom exhaust system exits ahead of the rear wheels. The engine is paired with a column-shift three-speed manual and drives the rear wheels. The van sits slightly lower than stock and rolls on a set of chrome 17-inch wheels. The van has been de-badged and the rear bumper removed.
The interior consists of two retrimmed bucket seats with open space behind. There’s a full-length fabric headliner, while the floors appear to have been painted with a textured black paint. The cargo area is accessed via double doors on the right side and at the rear.
As it is, the interior is supremely utilitarian, but the new owner also could give it the full shag-carpet treatment. More so than any other vintage vehicles, a panel van presents all sorts of possibilities. Start of TV repair business? Deliver phonebooks? Sell encyclopedias? The mind boggles.
Meantime, the auction for this Chevy ends on November 8.
Deputy Editor, Reviews and Features
Joe Lorio has been obsessed with cars since his Matchbox days, and he got his first subscription to Car and Driver at age 11. Joe started his career at Automobile Magazine under David E. Davis Jr., and his work has also appeared on websites including Amazon Autos, Autoblog, AutoTrader, Hagerty, Hemmings, KBB, and TrueCar.