UPDATE: **SOLD**
Adam’s selling this rare 1948 Willys StorDor Van. Here’s another example. I assume this one has some kind of custom top?
“Offered here is a 1948 Willys StorDor step van. It has been converted to a Chevrolet 6 cyl and the roof has been extended. The inside is wired for 110v, fully insulated, and has a sleeping loft. This would make a great tiny home, food truck, or RV! It has been sitting for many years and will need reviving. It is not currently running, but the engine turns over. Asking $2200 or best offer. Registration is paid, title is clean, tags are current. Please reply with your phone number if interested and I will contact you.”
Chassis is solid. Interior is bone dry, insulated, wired for 110v, no rodents, and no mold or mildew…no leaks. Title is clean and tags are current…can be parked on the street. This is a project, but a worthy one! This would make an amazing tiny home or camper/RV. I was also considering making into an olde-world, European-style food truck, pizza shack, or coffee house…amazing! This is an investment that will potentially save or make you thousands of dollars. Bring your imagination and a trailer to haul it away. I can also potentially deliver it to you for a fee. If you have a piece of property with no structure, grab this, put it up on blocks, and plug it in and you have a fully insulated, powered, dry and roomy cabin that is ready to go! Asking $4700 or best offer….”
Imagine driving this across the Golden Gate Bridge.
what part of this was made by Willys?
As I understand it, the chassis is made by Willys. The body was made by Stepdor, though the top has been modified.
IN 1948 WHAT CHASSIS OR ENGINE WOULD IT BE ?? — I SEE FLOATING REAR AXLES ?? — OLDER WILLYS COMMERCIAL VEHICLES HAD A 6 — IN THE 1930’S — SLEEVE-VALVE ENGINE ??? –
HAHAHA — INSIDE IT SAYS ” CABLE TV SERVICES ” — ITS A FIBER OPTIC SPLICING VAN ?? — I HAD TO BUILD ONE ONCE FOR CABLE TV — I TOOK A NEW WELLS CARGO TRAILER — OUTFITTED IT WITH A/C , FORMICA WORK TABLE , HONDA GENERATOR , CHAIRS , BINS , ETC — VOILA ~ !!
According to a Boyertown brochure (http://www.ewillys.com/2013/04/02/delivery-package-van-brochures/) these vans were built on the truck chassis.
Hey, that’s where Mercedes got their idea for an Sprinter Van. lol. Willys was ahead of their time once again!
Barney R., I saw another one for sale four years ago, also a ’48 but not extended. I crawled under it and saw a 2WD Willys pickup frame, and under the hood was an original L4-134. I just found photos of it. The rear end was a Timken. In the photo above, they may have swapped in a Ford Dana 60. If anyone is interested in seeing photos of the one I saw, email me.
I was brutally tongue lashed by my peers for not being able to buy it at the time. (Their initials were Jesse and Blaine.) LOL. The last I looked, it was gone from where I found it.
Dan B., it would be fun to drive that van on your caravan over the Golden Gate Bridge. 😉
Lol @ initials 🙂
I for one am surprised to see this unique van still for sale. You would think that being on the west coast, a collector or museum would be interested. This is what I don’t understand about today’s market place and the buying public, hundreds of thousands of dollars for a vehicle only because it passes through a Barrett Jackson auction, yet this van so unique and low priced goes unnoticed. Is This because “People are like sheep” just follow the crowd? think about it, opinions welcomed.
Mike,
I think the time and money it would take to bring this back to original discourages many buyers. It’s a big project with little market upside in my opinion.
That said, I’m surprised it is still available as well. If the price falls more, I suspect someone will want to pick it up.
– Dave
I agree with you Dave. Some years back, when you featured a write up about Willys step vans, (one make was from NJ) There was a reader who was doing a major restoration, had lifted the body off the frame and was dropping in onto a later model drive-train. Was that ever completed? I don’t remember any follow up, seemed to stop in mid stream. Just inquisitive, so many of these projects never get completed.
That was Jesse in Arizona. The work was partially done that last time I saw it (two years ago??). I’m not sure where it’s at currently. He’s been tackling other projects, such as his tour jeep.
The price went down to 1400 and I bought the stordor today. I believe the stordor company made step van bodies to put on the truck frame of your choice from the material in the Willys-Overland advertisement. This vehicle is titled as a 1951 Chevrolet and I believe it’s a 1.5 ton forward control chassis with a 261 l6. I too am planning a more modern drivetrain to keep it moving into the future. Possibly a 2016-2019 Ford f350 super duty. The wheelbase is compatible and they come with a pretty good diesel engine.
Michael H, Great news glad to hear the van has a new owner.
Congrats Michael! I hope you can do something fun with it!
I have a 1947 stordoor that is all stock and in much better shape than this one. The drive train and frame are done by Dodge.
Hi Mikel,
Cool. I’d love to see and share some pics if interested. If you’d like to send some pics for me to share with readers, send them to d@deilers.com.
Thanks,
– Dave
Good to hear that another StorDor has surfaced in better condition than mine. Progress has been made on the conversion to modern chassis. 1995 Chevrolet c3500. Just put up the gantry yesterday to lift body off frame. Would love to see pics of an original especially if it has the emblem on the nose or its original manufacturing plate from the United Transportation Equipment Company of Redwood City California as I found in mine.