QuestionI have the opertunity to buy a supposidly rare 1957 chevy sedan delivery. This '57 wagon type chevy from what I can tell from looking at classicbowtie.com/1955-1957 Chevrolet Model Identification.htm , this car is exactly like the '57 sedan delivery except this one has windows all the way around. Ther is no mistaking that this is not a nomad. What I was told is that this car was manufactured specially for the forest service and that only about 150 were made. What my questian is of course is: Do you know anything about this car and \ or do you know where I can get any info on this. I have tried searching the web but get nowhere because I dont know what to call the dang thing.
I hope you can help but hey if you cant, well I tried. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
James
AnswerI'm probably not going to be much help, but I want to make sure you are not being shown a normal 2 door wagon - they did make them.
I'm not talking about the Nomad (which is only in the Bel Air series, style 2429), the other 2 door wagons were called the Handiman or Handyman wagon. If it is the '150' series, it is style 1529, or if in the '210' series, the style 2129. Of course this probably came with a rear seat, and had a tailgate/window rather than a side opening door.
If the one you are looking at shows provision for installing a rear seat, rather than a flat floor from the driver's seat back, I'd guess it was originally a Handyman wagon. If, on the other hand, the floor has the added in panel (and it doesn't look home made!) to make the floor flat all the way back, and it has a side opening door rather than a tailgate, there is at least a fair chance you are being told the truth.
If you can find the body plate (I think it's on the firewall, engine side), you should be able to find one of those style numbers on it, in addition to all the other data about it.
Some GM divisions will take your VIN and tell you the whole story of the car, including the original build order and purchaser.- I don't know if Chevrolet will do this, but I know Pontiac and Olds do - they call it their historical archive section - you'd probably have to call customer relations in Detroit to find out if they can do this for you. If it was built for the Forest Service, that should show on the original order, and also any customizing instructions.
The other possible source would be to contact someone in the Forest Service who might remember these from years ago. The Forest Service tends to keep vehicles for a long, long time (my Daughter worked for them for a while) and someone who has been with them for 20 years or more might remember those cars. The only thing that doesn't ring true to me is that the Forest Service buys only 4WD vehicles, at least in the last 20 years or so. I'd bet a weeks pay that they would have bought only the 235 Cu In 6 cylinder, also - is that what it has?
Can you scrape through and find any of the original paint color? That might tell you something also.
Let me know what you find out - this is interesting. I have an old Ford 4X4 that was originally built for the USArmy (still has the OD paint and property tags on it). It is really useful here on the ranch, and a collector's item also!
Dick
