56panelpage

FOR SALE ~ 1956 Chevy Panel Truck

Series 3105 - 1/2 ton model - Barn style rear doors

History:

This solid daily driver is a well kept example of one of Chevy's most famous light duty work horses.In it's original form (pictured to the left as a 57 model), this truck might have been put to use by one of many local businesses in Your Town, USA. Anyone from local Laundry service, lock smith, bakery or feed store would purchase it to handle their daily delivery needs. Unlike its cousin, the Chevy Suburban, the Panel Truck had no rear side glass installed. This served its purpose for safely hauling equipment and keeping it virtually invisible to prying eyes. There were usually only one or two seats installed into the truck, both being mounted in the front cab area. This would leave plenty of room for you to haul just about anything that would fit inside the doors in the rear cargo area. As with the Suburban and full size trucks of this era, it would come with a metal floor pan up front, usually covered with a rubber flooring mat. The rear would have a series of steel strips and bed wood that ran from just behind the seats all the way to the rear of the cargo area. Some of the options were the larger 3/4 ton up to 2 ton capacity versions. They however are more common on a longer wheelbase and include heavy to severe duty springs and hubs. It has been rumored that there were 4x4 versions known as Napco's. Being in the early years of factory 4x4's, Chevy usually had these installed at the local dealer level vs. at the factory. So it is not exactly known how many or of which models got the Napco Treatment.

My 56 Panel:

This Panel truck is in pretty solid shape considering that it was used like most vintage panel trucks. Lot's of hard years of labor and duty. Usually ending up sitting in a field near a barn for storage. The body panels show some signs of body wave common on 45+ year old metal. Rust is at a minimum on this truck, having some areas of surface rust due to its cheap paint job (not due to me), honestly a lot less than most regular cab trucks from this era. I can only find two complete rust-through spots on the whole truck. One being up on the top of the passenger fender about 6 inches from the cowl. The other spot is on the hood real close to the same spot just mentioned, also close in size but smaller. Both could easily be repaired with available patch panels. Although I would chose the easier route using a small fiberglass patch for such small areas. The body is very solid and relatively straight otherwise. Before I purchased the truck, the previous owner took the time to do some much needed work on it. Opting to change the whole frame out vs. just cutting and sub-framing the old truck. He chose a full size '83 K5 4x4 Blazer as the donor truck. It is a good fit due to the wheelbase being nearly the same length. Along with the swap came the engine, transmission and transfer case from the same Blazer. The engine was rebuilt and reinstalled along with the newly rebuilt TH350 transmission. It also appeared that the front and rear transfer case seals where replaced during this time. He also added a set of power bucket front seats and a split folding bench from a newer 94-98 Chevy Suburban. The biggest bonus in the Blazer frame swap was the relocation of the fuel tank to the stock Blazer location (between the rear frame rails). You may have noticed that the front end of this truck does not exactly look like a '56, that's because it has a '57 hood and grill installed. I am under the assumption that the fenders are the original '56, but it would be hard to say for sure. I will try and list all the most recent parts either rebuilt or replaced below. You may also click on any of the thumb nailed pictures below for a larger view. I will be showing this truck by appointment only. However I do take it to many local club events. You are welcome to come out and see it in person at any one of these events.

You may contact me for more information using this email link - [email protected]

Pictures: