Projects Wheelchairs and Wonder Bread, a great combination!

i left a deposit on this last night, as soon as the title gets straightened out, i'll try to get it to bill's shop. i've got to hide it until the car count goes down at home, so don't tell anyone...

it's a 1953 ford (650?) aluminum body delivery truck, from the wonder bread facility in duquoin illinois. it's in remarkably good shape and 99.9% complete.

tpo says it was used up until a few years ago as a rolling repair facility at his neighbor's farm, but it hasn't run in a while. stock ohv six and a 3 speed manual trans. the frame's supposed to be the same width as the pickup version, but with thicker material and taller rails.

anybody familiar with these monstrosities? i'd like to swap out the suspension and drivetrain for something more modern and interstate friendly. would a 1 ton van chassis be sufficient? the gvwr is 14,000 lbs, but i don't know the 'unladen' weight. it's on a 131-ish wheelbase, the rear outer track width is 83", inner 51". the front outer track is 70".


what are your thoughts or suggestions?

 

Freaking SWEET! I would think a late model 1 ton set up would work good. What are your plans?

 

Don't you hate when you need to hide your toys from the wife? Great find. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it. Do you have your own business? If so, there's a lot of space there for a vinyl billboard advertisement. It could be a cool, rolling "Retro" billboard.

 

Polish the outside, paint the inside gloss white and then bag it.
r

 

from the front it looks like something Darth Vader would drive. I like it!

 

You won't need a stereo. There's enough room for a band.

 

the wheelbase is 4 inches shorter than my e250. the front track is 3 inches narrower, but the rear is 10 inches wider, due to the dually axle.

i think the front end looks like a mid century train...

 

Oh my!, I drove one of those for over a year back in 70. The most horrible year in my life. The company required you get at least as good as mileage as the last guy that ran your route. Try as I may I couldn't get to that figure and was scolded week after week untill I found out that most of the other route guys threw a couple of extra gallons of fuel in thier trucks before the end of the week to make thier mileage look good. Made good money though.
JMPRO

 

mmmmm, wonderwagon...

 

i smell......portable whore house!!!!!!

 

clean it up, get a futon, and basic cable coz if yours is like mine when she finds out i would be living in it for awhile. cool find and good luck with your build.

 

nevermind....i just forgot to wash my hands.....disregard!

 

That thing is freakin killer! I have a 57 I can't wait to get on the road. As far as chassis swaps, maybe shorten an 80's motorhome?

 

Yep, look for a burned out motorhome frame.

 

I don't have any photos of it but Norm Grabowski has a similar looking "thing" that he hauls his Kookie II car in and it has a slant load style floor inside. Not sure what he used for drivetrain but maybe you can find out. Anyway, I think your bread truck has a lot of potential. Good find!

 

Mid-engine wheel stander!! Wooooo Hoooooo!!

Or

Cover everything in SHAG carpet. Call it rug burner.

 

There was a polished bread van at the Pileup last fall, pretty striking, even stock.

Or here's a rear engined Tiki truck:

 

Great another big van.
There are a couple more on here.
Search "step van"
Mike

 

A P30 Chevy or GMC forward control chassis is the ticket for you if you're into Chevy drivetrains. These are found under many motor homes and delivery vans.

Ford has a forward control version as well used under motorhomes and of course the old Dodge chassis are old reliable in the motorhome chassis business, hundreds of thousands of Winnebagos tell that tale.

 

Actually, I freaking love it. I have no idea what you do with it but it's sure neat to look at. Good thing too cause it ain't gonna fit inside any garages. Other than portable party units, I'm not sure what they do besides take up space and money. There is an old International Metro bread truck that has been looking at my funny for a few months by my house. I just don't know what to do with one. What is your plan?

 

Be a great "chair hauler"! I would suggest looking for a wrecked camper and use the interior stuff like sofa,fridge,stove, AC etc to outfit the inside.

And YOU HAVE TO paint it like the Wonder Wagon!

 

i think it needs an on board welder/compressor fully stocked with tools, road trip support vehicle. and slam it.



oh and a margarita machine.

 

Girls LOVE margaritas and shag carpet <!-- / message -->

 

Monsterflake that is damn cool. How would you like to be driving one of those "smart cars", and look in your rearview and see that front end. About 3 feet behind you!!!

Yeah Im thinkin tow hitch with the Suiciede King behind it and my dragster on the inside.

You gonna make the wheel chair enter on the side or thu the back.?

Lets get to work!!

OH, And Breeder, you are one ate up dude. And that sir is why we love you so much.

 

the rear door is exactly the right size for the style of lift i have in my daily. ladies in the side door, players in the back!

i think i might do a tiki theme, especially with the interior. there used to be a place called 'the mainlander' in clayton. i've collected a few souvenir cups and a matchbook cover for the logo...

 

And where was this sage advice when I was in high school???!!

 

Wrecked pop-ups are CHEAP.
Monster, lemme check the measurements on our rigs at work. Ambulances on stretched E350 frames. They're GVW is 8.5K. Trust me, they handle pretty damn well. (The van types)
I'll try to PM you some measurements.
Cool score!

 

Well kick my ass!!!

Look into antique and classic campers (canned hams) for some ideas. It would be perfect for camping out at shows and stuff. It'll be way cooler than my VW!

Let me know if there's anything around here I can check out or deliver to ya. I'm looking for excuses to roadtrip back to St. Louis

 

JMan has a motor home chassis of some type. He's in NW Ohio. He was saving it for a DIVCO but didn't use it. Talked to him about it today for something else.

I'd polish one side, put in a generator, get a projector and show pornos on the side. But not within 500 feet of an elementary school, my probation don't allow that.

 

Slammed is good!

Winnebago used Dodge chassis up until the late 70s, then went to the Chevys when they finally discovered the IFS rode much nice that the old beam axle. P30 P60