UPDATE: It’s been 9 years since this post has run, which just shows you how rare it is to see one of these for sale (see next post)
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Craig Brockhaus saw the Boyertown Economy Delivery Comparison Post (see below) and forwarded both Boyertown and Montpelier Delivery Truck designs. Cool Stuff!
MONTPELIER DELIVERY TRUCK ARTICLE:
BOYERTOWN DELIVERY TRUCK INFORMATION:
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Economy Delivery Van Image Comparison
David Silberman forwarded the SP-6 Delivery Panel Van spec sheet from Boyertown (below) to me a couple days ago. What’s interesting is that this one is slightly different from the actual version shown in the photo at the bottom. Note that the doors on this version don’t open from the edges like the version in the photo. The version in the photo has windows as well. There are a few other minor differences.
Here’s a similar version from a 1959 Willys Overland Brochure. There is no information about this being a “SP-6”:
Here’s one from an earlier brochure. Here’s the original post on this:
Boyertown like many independent truck body builders of that era offered a basic step van body style that was mounted on a truck chassis from many different name plates. One of the options offered was the ability to “custom tailor” the van to the needs of the buyer; narrow rear doors, for a dairy, wide opening doors for a bakery when bread racks would be rolled directly into the truck. Even window options were offered, some doors without windows so cargo couldn’t be seen. It’s the same body style, just shown with different options. This was part of marketing strategy back in the post war era; a prospective buyer would be handed a brochure and notice the slight changes in design. This triggered a subliminal message in the mind of the customer; “we are willing to fill your needs”. So anyway, all you wanted to know and more about van bodies but were afraid to ask.
Always interesting, thanks guys.
As usual, thanks Mike! Since there was a SP-6, I wonder if there was a SP-5 or SP-7 (or others). I’ll keep a look out for that info.
– Dave
How many of these were built? How many existing ones today?
Just got to love a bakery business named, “Eat More Bread”.
Here is a little history on the company and more pictures of their products. They went bankrupt in 1990.
http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/b/boyertown/boyertown.htm
I’d be interesting to know how many were built as well. I’m not sure if they were sold & titled through Kaiser Jeep or through the body companies. Anyone know?
I have a 56 Ford S-6, no glass on rear door and side hinged. I have been searching and have seen and found around 20 of this era.
Tracy, do you have a pic or two of the rear, it would be great to add it to the post for reference? If so, you can email the pics to d@ewillys.com. Thanks for the input. — Dave
these vehicles featured timken beaings — i just noticed on the computer news that jane timken is a republican us senate candidate from ohio — same timken — in fact i have a timken lucite paperweight on my desk here , real nice , 100th year anniversary of timken , shows planes , trains , automobiles , space shuttle — then of course all my old flat front willys overland trucks have the timken split case axles — 5.38 — i never appreciated the 5.38 till i bought the ranch , my trucks just idle up the steepest hills in 1st gear low range — i always ask for TIMKEN bearings when rebuilding any willys item — During World War II, Timken production increased dramatically to keep up with wartime demand. For instance, every U.S. jeep was built using 24 Timken® bearings. With 660,000 jeeps delivered to the U.S. military, Timken delivered more than 15.8 million bearings for those vehicles over the course of the war.