World’s Largest Street Rod: 1951 White Moving Van
This old truck has had an interesting history. It was first purchased by D.J. Jones Storage and Hauling of Shamokin, Pennsylvania and hauled household goods for many years. The next news we have is that it was restored in 1989 by the second owner who spent a pile of money and added some “cool” 1980s touches. The running gear was updated and a Chevy 454 with a 400 turbo automatic transmission was installed. This owner lived in the van and traveled around the country selling antique toys at trade shows and swap meets. Then, it was owned by Stanley Cabinets, of Vidor, Texas, who repainted it. They swapped the 454 for a Chevy 427 crate engine. The seller claims to have owned the truck for 20 years, so they could be Stanley Cabinets. Could a repaint look like this after only 20 years? It’s all a bit puzzling. While many of the custom touches are still visible almost 30 years later the repaint is mostly patina and the old truck has grown a little rusty. Now, it’s is listed on eBay in Vidor, Texas with an unmet opening bid of $12,000.
This van was set up as a camper, but the cabinets and such have since been removed. The Onan generator remains, but there’s no word on its operational status. The engine does not run. And once rolling, it would take a very heavy external heavy object to stop it as the brakes do not work. The truck features such extras as AC for the cab and the box, huge fuel tanks and a toilet with large sewage tanks. It was running when parked two years ago but the fuel is now reported to smell like turpentine. Here’s the truck in 1989 from the cover of the Antique Toys Magazine. They did a story on it and called it a street rod. The last 30 years and two more owners have not been kind to it.
The dash is complete and very red. Those speakers and the stereo with an equalizer from the 1980s are certainly a nice touch.
Tthe 427 crate motor certainly looks out of place here. It ran when parked a couple of years ago, but doesn’t want to run on the old gas. This must be why they call this old truck a hot rod.
Things in the back appear to be in great shape. It certainly looks roomy. What do you do with all this space though?
The “Stanley Cabinets” artwork is a cool touch. It all looks pretty solid except for the rust in places along the bottom of the box. It’s hard for me to imagine who would be willing to pay a huge amount of money for it given it’s condition. It is going to take some work just to get it running again. The brakes were redone by a shop that is out of business now and have failed. Redoing work done poorly or incorrectly could get very expensive. The engine might need to be rebuilt or replaced. It would take a lot of work but this could be the perfect car hauler, complete with bunk room, tool room, and perhaps even a little shop. It could also be converted back to an RV. It will be interesting to see what uses you see for this old van.
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Comments
Hot Rod? Yeah, it’s really Shamokin!
Dog,that is so cool……but $12,000 with out original motor/ trans?,……….
Good point but also.. I wouldn’t want the original engine and trans – the big block setup with modern trans is the way to go. This is fantastic, I would love to haul / store motorcycles with it!
This would make for a cool swapmeet truck to haul your goodies to sell.
Could make a nice car hauler too. That’s a lot of patina on a 20 year old red paint job! Must have been done with cheap house paint.
Made me think of the moving van from The Godfather.
Oh, to have a place to park this undercover. It would make a great camper/motorcycle-scooter hauler.
Always liked the WC (22?) Whites.(that would probably change if I had to spend 17 hours a day in one) This particular truck is sure an oddball. While the big block is certainly an improvement over the White “Super Power” flathead 6, this was clearly built before small diesels came of age, and the most logical solution, was put the biggest gas motor they had on hand in this. The rear axle has tubeless tires, but the front appear to still be tube, and a 2 speed with an automatic,,,,I’m not sure how that would work. It’s cool, but no matter what you do with it, be best to redo the whole thing with a modern drivetrain. Inside, limited only by your imagination.
I like the idea of a RV. You wouldn’t see another like it IMO. Get the mechanicals in shape, unique style, solid looking body.
Agreed on the RV idea, that would be my choice. There’s no doubt it would be pretty cool and certainly unique, but at $12k for basically a shell I’d think I could find a better deal on something else.
I remember seeing this truck at the Brimfield (antiques) Fair several years. He always had the most wonderful antique toy cars, and of course, the truck was amazing. (It looked like the restored photos.)
This is really cool,but I don’t think you could haul
a vehicle much bigger than a Mini Cooper in it..?LOL..
I love the idea of a retro camper,but it would still be
very “inefficient” compared to modern rigs,perhaps
a modern diesel engine,could do well,in it..?Alot
of money for a non- runner,that needs a lot,but it
should be saved,and put to good use somehow….
..make it a Retro..Food truck…for swap meets and car shows,
with large awning,for outdoor dining…could be “anything”
with enough…$$$$$$$….And time. Another very cool find..!
That is a pretty neat truck although I would have sure went diesel instead of gas for a repower. Truck looks in pretty good shape overall the rust that is there will take some work to do the job correctly but other than that it nice, I collect trucks so this is right up my alley but not for anywhere near 12k
Plenty of old class A motorhomes out there for parts vehicles if you really wanted a antique truck with semi-modern insides. I’d change all the brakes, tires and wheels out from the motor home with chrome wheel inserts and wheel covers with radial tires. A nice comfortable sofa, king or at least queen size bed and kitchen from the donator motor home with shower and water heater, maybe even a stackable washer and drier. The floor would be done inter-locking hardwood, either oak or teak. I would try to repair/rebuild the existing 427 and trans. I’m just daydreaming of course. Whoever gets it have fun.
Looks like the old Book Mobil that use to come around out in the county.
So where is Mighty Joe Young hiding????
Having built three RVs from scratch out of buses and truck boxes, I don’t think converting it is worth the work for such a unique rig when you can buy a fully equipped rig for 12k or much less.
Would be better suited to something entrepreneurial that could benefit from such an attention-getter. I’m thinking portable vintage photography studio, old fashioned ice cream and gelatto truck or straight razor shave and cigar shop.
Better in a museum
i love the look of the old whites.. my 47 sure draws attention where ever i go with it.. but there is a lot of work ahead for who ever buys this .. good luck
There is a flatbed White like this at “barry’s u-pull-it” in Gulfport, Ms., if anyone is looking for such as this..
Really cool White! It would be nice to recreate the original paint job and make it into a motorcycle/bubble car (Messerschmitt, BMW Isetta, Peel P50, etc.) hauler.
That was my grandfather’s truck from Jones Moving and Storage. Went for a few rides in it.