94-Year-Old Delivery Van Looks Brand New
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Dave Graham knew his father liked old vehicles, but he didn’t know until his dad passed away that he’d owned a 1930 Ford delivery van as a young man. Graham says his mother showed him a picture of his dad with the truck and its bill of sale. He knew then he wanted to find a similar vehicle and restore it as a tribute to his dad.
Graham says finding the exact 1930 vehicle was a 20-year process. He finally located his prize in a Bellingham, Wash., Restorers Club Newsletter. Even though the owner had 200 prospective buyers, he eventually settled on Graham’s offer after hearing that he would restore the vehicle to honor his father.
With the Canada/U.S. border closed during the pandemic, Graham hired a towing company to bring the vehicle into Canada. After it arrived at his former welding and repair business, Graham and his friend Bob Crawford, an experienced auto body specialist, began the frame-off restoration in August 2021.
The disassembly was dicey because the body was rusty and badly needed repair. Graham and Crawford stripped the vehicle to the frame, sandblasted the chassis, and repaired or replaced wooden body parts. Graham provided special metal patches he formed on jigs he made in his shop. Crawford put in nearly 400 hrs. over 8 mos. restoring the body metal to like-new condition.
Graham wanted the vehicle to match his father’s original truck, so he painted the body Moss Rock Green, and its fenders and running boards gloss black. He says his dad’s vehicle, even though it was 10 years old when he bought it, was in nice enough condition to drive him and his mother to their wedding in 1945. Later, they used it on their farm, even hauling livestock in the cargo hold.
After nearly 2 years, the restoration was complete. The interior received new flooring and siding. Graham and Crawford polished all the chrome and installed a vinyl roof, shiny spoked wheels, and new tires. Graham says the rebuilt and repainted engine produces 40 hp., which, like the original, delivers plenty of power to drive roads in the mountainous area where he lives.
Graham says it was a labor of love that turned out exactly as he planned. He credits Crawford for outstanding bodywork and other help from the Totem A & T Club and the Lions Gate Model A Club for encouraging and assisting him during the project.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Dave Graham, 28320 58 Ave., Abbotsford, B.C., Canada V4X 2E8.
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94-Year-Old Delivery Van Looks Brand New TRACTORS Antiques Dave Graham knew his father liked old vehicles but he didn’t know until his dad passed away that he’d owned a 1930 Ford delivery van as a young man Graham says his mother showed him a picture of his dad with the truck and its bill of sale He knew then he wanted to find a similar vehicle and restore it as a tribute to his dad Graham says finding the exact 1930 vehicle was a 20-year process He finally located his prize in a Bellingham Wash Restorers Club Newsletter Even though the owner had 200 prospective buyers he eventually settled on Graham’s offer after hearing that he would restore the vehicle to honor his father With the Canada/U S border closed during the pandemic Graham hired a towing company to bring the vehicle into Canada After it arrived at his former welding and repair business Graham and his friend Bob Crawford an experienced auto body specialist began the frame-off restoration in August 2021 The disassembly was dicey because the body was rusty and badly needed repair Graham and Crawford stripped the vehicle to the frame sandblasted the chassis and repaired or replaced wooden body parts Graham provided special metal patches he formed on jigs he made in his shop Crawford put in nearly 400 hrs over 8 mos restoring the body metal to like-new condition Graham wanted the vehicle to match his father’s original truck so he painted the body Moss Rock Green and its fenders and running boards gloss black He says his dad’s vehicle even though it was 10 years old when he bought it was in nice enough condition to drive him and his mother to their wedding in 1945 Later they used it on their farm even hauling livestock in the cargo hold After nearly 2 years the restoration was complete The interior received new flooring and siding Graham and Crawford polished all the chrome and installed a vinyl roof shiny spoked wheels and new tires Graham says the rebuilt and repainted engine produces 40 hp which like the original delivers plenty of power to drive roads in the mountainous area where he lives Graham says it was a labor of love that turned out exactly as he planned He credits Crawford for outstanding bodywork and other help from the Totem A & T Club and the Lions Gate Model A Club for encouraging and assisting him during the project Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dave Graham 28320 58 Ave Abbotsford B C Canada V4X 2E8
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