Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]

Announcements (Updated: July 11, 2018)

Welcome to Swifty's Garage!


Thanks to all of you for making this board what it is today!


Attention new members: We would like to welcome you personally, so please introduce yourself. Click here: INTRODUCTIONS


For all the latest news and announcements, please click here: PA System



Thank you - The Swifty's Garage Team




This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution

Car of the Week:


Matchbox 1968 Ford F-100


Click Here: Matchbox '68 Ford F-100
Welcome to Swifty's Garage. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.

Thank You,
The Swifty's Garage Team


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features.

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Truck of the Day : July 1, 2014; Road Champs '94 Chevrolet P30 'Step Van'
Topic Started: Jun 30 2014, 11:12 PM (1,587 Views)
craftymore
Member Avatar
Support your local demo derby.

Posted Image

Road Champs' 1994 Chevrolet P30 'Step Van' is the truck for today.

Posted Image

Wikipedia.com
 
Multi-stop trucks (also known as walk-in delivery or step vans) are a type of light-duty and medium-duty truck created for local deliveries to residences and businesses. They are almost always forward-control vehicles, designed to be driven either sitting down or standing up, and often provide easy access between the driver and goods, hence the name "Walk-In Delivery" van. They are taller than full-size vans such as the Ford Econoline, Dodge A-Series/B-Series/Ram Vans, and Chevrolet G-Series vans, but can have wheelbases that are shorter than these models or longer.


Posted Image

Posted Image

ToolTrucks.com
 
P30 was Chevrolet's model name for its 14' - 16' - 18' step van line, and was the tool business standard truck until the early 1990s.

The 16' P30 is an all-around good performer - not too big, not too small, reasonably good handling, has a decent weight capacity, adequate room inside, and it is cost effective. It's not considered a medium or heavy-duty truck, so most parts are available at your local Chevrolet dealer, at least through the 1999 model year. of course the GM reorganization threw a big kink in the process, so you might have to call around. GM got out of the medium-duty truck business in 2009.

Sometime in 1998 - 1999, the Chevrolet step van chassis manufacturing factory was purchased by Workhorse Chassis Corporation, disassembled, and literally moved from Michigan to Indiana and put back together. P30's are still being manufactured, with continuous upgrades, and beginning with the 2000 model year, sold as a Workhorse P30042 model. With it's purchase by International in 2007, the Workhorse step van will one day be introduced as the International step van.


Posted Image

Click on Wikipedia.com and ToolTrucks.com to learn more on the Chevy P30.

Posted Image

In the mid 1990s Road Champs offered up a line of commerical style vehicles including a Zamboni, Winnebago RV plus this Chevy Step Van among a few others. An all metal body features driver's side sliding door and opening rear doors.

Posted Image

ToolTrucks.com
 
here have been several power plant and GVW models of the P30 available over the years. Early 16' P30 tool trucks – from 1976 through the early 1980's - were sold in a 10,000 lbs. GVW version with 7.50" x 16" tires (GVW is Gross Vehicle Weight, which is the total weight capacity of a truck, including the cargo. In this case, a truck weighing 10,000 lbs would be acceptable, 10,001 would be over-weight). The engine was Chevy's reliable gas 350V8 (5.7L), with the Turbo 400 transmission. Around 1985 the chassis was upgraded to 14,000 lbs GVW with the addition of heavier springs and other components, and later upgraded again to 16,000 lbs. GVW, now riding on 19.5" tires. Most of the 1980's and mid 1990's tool trucks were powered by either a 350 V8 or 454 V8 (sorry, not the same one in the 1969 SS Nova, this is the truck version). Beginning in 1982, Chevrolet experimented with diesel power, starting with a 6.2L V8, then settled on a 6.5L V8 diesel, available from 1994 on. One main benefit of diesel power was the ability to install engine-driven AC units, which eliminated the generator and AC units it powered. Generators of the time required extra maintenance so switching to diesel power reduced a driver's headaches. Today 90% of tool step vans are diesel; the diesel engine in use is the 6.6L Duramax, with a 350 Vortec V8 gas version is still available. When Workhorse took over, there was no diesel option, but WH/International is rumored to be offering a diesel version of it's step van in the near future.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
juantoo3
Member Avatar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chester!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Harvestman
Member Avatar
Captain Slow
One of my favorites - and it is great for use in dioramas!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ivantt
Member Avatar
New casting? Quick! Take it apart!
Oh, we could use one of these by someone still in the business of making diecasts!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
juantoo3
Member Avatar
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ivantt
Jul 1 2014, 03:01 AM
Oh, we could use one of these by someone still in the business of making diecasts!!
Give 'em some time. Once they realize the promotional potential, they'll be on board.

"Billboard" vehicles seem the rage for the last 20-25 years, starting in earnest with the HW VW Drag Bus. JL had their Boogie Vans and soda pop trucks, so I know Tom Lowe knows. M2 is catching on with their old wreckers, and Greenlight has seen the light with their rollbacks and wreckers.

I do want to find a copy of this one though, to go with my other Chester Cheetah livery vehicles: Majorette semi-tractor/trailer, Jeep and '57 Chevy, and JL Viper and Step Van (Puerto Rico only mail-in promo items). I'm always watching for any I've missed, like this one. Some people collect Coca-Cola stuff, I collect Chester Cheetah!

It's not easy being Cheesy!

I don't expect it to win, but this one likely has my vote for the week...it will be hard to top!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
cody6268
Member Avatar
Minivan
A great model of an ordinary vehicle.

There are some Workhorse step vans used by Aramark around here.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
JeepXJLover
Member Avatar
Minivan
I love these big Road Champs castings. I have a couple of the rollbacks, a mint Winnebago and a International school bus that I would like to someday restore.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
GothicCarsUrban
Member Avatar
SUV
The Winnie and school bus at least are said to be true 1/64... think this may be too

Had one as a kid until my mom took it from me and gave it to a younger cousin, who trashed it and a lot of other cool 80s & 90s castings
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
pjedsel
Member Avatar
Muscle Car
I was always surprised that this one didn't see use as a promo model. The labels were easy to peel off for anyone who wanted to do so. It is a nice model and to bad that Road Champs, like others, is history.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Stampede
Member Avatar
Team Canada
A very nice model! Someone posted a picture of one in a USPS livery, that one is a model that I want in my collection.

No doubt a realistic model!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
jurcpa
Fullsize
yeah for icecream,ups,airport,etc etc,yes nice car,thanks
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
diomakr
Station Wagon
never seen one of these before: with a little paint marker and a wheel job it would do well in my neck of the woods... thanks for the pix and info.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Car Of The Day · Next Topic »
Add Reply



March's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations DinoMom for winning March's contest!



April's Picture of The Month Contest



Congratulations carsdownunder for winning April's contest!






Powered By

This board is best viewed at 1024 x 768 Resolution


eXTReMe Tracker