1972 Chevrolet Beauville Window Van 350 AT PS PB AC, for parts or restoration

This auction is for a 1972 Chevrolet Beauville Window Van 350 AT PS PB AC, for parts or restoration.

This van runs and drives well, the rebuilt (years ago) Holley carburetor starts well, and the automatic transmission shifts well. Brakes are good but do fade when fully loaded (such as if you are carrying 1000 lbs or more).

Engine will need some work... I believe there is an intermittent rod bearing noise coming from left side of the engine oil pan. When engine RPMs are low, no such sound, but as engine warms up, mild “banging” sound appears and although this noise is not constant, I assume some of the bearings around the crankshaft have worn down too much. No noises are coming from valve covers. Power is reduced from before the noise began. There are about 60 miles on the engine since the noise appeared, and I do not drive the van since the noise appeared and stayed. Overall miles on the engine are unknown, but I believe under 100k. Engine does not smoke when running, and I'm assuming rings are good.

I think this was the 2nd engine and I put in the 3rd transmission.

Odometer shows over 58k miles, likely 258. Best would be to come and see the van and test drive it in person.

Turbo 350 Hydromatic 3 speed transmission (M38) was rebuilt in 2003, and has about 58k miles on it.

Custom features include a fused working on board 12V DC to 120 VAC 10 Amp power inverter with engine compartment knife switch disconnect, and 1992 Mercedes Benz leather front seats (I kept these from my old Mercedes, and I call these "3 hour" seats - very comfortable, can drive for 3 hours without aching back or seat pad discomfort issues, and they have manual forward, backward, seat pad, and back tilt adjustments).

Working shoulder / lap belts for the front seats are 3 point universal belts adapted and lagged into the body, upper mounting point is "where an anchor was used in the factory to pull the assembled unit body down the assembly line" per a dealer.I'd recommend replacing these if you are restoring this van, as they are older.

Has catalytic converters on the dual exhaust (no leaks, mufflers good) so "older vehicle exhaust smell" is greatly reduced.

Includes one set of studded snow tires on rims, new 2018, on van now, and another set of regular tires on rims (so, 8 rims plus spare rim & tire). All tires are good and I believe regular tires were purchased within the last 5 years.

Regular tires are on 4 silver rims. Mounting folks kinda messed up the directions and therefore the colors on the studded rims.

Spare parts include several side and rear door windows, working front door triangular vent windows (from a 1974, current vent windows are siliconed sealed closed).

Hood has a simple but effective lock (custom mechanism, Buffo lock).

CAVEATS:

Newer ignition, headlight switch, dimmer, wiper switch and headlights (last several years).

All hoses and belts were replaced within last 2 years. AC belt currently off.

AC system is older (late 1980s after market) but does work, however,AC belt currently off (I had hoped the noise was this older compressor). Will include new belt.

Heater core replaced in 2002, no leaks at present.

Front wheel bearings have about 12k on them. Caps leaking due to bearing grease being placed under the caps in addition to where it should have gone! I was misinformed...

The thermostat is some kind of special high temp one, I have seen it in the middle of the gauge only a few times in Arizona, when it was 130 degrees F!

Usually shows in first 1/4 of gauge at operating temp.

Van has a custom 50 gallon fuel tank. Fuel gauge works fine, but gauge gasket is older and if filled to filler neck, you will get a gas smell from the back end of the van till the tank level goes down.

Rear hitch is rated for 5000 pounds (Class III, I think) and the receiver is welded onto the frame around the gas tank.

Front shocks are newer (2018).

Alternator was new from 2018, and puts out 100 Amps.

Power steering pump about 5 years ago and works well.

Differential was replaced with a 1979, has about 160k miles on it.

I have the rear bumper, and it’s in same condition as front bumper (both had chrome ground off, repainted silver).

Purportedly an Edelbrock intake manifold, but I don’t see any markings to that effect.

Transmission leaks but not badly… had a pro try to repair it and now there is gasket material all around pan seal.

Has had minor oil leaks for over 15 years.

Water pump is from about 2013 / about 30k miles.

New cap and rotor (May 2020).

New fuel filter front in 2018 and rear in 2019.

Fuel and brake lines appear in good shape, and no leaks.

Windshield has crack (see photos), but doesn'timpair driver view.

"Dryer vent" window behind driver door was part of a mobile safe room system prototype circa 2001.

I have a regular glass replacement window which will come with the other spare parts.

Radiator is newer, about 30 k on it.

Has older after market cruise control system, but it is not working at present. In the past, magnet on drive line has moved out of sensing range.

Engine cowl seal is older but has no leaks (cabin has no engine smells).

Has a Sony CD player and radio working unit.

Includes OEM owners and repair manuals.

Body:

Underside is in good condition… undercoat is coming off in places but there are no frame issues.

Sills appear sound as seen from underneath.

Originally medium green with white center stripe, then tan, repainted a 1950s Chevy Turquoise about 2013 or so, along with white roof. I had requested an undercoat of POR 15, but I don’t think the body shop did it well enough, as there are rust spots (see photos). Circa 2015, I lent the van to a friend who placed most of the large dents in the sides (which I painted with black POR-15 to halt the rust). What are friends for!

Roof does not leak, but there are repairs made over the years that should be reviewed. I had rust converted rust spots on the outer and inner steel roof, but there are now cracks in some of these repairs.

Area around windshield has some rust bubbles.

Moon type hubcaps will also be included.

Rubber weather strip around all doors is newer (2014) and is in good condition, tinted windshield and weatherstrip are around 10 years old, and most window weatherstrip dates from 2014.

Sliding side door works well.

Front doors need a firm closing, but I think that is how these vans were.

Some background:

I have had this van since 1991, when I bought it to move from Oregon to California (it was built in CA and spent most of its life there), from someone moving from CA to OR. I ended up keeping it since, after finding it to be an amazingly reliable vehicle, inexpensive and easy to repair, and in all repairs, I would do such things as replace bolts or screws with stainless steel where it was best to have them (example: exhaust header to exhaust pipe bolts are stainless, body trim and panel screws) and generally took a long term view of ownership.

I have most service records for any of the major repairs.

I would restore it again, but it is too much work for me, and I don't use it that much these days.

I think I'm the 4th owner, the second owners' (purchased in 1978) kept a detailed log book of repairs and trips, and it appears the van was in California through 1991.

Van is located in Greenwich, CT 06830.