The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1953 - take a guess

Well, I recently purchased a 1953 something. That's what I'm trying to figure out. Not found another example on the internet anywhere.
Serial Number: L53K044422 and do know the Coachbuilder: Winter Weiss Company, Denver, Colorado
If anyone knows more about these that can advise, I'd love to hear.

That's a 1 Ton Built in Kansas City
L = 1 Ton
53 - Year built
K = Kansas City Plant
044422 = Serial # for that plant (First built would be 001001)

The body looks like a suburban, but Chevy didn't produce those except on 1/2 ton chassis. It was probably built on a 3805 (1 ton) panel and the windows added by the aftermarket body builder.

Reference Material HERE

Winter - Weiss Co 1923 -1974

Henry Winter and Henry Weiss founders

Built semi trailers for the US Army in WWII. They also built truck bodies, motorcycle delivery bodies, specialty trailers, oil field drilling rigs, etc.

Lots of information at the Denver Public Library.

Cool find. Shouldn’t a ‘53 have wing windows? Think maybe the doors had been swapped?

Regardless, I think it’s awesome.

John

It's got the correct pushbutton handles. My guess is that the wing windows have been removed with the rest of the glass (and wiper arm connectors.)

Looks like it’s missing all windows/glass. Aside from what looks like an original data plate, the push button door handles likely confirm the ‘53 YOM.

I’d be interested to learn more about the “Winter-Weiss Company” and their modifications on the truck.

Edit: sorry for duplicate info. Kevin beat me to the post button.

I tried looking at the Denver Library and wasn't figuring out how to see thing there. It's a bit quirky I thought. I'll try again, thanks

It does have the wing windows, all the glass has been removed and new glass purchased

Jim - It looks like the Denver Library is a repository for the historical documents related to the company. They don't appear to be available on line, but a direct visit to the Library might figure out a way to get access and possibly document some of the history of your truck.

There are a bunch of rules and limitations on what can be copied/photographed from the collection, which would need someone's approval for sure. But if you really want to know, this is the place to start.

Just a guess based on the Denver location, but this beast could have been ground transportation from Denver to early ski resorts like Arapahoe Basin, Aspen and Winter Park.

Never thought about that (Ski transport). The fellow I got it from said it had a Colorado title before he titled it in TN. I'm going to take a close look at it tomorrow for clues. I just basically got it pulled to my brothers last week and have not really looked it over good yet.

With only two doors, It would only be useful for luggage.

I did a little web searching on the Winter Weiss Company. Not a lot found, but I did see that they built trailers for the military during WWII and another source showed they built truck mounted oil/gas drilling rigs later on.

I imagine whatever it was built for, it was likely a commercial use vehicle of some sort.

Otto,

Just saying but if only for luggage, then why bother to put windows in it? Just get a regular panel...?? I think the concept of having more doors in the Suburban type conversions came later -- probably after they learned that the passenger van conversions like this one were awkward.

The ones like this I remember seeing also had racks on the roof for luggage and skies, etc.

Another thought -- Maybe this had been an ambulance?

My van, although far newer, was originally spec'd and purchased as an oil field crew van.

Cool truck! Cool discussion!

I suppose. How would the passengers enter? Through the tailgate door?

The second seat in Suburbans of the day was not full width, allowing passengers access to the third seat. Maybe this thing had two (or more) of these seats allowing access to the rear seat. Maybe the smaller seats all the way to the back. Note the holes in the floor.

Otto -- Like Bill says... pretty much the same why they do in the 'Burbs -- Front passenger seat swings up out of the way to allow access to the rear seats. Like Bill says -- use as many of the middle seats as you need and just have the last one full width. With a roof raCK FOR LUGGAGE, YOU COULD PUT THE BACK SEAT ALL THE WAY AFT AGAINST THE REAR DOORS. Sorry about hitting the caps lock.... You should try typing with my fingers sometime...

Old band wagon.

Thought it might be a crew crummy, but lack of doors would make it dangerously hard to evacuate in an emergency. Then again, safety standards back then were not what they are today.

I like John's ambulance idea. (St. John's ambulance? ) Are there holes in the roof for lights and siren? Related to an ambulance - a hearse?

You may find more info at the Denver public library looks like they have a list of boxes with information on the company and founder. They may even have a picture of the truck.

It almost looks like an R. Crumb drawing, and that's super cool!

Guitplayer's Band Wagon is a 1947 Cadillac from The Andy Griffith Show.

You're right.

My vote is a transporter for an oil rig, thus the windows. My Grandfathers ‘50 suburban had the second shortened seat and a full length third seat. We stuffed 4 adults and six kids in that truck many times.

Old burbs were always 2 doors. Never made sense.

Would there be windows in an ambulance? You lose storage shelf space. 50’s version of the 15 passenger van I hauled my basketball team around in!

My guess is that it started out as a 3800 Rug van with only a driver's seat. They would haul 12 ft. rolls of carpet which are heavy! Looks like the coach builder made a crew crummy out of it. Probably oil fields based on the Colorado build. Here in Washington I've seen similar rigs that were owned by logging companies. One that came my way for work was a Napco 4x4. Caked with grease and mud even years after it saw its last high-lead logging show. 54 or 55 with a divorced transfer case. Went to the steam cleaner first thing.

Would multiple passengers make the 1 ton chassis necessary?

At 160 lbs each, 6 people weigh almost half a ton. Add equipment or more people and 1 ton would make sense.

If it was operating in rugged terrain, the heavier duty axles and frame, etc would be better regardless of the weight it was carrying.