Crazy Custom Chevy Express Pickup Van is Cooler than it Looks
Van-based trucks are unusual in the U.S. market, but this custom Chevrolet Express shows us what we are missing.
The team at Autoweek recently shared in image from Reddit user bbooth76, who shared the image above and voiced his displeasure with the build. He went so far as to call the unique machine an “abomination of God”. Let’s be honest, in the world of heavily-customized vehicles, a van converted into a partial-pickup really isn’t so bad.
Custom Chevy Express Pickup
Based on what we can see in the image above, this unique vehicle started its life as a Chevrolet Express in 2500 or 3500 form with the optional extended wheelbase.
A skilled metal-worker has seemingly cut the cab along the body line that is created by the bottom of the side windows, removing about 60% of the upper sheet metal before welding the newly shortened piece back to the remaining cab. This created a vehicle that is basically a heavy duty minivan with a pickup bed behind the relocated rear doors.
While the Reddit user might hate the look, this Chevy Express offers unique capabilities and if nothing else, you have to admire the workmanship of this custom ride.
This design affords the van owner more seating space or interior cargo room coupled with the exterior storage capacity of a full-size truck. In fact, the bed that was created by shortening the roof line looks to be at least five-to-six feet, so it offers similar bed space to most trucks on the market today. It also looks to be very cleanly modified.
Real World Functionality
You might be wondering why someone might want or need a Chevy Express 2500 van that has been converted into a partial pickup. While the newly-formed cabin is clearly much smaller than it was when this van rolled off of the assembly line, there is still far more dry, climate controlled and securable storage space than you get with any pickup truck. This front space is ideal for storage of expensive tools or work materials that you don’t want left exposed, or it might have seats to carry people.
At the same time, if the owner of this vehicle hauls any sort of oversized items such as sheets of wood, boards or other large building material, it will not fit cleanly in the large van. This forces some workers to leave things hanging out of the rear doors, but the operator also has to drive with the back doors open. Adding the unique bed configuration would make it easier for this Chevy Express to haul wood or other large items while preserving some of the passenger space or insider cargo space of the big van.
While the Reddit user might hate the look, this Chevy Express offers unique capabilities and if nothing else, you have to admire the workmanship of this custom ride.
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