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So you were driving down the street the other day and noticed something odd: a van with no windows behind the driver and front passenger. No, it’s probably not a top-secret surveillance vehicle packed with FBI agents. It’s called a panel van, and it’s a configuration popular with anyone who needs a small vehicle full of shelves or other containers. Today, panel van buyers can range from tradespeople to local delivery drivers. But it was once even more popular, as a configuration of both vans and station wagons.

Over the years, automakers have had many model names for panel vans. And the folks who drive them have had even more slang terms. These include delivery van, blind van, sedan delivery, and car-derived van.

Ford first produced “Town Car Delivery” and “Wood Panel Delivery” configurations of its Model A to maximize space and utility on the popular chassis. Plymouth, Pontiac, and Chevrolet would eventually produce similar vehicles, windowless station wagons designed for pure utility.

Classic Ford panel ban parked in front of a beach in England.
Classic Ford panel van | umdash9 via iStockPhoto

As the truck-based van became a common work vehicle, local delivery drivers and tradespeople began to move up to larger chassis. So the automakers who built vans all began to offer a “panel van” configuration with the glass windows replaced by metal panels.

You can still buy almost any work van on the market as a windowless panel van. Popular options include the Chevrolet Express, Ram ProMaster, Ford Transit, and Mercedes Sprinter. So when you see someone driving down the road in a van with no windows, chances are they are on their way to a hard day of work, or returning home from one.

Today, the smaller wagon-sized panel vans are a throwback, sometimes sought after by collectors. When Chevrolet released its “Heritage Hot Rod” station wagon, it offered a panel van. Some companies actually bought these for the branding opportunity. Hot rod enthusiasts also bought them for their retro looks. In other countries, small, station-wagon sized panel vans are still popular. Both Toyota and Nissan have a version. The Land Rover Defender even offers a panel van configuration.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.