Car enthusiasts are some of the most passionate people in existence, and our love of the hobby often bleeds into every aspect of our lives. Because so many of us have the good fortune of exploring career pathways that combine work and passion, we tend to live by the old mantra “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” But even those of us who don’t quite build a career in automotive generally find a way to blend the worlds of work and play. That’s exactly how this awesome Divco custom came to exist. A dyed-in-the-wool car enthusiast just happened to need a vehicle that could showcase his business, and the rest, as they say, is octane-fueled history.
Built Around A Great Idea
Like a successful business, a successful street rod usually starts as a great idea that’s built to fruition through excellent planning and a lot of hard work. In this case, the great idea was equipping a classic Divco Model U with a fresh Chevrolet Performance Connect & Cruise drivetrain. Once that was complete, the truck traveled to Mooresville, North Carolina’s Exotics Inc. for, you guessed it, excellent planning and a lot of hard work.
Sure, the LS3 Connect & Cruise drivetrain was a great idea, but it had been bolted into a package that was still a very raw, mass-produced delivery truck. While they are highly desirable today, Divcos were originally intended to be competent, nondescript workhorses that, while dependable, weren’t exciting. Simply put, the components didn’t play well together, and Exotics Inc. knew they had their work cut out for them.
Detroit Industrial Vehicle COmpany
Founded in 1926 by George Bacon, the Detroit Industrial Vehicle Company, or Divco for short, spent 60 years successfully building multi-stop delivery trucks. While Bacon was the Chief Engineer at the Detroit Electric Vehicle Company, he wanted to break into the logistics market. When he suggested creating a gasoline truck to remedy the obvious shortcomings of 1920s electric delivery vehicles, Detroit Electric balked. So, Bacon formed his own company and, after being bought and sold a couple of times, Divco introduced its iconic 1937 Model U.
Assembled for close to 50 years, first in Detroit and then in Ohio, the Model U became synonymous with America’s dairy industry. The truck featured a welded, all-steel, van body, available in two different lengths, and a snub-nosed hood that was manufactured virtually unaltered throughout the line’s entire existence. Divco’s were unique in that they were designed to be driven from the standing position, so drivers could speed delivery. While production was healthy, maxing out at roughly 7,000 units annually, the trucks tended to rust away due to all the ice used to cool their dairy payloads. That means, today, finding a solid Divco Model U is relatively rare.
From Workhorse To Show(case) Horse
Speaking of steel, one of the first things the builder told us was how hard it was to straighten this Divco’s body to show worthy status. That had a lot to do with how the truck was originally constructed, as the sides of the van are supported by a pair of steel bars. In short, Model Us were wavy from the factory.
Once the truck’s body was squared away, the next step was fully welding all seven pieces of its iconic nose into one full unit. That means, instead of folding up like an accordion, the hood now tilts forward, much like the nose of a classic Shelby Daytona. Of course, part of that fab involved creating a tidy front bumper that’s seamlessly integrated into the bottom of the hood. The truck’s slick paint is PPG Nardo Gray with custom-mixed red accents. Details include modern Maxtel headlights, a rearview camera, and a polished rear bumper and polished LED taillights that were random items sourced from Speedway Motors.
Instead of being seven individual pieces with doors that fold to reveal the engine, this Divco’s iconic nose now functions as one full unit that tilts forward.
No Standing, Please
Pop this Model U’s custom locks, and stainless piano hinges fold its doors to reveal a tailored leather interior. A solid foundation of both Dynamat and Dynaliner creates a quiet and comfortable environment for cruising. Full side panels complement a full headliner that’s laced with adjustable LED lighting. The builder fabricated a custom sheetmetal dash that, covered in foam and wrapped in leather, features detailed Dakota Digital telemetry.
During its rebirth, this Divco was fitted with a full custom leather interior.
A classy Speedway Motors steering wheel laps a tilting Ididit column, which rides next to a tall Lokar shifter. Modern luxuries are sparse but useful, with Vintage Air climate control complementing a small button for electric Speedway Motors wipers, and a roof-mount Pioneer head unit that bumps a full Memphis Audio sound system. Seating is provided by two modern buckets up front and a short Bronco bench in back. Naturally, that Bronco bench is 100% removable for the truck to pull double duty as both a family hauler and a business showcase.
Connect & Cruise
If you know anything about the quintessential Divco, you know that power would’ve originally been provided by either a Continental 4-cylinder or a Ford 6-cylinder. Today, this Model U delivers the goods with an LS3 Connect & Cruise kit from Chevrolet Performance. Essentially a stock fifth-generation Camaro engine, the LS3 utilizes rectangular-port L92-style heads, hypereutectic pistons, and a high-lift hydraulic roller cam to twist stout 10.7:1 compression into an easy 430 horsepower. Of course, the other part of that Connect & Cruise combo is a tough 4L60E 4-speed that transforms the truck from neighborhood crawler to highway scorcher. In total, the powerplant is pretty much standard fare aside from a modified air tube, an aftermarket A/C compressor, and a big Griffin radiator.
As we mentioned earlier, despite the fresh Connect & Cruise powertrain, this Divco still felt very much like an old-school delivery truck when it first arrived at Exotics Inc. That’s because its leaf spring suspension was relatively unchanged, still sprung for heavy loads and a high ride that could clear fleet wheels and highway tires. Modernization kicked off with the installation of a full Heidt’s Pro-G front-clip. In addition to tubular control arms and coil-over shocks, that clip armed the truck with power rack-and-pinion steering. In the back, Divco’s heavy-duty, 14-leaf springs were halved to soften the ride and provide an aggressive ride height. Those springs are shackled to a custom Ford 9-inch axle that’s finished with 3.73 gears and 31-spline axles. Power-assisted stops are provided by polished Wilwood calipers, which clamp drilled and slotted rotors. The LS3 growls through custom dual exhaust, and the finishing touch was attractive, 18-inch American Racing Torq Thrust IIs that spin Nitto NT555 G2 radials.
What started as a clever way to market a business turned into one of the nicest custom builds on the road. This Divco isn’t just a rolling showcase; it’s a masterclass in blending performance, creativity, and craftsmanship. In addition to being a classy homage to Detroit Industrial Vehicle’s blue-collar roots, it’s an inspired street rod flex of just how universally cool LS power can be. Proof that when passion meets purpose, the result isn’t just a project – it’s a statement!
