The absolute coolest form of recreational vehicle is not what gets cranked out of Indiana, but what crafty individuals come up with. Just about anything with wheels can be turned into a camper, and old commercial vehicles have been a favored pick for builders for decades. This 1949 Olson Kurbmaster started life as a dependable aluminum-bodied delivery van. Then, in the 1970s, it was converted into a gloriously groovy camper van.
I’ve said it before, but custom-built RVs are my favorite kind of camping rig. The world’s biggest RV makers all design different variations of the same thing. If you want to go truly wild, you have to go with a custom motorhome. We’ve now seen a transit bus with slides and a wine cellar, a school bus with a rooftop fire pit and underglow, and even an airport catering truck turned into a mobile treehouse. Custom RVs are limited only by budgets and imaginations.
What makes this Olson Kurbmaster really cool is that it offers a window into what RV conversions looked like decades ago. The step van comes from the 1940s, and its RV conversion was done in the 1970s. It’s basically the equivalent of what it would be like to convert a Grumman LLV into a motorhome today. This motorhome is currently for sale on Bring a Trailer for what’s still a reasonable price.
From An Innovator In Step-Vans
The step-van is an important cog in the mechanisms of logistics. For a century, these sturdy vans have delivered everything from milk and bread to the mail. These types of trucks are often called “multi-stop” delivery vans and “walk-in” vans because they’re designed for couriers who need to make a lot of stops during their shift. The drivers of these vehicles can walk into the cargo holds of these trucks, grab the parcel, and complete their delivery.
Some automotive historians trace the origins of the walk-in truck to the Pak-Age-Car of 1925, and its original purpose was to be more or less a horse-drawn delivery carriage, but minus the horse. Chevrolet started offering a dedicated multi-stop truck in 1940 when it launched the Dubl-Duti van. Historically, these step-vans often featured drivetrains of Detroit automaker products, but bodies formed by commercial vehicle companies. The Dubl-Duti’s body was built by Divco Twin. In 1958, the Chevrolet Step-Van began being built with a steel body by GM.
Despite the title of the Bring a Trailer auction, this step-van wasn’t officially marketed as a Chevrolet product. Instead, this was a product of Grumman Olson with running gear from Chevrolet.
The Grumman Olson van story begins back in the 1930s, when Grumman was known best for its military aircraft. Brooklyn-based Chevrolet dealer owner Walter Heingartner came up with an idea for an aluminum-bodied lightweight delivery van. His friend, New York State Liquor Authority Commissioner Jimmy Olson, recognized that this van had a market. New York City had several independent laundry companies, and all of them used trucks. The belief was that Heingartner’s aluminum truck would be lighter, last longer, and be more efficient than existing laundry trucks.
However, neither man knew how to make trucks. That’s where Olson’s connection, Grumman Aircraft, came in. Grumman was supposed to start building the trucks in 1939, but World War II delayed the trucks’ production until 1946. Then, the J.B.E. Olson Corporation (later Grumman Olson and then Morgan Olson) was formed and made history with its ridiculously durable delivery trucks.
Olson’s early models included the Kargo King, the Kurb Side, and the original Kurbmaster. While I have been able to confirm that the original Kurbmaster went into production sometime in the 1950s, I have not been able to find out the exact differences between it and the Kurb Side. What I have found is that the Kurbmaster rides on a three-quarter-ton Chevrolet commercial chassis.
This Olson RV Conversion
Olson Bodies began developing its own motorhomes in 1969, leading to the creation of the rare Grumman Motorhome series, which were designed to outlast their powertrains. This motorhome is not one of those official Grumman motorhomes, but it’s so good that it looks like it could have been the real deal.
This Olson Kurbmaster started life in 1949 as a Chevrolet Advance Design truck chassis. The vehicle’s registration claims a model year of 1954, which could be when the Kurbmaster body was fitted to the chassis. The vehicle then served as a delivery vehicle for an indeterminate amount of time.
What’s neat is that this delivery truck was converted into a motorhome in the 1970s. The conversion looks like it was professionally done, too. The sliding delivery truck doors were deleted for a more traditional RV door. Likewise, the rear end now has doors leading to internal storage. The Bring a Trailer listing notes what you get inside:
The forward cabin houses a single driver’s seat that has been reupholstered in green Crypton velvet with yellow piping and sits on top of a platform that houses an RV-style toilet. The three-spoke steering wheel fronts a 90-mph speedometer and a combination gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 13k miles, approximately 200 of which have been added under current ownership.
A central kitchenette offers a sink, an ice box, a three-burner range, and metal-flake laminate countertops. The wood cabinets were sanded and refinished in polyurethane, the appliances were repainted yellow, and the vinyl flooring was resealed during the aforementioned refurbishment. A mirror is mounted to the inside of the closet door.
The rearward section houses two platform beds, and replacement orthopedic foam cushions were installed under current ownership along with removable Crypton velvet covers. A water tank and storage compartments are built into the platforms. The Dearborn propane heater has not been tested.
I love all of this because the conversion looks to be extremely well-done, as if the truck rolled out of the Olson factory that way. I also love how well the interior has held up five decades after the conversion was done. Clearly, whoever did this work knew what they were doing.
Of course, you have to know what you’re getting into here. This is a truck with RV equipment that’s at least 50 years old. The rest of the truck is even older. There’s some underbody rust present from its several decades of existence, and its drivetrain isn’t even close to being modern. Power comes from a 235 cubic inch straight-six that made 90 horses when new, and who knows how many of them still reside in the stable. The seller says that the truck cruises at a leisurely 60 mph.
So, this probably wouldn’t be the best rig for someone who wants to live #vanlife and travel across the country. But for a vintage RV nut like me? This would be a dream. Take it to a classic RV rally, go to a state park, or take the family out to the lake for the weekend. Or, heck, repower it and make it more capable. The possibilities are endless.
If you’re interested, the auction ends on June 3, and bidding is at only $3,500, which is cheap for something on Bring a Trailer. If I didn’t just blow tons of cash on an imported car, I think I might have been a buyer for this guy. You should buy it instead and enjoy a time capsule of what RV conversions were like 50 years ago.
I clicked on the Pak Age Car link, and haven’t fully recovered. I want to adopt it, put it in a little sailor outfit (or ballerina, up to it) and take it to a swing on a park. So cute!
This is so cool. My wife and her family took a road trip from Maine to So Cal and back when she was little. Her stories are about a “bread truck” that they did the trip in. It’s not the same as this thing, but it’s very similar. She’s been asking for years if I knew what that was and I really didn’t have a clue until today.
I showed her pictures and although it varies in details, there are a ton of similarities. I think we have found her mystery RV.
PS, based on her stories always being about random places the bread truck broke down and the fact it took all summer to make the trip as a result, I don’t think she would want me to buy this and restore it.
That is a very tasty RV.
To me I would put a more “modern” engine and trans from the 90’s to give it a cheap update with out a lot of sensors that modern systems rely on.
Also then you can integrate AC into it while driving without doing a bunch of big changes as the interior is great and I wouldn’t want to change that aesthetic.
Hidden solar panels on the roof so you can use a battery pack to power stuff low-key and bam you have a good restomod RV.
I guess the combo driver seat/toilet is the original “Dubl-Duti,” so to speak.
More like “Dubl-Doody” har har har
Hopefully no-one used it while driving.
Yeah, but that would be so convenient, and so…Autopian!
The style of the interior looks very similar to the interior of the Bedford TJ1 truck I had until recently – it had originally been built in 1962 as a cab chassis, with a ‘box’ body added on the back with a single central access door and step at the back (designed for food deliveries).
In the 70s it was converted to a camper, with the 5’6′ head height issue remedied by adding a raised section of roof about 2′ wide down the middle, also allowing little slot windows along the sides of the raised section to let more light in.
Couch folding out into bed, built in dinette seats creating storage compartments underneath, table that drops down to form another sleeping position with the seats, and a 12V/240V/gas fridge, gas cooktop/grill, sink, lots of storage hiding a 240V/12V inverter, and even a little portable 12V television with a 7″ screen!
Its nice, but parts availability IS A REAL ISSUE. Good luck getting parts for a 50 plus year old truck, the manufacturer simply is NOT expected to support it (even models past 10 years as well). Especially if something is defective.
The rust is well….
I think I will look elsewhere.
Yeah, there’s no such thing as a “leisurely” 60 mph in a ’50s truck, especially if it’s still geared for multi stop city delivery. At that speed it’s probably close to flat out.
So much avocado and harvest gold. So very 70s.
Looks like the reserve was not met on the auction at $9K.
Aww it’s like the War Box’s grandpappy! Mine’s a Grumman, but same Chevy running gear underneath!
So, a camper that sleeps two implies that it’s for you and your better half/spouse/partner/whatever. Two twin beds means you aren’t able to sleep together. Seems like an odd choice. Factor in the glass door, the toilet that they didn’t take pictures of, zero privacy, and what appears to be quite a bit of rust, I would pass on this one.
Also, whomever isn’t driving gets to look at nothing while lying/sitting down on one of the beds.
The twin bed thing may be a feature. One person can get up to go to the bathroom without waking the other person.
We bought a used camper last year that had been converted from a single queen to two twins with an aisle in the middle (we jokingly called it our “honeymoon’s over” camper) and it works great for us. But then we’re closer to the hallway sex phase of marriage than the christen every room phase.
Oh hooray, it’s the dead bedroom special!
No thanks, I’d rather prioritize having a shag with the missus over taking a 3am leak. Not like you’d be peeing in secret in this crazy old thing.
Can we talk about the GLASS DOOR? It’s glass. It extends down to axle level.
At least the driver is well-positioned for a code brown when the inevitable road pebble bounces to and shatters the door?
And on the flip side, that monstrously thick B pillar.
Nice! Funny story: My mom liked the band Bread (Yes, there was a band named Bread! Ha ha) When we were in the car and weren’t behaving, mom would make the threat “if you kids don’t behave, I’ll play Bread!” So of course we behaved!
No F’ing way. My mom used to do the Exact. Same. Damn. Thing.
Wow! That is truly trippy…
Learning you have a half brother on a car forum
I’m an old and my sisters both loved Bread and had their greatest hits album. The only bread song that I enjoy, somewhat ironically, is “Guitar Man” as covered by, wait for it…. Cake.
Breadvan!?!
How fast does it get around Goodwood?
I can not deny that this is a beautiful work of art and craftsmanship. But I don’t think it’s practical for its intended use. Maybe if you have a bit of land you can park it out back as a guest house.
I honestly wouldn’t be too worried about the 50+ year-old appliances. A genuine icebox is just that — an insulated box cooled with ice; nothing to fail there. A pilot-lit gas stove of that vintage is practically everlasting. Just check the gas fittings once in a while with a leak detector or soapy water, and disconnect/re-apply sealant/reconnect if a leak ever appears. The rear heater isn’t going to be much more complicated than the stove. Just check the gas connections periodically, inspect the heat exchanger, and (maybe) rebuild the blower motor — but I doubt it’s seen enough hours of use to worry.
Now, about that toilet built into/under the driver seat. I have questions. How, exactly, does it open? Can it be used while driving? That would make it the ultimate (human) range extender…
In none of the BaT pictures do I see any provision made for any sort of privacy curtain, either for the windows or the living area, for the driver’s seat/toilet combo. That’s my main question, right there.
There is no privacy. A lot of minimalist campers are built that way. Take a look at the toilet on an Alaskan Camper. If you are shy, you ask your fellow camper(s) to go walk the dog for a while. At least it has some sort of toilet; I had friends in Minnesota who were in a bagpipe band, so they wore kilts. The front of their converted school bus simply had a PVC pipe that didn’t collect anything, but the bus did not take bathroom breaks. Probably looked like an old bus leaking coolant.
I agree on the icebox and stove, but I’m not trusting a 50+ year old propane space heater. Those things have killed plenty of folks over the years. At least have battery-powered CO detector with you.
Seems perfect for loafing around.
Given the pants-shitting sensation of trying to pilot vintage vehicles on modern freeways, the toilet placement is flawless.
underrated.
CAN’T STOP, MAKING TOO GOOD OF TIME.
So cool looking. The back porch is awesome as is the interior.
Yeah, that rear bumper arrangement is a pretty elegant idea