Greenbriar or Rampside

[Kryn65]

I have a chance to buy either a 1961 Rampside or a Greenbriar van. They both need restoration. Which would anyone buy? My wife doesn't want me to buy both and take up the whole backyard..

Thank you

[joelsplace]

Rampsides are worth a lot more and vans are louder.
It depends on what you are going to do with it. Restore and just take to shows?
If you are going to use it then vans are great for extra people or whatever. Things in the back don't get wet and you can lock it up if you want to stop somewhere.
Rampsides are awesome to load big heavy stuff like complete Corvair engines.

[azdave]

Rampsides almost seem too common in the last few years so I just bought a 64 Greenbrier. First FC I've ever owned. Should have it on the road soon after fixing a bunch of prior owner fubars.

[Phil Dally]

Rampside, Rampside, Rampside...they are so unique.

Everybody wants to talk to you and ask you what it is!

I have owned five and regret selling every one of them.

But I say buy them both and deal with wife later. `;~}}

[66vairguy]

Joel summed it up well. If you need to haul stuff enclosed or folks around, then the Greenbrier is nice. If you just want an old interesting truck the Rampside is a good choice. They sell for more, the cabins heat and cool (with A/C) faster, they are quieter! The Rampside door will be a hit at shows. Rampsides are like puppies, most just like them when they see one.

Probably the least desirable is the Loadside (no ramp door). Of course not many Loadsides were made so some view them as desirable.

[Dennis66]

I owned 3 vans (drove two) and one Rampside, that I never drove. If I was leaning towards an FC today, I would definitely go Rampside. You could always make a topper for it if you needed "enclosed hauling". My salvaged Rampside had been converted to a camper and they cut the back of the cab for a walkthrough, that's why I never bothered fixing it (bought it for $3.00) Dennis

[CulverCorvair]

I have owned both and, like Phil, regret selling my Rampside some years back. In my experience, the Rampside cab is a little cramped for tall guys. Most old trucks have small cabs relative to later models, but my Rampy's bench seat was very upright, and there is not much room to lean it back. The van allows you to tinker with the seat to, for me at least, get a more comfortable sitting position with a slight decline to the seat back. But the van is loud inside!

Either are a blast to own and wrench on. Since you have access to both, pick the seating arrangement that suits you best.

Jon

[joelsplace]

I bang my elbow on the back glass in my Rampside.

[Dennis66]

At 6'4'', I did drive a Loadside once and don't recall it being too cramped (there were two of us in the cab) Personally, I think a Rampside with a restored '60s era Riding mower would be a hit at any car show. I don't recall my Greenbrier as being all that noisy. I did have a plywood platform to level out the floor, and it had shag carpet with a pair of Monza bucket seats attached (a back seat in Florida made it a station wagon instead of a truck). When the GB died, I switched to a Corvair 95 panel, and while the platform moved to eh 95 as well, that one did seem more noisy. That could also be because it was an automatic. Dennis

[joelsplace]

Vans are much louder than Rampsides just like Wagons are much louder than 2 or 4 doors. The engine compartment is inside the passenger compartment.

[Gasman63]

...But I say buy them both and deal with wife later. `;~}}

I'm going with this option. She cant be mad at you forever!

[Brizo]

I've put over 120K on my '64 Greenbrier and most of it at highway speeds. I decreased the interior noise level a lot by adding sheets of sound deadening material under full carpet, inside the fully upholstered rear side panels and back doors, outer quarter panels, engine cover with perimeter seal , and a full headliner.