Anyone else have a Helms Bakery truck?

[61ChevyPanel]

Helms Bakeries in Culver City, Calif. used 1950's and 1960's Chevy Panels to deliver 700 tons of bakery goods directly to consumers per week. Does anyone else have one of these trucks? The original paint was a light yellow and there were wood cabinets inside. All the cabinets and Helms accessories were gone by the time I bought my 1961 in 1983.

[C/10 King]

I remember those when I live in Corona in So Cal. didn't they have a special whistle or horn? (when they drove by)

[OldGMJon]

That was the inspiration for mine...I remember running out to the truck with my mother...it was almost like the ice cream truck. We had just moved from Los Angeles to Cucamonga Ca. when I was a kid and remember them making their rounds. Great memories...except I don't remember the awning on the one that came by our house.

[cooperhw]

Originally Posted by OldGMJon

That was the inspiration for mine...I remember running out to the truck with my mother...it was almost like the ice cream truck. We had just moved from Los Angeles to Cucamonga Ca. when I was a kid and remember them making their rounds. Great memories...except I don't remember the awning on the one that came by our house.

I remember these too. I grew up in El Monte in the 60's thru 70's. Loved those fresh glaze doughnuts (when we could afford them that is). Brings back fond memories.

[blown240]

I have one! Its my daily driver. I literally sold my Prius and bought this once I stopped driving for work.

I am the 4th owner. I bought it from my buddy a few months ago. He only had it for a couple months, and he bought it from a family friend who owned it since the 70s. The family friend bought it when it was retired from Helms.

My truck has 71k miles, and until my buddy bought it, still had the original motor and trans in it. Now it has a 350/700r4.

On the inside, it still has the wood paneling. It also still has some of the vinyl that covered the exposed metal in the rear. In the wood paneling there are large mounting bolts and some wire. I assume these are for mounting the bakery racks, and wiring for whatever lighting they had. There are also marks on the floor where the legs of the bakery racks were sitting.

There is a strange button under the dash that looks aftermarket, but old. I haven't traced the wires yet, but I assume its for the Helms whistle. On the outside there are some repairs and bondo where the awning would have been. These are on the roof and under the taillights in the back. There are also some places on the doors where the menus may have been mounted.

Right now I am debating leaving the patina as it and putting the logos back on, or painting the truck. I don't have the skill to do the logos myself, and I don't have the money to pay to have them done.

Here are some pics:

[OldGMJon]

Right now I am debating leaving the patina as it and putting the logos back on, or painting the truck. I don't have the skill to do the logos myself, and I don't have the money to pay to have them done.

You can have a decal of the Helm's bakery logo made fairly cheap...
Inside, mine has side panels and the upper roof molding like the Suburban has but without windows. I don't think mine was a Helms truck but it was somebodies work truck. I think it was a Fawn color originally. jon

[blown240]

Originally Posted by OldGMJon

You can have a decal of the Helm's bakery logo made fairly cheap...

My thoughts were to have the logos put on and then made to look old like the truck. I think that with new fresh logos, it would look odd on the old paint.

[OldGMJon]

Originally Posted by blown240

My thoughts were to have the logos put on and then made to look old like the truck. I think that with new fresh logos, it would look odd on the old paint.

they could antique the decal to look old

[blown240]

where would I go for that?

[OldGMJon]

Originally Posted by blown240

where would I go for that?

Wow! I know they are pretty common these days because I have seen a couple of TV car shows use them...they even can create a complete skin for the vehicle (simulating a custom paint job) applied in sort of a shrink wrap manner. I am from Riverside and I remember going to a mall in Ontario and there was a kiosk that made them right there for you to order. Should be easy to track down...I would search "decals made" on the internet and go from there...

[C/10 King]

Originally Posted by blown240

My thoughts were to have the logos put on and then made to look old like the truck. I think that with new fresh logos, it would look odd on the old paint.

I now I'm kinda far, but there's a guy that I deal with that can recreate the old logos (painted on) and make it look aged just right.

[blown240]

How much do you think he would charge to get the sides and the one rear door done? It may be something I have to save for...

[Softpatch]

I owned a wonder bread truck bought it from a guy who bought it from the bread company
In Seattle I had to sand and paint it twice to get the wonder sign off the side
sold it in 82 in my defence
the logo looked like this and will say as a 20something in the eary 80s it was not the look I was going for
.
I only have one regret... I wish i never sold it
.

.
.
.

[blown240]

Here is a quick and dirty photoshop of what my truck would look like if I put the logos back on:

[OldGMJon]

you gotta do it man...looks cool

[blown240]

My wifes Aunt and Uncle came over this weekend. It was the first time they had seen my truck. The first thing out of their mouth was "cool Helms truck!" Its cool how its instantly recognizable for someone who grew up in the area.


Here are some Helms pics I found online. There are a lot more of the Divco style pics, but I am not including them here.

[chevy_mike]

Cool old photos!

[RainH2O]

Mine was yellow at one time but it lived up the street from the Helms Bakery. My truck started life out at LAX airport as a service truck. I do remember the helms trucks as a kid growing up in So Cal and I also remember as a teenager in the 70's all the hippies drove the old helms panel trucks. I also liked the Helms trolly trucks they used before they switched to panel trucks.

[PGSigns]

I have just what you need for the side.
Jimmy

[endlessearth]

There are some really great photos in this thread.

[blown240]

Jimmy, mam that logo looks GREAT! I would do it in black. i know blue is correct, but my front fenders are already black.

[blown240]

Just got these in the mail.

Thanks again Jimmy!!!

[canadian_diesel1964]

That's so cool

[OldGMJon]

brings up many memories from the 60's in So Cal

[akqj9]

don't push that button. It is for the ejector saet!

Originally Posted by blown240

I have one! Its my daily driver. I literally sold my Prius and bought this once I stopped driving for work.

I am the 4th owner. I bought it from my buddy a few months ago. He only had it for a couple months, and he bought it from a family friend who owned it since the 70s. The family friend bought it when it was retired from Helms.

My truck has 71k miles, and until my buddy bought it, still had the original motor and trans in it. Now it has a 350/700r4.

On the inside, it still has the wood paneling. It also still has some of the vinyl that covered the exposed metal in the rear. In the wood paneling there are large mounting bolts and some wire. I assume these are for mounting the bakery racks, and wiring for whatever lighting they had. There are also marks on the floor where the legs of the bakery racks were sitting.

There is a strange button under the dash that looks aftermarket, but old. I haven't traced the wires yet, but I assume its for the Helms whistle. On the outside there are some repairs and bondo where the awning would have been. These are on the roof and under the taillights in the back. There are also some places on the doors where the menus may have been mounted.

Right now I am debating leaving the patina as it and putting the logos back on, or painting the truck. I don't have the skill to do the logos myself, and I don't have the money to pay to have them done.

Here are some pics: