Old American pickup trucks have been used as static displays for decades, and even in Europe, as we saw yesterday. But this is how I like to see them: still hauling the goods. Sheet goods, in this case. William Rubano caught this one, posted at the Cohort. I know of at least two or more Chevy Advanced design trucks living similar lives of non-retirement in Eugene, and it always make my truck feel so…young and modern.
One very odd thing I’ve noticed about Chevy trucks and passenger cars from this era. About half the time I spot one for sale in the classifieds, the original drivetrain is missing. It doesn’t seem to matter wether it’s someone’s aborted project or a neglected lawn ornament- the engine, tranny, and sometimes rear end also are all long gone.
What the hell???
The 216 and 235 stovebolts from this era did not have pressure lubrication, so they didn’t last under severe use or for a long time. They also used torque tube drive, so if you wanted to upgrade the engine to something newer you also did the trans and rear end usually.
That’s not to say they were bad engines or drivelines, but pretty outdated by the time the ’55 came along.
The 235 motors, from ‘53 on, all had pressure lubrication.
In ‘70, I owned ‘54 Chevy pickup that I bought used from a gas station. I parked it by the Mattole River mouth in Petrolia for a few days while I hiked down the beach to Shelter Cove and then inland to visit some friends in Whitethorn. When I got back to Petrolia my landlord told me the sheriff had been by wanting to know why the engine number didn’t match the chassis number on the registration. Jeez, it was 15 years old then, now they’re sixty years old and you wonder why parts get changed?
It’s because there were so many of them, so cheap. And the car and truck engines were interchangeable. A few years earlier, when the babbitt bearing crank in the 216 on my ‘52 Chevy wagon broke in half, I pulled a 235 out of a neighbor’s parts car. Fired right up. Today that would be called a barn find.
In those days, somebody wanting to get to work wasn’t as fussy about matching numbers as your “collector” is now.
Very nice still life photograph.
The view selection, lighting, colors and composition are excellent.
The pickup is nicely weathered and posed.
Looks like the “Advance design” had inspired some overseas car makers. Renault made the Colorale/Prairie also available in pick-up version and a version close to the Chevrolet Suburban of the era and when we check the pictures of the Colorale at http://www.colorale.org/rubriques/rubriq-gamme/gam-pickup-jeep.html The front end was remeniscent of the Chevrolet 1947-53 Advance design truck.
They also menaged to update the Advance design in Brazil until 1963 as the Chevrolet 3100 http://www.flickr.com/photos/caccsbill/3939366911/
Stephane, that Brazilian truck reminds me more of a 1955 International than the 47-56 Chevy….
Wow, that is neat. And yes, I think it looks more like an old Cornbinder than a Chevy too…