(first posted 4/12/2014) The overarching purpose of CC is to document the older vehicles still on the streets. And when they’re in front-line duty, as daily drivers or work trucks, the goal is really being fulfilled. Therefore I called the 1956 Ford F350 that still hauls big loads of recycled cardboard in Eugene every day “The Ultimate Curbside Classic“.
Now, I was aware that this older Chevy truck existed, and had even shot it some years ago, but it was sitting in the driveway of its home. What I didn’t know then is that this ’46 Chevy is still very much in front-line duty; it’s a daily driver, and has been ever since its owner James bought it 45 years ago for $100. So now we have a new Ultimate Curbside Classic, at least until something else tops it; which wouldn’t really surprise me. Is there a Model T still at work?
Back in the spring of 2009, when I was just starting to shoot CCs, I found this truck sitting next to its owner’s home. I was kind of picky about cars being shot curbside, and never wrote it up. Its patina was still in the early stages back then. Then I started seeing it around town, hauling a little trailer full of yard equipment, but I never caught up with it.
Until just this morning, only a few blocks from my house no less. James does lawn and garden maintenance, and hauls his equipment in this fine little vintage trailer, which I forgot to ask about. Well, we did get a bit caught up in talking about his even finer truck.
The 1946-1947 models were essentially identical to the 1941s; not surprising given the war hiatus. They sported a wonderful grille, one that James is planning to get re-chromed one of these days/decades.
This was a great era for truck design, the final blow-out of the Streamline Moderne era. We did a CC on the 1941 Chevrolet COE truck here, and I still get a steady stream of e-mails asking if that one is still for sale (not!).
And we think the current Ford truck grilles are brash? Well, brash can be tasteful too. Best “Chevrolet” ever.
Truth is, I rather prefer the somewhat more restrained ’39-’40 version, which was an all-new truck that year (1939), and essentially the same as the ’41-’47 except for the front end. The 1948 “Advanced Design” trucks replaced these generation, and became an icon (CC here). When I moved back to Iowa City in 1971, these ’39-’47 trucks were still fairly plentiful, and were the cool thing for Iowa City “hippies” to drive; kind of like a Toyota 4×4 was in the 80s and such. Just drive out in the country, spot one sitting next to the machine shed or garage and knock on an old farmer’s door…$50 probably did the trick.
James found the truck of his lifetime sitting with a dead engine sitting behind a building in a little hamlet near Yosemite Park. As he tells the story, its former owners were a pair of sisters that were deaf and mute, and that they drove the Chevy by accelerating it in each gear until it wouldn’t accelerate any more, then upshifted. Well, the old stovebolt six eventually had enough of all that valve float, and called it quits.
When James told me that his truck has a 235 cubic inch six, I jumped to the conclusion that it had been swapped in at some point, assuming that only the 216 inch version was available back then. Strictly speaking, not so, according to my American Truck and Bus Spotter’s Guide, which says the 235 arrived back in 1941. But it was an option for heavy duty use, and I suspect few if any found their way into pickups. I’ve only heard of the 216 six in these, as the original power plant.
So this likely isn’t the original engine, but no matter, it’s still purring along, better then ever thanks to a recent valve job and a lick of “Blue Flame” paint.
This is not a Mega Cab. More like a Cozy Cab, actually.
Instead of a wood-grain dash, this is what’s called “Metal Grain”. Takes many decades to achieve, unless one’s cheating, which I hear is becoming more common as folks get on the patina fad-wagon. James says that the speedometer/odometer were dead 45 years ago when he got it, and they haven’t miraculously sprung back to life, so there’s no way to know what kind of mileage has been rolled up over the decades. Ample.
The stick shift for the four speed transmission sports a little lock-out lever for reverse gear, something that went away with the Advance Design trucks, if I remember correctly.
And James has restored the foot-operated starter switch, as the previous owner had bypassed it for a dash switch. Just in case some of you younger readers don’t know, but these were once ubiquitous, and is of course the source of the expression “hit the starter”. Maybe they’ll come back, since the fad of dash-mounted button starter switches is getting a bit old. Maybe not…I can see issues with that.
They call this the “bed”, unless you’re from Australia in which case it’s the “tray”. This one is rather tray-like. Or how about just “box”? Could we all agree on that? Looks like a sandbox to me.
James has me and my ’66 F100 beat by eighteen years and $400, in terms of length of ownership and purchase price. And he uses his rather more often than I do. So my hat’s off to him. But I suspect we’re both in the same place about our trucks likely being the last one we’ll ever buy.
It’s not like they’re going to wear out before we do.
2018 Update: I no longer see James and his truck around here, so I’m guessing they’ve finally retired.
Great pics for a spring Saturday morning. I love the bare bones functionality and charm of this truck. Looks like it would last a century, in this light gardener’s role.
That grille is a beauty. And the trim rings with white letter tires, give it a slight mod look.
Spring Saturday morning pics indeed ! And what’s with the leaves on the trees ? And flowers ! We’re still staring at 3 foot snowbanks. Not fair I tell ya…
nice truck BTW. 🙂
It came on with a vengeance lately. Sorry 🙂
That’s “peak truck” in my book.
+1
A fine pickup that has earned its keep many, many, many times over.
Absolutely perfect! Thanks Paul. And I agree, I like the cleaner-looking 39-40 grilles as well.
It looks like he has an alternator on it? Did he convert it to a 12V?
Agreed on the ’39-’40 looking a bit better.
There was a ’39 3/4 ton just up the road from me that was still driven well into the ’90’s, quite a feat for Pittsburgh area. Then it disappeared…no idea where it went.
Starters back in the day were certainly different. My ’37 Buick had a big chrome pot tow position (down for ‘off’, up for ‘on’) metal toggle switch on the right side of the steering column where it met with the underside of the dash. And a key lock, although not quite what you’d expect: Turn the key to the lock position (counterclockwise about 225 degrees) and it pulled the toggle into the housing, immobilizing it AND locking the steering column.
To start the car: Pump the accelerator a couple of times to prime the carburetor. Flip the (unlocked) toggle switch up into the ‘on’ position, then press on the accelerator. About half-way down the starter is engaged. As soon as the engine kicks over, the starter automatically disengages.
Works just fine. Never could figure why we went to the ‘turn the key past the on position’ system. Other than standardization, of course.
Which we seem to be getting hell-bent to get away from.
It’s like a comic I saw once–there are 14 competing standards, someone tries to make a new standard to replace them all, and suddenly there are 15 competing standards.
The great thing about standards is there are so many to choose from…
For some reason, any vehicle built before the postwar restart just doesn’t interest me. Not to say that it’s not interesting to see, but just not as much as, say, a ’50 IH. Maybe it’s because the cabs are “cozy” not just lengthwise, but in width as well–sitting three across like on a “standard” full size pickup is a cramped affair. It wasn’t until everyone’s new postwar models that the passengers really got room to spread out.
I lust. In many ways reminds me of the 40 international that I gave to my nephew. In others (foot starter) of the 46 chev that was my second car.
One thing I do believe. The first guy doesn’t stand a chance. Someone will come up with an older version in future comments. I think though, that you have outdone yourself.
The story about the two deaf sisters is just priceless.
They needed a tacho!
The 39-40 front might be prettier, but you can see how the 41-46 would cool the engine better when working hard, for the bigger trucks in the range as I dare say it wouldn’t be an issue for a little pickup.
The Brodie brothers who lived near Warrnambool still drove the Model A Ford that their parents bought originally when they were in their 80s, including taking cattle to market in a trailer, as of a few years ago. I found an article from last year (marking 70 years service to the local volunteer fire brigade) saying one of the brothers in now in an aged care home (no mention of the other brother), so I dare say the Model A is no longer a daily driver. They had another Model A that they converted into a tractor using the rear half of a Bren gun carrier, it would still do 50mph apparently.
Awesome pictures! That’s when trucks were great. They were utilitarian in nature. They had little in the way of creature comforts. If you wanted comfort, you had to order it, or add it yourself. I’d buy one myself if it were in good original condition.
I have a photo of a restored similar-vintage Chevy truck, and the chromed grille looks amazing. Still, it just doesn’t have the character of this truck, and you can bet that it’s in the garage at the first hint of rain. I like to see old trucks on the job, simply doing what they were built to do. A simple, honest machine. What else do you need?
to dman: I like that picture. While original, unrestored trucks are ok, sometimes a fully restored truck is even nicer. I’ve always liked a truck with everything on it working the way it should work. While I wouldn’t want to pay millions of $ to buy a beautifully restored truck, I wouldn’t want to buy a rust bucket with nothing working, that doesn’t run either.
An original classic RUV. (Real Utility Vehicle)
This is Mr. De Koning with his fully original 1919 T-Ford. He takes it everywhere, regardless the weather conditions. It’s also, quite literally, his grocery getter.
Here’s a video. Now 99.9% of you won’t understand a word of it, but it’s fun to see a 1919 Ford on the parking lot of a supermarket between today’s appliances. The man is also restoring another vintage Ford in his garage.
http://www.telegraaf.nl/autovisie/oldtimer/22314898/__VIDEO__Ik_doe_wekelijks_de_boodschappen_met_mijn_T-Ford_uit_1919___.html
(Photo: Autovisie/Patrick Johannes)
I asked that question rhetorically, as I was rather certain that there was one (or more) Ts still in regular use. I think I’ve seen a story on this one before. Nice to watch the video, even if I didn’t get too many of the words.
Whaddya mean “99.9% of you won’t understand a word of it”. Sounds exactly like my wife when she’s on a rant.
So an angry woman from Salt Lake City sounds exactly the same as a very relaxed guy from ‘s-Gravendeel (about 9,000 inhabitants). Interesting, interesting….Then again, it’s a small world.
Engine longevity will be enchanced by the presence of that oil filter. I think optional equipment on these and for several more years to come.
hey, wait a minute. 1st pic white wall on the front- 2nd pic white wall on the back- 3rd pic white wall on the front again. must have been a woman taking these pics.
Care to elaborate…?
Paul mentioned initially that he had photographed it years before. The first photo was current, the second was a picture taken previously, and the remaining photos were current. The fact that the owner replaced the tires (as evidenced by the fact that neither the front or rear tires appear to match those in opposite positions in recent pictures) is a testament to the fact that this truck is driven daily.
Outstanding.
Ah, this truck brings back memories for me…my grandfather in Solvang, California, had a 1939 version that was exactly the same faded blue color as the starring 1946 truck. His truck had the same interior, the same floor shift with the reverse lockout, the same size pickup box. His ’39 truck didn’t have any surface rust on it though; every two or three years when he thought it had become too faded-looking, he would simply paint it. With a brush. It was not exactly a daily driver as they lived just four or five blocks from downtown, but it was their only means of transportation for a good many years in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It does my heart good to see this 1946 truck still earning its keep.
weathering is a fad. no faking the years of weather this great old truck has endured. thanks for sharing. it is amazing how small these old vehicles often are compared to their modern counterparts….
Fabulous old truck. Nothing more honest than this.
This truck reminds me of how my grandfather did it backwards. Though he farmed from the 20s through the 50s, he never owned a pickup. Everything a pickup could do was done by either a Ford tractor or the familys 35 Ford V8 sedan pulling a trailer.
And I thought 30 years with one truck was a long time. My hats off to this owner. That truck probably will outlast us all. If it was mine. I would repaint it the same color and fix the small dent, but leave the rest of just as it is. If only to preserve the body. And maybe flip the tires to all blackwall,
Awesome pickup there is one in daily duty around here but its been restored, actually overrestored as it features a chromed grille.
These Chevs appeared over here as lend lease army vehicles with no brightwork at all the grille was painted shit green. I know the whereabouts of a 37 Chev 1tonne unfortunately the entire cab is toast its free to a good home but getting another cab is near impossible here so its no use to me.
I see its had a 12 volt conversion good move 6 volts are a joke, Bedford engines are a bolt in swap for stovebolts too and you get an extra 1000 rpm thanks to full pressure oiling and they were still making them in the 70s so a newer engine was a popular move.
Great article and what a lovely truck. Wonder why the plates are only about 10 years old.
Well, James did say he was originally from California (like so many Oregonians).
Although I’m not a big fan of “patina”, I hope when James is done with this truck, that it is spared the resto mod treatment of fat rally wheels, SBC, and an aftermarket head unit like the ’39-’40 shown above. A coat of paint to slow the rust maybe, but otherwise leave it alone.
I like patina. It shows that a truck has been used alot. What I’ve never liked is a truck that has been sitting by the side of the road, not being used, with everything being allowed to rust, etc. When it comes to cars and trucks, I believe that it’s better to wear out than to rust out. 🙂
Old pickups still in use Paul how about a 33 Ford from your home state still working in Hawkes Bay clear coated to preserve the Patina but all original another ol yella
Amazing. I’m going to start sending my vehicles to Eugene each spring for a week in the Healing Rains Spa.
Nice Truck! I had a 50 F1 a few decades ago. Same faded repaint blue. It was a great truck and on my list of vehicles I wish I could have kept. However, the grill on this Chevy is the best ever.
My folks had a 3/4 ton ’46 when I was very young. I have memories of the three of us boys, with mom driving, shoehorned into that tiny cab. Yep, Mom did okay with that crashbox 4-speed.
I bought one of these 1946 3100 series Chevies in 1976 and kept it until 1990 as my shop rig and touring vehicle , I drove it all over America , good if slow trucks .
That’s a 1955 > full pressure 235 engine and it’s blue indicates it’s a passenger car engine , Chevy truck engines were grey .
The rocker box is a truck item .
Nice old truck but these leak like sieves in the rain due to the wonderful crank out windshield .
-Nate
Fantastic old truck! I agree with the clear coat idea when it comes time–while the gloss finish won’t be ideal, it will at least preserve some of the patina that took so many years to create. I also love to see that it’s still working…some things really were built to last.
That’s back when men were men, women were women and trucks were trucks.
When I was in Los Angeles a few years ago I remember seeing a 1949 Ford truck with ladder racks with ladders on them and a bed full of construction tools.
Hehehe….
An episode of “American Hot Rod” comes to mind. A guy yelled “Montana….where the men are men and the sheep are nervous…”
I agree. I love these old trucks. I like American trucks up to about 1980. 🙂
I love these old trucks when I see them at shows, and even more so when you see them out working. Back east we rarely see a truck older then 20 years or so still working due to the inherent beating that pickups endure (after the first owner is off to the next one); and of course our love of road salt. Most older trucks here are people’s off-road projects beaters, or show trucks.
Keep em coming!
So do I. I’m too young to remember when these trucks were introduced to the American public, but I’ve seen some of them over the years, and I’ve often wondered what it was like to drive, much less ride these trucks. The earliest truck I remember seeing was a 1965 Chevy C10 pickup truck my grandfather drove. I’m more interested in daily driven cars and trucks than in show cars and trucks. 🙂
True, though the farther south you go, the older they seem to get since road salt isn’t as commonly used in the infrequent snow. When I lived in Raleigh, NC a few years back I distinctly remember an old fellow who drove a mid 60’s GMC pickup that was always full of junk in back…I imagine he probably made some money by scrapping metal. Pretty rusty, but it was a frequent sight running around town with what had to be a good amount of weight in payload.
Closer to home there’s an early 80’s F-150 that a local business here in Richmond uses. It recently received a replacement bed (which appears to be from an early 90’s F-150) but I’m wondering whether the old one was rusty, or whether the swap was done to get the rather nice ladder rack that’s attached to the new bed. Might have been easier just to swap the whole thing…. The cab is solid and the motor sounds strong in any case.
That toothy front was even more menacing as a high-forehead COE.
Beat up, dented & rusty pick up trucks from the 1930’s thru 1960’s have never appealed to me.
I’ve tried to listen to the words of their supporters and admirers; but it’s like they are singing a song that I cannot understand the words of.
Did they use the similar truck in Movie jeepers creepers?
Here is what I believe to be a 1938 Chevy pickup, owned by an old guy in my town. He still drives it around regularly. Though obviously not a work truck, it’s a well preserved classic still in regular service.
This picture was taken at a local hardware store. The Subaru next to the truck is mine.
A yard sevice company called “quality care” in iowa city, Iowa has a fleet of 1940s chevy trucks they use everday currently and have been using them since the 1970s.
A red one of these sat in my neighborhood growing up. I miss it quite a bit because as I moved out of Birmingham it didn’t come with us.
The 1946 chevy trucks, do the floorboards fold up and can be taken out for easy access to the underside?
If I remember correctly the light duty Chevs came standard w/the 3 speed synchromesh transmission & the 4 speed was optional in this era……