Hello All-
Thanks so much for all of the help... from so many people who took the time
to send me information about the 54 pickup I had inquired about.
Well... here's an update:
I was finally able to get the opportunity to see the "54 Chevy Stepside"
that I had questioned the list about a while back. It had been stored in an
old trailer for quiet a few years and during that time... has become the
nesting place for a swarm of wicked, stealth attack hornets, but the bulk of
that story is probably better suited for the "bee sting listserve"!
Anyway... thanks to all of my reading of all the posts to this list... I was
able to tell the PO that the truck was NOT a 54 at all! Actually... from
the look of it (through swollen... bee attacked eyes) ... it seemed to me to
be more like a 46, 47 or 48 with the corner windows and two piece hood. I
was afraid to open up the door on the drivers side to check out the ID plate
for fear that I'd be forced to overdose on Diphedryl capsules which I had
already taken once to counteract the pain and swelling I received after
opening the passenger door!
So... after the PO had destroyed all traces of the "hornet attack squad" (He
bombed the inside of the trailer... and sealed it for a 1/2 hour or so to
kill 'em all for what they'd done to us!), we went back inside so I could
try to get a better look at things. That's when I discovered the second
truck at the far end of the trailer under all kinds of dusty old treasures!
>From what I could tell.. the 2nd truck appeared to be a 51, 52, or 53 Chevy
stepside without the corner windows. I could not get into a position to see
the hood clearly, but my flashlight seemed to show a one piece hood (Does
that seem right?).
The guy said he was sure that they were both 6 volt and all original, and
the 50ish one ran when it was put into the trailer. He said the 47ish one
ran, but his son began taking it apart years ago and never put it back
together. From what I could see (through the flicker of my flashlight and
blurred vision).... that did seem to be the case.
The metal except for the cab corners (on the older truck)was very solid and
had some pitted rust here and there... but there was quite a bit of light
surface rust almost everywhere else. A few dings and scrapes and peeling
chrome, but overall not too bad for old trucks in NJ. Both trucks seemed to
have all the parts intact except one lacked a rear bumper. The 2 piece
windshield on one truck was ok... the 2nd was smashed to bits. BTW... is it
possible that the bench seat was made of leather on a 47ish Chevy? It
really looked like leather! Plus.... it seemed to be in very good
condition! The color appeared to be brown under all of the dust and dirt,
and there were small embroidered things across the top of the seat from
door-to-door. I've never seen anything like it.
I'm very interested in seeing them both in full daylight so I've arranged
with the present owner to help him empty the entire contents of the trailer,
so he can prepare for a yard sale... as he is planning to move out of the
area sometime this year. In exchange... he's counting my help as a down
payment (which he's putting in writing)and if I decide not to buy the
trucks... he's letting me have a very nice haul of antiques that are worth
much more than my muscle and time!
So.... in closing this chapter of "My Ole Truck Search"... I'd like to
again... thank all who have helped me so far. I look forward to hearing
from anyone who'd like to guide me, warn me, or just offer thoughts, ideas
or information.
I'd love to own a hundred of these old trucks, but even my son now thinks
that we probably shouldn't have any more than three or four. What are the
thoughts of the list?
Thanks in advance-
Ken
===================================================
K&B
Father & Son 1959 Apache Fleetside Truck Project in NJ
apache58truck@hotmail.com
Everyone asks:
Why the 58 in the e-mail address if the truck is a 59?
Our only reply:
When we bought it they told us it was a 58. When we
discovered it was really a 59... it was too late to
change the address! Plus, someday we might buy a 58 too! :-)
-
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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