Terry Cameron's 1930 Chevy 1/2-Ton Commercial Panel

5 June 2006
# 1553

From Terry:

           Good afternoon from Langley, British Columbia, Canada. I have enjoyed The Stovebolt Page for quite some time now. I thought another addition to your pictures might be in order, all be it early for this particular 1930 Chev truck. Seeing Stephen Binder’s 1929 remains inspirational to one of my current projects. I have met with Stephen in Arizona and many good 1929 Chev 1.5-ton parts changed hands.

           Currently, I own four 1929-1930 trucks – although calling three of them "trucks" at this stage is giving some additional credit not totally earned. I have two 1929 1.5-tons -- one of which is complete in body and most mechanicals back of the motor. The other is complete mechanically and like many old Chevy’s, partially there for the cab. I also have a 1930 1.5-ton which is complete mechanically and has a number of good useable body parts and other items. The last is the 1930 Chev 1/2-ton commercial panel described below.

           We have sourced and now store numerous replacement pieces and parts permitting the restoration of at least two of the trucks. The 1929 1.5-ton is "first in line" for restoration. I have sent along a picture of my 1930 Chev 1/2-ton commercial panel, co-owned with my brother. This is a 95% complete and original vehicle. Knowledgeable readers will pick off some key changes such as late 1930’s head lights, but replacement parts for anything missing or changed have now been secured.

           The 1930 was purchased just outside Duncan BC on Vancouver Island and is (to our knowledge) a vehicle which never left the Island in its commercial life. It was owned by a local Fish "monger" or a local fish salesman in Chemainus BC in the early '30s. We are not sure if from new but certainly from sometime in 1930-1934/35. Fresh fish was loaded in the back of the panel and delivered to your home during the fishing season.

           This, of course, ultimately led to the complete destruction of the rear bed portion of the panel. Water, let alone good old west coast salt water, has a damaging effect on even the hardest of eastern woods used in those days. Commercial fishing tags for 1931-1934 are still attached inside the panel body.

           The history of the truck is murky from the mid 1930’s to just after the second world war, when it was pulled from a local farmers field by the most recent owner ( prior to our purchase in March 2003). That owner actually had it as a daily runner during the 1950’s, having replaced the rotten rear section with a good sturdy BC fir.

           Three key changes were made to the vehicle for use on the roads at that time. The headlights, a newer ('50s) Chev steering column/steering box, and some sheet metal window vents to stop the always-present BC rain from getting into the cab. In addition, the old seats and seat back must have found there way to the dump as new replacements were utilized. The key items missing from a restoration standpoint are the rear barn doors. Thanks to another Chevy collector (also on Vancouver Island) we have the patterns and measurements to fabricate new doors.

           The truck has its original drive train, wheels, gauges and such, although most (if not all) parts will require full restoration. The truck was parked in the early 1960’s in a small garage style barn on the last owner's property and sat there undisturbed except by various rodents until March 2003 – when we literally cut down the trees in front of the barn to pull the truck out. Once on the trailer, we traveled to Colwood, just outside Victoria BC, where a high pressure washer made short work of many years of mold, rodent residue and even some of the old second and third coats of paint.

           The truck was then hauled to dry storage and the heaters turned on. The truck is currently in dry storage waiting its turn in the restoration lineup. Future plans will outfit the panel as a 1930’s milk delivery vehicle in the style of the same vehicle owned by our Grandfather ( also on Vancouver Island) for milk delivery from the family dairy. We are prepared to share our understanding and research on these vintage machines and look forward to working with others in the old car hobby.

Terry Cameron
"t66cam"
Bolter # 11351
Langley, B.C.
Canada