Owned by Chuck Luetkemeyer "Drydock" Bolter # 32032 Meta, Osage County, Missouri

1945 1.5-Ton Chevy Big Bolt

"Melvin"

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From Chuck :

My son Donnie has wanted an old truck for quite some time. Being that he just turned 17, I can only credit genetics.

MY first vehicle was a 1951 ... lowered voice ... Ford F-2 ... complete with Flathead 6. When I turned 15 back in 1978, I pulled that engine with a come-along and a handy black oak tree. Wish I still had it.

That old truck disappeared into undeserving hands in 1985 when I went into the Navy. Some 20 years later, the USN sends me a monthly check to stay away, and I spend it on old iron with my rust-infected son. All my fault. In addition to the '45 Big Bolt, we have a 1954 Willys M38a1 sitting in the corner of the shop, waiting its turn.

Donnie is a good kid, well deserving of time and Stovebolts. Doing well in the local FFA, thinking of the nearby tech college and maybe diesel mechanics. (Maybe a Frito 4BT someday . . .) He helps out on his grandparents' farm, works summers at an ice plant just down the road in Freeburg. Cool job.

Donnie found this old truck on Craigslist in St. Louis, an OS Interim '45 / '46 1.5-ton with a 160" flatbed. The truck had rolled out of the St. Louis plant November 1945 and went to the fourth buyer.

When we went to see the truck, it seemed to be one of the few that weren't cut up. My son loved it. The engine, cranked right up and ran smooth and quiet.

We promised to let the truck play in the pasture with our 1939 John Deere. (A refugee from my long ago antique tractor pulling days.) The seller appreciated that -- the kind of man who treats his old trucks like kittens -- good price to a good home, with a pat on the fender. $1200! Heck yes! (You need to see some of the nice shots of this truck in the Photobucket album. ~ Editor)

We arranged transport with a friend two weeks later. Could not get the trailer closer than the nearest shopping mall parking lot. So we had to drive it about two miles thru a St. Louis suburb. Great fun waving at little kids, staring old men and mystified mothers.

We hauled it to our friend's farm a few miles north of the River at Herman, MO. From there, we poured in gas and brake fluid. Then it rumbled under its own power the 60 miles or so to the grandparent's farm in Loose Creek, MO, mostly along old Route 100 on the south bank of the Missouri. My son and I swapped out driving about half way, as he worked his way thru the secrets of double clutching. Nothing but the title on the seat and a farm triangle nailed to the rear.

Crossed the river at Herman, straight thru town. 'Course, south of the river and back into the hills, folks don't pay as much attention to an old farm truck. Old German farmers don't throw nuthin' away, y'know.

He's been getting limber as he loosens up. Cruises comfortably at 50, (7.50x20s and that pre '46 5.68 high range) and loves Ozark gravel roads.

Got a historic plate on it now. Half the lights are working as we are going thru the wiring.

The truck is very strong running with only a few miles on the drivetrain. I've known a number of farm trucks like that -- run only when there's something to haul and spend most of the time setting in the barn. No smoke, no leaks. Has the original babbitt pounder Loadmaster 235, and a manual shift 2 speed axle, 5.68 high, 8.22 low. I've got a '53 Powerglide 235 in the shop to build up, but we'll have fun tinkering and doing some light farm work with her for now.

We're calling it "Maynard." That's the name painted beneath the door lettering. Some long ago painters name I assume, but it seems to fit.

Chuck Luetkemeyer

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